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ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: Threat of the Spider
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.michaelspradlin.com/
CITY: Lapeer
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 344
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in MI; married; wife’s name Kelly; children: Michael Jr., Rachel.
EDUCATION:Central Michigan University, B.S. (history), 1982.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and marketing specialist. Wayne State University Press, Detroit, MI, promotions manager, 1989; Avon Books, account manager, 1989-95; Hearst Book Group, regional sales manager, 1995-97, national account marketing manager, 1995-99; HarperCollins Publishers, national account manager, 1999-2011; Albert Whitman & Company, Park Ridge, IL, director of sales and marketing, 2014-16; Midwest Tape, Holland, OH, marketing director, 2016-17.
AVOCATIONS:Reading, traveling, spending time with family.
MEMBER:Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Mystery Writers of America, Science Fiction Writers of America, Western Writers of America.
AWARDS:Edgar Allan Poe Award nomination for best young-adult mystery, Mystery Writers of America, 2006, and Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults designation, American Library Association, 2009, both for Live and Let Shop; Spur Award finalist, Western Writers of America, 2008, for Daniel Boone’s Great Escape; Wrangler Award, National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Museum, 2010, for Off like the Wind; Letter of Merit, SCBWI, for short story “A House Divided.”
WRITINGS
Contributor to Boys’ Life and to websites, including Children’s Book Review. Works have been translated into several languages, including Danish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
The “Youngest Templar” books were adapted as audiobooks by Listening Library, c. 2008.
SIDELIGHTS
Michael P. Spradlin is a Michigan-based writer who has found success penning assorted tales for children and young adults, many grounded in history. In his “Spy Goddess” series, which includes Live and Let Shop and To Hawai’i, with Love, Spradlin introduces a fifteen-year-old California teen whose unusual boarding school provides her with the specialized FBI-type training she needs to solve a sinister plot. Other works by the author include picture books such as Baseball from A to Z, the legendary-adventure novels in his “Youngest Templar” trilogy, and the works in his “WWII Adventures” and “Medal of Honor” series, which are inspired by true events.
[open new]Speaking with Natalie Aguirre of Literary Rambles, Spradlin elaborated on his journey to becoming an author: “It was a process. I loved to read as a kid. Really loved it. As I got older, I realized that I actually truly enjoyed the act of writing. But I grew up in a small town that—as far as I know—had no writers. I had no indication it was something you could do to make a living (and there are times it’s still not!).” He continued: “Fast forward to college, where I was a history major and an English minor. You tend to do a lot of writing in those disciplines. It was there that I had several professors start encouraging me about my ‘writing ability.’ One flat out told me, ‘Dude, you need to do this for a living.’ And that was where the idea took root! It wasn’t until I was in my forties though, that I found I had anything to say.”[suspend new]
In his debut picture book, The Legend of Blue Jacket, Spradlin hypothesizes that the late-eighteenth-century Shawnee war chief Blue Jacket was actually Marmaduke van Swearingen, the missing son of a Virginia farmer. Linda Perkins, reviewing the work in Booklist, commented that Spradlin “raises an interesting question” with the topic of the book, which includes “good supplementary material.” A critic in Kirkus Reviews, cited the illustrations by Ronald Himler, adding that Spradlin’s “text reads nicely, though it is long and unvarying.” In her School Library Journal review, Donna Ratterree wrote that while “the author glosses over the essential story,” The Legend of Blue Jacket “is clearly a well-researched labor of love.” Other books by Spradlin that are based in U.S. history include Texas Rangers: Legendary Lawmen, which a Kirkus Reviews writer praised as a “handsome tribute to the doughty crew” responsible for taming the Wild West.
Other standalone books by Spradlin that are geared for children include Baseball from A to Z and Off like the Wind! The First Ride of the Pony Express, the latter illustrated by Layne Johnson. Spradlin’s sports-themed introduction to the alphabet in Baseball from A to Z comes to life in energetic artwork by Macky Pamintuan and includes many of the “type of things that young fans might hear … [at] their first major or minor league game,” according to Booklist contributor Todd Morning.
In Off like the Wind! the author goes back in time to 1860 and the scheme hatched by three businessmen as a way to expedite the delivery of the U.S. Mail through the sparsely populated lands between Missouri and coastal California. A Kirkus Reviews writer praised Off like the Wind! as a “rousing, as-historically-accurate-as-possible recreation of the Pony Express’s first ride,” and John Peters noted in Booklist that Johnson’s richly toned art “heightens the drama” of Spradlin’s “stimulating” introduction. “Balancing the right amount of information with lively narrative,” according to School Library Journal critic Madeline J. Bryant, Off like the Wind! would be equally useful “in a history unit” or for general reading.
Spradlin’s “Spy Goddess” series is actually two series in one: it includes both prose novels and graphic novels. In the series opener, Live and Let Shop, readers meet fifteen-year-old Rebecca Buchanan, a spoiled Beverly Hills rich kid who, after a brush with the law, is sent off to a most unusual boarding school, one headed by a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent. Rebecca learns of a sinister plot just as her teacher goes missing and, with a few friends, tries to save her teacher and also prevent arch villain Simon Blankenship—now under the power of the evil god Mithras—from acquiring the Book of Seraphim. Cindy Welch, in a Booklist review, predicted that “boys as well as girls will be attracted to” Live and Let Shop. In School Library Journal, Leigh Ann Morlock wrote that “Spradlin captures the perfect teenage voice in his protagonist” and predicted that his “intelligent, exciting mystery … will have broad appeal.”
Rachel returns in To Hawai’i, with Love, and this time she joins her friends in a trip to the Big Island as they follow the trail of an ancient artifact desired by the evil Simon Blankenship. In The Chase for the Chalice, Spradlin captures the energy of Rachel’s adventures in the comic-book-like manga format, and her trip to Japan on Blankenship’s trail is brought to life in colorful cartoon art by Rainbow Buddy. From Asia, it is off to Brazil for Rachel and company, as they hope to acquire the Lance of Mithras before Blankenship can harness its power. Alongside her battles with evil, Rachel takes time to keep her wardrobe red-carpet ready, and parties and romance figure prominently in the plot of each installment.
According to School Library Journal contributor Cara von Wrangle Kinsey, the switch from prose to speech bubbles in The Chase for the Chalice plays to “manga readers’ love for all things Japanese,” and in The Chase for the Chalice Spradlin creates a “fun” story featuring a “nicely Americanized manga style.” Snow Wildsmith gave credit also to the story’s scriptwriter, Rachel Manija Brown, who translated Spradlin’s prose, noting that “she adds a humorous nod to manga and anime fans” in her “snappy dialogue.”
Spradlin turns from modern-day adventure to warfare during the age of Richard the Lionheart in his “Youngest Templar” series. In Keeper of the Grail, Tristan is an orphan who was raised by the monks of Saint Alban’s Abbey. Uncertain of his past, Tristan desires knowledge and adventure, so when a party of Knights Templar passes the abbey the boy agrees to serve as the squire of Sir Thomas Leux. Arriving in the Holy Land, the knights and their retinue fall under attack but also acquire the Holy Grail, the cup used by Jesus at the last supper. With his dying breath, Sir Thomas orders Tristan to bring the relic to England and deliver it into Christian hands. The boy’s experiences along his long trip back to the British Isles include being pursued by the covetous Sir Hugh Montfort, and they play out in both Trail of Fate and Orphan of Destiny in high action and adventure.
In School Library Journal, Kathleen Isaacs dubbed Keeper of the Grail “a fast-paced historical adventure with a touch of fantasy,” and Ilene Cooper noted in Booklist that the novel’s “deadly action” is not highlighted at the expense of the novel’s plot. Keeper of the Grail “ends with a true cliff-hanger” that draws reader into the next series installment, according to Cooper, and “all of the appeal factors … are on display” in Trail of Fate, according to Voice of Youth Advocates reviewer Tracy Piombo.
The debut title in Spradlin’s “WWII Adventures” series, Into the Killing Seas, was described as “a gut-wrenching survival tale” by John Peters in Booklist. Based on the true story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, the novel follows the daring escapades of twelve-year-old Patrick and his younger brother, Teddy. Desperate to reunite with their parents, the boys stow away aboard the cruiser during its journey to the Philippines. Torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, the Indianapolis goes down in shark-infested waters. With help from a sympathetic marine, the boys construct a makeshift raft and await rescue, little realizing that no one knows the Indianapolis is missing. “Spradlin’s story is paced extremely well,” remarked School Library Journal critic Chad Lane, who added that “the story is enjoyable and reveals a tender theme about the power of the human spirit.”
The second installment in the “WWII Adventures” series, The Enemy Above, “features a determined protagonist who does what he can to help his family survive,” according to Booklist reviewer Carolyn Phelan. The novel, which takes place in 1942, focuses on twelve-year-old Anton Schostak, a Ukrainian Jew living in the small farming community of Borshchiv. When Nazi forces invade their homeland, Anton, his grandmother Bubbe, and other villagers hide out in secret caves, infuriating maniacal Gestapo officer Karl Von Dueson. When Bubbe is captured, Anton risks his life to rescue her. “Set in an interesting locale, this will satisfy historical fiction fans who want page-turning action,” Madeline J. Bryant opined in School Library Journal.
Prisoner of War is also inspired by actual events. To escape his abusive father, fifteen-year-old Henry Forrest lies about his age to enlist in the Marines. While serving in the Philippines, Henry is taken captive by Japanese forces and endures horrendous treatment at the hands of the enemy while finding strength and comfort though his friendships with his fellow POWs. “History buffs and fans of war stories will enjoy this story of brutal captivity, bravery, and brotherhood among soldiers,” C.J. Bott predicted in Voice of Youth Advocates.
Spradlin’s “Medal of Honor” series profiles recipients of America’s highest military award. In Jack Montgomery; World War II: Gallantry at Anzio, the author chronicles the heroic exploits of a Cherokee lieutenant whose rifle platoon came under attack from Nazi forces in Italy. A writer in Kirkus Reviews deemed Jack Montgomery a “necessary story.” Pararescue Corps contains three stories about an elite U.S. special forces unit. The author “adroitly mixes accounts of fearless engagement, physical prowess, and military tactics in a fast-moving book that can get the right reader hooked,” a Kirkus Reviews critic noted.
[resume new]Spradlin kicked off his “Web of the Spider” middle-grade novels, set in Nazi Germany, with Rise of the Spider. About his intents with this series, he explained to Holly Schindler of Smack Dab in the Middle: “I had interest in doing a book on the Edelweiss Pirates who were a real group of children that challenged the Nazi regime during the war. … It was important to me that readers realize that not every German citizen supported Hitler or the Nazi party. Especially at the beginning.” In 1929, young Rolf grows distressed as his bitter older brother Romer starts arguing with their widowed father. Worse, when a cohort of Hitler Youth show up in their Bavarian town, led by arachnid-like Hans, Romer grows enchanted with Nazi ways. Recruitment leaflets lead up to an act of arson and the beating of a Jewish merchant, and once Rolf witnesses the frightful Hitler at a mass rally, he determines to participate in resistance. Appreciating the “helpful flashbacks” concerning the likes of World War I and the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, a Kirkus Reviews writer praised Rise of the Spider as a “fast-moving, stirring tale” that proves “clear of stance and cogent of theme.”
Threat of the Spider finds twelve-year-old Ansel, a friend of Rolf’s, stirred to action when his father, a journalist critical of Hitler, goes missing in the lead-up to a propaganda-propelling visit from Nazi lieutenant Heinrich Himmler. Taking inspiration from his favorite fictional detective, Dirk Goodly, Ansel gets help from Rolf in searching for his father while boldly—and perilously—antagonizing Hans. A Kirkus Reviews writer appreciated Spradlin’s “perceptive efforts to explain how ordinary citizens could come to condone monsters” as well as the mood-lightening effect of witty banter and Ansel’s whimsical “Unassailable Facts of Life,” like #41: “When the owls come to the mice picnic, they are not there for the sack races.”[close new]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, November 1, 2002, Linda Perkins, review of The Legend of Blue Jacket, p. 489; March 1, 2005, Cindy Welch, review of Live and Let Shop, p. 1186; May 1, 2006, Cindy Welch, review of To Hawai’i, with Love, p. 82; January 1, 2008, Randall Enos, review of Texas Rangers: Legendary Lawmen, p. 72; June 1, 2008, Snow Wildsmith, review of The Chase for the Chalice, p. 62; July 1, 2008, Ilene Cooper, review of Daniel Boone’s Great Escape, p. 69; September 15, 2008, Ilene Cooper, review of Keeper of the Grail, p. 56; January 1, 2010, John Peters, review of Off like the Wind! The First Ride of the Pony Express, p. 76; March 1, 2010, Todd Morning, review of Baseball from A to Z, p. 75; August 1, 2012, Ian Chipman, review of Blood Riders, p. 42; June 1, 2015, John Peters, review of Into the Killing Seas, p. 105; April 15, 2016, Carolyn Phelan, review of The Enemy Above, p. 60.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, March, 2005, Krista Hutley, review of Live and Let Shop, p. 308; March, 2006, Elizabeth Bush, review of To Hawai’i, with Love, p. 327; October, 2008, April Spisak, review of Keeper of the Grail, p. 97.
Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 2002, review of The Legend of Blue Jacket, p. 1702; February 1, 2005, review of Live and Let Shop, p. 182; December 15, 2005, review of To Hawai’i, with Love, p. 1328; January 1, 2008, review of Texas Rangers; July 1, 2008, review of Daniel Boone’s Great Escape; August 15, 2008, review of Keeper of the Grail; February 15, 2010, reviews of Off like the Wind! and Baseball from A to Z; April 15, 2016, review of The Enemy Above; April 15, 2017, review of Prisoner of War; December 1, 2018, review of Jack Montgomery: World War II: Gallantry at Anzio; December 15, 2018, review of Pararescue Corps; November 15, 2019, review of Close Calls: How Eleven US Presidents Escaped from the Brink of Death; July 15, 2024, review of Rise of the Spider; April 1, 2025, review of Threat of the Spider.
Kliatt, May, 208, George Galuschak, review of The Chase for the Chalice, p. 30; September, 2008, Claire Rosser, review of Keeper of the Grail, p. 22.
Publishers Weekly, June 30, 2008, review of Daniel Boone’s Great Escape, p. 183; November 16, 2009, Michael P. Spradlin, & “Blame It on the Rep,” p. 58; August 6, 2012, review of Blood Riders, p. 36.
School Library Journal, November, 2002, Dona Ratterree, review of The Legend of Blue Jacket, p. 150; March, 2005, Leigh Ann Morlock, review of Live and Let Shop, p. 220; September, 2008, Cara von Wrangel Kinsey, review of The Chase for the Chalice, p. 217; February 1, 2009, Kathleen Isaacs, review of Keeper of the Grail, p. 110; April, 2009, review of Daniel Boone’s Great Escape; September, 2009, Beth Gallego, review of The Quest for the Lance, volume 2, p. 191; February, 2010, Madeline J. Bryant, review of Off like the Wind!, p. 102; March, 2010, Marilyn Taniguchi, review of Baseball from A to Z, p. 144; April, 2011, Sarah Flood, review of Orphan of Destiny, p. 66; December, 2013, Brenda Kahn, review of Menace from the Deep, p. 118; May, 2015, Chad Lane, review of Into the Killing Seas, p. 106; April, 2016, Madeline J. Bryant, review of The Enemy Above, p. 154.
Voice of Youth Advocates, April, 2005, Leslie Carter, review of Live and Let Shop, p. 52; April, 2006, Leslie Carter, review of To Hawai’i, with Love, p. 52; April, 2008, Madeline J. Bryant, review of Texas Rangers, p. 138; July, 2008, Joan Kindig, review of Daniel Boone’s Great Escape, p. 92; October, 2008, Tracy Piombo, review of Keeper of the Grail, p. 341, and Kelly Czarnecki, review of The Chase for the Chalice, p. 357; August, 2010, Tracy Piombo, review of Trail of Fate, p. 274; April, 2017, C.J. Botts, review of Prisoner of War, p. 66.
ONLINE
Children’s Books Council website, https://www.cbcbooks.org/ (September 23, 2024), “CBC Q&A with Author Mike Spradlin.”
HarperTeen website, http://www.harperteen.com/ (August 5, 2006), author interview.
Literary Rambles, http://www.literaryrambles.com/ (June 23, 2025), Natalie Aguirre, “Author Interview: Michael P. Spradlin and Threat of the Spider Giveaway.”
Michael P. Spradlin website, https://michaelspradlin.com (November 3, 2025).
Smack Dab in the Middle, https://smack-dab-in-the-middle.blogspot.com/ (June 20, 2025), Holly Schindler, “Interview with Michael P. Spradlin, Author of Threat of the Spider.”
YA Books Central, https://yabookscentral.com/ (September 23, 2024), Cherokee Crum, “Author Chat with Michael P. Spradlin (Web of the Spider: Rise of the Spider)”; (June 23, 2025), Cherokee Crum, “Author Chat with Michael P. Spradlin (Threat of the Spider).”
Michael P Spradlin
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Michael P. Spradlin is the captivating author of all the novels and manga volumes of the Spy Goddess series. He lives in Michigan with his family, but his not-so-secret mission is to entertain readers across the globe with his high-action, thrill-packed Spy Goddess adventures.
Genres: Children's Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Horror
New and upcoming books
June 2025
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Threat of the Spider
(Web of the Spider, book 2)September 2025
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The Raven's Shadow
February 2026
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The Spider Strikes
(Web of the Spider, book 3)
Series
Spy Goddess
1. Live and Let Shop (2005)
2. To Hawaii, with Love (2006)
3. The Spy Who Totally Had a Crush on Me (2011)
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Youngest Templar
1. Keeper of the Grail (2008)
2. Trail of Fate (2009)
3. Orphan of Destiny (2010)
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Spy Goddess Graphic Novel
Spy Goddess, Volume 1 (2008)
Spy Goddess, Volume 2 (2009)
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I.Q. (with Roland Smith)
4. The Alamo (2013)
5. The Windy City (2014)
6. Alcatraz (2014)
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Killer Species
1. Menace From the Deep (2013)
2. Feeding Frenzy (2013)
3. Out for Blood (2014)
4. Ultimate Attack (2014)
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World War II
1. The Enemy Above (2016)
2. Prisoner of War (2017)
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Pararescue Corps
1. Denali Storm (2018)
2. Viper Strike (2018)
3. Nile Chaos (2018)
4. Sandstorm Blast (2018)
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Medal of Honor
1. Jack Montgomery (2019)
2. Ryan Pitts (2019)
3. Leo Thorsness (2019)
4. John Basilone (2020)
5. Mary Edwards Walker (2020)
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Web of the Spider
1. Rise of the Spider (2024)
2. Threat of the Spider (2025)
3. The Spider Strikes (2026)
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Novels
Blood Riders (2012)
Into the Killing Seas (2015)
The Raven's Shadow (2025)
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Collections
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies (2009)
Pirate Haiku (poems) (2010)
Every Zombie Eats Somebody Sometime (poems) (2010)
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Picture Books hide
Off Like the Wind! (2010)
Baseball from A to Z (2010)
The Monster Alphabet (2012)
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Chapter Books hide
Jack and Jill Went Up to Kill (2011)
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Non fiction hide
The Legend of Blue Jacket (2002)
Texas Rangers (2008)
Daniel Boone's Great Escape (2008)
Close Calls (2020)
Meet Mike
Michael-Spradlin_72dpi-bigMichael P. Spradlin is the author of more than a dozen books for children, some of which have actually been published. He grew up in a small town in Michigan not far from the Indiana border, which may explain his irrational fear of Hoosiers. (Both the inhabitants of the state of Indiana and the movie starring Gene Hackman).
Writing a book report? Here are some helpful links: Fast Facts, Career Highlights, FAQs, and a short bio that is slightly different from what you are reading right here →
Surrounded by books in his formative years, he grew up loving to read, imagining himself the hero of numerous epic battles and indulging in his favorite pastime, which was smuggling fireworks across the Ohio border so that he could blow up his collection of Plastic Green Army Men and Matchbox Cars.
Who else is surrounded by books? Librarians and teachers. If you are either, follow this link →
Growing up, Michael was an Eagle Scout and read Boys’ Life religiously — and now he is a frequent contributor to magazine. What many people don’t realize is that Boy’s Life has a storied history of publishing some of the greatest writers in the world in its 100-year existence, Jack London, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke among others. While he doesn’t count himself as within a dozen counties of these literary giants, the thrill of being published in a magazine he grew up reading, one that influenced him as a writer is… well… thrilling.
Also thrilling: all these awards and honors and stuff like that →
Michael holds a black belt in television remote control. He is fluent in British, Canadian, Australian and several other English-based languages. He can often by found on his robotically piloted yacht where he likes to drink coffee and plot total world domination. Just kidding. He doesn’t drink coffee.
Mike can also be found in schools talking with kids about books — and world domination, and blowing things up (on paper) →
When not writing, he enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with his family and worrying over the fact that he really should be writing instead of doing other stuff. He lives in Michigan with his wife Kelly, and two dogs Willow and Apollo.
Helpful Links for Journalists of All Ages
Full Booklist: Sortable by Reader Age and Series
Plus a printable booklist, sortable by Title and Release Date
Career Highlights
Frequently Asked Questions (great info for author bio stuff for book reports)
Mike’s Short Bio (good for introducing Mike at events!)
Awards & Honors
Publicity Photos
Info for Educators (about school visits, about classroom downloads, about ordering books for school, etc)
Mike writes for all ages: Young Kids, Older Kids, Teens, Adults
Mike’s Series: WWII Adventures, Killer Species, I, Q., Spy Goddess, The Youngest Templar
Frequently Asked Questions
Question:
What inspired you to become a writer?
Michael’s Answer:
I’m not sure if there was a ‘bolt of lightning’ moment. I grew up loving books and loving reading. Growing up in the age of no internet or cable TV, books were a tremendous source of entertainment to me. Since I loved books so much, I naturally progressed to the idea that writing them would have to be the coolest job ever. Eventually I just reached a point in my life where I said to myself, “Self, if you’re ever going to do this, the time is now…”
Question:
Your books seem to cover a wide range of topics and themes. Why do you think that is?
Michael’s Answer:
Well, those who know me well would say it’s because I have the world’s shortest attention span. I think it’s because I find so many different things fascinating. I look first and foremost for stories. Even my picture books, which are non-fiction, tell stories with a beginning, middle, and an end. After that I just try to write the best story I can. When it comes to fiction I try to write the kind of books that I like to read. Fast paced action and adventure is the ticket for me. I’m often asked is there
a common theme to all of your books and I usually reply. “Yes, stuff blows up!”
Question:
What advice do you have for prospective writers, regardless of their age?
Michael’s Answer:
My number one piece of advice is to write. Writing is a craft and a skill just like any craft or skill and the more you practice it, the better you get at it. I often tell students during school visits that no matter what they are interested in — sports, music or whatever — they will get better by practicing. Writing is the same way. Adults want to know how to get published. My answer to that is to write your book first. When you are done, re-write it. Then re-write it again. When you are done with that, find an agent. You pretty much need an agent to get published by a reputable publisher these days. You can find lists of agents at Literarymarketplace.com. Find one that represents books like yours and send them a query letter. They’ll take it from there.
Question:
Which writers have influenced you? What are some of your favorite books?
Michael’s Answer:
There’s a pretty long list. Probably the greatest influence on my work was Franklin W. Dixon, the ‘author’ of the Hardy Boys Books. When I later found out that Franklin was part of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, I felt betrayed. But I still loved the books. The pace of those books is breathless; virtually every chapter ends in a cliffhanger. I can definitely see their influence in my work.My favorite book is Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. I also love The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald because I think it has the most perfect closing sentence of any novel ever written: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” No one will ever do it better than that. If I were going to be stuck on a desert island for any length of time I’d take Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, which contains some of the best dialogue ever written. When it comes to children’s books, besides the aforementioned Hardy Boys books, I loved My Side of the Mountain when I was a kid. I must have read it twenty times and I discovered something new each time. Another big influence on me as a kid was Sports Illustrated magazine. I was and am a sports nut, and Sports Illustrated has been the home of some of the best magazine writing ever done. I learned a lot by reading and re-reading some of the articles there.
Question:
Do you find movies and television influence you as a writer? What are some of your favorites from each medium?
Michael’s Answer:
Sure. Any medium that tells a story can be a training ground for writers. And movies and television are great for studying dialogue and how it can carry a story. I especially think television gets a bum rap, as there are a lot of very well written televisions shows out there. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer is, in my opinion, one of the best written TV shows ever. But there have been so many good ones: M*A*S*H., Hill Street Blues, Cheers, and some of my current favorites like Supernatural, Heroes and Battlestar Galactica. The thing about any TV show or movie that works well is that it is first and foremost a well told story. When it comes to movies The Princess Bride is my all-time favorite. It’s hilariously funny and well crafted. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is another favorite. But I tend to also like big epic movies like Gladiator and Braveheart where lots of stuff explodes.
Question:
Do you have a specific time that you write?
Michael’s Answer:
Not particularly. I write when the mood strikes but I am by nature a night owl, so that’s probably when most of my writing gets done. I’m not one of those “you need to write every day” people. Almost no one with any kind of job that you can think of does it every day. I sometimes think it’s a good thing to take a break from it. Everyone needs to recharge the batteries. Plus I do a lot of what my wife calls “writing in my head” (she says I actually have a “writing in my head” face. I’m not sure if this is a compliment) where I think about stories or plots or characters before I sit down to write them.
Question:
How much revision do you typically do?
Michael’s Answer:
Well it depends on how much needs to be done. I tell students that every writer rewrites, no matter who they are. You don’t just sit down and bang out a 600 page novel and that’s it. I do a lot of my own revising and rewriting before I send anything in. Then it depends on your editor. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. One of my techniques is to read what I’ve written from my previous session, and then rewrite and revise it before I move onto the next chapter. It’s a way of getting me back into the voice and the character, and I’ve found it a very useful way to keep going.
Question:
Where do you find the illustrators for your Picture Books?
Michael’s Answer:
I’m often asked this question by people who want to write a picture book and have it illustrated before selling it to a publisher. This is backwards from how it is actually done. Most publishers will not buy an ‘already illustrated’ picture book, unless it is written and drawn by the illustrator. The picture book manuscript is bought by the publisher first and then they decide which artist will illustrate it. This allows them to have input into the direction of the art and editorial input into the manuscript. Illustrators prepare sketches and mock ups and story boards of all of their picture books before doing finished art and they go through a revision process just like a writer. If you want to get a picture book published, find an interested publisher first and they’ll contract the illustrator.
Mike’s Career Highlights
2019: The Medal of Honor Series launches in January 2019 with the first two books Medal of Honor Jack C. Montgomery: Gallantry on the Beaches of Anzio and Medal of Honor Ryan Pitts: Afghanistan, Firefight in the Mountains of Wanat. The third book, Medal of Honor Leo Thorsness: Valor in the Skies of Vietnam, will be published in June 2019.
2018: The Parasercue Corps novels, high interest, low reading level books, perfect for young reluctant readers is published. Four books Denali Storm, Viper Strike, Nile Chaos and Sandstorm Blast are published in library editions. A paperback bind-up of all four novels will be available in February, 2019.
2017: Prisoner of War, a novel based on the true story of America’s youngest POW in World War II is published to wide acclaim. Henry ‘Tree’ Forrest is just fifteen years old. He lives a desperate home life in Minnesota for the Marine Corps and is posted to the Philippines. His identity is uncovered and the day before he is to be sent home, the Japanese invade. Henry survives the Bataan Death March and four years of brutal captivity, all the while struggling to maintain his humanity. A tender and evocative exploration of the bonds among those who serve
2016: The Enemy Above, Michael’s historical novel set in World War II, tells a story based on real events of a group of Ukrainian Jews who survive the holocaust and being hunted by Nazi troops by living in caves for more than 500 days.
killing2015: Michael returned to historical fiction in Into the Killing Seas, in hardcover by Scholastic Press and a Junior Library Guild selection. Into the Killing Seas tells the story of the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis through the eyes of Patrick O’Donell, a young boy who, along with his brother Teddy is stranded on Guam during World War II. The boys had been separated from the parents who were left stranded on the Philippines. When they learn the Indianapolis is headed toward the Philippines they decide to stow-away. But their plan is ripped apart by two Japanese torpedoes and they are forced to endure the worst disaster at sea in US Naval history. Kirkus Reviews has called it ‘entirely gripping.’
2014: Michael released I, Q The Windy City, another volume in the I,Q series, co-written with Roland Smith. He also published the next two volumes in the Killer Species series, Out For Blood and Ultimate Attack concluding the four book series from Scholastic.
2013: Michael teamed up with New York Times Bestselling Author Roland Smith to co-write the continuation of his I, Q series. Their first collaboration I, Q: The Alamo arrived in stores in May 2013.
2013: Scholastic, publisher of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games trilogy, launches Michael’s new action packed series Killer Species. The first book, Killer Species: Menace From The Deep launched in Scholastic Book Fairs in January and arrives in bookstores in July. The second book Killer Species: Feeding Frenzy will launch in Scholastic Book Fairs in September. There are currently four books planned for the series.
2012: Michael released his first novel for adults, Blood Riders. A bloodridersparanormal western, the novel received tremendous pre-publication quotes from New York Times Bestselling author James Rollins who said, “You’re in for the ride of your life!” Blood Riders received universal acclaim from reviewers including the San Jose Mercury News, which called it ‘outstanding’, Booklist said “it’s one hell of a good time! and Publishers Weekly called it ‘delightful’.
2012: Michael once again teamed with illustrator Jeff Weigel for The Monster Alphabet, a picture book featuring Marvin the monster hunter who must travel the world capturing a different monster for each letter of the alphabet.
2011: In 2011 Michael once again collaborated with illustrator Jeff Weigel for another zombie inspired humor book. Jack and Jill Went Up To Kill: The Book of Zombie Nursery Rhymes.
2010: 2010 was a big year for Michael. In February his newest picture book Off Like The Wind!: The First Ride Of The Pony Express was published to universally outstanding reviews. In March came Baseball From A to Z: A Baseball Alphabet another stunningly illustrated picture book. In the fall Michael released The Youngest Templar: Orphan of Destiny, the third volume of The Youngest Templar trilogy. Two more humor books (remember these are rated PG-13) reached shelves: Every Zombie Eats Somebody Sometime: A Book of Zombie Love Songs and Pirate Haiku. Arrgh!
2009: In October, the second book in The Youngest Templar Trilogy, The
Youngest Templar: Trail of Fate was published and the trilogy is now available in twelve countries world wide. Daniel Boone’s Great Escape was a finalist for the Spur Award by the Western Writers of America and chosen by Bank Street College of Education as one of the 100 Best Children’s Books of 2008. 2009 also saw the release of the second book in The Youngest Templar trilogy, The Youngest Templar: Trail of Fate was released in October. His first adult humor book It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Zombies: A Book of Zombie Christmas Carols, was also released in October and spent five weeks on The New York Times Bestseller List.
keeper_2252008: Michael’s Middle Grade novel The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail is published to international acclaim.
2008: Michael’s second picture book Texas Rangers: Legendary Lawmen is released in March. His third, Daniel Boone’s Great Escape is released in July.
2006: Spy Goddess: To Hawaii, With Love, the second Rachel Buchanan adventure is published. It receives a Starred Review from VOYA which says that “Teens will love the hip language, the non-stop action and the strong characters.”
2006: Spy Goddess: Live and Let Shop is named to the New York Public Library’s Best Books for the Teenage 2006 List and is nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery by the Mystery Writers of America. The paperback edition is also named to the American Library Association Popular Paperbacks list.
2005: Michael’s first novel Spy Goddess: Live and Let Shop featuring Rachel Buchanan is published.
2002: Michael’s first book The Legend of Blue Jacket is published.
More About Michael: the Short Bio
Michael Spradlin is the author of over a dozen books for children, some of
which have actually been published. He grew up in a small town in Michigan
not far from the Ohio-Indiana border and spent many hours of his young life keeping
an eye out for “suspicious Hoosier and Buckeye activity.” His early
youth was spent reading hundreds of books, imagining himself as the hero of
several epic battles, and sneaking in fireworks from Canada to indulge his
favorite pastime which was blowing up his collection of plastic Green Army Men
and Matchbox Cars.
Michael Spradlin has never practiced law, dentistry (okay maybe once with a loose
tooth, string and a doorknob) or flown in outer space. In 1978 he managed to
talk his way into college and emerged four years later with a Bachelor’s
Degree in History and no prospects for a real job. He has worked as a field hand,
a newspaper delivery engineer, a lawn maintenance specialist, a bartender, a bookseller,
and has lived in Michigan his whole life except for a two year sojourn to a
Southern state which he refuses to discuss.
Want to know more about Michael? Visit his FAQs
Author Interview: Michael P. Spradlin and Threat of the Spider Giveaway
Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m thrilled to have author Michael P. Spradin here to talk about his newest MG Threat of the Spider and his career as an author. Threat of the Spider is the second book in the Web of the Spider Series. It sounds like an action-packed story set in Nazi Germany, and I’m looking forward to reading it.
Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:
A twelve-year-old boy searches for his father and fights for free press amid the chilling rise of Hitler’s Germany in this second book in the action-packed middle grade series Web of the Spider for fans of I Survived and A Night Divided.
Ansel has never been afraid to say what’s on his mind. He’s always the first among his friends to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. When the Hitler Youth first set up shop in Heroldsberg the year before, Ansel quickly made enemies of the chapter’s arrogant leader, Hans. Of course, Ansel is also twelve years old, so he spends much of his time reading his favorite Dirk Goodly, Boy Detective novels and trying to make his friends laugh.
But more and more of his classmates have been swayed by Hans’s tactics and the Youth organization is growing throughout the city. Ansel knows that Hans and his group are spreading false information—after all, Ansel’s father is a journalist for the local paper and has been going toe to toe with Nazi propaganda for a long time.
Then Ansel’s father goes missing right before a prominent Nazi leader comes to town. With the local police in the Nazi’s pocket, can Ansel and his friends use their detective skills to find his father and thwart the Nazi’s plans to suppress the truth?
Follower News
Before I get to Michael’s interview, I have Follower News to share. Victoria Marie Lees released Determination: A Mother of Five Conquers College, her memoir, today. Here’s a blurb: You’re not smart enough. Determined to prove both her father and education authorities holding her daughter back they’re wrong, Victoria Marie Lees begins college. The challenge of college takes on a whole new meaning when you add five young children and self-doubt to the mix. And here are a few links:
Website
Interview With Michael P. Spradlin
Hi Michael! Thanks so much for joining us.
1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.
It was a process. I loved to read as a kid. Really loved it. As I got older, I realized that I actually truly enjoyed the act of writing. But I grew up in a small town that—as far as I know—had no writers. I had no indication it was something you could do to make a living (and there are times it’s still not!). Fast forward to college, where I was a history major and an English minor. You tend to do a lot of writing in those disciplines. It was there that I had several professors start encouraging me about my “writing ability.” One flat out told me, “Dude, you need to do this for a living.” And that was where the idea took root! It wasn’t until I was in my forties though, that I found I had anything to say.
2. Where did you get the idea for Threat of the Spider and the Web of the Spider Series?
It morphed out of a conversation with my editor. I was interested in writing a book about the Edelweiss Pirates. They were a group of German young people (some as young as 12) who, during World War II, opposed Hitler and the Nazi regime and engaged in espionage as well as circulating anti-Nazi propaganda. Some were caught and executed (as young as 12). We started discussing the idea of resistance and how it might take root, and we eventually got back to those who might have opposed Hitler from the very beginning. It’s incredibly important to remember that not every German citizen was a Nazi, nor a Nazi supporter.
Your Writing Process
3. It’s cool that your editor helped you with the idea for this story. This isn’t the first series you’ve written. Tell us how you plotted the series, and when you plotted it out in relation to publishing Rise of the Spider, the first book in this series. When and in how much detail did you plot out this story?
We came up with a rough outline for each book—sort of covering the broad strokes we wanted to make sure we didn’t miss. But that was basically just a framework. I had a lot of latitude with characters and personalities. I would say the finished books are quite different from the original outline.
4. How do you keep track of everything you need to know about Ansel, the main character of your story, as you tell his story over the books in this series? Do you have him work through an emotional in addition to the outward plot problem in each book?
I tend to keep notes with character descriptions and personality traits. Ansel is the main character in Threat of the Spider, but he will be a secondary character in the other books, so it becomes a little easier to keep track of things.
5. I’ve read that you don’t write every day. And you’ve successfully published over 39 books. How do you stay so productive and write so many stories that are good enough to be published?
I don’t write every day. It’s just not possible for my brain! I can’t think of any job where someone does it intensely, every single day without their work suffering for it. I think it’s vital to step away and recharge. That said, when it is a writing day, make sure you write.
Your Journey to Publication
6. How did Timothy Travaglini become your agent?
Tim and I had met at a conference years ago, and he actually became my editor on a couple of my books. He bought The Youngest Templar Trilogy while he was at Penguin and edited that. It’s probably been my most successful project to date! Eventually, he moved on to agenting and he was a natural choice when I was looking for a new agent.
7. Your first book, The Legend of Blue Jacket, was published in 2002. What was your road to publishing that picture book? How did you get your publishing contract for this series?
Most of my books happen because of conversations. I had a conversation about the story behind The Legend of Blue Jacket with an editor at a conference. They asked to see it and bought it. Just like that! I don’t have the “hundreds and hundreds” of rejections that so many other writers have. This series also came out of a similar conversation at a conference several years ago. It only goes to show that you never know how much time something is going to take. Hold onto those ideas!
8. I think we’d all like to sell books through conversations like you have. You write for all ages and have published at least 34 books since 2002. How have you been able to steadily continue publishing for all these years? What advice do you have for new authors for growing their careers?
There’s no secret! Write as well as you can and just keep doing it. Don’t give up. Worry about writing for your own pleasure and not so much for publication. Remember a book is written word by word, while a career is built reader by reader.
Promoting Your Book
9. How have you been promoting Threat of the Spider? How has your marketing of your books changed over the years? Why?
The internet has changed everything. It has made it easier to reach larger groups of people more easily. But I still believe the onus is on the writer to write a great book, and the publisher to publish it well. Publishers do a good job of finding readers. If you stay true to your readers, I believe you’ll eventually find success.
10. What are you working on now?
I am working on the next book in the Web of the Spider series, The Spider Strikes, which will be out in 2026.
Thanks for sharing all your advice, Michael. You can find Michael at michaelspradlin.com, and on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X.
Giveaway Details
Michael’s publisher is generously offering a paperback of Threat of the Spider for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by July 5th. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.
If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Michael on his social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S.
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog.
Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops
Tuesday, July 1st I’m participating in the Sparkle Time Giveaway Hop
Wednesday, July 2nd I have an interview with author Nia Davenport and a giveaway of her YA Love Spells Trouble and my IWSG post
Monday, July 7th I have an interview with author Natalie Richards and a giveaway of her MG Survive This Safari
Monday, July 14th I have an interview with debut author Sarah Mendonca with a giveaway of her MG An Enchantora's Guide to Monstros & Magic
Wednesday, July 16th I’m participating in the Hip Hip Hooray Giveaway Hop
Monday, July 28th I have an interview with author Marzieh Abbas and a giveaway of her MG Aarzu All Around
I hope to see you on Wednesday!
Posted by Natalie Aguirre on Monday, June 23, 2025
Posted by Holly Schindler June 20, 2025
Interview with Michael P. Spradlin, Author of Threat of the Spider
Welcome to Smack Dab, Michael. Please tell us about Threat of the Spider.
Threat of the Spider is the second book in the Web of the Spider series, following on the heels of The Rise of the Spider which came out last fall. The series is set in a small town in Germany and follows the lives of several young people during the 1930s and Hitler’s rise to power.
How did you come to write a historical fiction series for young readers focusing on Nazi Germany?
I had interest in doing a book on the Edelweiss Pirates who were a real group of children that challenged the Nazi regime during the war. After some back and forth with my editor when went back even further looking for the seeds of youthful dissent. It was important to me that readers realize that not everyone German citizen supported Hitler or the Nazi party. Especially at the beginning.
Ansel’s “Unassailable Facts of Life” are such a memorable part of his character. How did you develop this quirk? Do any of these sayings have special meaning to you?
I don’t know where the idea came from, but once I tried a couple of ‘facts’ (which as we know are no facts at all) they seemed to fit his personality like a glove. They are one of my favorite parts of his character and I laugh at his willingness to interject this ‘wisdom’ into any situation. I think one of my favorites is #41 When the owls come to the mice picnic, they are not there for the sack races.
Your author's note mentions visiting Heroldsberg and Nuremberg for research. How did physically being in these locations shape the story?
It had a tremendous impact on the book. For the most part the historical fiction I’ve written takes place in a world that no longer exists. Heroldsberg suffered little during the war in the way of damage from bombing or fighting. And with Nuremberg the medieval city was rebuilt after the war to how it was. So it was a chance to see places as the characters did. And it was invaluable.
How did you balance creating fictional characters like Ansel with incorporating historical figures like Heinrich Himmler?
I’m nutty about including real historical figures in my novels. I just think it adds so much gravitas to the story. Plus it’s fun to play puppet master with some of these figures and gain insight to what they might have thought or felt.
What challenges did you face in writing about such a dark historical period for a middle-grade audience?
These have been challenging books no doubt. These are complicated historical, political, religious and socio-economic themes at work here. Trying to condense that down in an interesting ‘non-info dump’ way hasn’t been easy. Luckily smart characters help you figure it out.
The Hitler Youth plays a significant role in the story. What sources did you use to understand how this organization recruited and influenced young people?
There are a ton of sources. YouTube video interviews with Hitler Youth members, a host of memoirs and histories. The Hitler Youth is to me, one of the most fascinating parts of the Nazi rise to power. This complete and total indoctrination of a country’s youth is just mind boggling.
The book shows how everyday citizens responded differently to the rise of Nazism. What message do you hope young readers take away about standing up against injustice?
Standing up against injustice is hard. Being the one that says, ‘this far, no further,’ is always rife with conflict. I want young readers to realize that freedom is precious. It’s a garden that all of us need to water and nurture. Because freedoms can be taken away.
The book's title "Threat of the Spider" has multiple potential meanings. Could you explain its significance in relation to the story?
The whole idea for the series was that Spider is an avatar for the Nazis. They start out small, spinning webs that eventually take them into every corner and nook of the country. Spiders have various qualities. Sometimes they threaten, sometimes they strike. I think it’s the perfect metaphor for these books.
What similarities do you hope young readers might draw between Ansel's experience and our current political circumstances? How might his story help them navigate questions about truth, censorship, and the importance of independent journalism?
Well I would hope we all, not just young people, would follow embrace Ansel’s mindset. Ansel is a truth teller. It may be hard to hear the truth at times, but it needs to be told. Someone has to guard it and be its champion. He’s learned from his father’s example, that among the first of those an evil regime will strike at are the reporters and journalists who tell the truth.
What’s next?
I am working on book four in the series, and I have a new novel coming this fall called The Raven’s Shadow. It’s a ‘league of extraordinary young gentlemen’ with Abraham Lincoln, Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Darwin united to save the world.
Where can we find you?
www.michaelspradlin.com
Facebook.com/MichaelPSpradlin
X (Twitter) @mspradlinauthor
The Gram @mspradlinauthor
~
Michael P. Spradlin is the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author of the Spy Goddess series, The Youngest Templar series, and the Web of the Spider series, as well as several works of historical fiction, including the Western Heritage Award–winning Off Like the Wind: The Story of the Pony Express. He currently resides in Lapeer, Michigan, with his wife, daughter, and his schnoodle, Sequoia. Learn more at MichaelSpradlin.com.
Author Chat with Michael P. Spradlin (Threat of the Spider), Plus Giveaway~ US ONLY (No P.O. Boxes)!
June 23, 2025No Comments
Written by Cherokee Crum, Blog Manager and Staff Reviewer
Posted in Authors, Giveaways, Interviews, News & Updates
Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Michael P. Spradlin!
Read on to learn more about the author, the book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Michael P. Spradlin
Michael P. Spradlin is the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author of the Spy Goddess series, The Youngest Templar series, and the Web of the Spider series, as well as several works of historical fiction, including the Western Heritage Award–winning Off Like the Wind: The Story of the Pony Express. He currently resides in Lapeer, Michigan, with his wife, daughter, and his schnoodle, Sequoia. Learn more at MichaelSpradlin.com.
Website * Facebook * Instagram * YouTube * X
About the Book: Threat of the Spider
A twelve-year-old boy searches for his father and fights for free press amid the chilling rise of Hitler’s Germany in this second book in the action-packed middle grade series Web of the Spider for fans of I Survived and A Night Divided.
Ansel has never been afraid to say what’s on his mind. He’s always the first among his friends to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. When the Hitler Youth first set up shop in Heroldsberg the year before, Ansel quickly made enemies of the chapter’s arrogant leader, Hans. Of course, Ansel is also twelve years old, so he spends much of his time reading his favorite Dirk Goodly, Boy Detective novels and trying to make his friends laugh.
But more and more of his classmates have been swayed by Hans’s tactics and the Youth organization is growing throughout the city. Ansel knows that Hans and his group are spreading false information—after all, Ansel’s father is a journalist for the local paper and has been going toe to toe with Nazi propaganda for a long time.
Then Ansel’s father goes missing right before a prominent Nazi leader comes to town. With the local police in the Nazi’s pocket, can Ansel and his friends use their detective skills to find his father and thwart the Nazi’s plans to suppress the truth?
Purchase
~Author Chat~
Who is your favorite character in Threat of the Spider?
There is no doubt Ansel is my favorite character in Threat of the Spider, and he may be my favorite character I’ve ever written. I just love the kid. He’s smart. He’s sassy. He suffers no fools and he’s fiercely loyal. What is not to love?
What scene in Threat of the Spider are you most proud of, and why?
I’m very proud of the opening scene where Ansel’s home has been vandalized and his family called “Jew Lovers”. I think it works well to set up the story and explain exactly what Ansel will be facing in novel. I also like the way it brings his father into the story as he becomes a critical component later on.
How do you keep your ‘voice’ true to the age category you are writing within?
I don’t find it hard at all, surprisingly. It’s probably because I try to live my life like I’m a fifth grader. So it’s easy for me to relate.
What’s up next for you?
I’ve finished book three in the Web of the Spider Series titled The Spider Strikes and am at work on book four. I also have a novel coming this fall called The Raven’s Shadow, which I am supremely excited about.
What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from Threat of the Spider?
I want readers to realize that they need to remain vigilant of their world and their society. What happen in Germany in the 1930s has happened again in other countries and we have this misguided belief that nothing like that can ever happen here. It can.
If you were able to meet them, would you be friends with your main character?
OMG! Ansel and I would be inseparable! Two peas in a pod! A yin and yang! Starsky and Hutch! Abbot and Costello! I would love to hang out with him!
What word do you have trouble overusing?
It seems, I tend to use seems a lot when I’m writing. At least it seems that way. So it seems.
What do you do when you procrastinate?
I’m sorry, what?
What fandom would you write for if you had time?
The fandom that makes every book you write a huge bestseller.
What is your favorite writing space?
Inside my head. It’s where I do my best work.
Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
There is. My cousin runs a no kill animal shelter called Fanciful Farms. It’s a small outfit but it’s bursting at the seams because they take in every critter that they can. It costs a lot to run and donations are so appreciated and 100% go right to the animals for food, medicine or vet care.
Title: Threat of the Spider
Author: Michael P. Spradlin
ISBN-13: 9781665947244
ISBN-10: 1665947241
On-sale date: June 24, 2025
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Imprint: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Ages: 8-12
Grades: 3-7
Author Chat with Michael P. Spradlin (Web of the Spider: Rise of the Spider), Plus Giveaway~ US ONLY!
September 23, 2024No Comments
Written by Cherokee Crum, Blog Manager and Staff Reviewer
Posted in Authors, Giveaways, Interviews, News & Updates
Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Michael P. Spradlin!
Read on to learn more about the author, the book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Michael P. Spradlin
Michael P. Spradlin is the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author of the Spy Goddess series, The Youngest Templar series, and the Web of the Spider series, as well as several works of historical fiction, including the Western Heritage Award–winning Off Like the Wind: The Story of the Pony Express. He currently resides in Lapeer, Michigan, with his wife, daughter, and his schnoodle, Sequoia. Learn more at MichaelSpradlin.com.
Website * X * Instagram
About the Book: Web of the Spider: Rise of the Spider
Witness the chilling rise of Hitler’s Germany through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy in this first book in the action-packed middle grade series Web of the Spider for fans of I Survived and A Night Divided.
1929, Heroldsberg, Germany. Rolf might only be twelve years old, but he’s old enough to know that things have not been good in his country since the end of the Great War. Half of Germany is out of work, and a new political movement is taking hold that scares him. Every night, Rolf’s father and older brother, Romer, have increasingly heated arguments about politics at the dinner table. And when two members of the new Nazi Party, Hans and Nils, move to town as part of the Hitler Youth, Rolf is uneasy to see how enamored Romer is by their promises of bringing Germany to glory.
Rolf doesn’t trust Hans and Nils for a moment. For all their talk of greatness, they act more like bullies, antagonizing shop owners who are Rolf’s friends and neighbors. Yet Romer becomes increasingly obsessed with their message of division, and Rolf watches in horror as his family fractures even further.
When there is an act of vandalism against a Jewish-owned business in town, Rolf fears Romer might have had something to do with it. Can Rolf find a way to intervene before things get any worse?
Purchase
~Author Chat~
Who is your favorite character in Rise of the Spider?
I’m deep in book two now, The Threat of the Spider, and in this story, Ansel is the main character. In Rise of the Spider he served as the sidekick. Rolf’s loyal friend. He’s smart, quick with a quip and has his own inestimable style. Now he’s carrying the story and it’s fun to watch him take center stage. As in most of my novels, there is a character who is a lot like me. In this case it’s Ansel. Humor is my default setting. And I’m loyal to a fault. He thinks like I do. In most of my previous novels the ‘me’ character is always the sidekick or the second banana. It’s been fun to let Ansel be the voice this time.
There are going to be six books in the series that take place of a six year period. I’m trying to figure out a way that I can keep Ansel in every book.
What research did you to do to write Rise of the Spider?
This was a bit of a departure for me. I’ve visited a lot of historical sites in the United States for my novels and picture books. Historical fiction is tricky because whatever site you visit it almost always is quite different now, than the period you’re writing about. Since this would take place in Heroldsberg and Nuremberg, Germany. I felt it was essential to go there. Unlike a lot of German cities, Nuremberg was rebuilt much like it was before the war. It still has that medieval feel to it in some places.
Heroldsberg is a small town about ten kilometers outside of Nuremberg. I have become obsessed with this town. It is a quant town in a gorgeous part of Bavaria. It still has the marketplace and old town. The church is magnificent. It was uncanny to me how easily I was able to ‘see’ my characters there doing all the things they’ve done and would do. It really affected me, and I hope I can visit it again someday.
I even had an encounter with a librarian at the Heroldsberg public library while seeking old newspapers for research. One of my novels, The Youngest Templar, sold in great numbers in Germany. The publisher made it a bestseller. Of course this was more than ten years ago, so no one remembers including this librarian. I tried using it as an ice breaker and to ensure her I was legit. She repeatedly shook her head and only wanted me to leave as soon as possible because they were hosting a luncheon for their board that day and would this loud American and his Google Translate please go. But it’s all good.
What can readers expect to find in your books?
I hope they can find a little truth, a little knowledge, but mostly I hope they find a few hours of escape and entertainment.
Which came first, the concept, landscape, characters, or something else?
For me it’s always the characters. If you’re characters aren’t someone the reader can become invested in, then the greatest concept, the greatest plot, or the jiffiest landscape is not going to matter. Characters are the readers avatar and we want them to take us with them to do whatever they are going to do. If you can get a great character with fantastic concept, a twisting and turning plot set in a tremendous landscape, you’re probably going to do pretty well.
What’s up next for you?
I have plenty to keep me busy with the next five books in Web of the Spider. I’m launching a business, learning Sanskrit and taking up bungee jumping. Two of those are not true.
Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
My cousin Kelly Williams-Ruehle is a bloody do-gooder. She and her family run a no-kill animal sanctuary called Fanciful Farms. She takes in just about anything but has a specialty in dwarf horses. Most of them arrive there from kill pens or with horrible health issues and Kelly takes them in, gets them veterinary help, and then lets them live out their days in peace and harmony. Every time I see a photo or post of a new arrival I’m reminded of the Starfish parable. We can’t make a difference in every creatures life, but we can in some. That’s what they do here. I’d be really pleased if someone gave them a donation!
Title: Web of the Spider: Rise of the Spider
Author: Michael P. Spradlin
ISBN-13: 9781665947213
ISBN-10: 1665947217
On-sale date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Imprint: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Ages: 8-12; Grades 3-7
CBC Q&A with author Mike Spradlin
The CBC asks author Mike Spradlin questions about his new book.
You’ve written historical fiction, contemporary spy fiction, and a host of other genres. What are you bringing into the world this time?
It’s a new series with the name The Web of the Spider and it is the story of six young people who are experiencing the rise of Nazism in pre-World War II Germany. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be popular with those who have read my historical fiction. The first book is called The Rise of the Spider.
Dealing with a movement that attracted some of the worst human beings in history had to have had an effect on you?
I spent time in Heroldsberg where the book is set. And Nuremberg where the Nazi rallies were held, and Triumph of the Will was filmed. Standing on the Nazi Rally grounds was a life-changing experience – if by life-changing you mean nauseating, depressing, and horrible and I do. My only saving grace for the trip was visiting the Hall of Justice where the Nuremberg Trials were held, because it helped me remember that those who had done these horrendous things were held accountable.
Heroldsberg had a different impact on me. It is an absolutely gorgeous little city in the rolling hills of Bavaria. Having been there, taken scores of photos and video has really made me feel connected to a place. Bavaria is so beautiful, yet it is the birthplace of the antisemitism that gave rise to Nazism.
Ok, easy question, Mike. How are the pre-reviews so far?
These were really great to read! I’m modestly immodestly happy.
“1930’s Germany leaps off the page. An important book for kids to learn about the rise of evil.” – T. Jefferson Parker, New York Times bestselling author of Rescue, 1000 Steps and Silent Joe
“A thoughtful reflection…on the rise of evil that will have readers drawing parallels to the current political climate.” – Publishers Weekly
“Rise of the Spider is a fabulous, important, and entertaining read. Although it takes place during pre-World War II with the rise of Nazism, the information is terrifyingly relevant to what is happening around the world today. It’s a must-read. I could not put it down. I have loved every book Michael Spradlin has written. This novel is no exception. I eagerly await the rest of the series.” – Roland Smith, New York Times bestselling author
“I’m loving the book. I’m also realizing how much about WWII is weighty. There is Night and The Diary of Anne Frank but not a lot for elementary and middle readers. Now there is Rise of the Spider.” – Catherine Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Match of the Century, For Love and Honor, and All Things Beautiful
Let’s close this up. Great reviews! What else have you to say?
The book is being published on 9/24 in simultaneous hardcover (ISBN: 9781665947206) and paperback (ISBN: 9781665947213) editions. Thank you, Simon and Schuster!
Spradlin, Michael P. CLOSE CALLS Bloomsbury (Children's Informational) $18.99 1, 7 ISBN: 978-1-5476-0023-6
Dramatic accounts of assassination attempts and other brushes with death in the lives of select serving or future chief executives.
Four U.S presidents have been assassinated while in office, but considerably more have had narrow squeaks, as Spradlin, writing with a sharp eye for colorful quotes and details, chronicles. Most incidents occurred before or after their terms--George Washington and Dwight Eisenhower, for instance, were targeted by assassins in wartime; young officers John Kennedy and George H.W. Bush were likewise nearly captured in the Pacific in World War II; Theodore Roosevelt was shot in the chest on a campaign stop (and went on to deliver a 90-minute speech after examining his spittle to make sure his lung hadn't been punctured); and Navy officer Jimmy Carter led a crew tasked with shutting down an unstable nuclear reactor ("I had radioactive urine for six months," he recalls). The author includes substantial asides on the motives and fates of the would-be assassins, significant figures such as detective Allan Pinkerton and his gifted associate Kate Warne, and like high-interest topics. Nearly everyone here is or was white, but though the author's nods to Washington's secret agents "Hercules Mulligan and his slave, Cato" are clumsy, he does note that the GIs who blew the whistle on the Eisenhower plot by capturing a trio of German agents were African American.
Oddly compelling tales of disaster averted, sometimes miraculously. (source notes, index) (Nonfiction. 10-13)
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"Spradlin, Michael P.: CLOSE CALLS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Nov. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A605549677/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ea6c5e96. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
Spradlin, Michael P. RISE OF THE SPIDER McElderry (Children's None) $17.99 9, 24 ISBN: 9781665947206
Tensions rise when a cadre of Hitler Youth arrives in a young student's Bavarian town.
"They stood out like skunks in their brown shirts, black pants, and jackboots." Rolf is upset to see the deteriorating relationship between his always-angry older brother, Romer, and their widowed father. But he's more disturbed by evidence that Romer is drifting toward sinister, spiderlike Hans and the squad of uniformed thugs behind him--particularly after the distribution of recruitment leaflets is followed by arson and the beating of a local Jewish merchant as bystanders watch some approvingly. Matters come to a head when Hitler speaks at a mass rally; Rolf comes away from the experience firm in his conviction that the Nazi takeover must be resisted. This fast-moving, stirring tale is set in 1929, but along with a timeline that begins with Hitler's birth and ends in 1935, the author intersperses helpful flashbacks about the end of the First World War, the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, and other events presented as news stories. He also makes explicit the book's cautionary purpose: "It's common for us who live in democracies around the world to say, 'it can't happen here,'" he writes in his afterword. "It can."
Clear of stance and cogent of theme. (glossary)(Historical fiction. 11-13)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Spradlin, Michael P.: RISE OF THE SPIDER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A801499659/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=03a1ebea. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
Spradlin, Michael P. THREAT OF THE SPIDER McElderry (Children's None) $17.99 6, 24 ISBN: 9781665947237
Inspired by his favorite fictional detective, 12-year-old Ansel investigates when his journalist father disappears just before a scheduled visit from Nazi kingpin Heinrich Himmler.
People commonly believe that "it can't happen here," Spradlin writes meaningfully, as he did in his series opener (which centered on Ansel's friend Rolf). "It can." As the novel opens, a rock painted with the word "Judenliebhaber" ("Jew lover") is thrown through Ansel's window--just a hint of what's to come. Ansel's Bavarian town is gripped by rising tides of fear and excitement as the coming of Hitler's lieutenant brings a flood of Nazi recruits and propaganda about lying journalists. When his defiantly anti-Nazi father drops out of sight, the bookish lad takes cues from the exploits of teen detective Dirk Goodly to seek out his whereabouts. Has he been kidnapped? Or worse? With help from Rolf and other allies, Ansel fearlessly antagonizes creepy, spiderlike Hans, too, even though the Hitler Youth leader has paramilitary brownshirt thugs at his back now and is certain to retaliate. Things seem hopeless, though along with perceptive efforts to explain how ordinary citizens could come to condone monsters, the author does try to lighten the load with banter and Ansel's frequent "Unassailable Facts of Life," such as "#33: When the wise man flees, he leaves his pants behind." Still, readers conscious of current events will have no trouble catching the episode's ominous topicality.
Grim and plausible. (timeline, glossary)(Historical fiction. 11-13)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
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MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Spradlin, Michael P.: THREAT OF THE SPIDER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Apr. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A832991922/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f1c748f9. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.