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A bit about Aaron Johnson.
A bit about Aaron Johnson.
Authors often get asked the question: Where do find your stories? The best way to answer that question is, to climb a fence with me. Across the road from the farm where I grew up, there’s a fenced-in cow pasture. After crossing the fence, you have to keep the cows from seeing you (they’ll chase you down thinking you’ve brought a truckful of hay).
Authors often get asked the question: Where do find your stories? The best way to answer that question is, to climb a fence with me. Across the road from the farm where I grew up, there’s a fenced-in cow pasture. After crossing the fence, you have to keep the cows from seeing you (they’ll chase you down thinking you’ve brought a truckful of hay).
If you hike for a few minutes, the land begins to fall away to the swamp. (I once took a sled down that hill, ended up in the middle of the swamp, and lost a boot in the sludge and muck). If you follow the creek, it will take you into the deep fields. Few people ever visit this place or even know about it. A creek runs through it., and if you follow that creek it will take you past the biggest sycamore tree in all of Ohio, through a huge stone railroad culvert, and to a series of mounds built by some long-forgotten culture.
If you hike for a few minutes, the land begins to fall away to the swamp. (I once took a sled down that hill, ended up in the middle of the swamp, and lost a boot in the sludge and muck). If you follow the creek, it will take you into the deep fields. Few people ever visit this place or even know about it. A creek runs through it., and if you follow that creek it will take you past the biggest sycamore tree in all of Ohio, through a huge stone railroad culvert, and to a series of mounds built by some long-forgotten culture.
As you can see, I never really thought of hiking as “hiking”. For me, it was exploring. There were relics of the past to be discovered, and dark recesses in the rock that might just turn out to be a cave or entrance to a cavern. And, of course, there were legends: a place along the river where Civil War era buttons mysteriously appeared in the streambed, stories about Blue Jacket (a young man abducted and adopted by the Shawnee), a cache of silver buried during the French and Indian War, and other stories of treasure yet to be found.
As you can see, I never really thought of hiking as “hiking”. For me, it was exploring. There were relics of the past to be discovered, and dark recesses in the rock that might just turn out to be a cave or entrance to a cavern. And, of course, there were legends: a place along the river where Civil War era buttons mysteriously appeared in the streambed, stories about Blue Jacket (a young man abducted and adopted by the Shawnee), a cache of silver buried during the French and Indian War, and other stories of treasure yet to be found.
If you climb that fence, chances are you’d come back mudstained and briar-scratched. But often, that’s the price of an adventure–and a good story.
If you climb that fence, chances are you’d come back mudstained and briar-scratched. But often, that’s the price of an adventure–and a good story.
I like drawing. I was a junior high art teacher for three years–and loved it. Illustrating this book series has been a great way to return to and enjoy those skills. Of course, I also love to write. I wake up most mornings around 5:30, put on some coffee, and sit down to my keyboard.
There are four of us in our family. Jenah and I have two girls (as you can see from the picture). And we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth, Colorado, where we have four national parks.
For over ten years, I’ve been profiling local hikes on my website, DayhikesNearDenver.com. The site now serves over one million users per year.
Information taken with permission by Aaron Johnson
Mystery in the National Parks is a Series!
All ELA teachers have Book 2, Book 3 and Book 4. the library also has multiple copies! Keep reading!
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