’Tis not, because his journey truly began in elementary school.

As a young kid, Mr. Blend was a voracious reader. From regular fiction to choose-your-own-adventure books, he consumed stories with a hunger for adventure.

In fact, he always kept a watchful eye on the small reading nook in the corner of his fifth-grade classroom, making sure he finished the assignment at hand, posthaste, so he could snatch the best seat in the house whilst continuing The Hobbit, or There and Back Again; The Chronicles of Narnia; A Wrinkle in Time; or some other exciting journey.

And creative writing was part of it.

Mr. Blend attributes his love of creativity to a number of creative writing workshops taught in his elementary school. Small periods of time in which he and his classmates would craft tales of their own.

In fact, he found one particular story, Gory Story (written by a friend and read in class), particularly interesting. (Sure, the playfully macabre elements were fun—what kid wouldn’t enjoy that in the early 80s?)

But it was the excitement of a story created from pure imagination, listening to it unfold, curious about would happen next—that is what truly captivated him.

Those were, in many ways, the best times of his childhood. And eventually, they served as a guide for his career.

“WHAT’S WRONG WITH weird? Weird's like the nuts in my cookies. It's the nuts that make things interesting!”

Florence Zimmerman, from the movie The House with a Clock in Its Walls

“I AM WRITING to express my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Blend for the incredible support he has provided to our classroom. He generously dedicated his time each Monday to come and read two books to our students. The children have truly loved these moments and look forward to them every week.

“In addition, his effort in bringing in a small library and creating a cozy reading space has made a meaningful impact on our learning environment.

“Thank you for becoming such a valued part of our community. Your presence, kindness, and dedication have made a lasting impression on our students, and we are deeply grateful.”

Carla Dominguez, lead guide, children’s house, PMI MACTE certified, Guidepost Montessori

“I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the prints I purchased! Not only was the print itself great, but the quality of the paper was quite impressive ...”

Ashley Meredith, shoppe customer

“I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the redoubtable and Curious Mr. Blend for his ability to create engaging reading experiences of all kinds ...”

Matt Scanlon, chief marketing officer, American Retirement Assoc. (ARA)

“MOVE OVER DR. Seuss, Tim Burton, et al—there's a new artist in town with a new set of characters that will embrace your inner child!”

Jerry Patterson, shoppe customer