He wrote the book when he was 12 years old
MARQUETTE COUNTY -- The book writing Young Authors' Program has been a tradition in some Marquette and Alger county schools since 1975.
More than 3,000 students are participating this year, and they're getting some real-world inspiration with a young author's book that's getting big-time attention years later.
When Northern Michigan University Officer Adam Maynard was just a kid, he knew he wanted to work in law enforcement. As a 12 year old, he wrote "The Adventures of Dynamo Dog and the Case of the Missing Jewelry" for the Marquette-Alger Young Authors Program.
He rediscovered that book in storage about two years ago.
"We were going through some boxes, and the plastic spiral bound was broke and all the pages were loose, but it was neat," says Adam Maynard. "It was still in good condition other than that. We just kind of sat there and read it. My wife and I liked it; again, it brought good memories."
Memories he decided were worth self-publishing, and months later the book is out of storage and back to elementary school where his whole dream began. Now Officer Maynard is reading the book at local schools.
"I thought it was a really good book," says fourth grader Mikaila Graham. "I just can't believe he wrote it when he was 12!"
Many of the students he's speaking to are currently designing their own books in the same Young Author Program.
"For him to keep that book that long and be able to assemble it and publish it, again, that's really super," says Cherry Creek Elementary school teacher Colleen Hayse. "So the kids know how important their books could be."
Maynard is considering publishing "Dynamo Dog" sequels in the future. He can be contacted at Amaynard@nmu.edu.
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