Welcome to Roger Reid Books. We are making some changes to our website and will be adding additional content soon. Until then, you will find basic information about Roger Reid and his books on this page. If you have questions or would like to book Roger for and event, email him at [email protected]
“Longleaf is the action-packed story of two teenagers fleeing for their lives deep in the piney woods of Alabama’s Conecuh Forest. Reid has created a real hero in fourteen-year-old Jason Caldwell, seemingly a know-it-all who is bested by fifteen-year-old Leah. As the mystery unfolds, Jason and Leah must pool their knowledge of the forest environment to escape their would-be captors. … Filled with humor and witty dialogue and infused with tidbits of wisdom from the natural world.”
— Virginia Pounds Brown, author of Mother & Me and The Gold Disc of Coosa
“Roger Reid does it again. Space, the second in his saga of the brave, young Jason Caldwell, is an out-of-this-world good read. Brilliant dialogue, gripping action, and a cast of colorful characters, Space is another page-turner from Reid’s prolific pen. Let us hope that like Homer’s Jason of Jason and the Argonauts, Reid’s Longleaf was only just the beginning of a long line of Jason Caldwell’s heroic adventures.”
— Charles Ghigna, aka Father Goose, author of Score: 50 Poems to Motivate and Inspire
“I loved this story of young romance, mystery, and fossil-hunting! Mr. Reid has written a highly entertaining book that also teaches us some very interesting lessons on paleontology and love, which turns out to be a delightful combination. Nicely paced, good characters, intriguing story. Highly recommended!”
— Homer Hickam, author of The Dinosaur Hunter and Rocket Boys
— Virginia Pounds Brown, author of Mother & Me and The Gold Disc of Coosa
“Roger Reid does it again. Space, the second in his saga of the brave, young Jason Caldwell, is an out-of-this-world good read. Brilliant dialogue, gripping action, and a cast of colorful characters, Space is another page-turner from Reid’s prolific pen. Let us hope that like Homer’s Jason of Jason and the Argonauts, Reid’s Longleaf was only just the beginning of a long line of Jason Caldwell’s heroic adventures.”
— Charles Ghigna, aka Father Goose, author of Score: 50 Poems to Motivate and Inspire
“I loved this story of young romance, mystery, and fossil-hunting! Mr. Reid has written a highly entertaining book that also teaches us some very interesting lessons on paleontology and love, which turns out to be a delightful combination. Nicely paced, good characters, intriguing story. Highly recommended!”
— Homer Hickam, author of The Dinosaur Hunter and Rocket Boys
About the AuthorAs a writer, director, and producer for the Emmy Award Winning Discovering Alabama public television series, I’ve spent many years exploring the wonders of the natural world with series Creator and Host, Dr. Doug Phillips. When my son, Ben, was in the sixth grade, it occurred to me that this world would make a great setting for a novel. I had just finished two television shows on the longleaf forest and felt like this would be the perfect location to begin the adventures of Jason Caldwell. At the time I had been writing for TV for about 20 years but had never attempted a novel. I would write a chapter and then share it with my daughter, Emily, who was then in the fourth grade. If, after reading the chapter, Emily wanted to know more, I would write another chapter. This process continued for the 37 chapters that make up the novel Longleaf.
Even as I was working on Longleaf, I realized I wanted to continue the exploits of Jason Caldwell. The second novel, Space, is set at the Conrad Swanson Observatory in my hometown of Huntsville, Alabama. When I was Jason’s age, my lifelong friend, Carlton, and I spent many nights at this same observatory. My latest novel, Time, came from a few simple ideas. In 2005, we did a TV show on “one of the most significant carboniferous era fossil trackways sites in the world” (say that three time fast). I thought then that this would be a great setting for another Jason Caldwell adventure. After reading a newspaper article about people stealing and selling fossils, I realized there was a place for the bad guys—even at a fossil site. Where will Jason’s adventures take him next? Right now I’m working on a story that is set in a swamp. It’s a big swamp with oversized alligators, snakes, and wild hogs. I’ve spent a lot of time canoeing and kayaking in this swamp. At night the trees are filled with an almost deafening sound of howling owls. |