Showing results by author "Steven Doornbos" in All Categories

What happens when a tablet battery dies… and real adventure begins? In Calvin & Pudge Go Screen-Smart, Calvin faces his greatest challenge yet — life without constant screen time. When a dead battery forces him outdoors, he and his loyal beagle, Pudge, discover something unexpected: the backyard isn’t empty. It’s alive. From treasure hunts and cardboard engineering disasters to backyard Olympics, rain-day forts, neighborhood missions, and the legendary defeat of the Boredom Monster, Calvin learns that being “screen-smart” isn’t about banning devices — it’s about balance. ...

The Earth wakes up. Not angry. Not vengeful. Aware. Beneath humanity’s feet, a planetary intelligence begins to think—not in words, but in pressure, heat, and balance. Scientists call it Lavaborn, a forge-mind born of geological time. Governments panic. Humanity argues. And one man begins to understand something far more unsettling than extinction: The Earth may not need us forever. This is not a story about saving the world. It is a story about what happens after survival is no longer the hardest problem. Lavaborn explores what intelligence owes to intelligence, what restraint really ...

Calvin isn’t your ordinary kid—he’s a certified adventurer with a heart full of curiosity and a beagle named Pudge who never leaves his side. When a mysterious journal washes ashore after a fierce Atlantic storm, Calvin is pulled into the story of a legendary shipwreck and a golden anchor said to hold the key to a forgotten treasure. Strapping on his deep-sea diving gear and with Pudge dog-paddling beside him, Calvin dives headfirst into the ocean’s dark and wondrous depths. But finding treasure isn’t just about gold—it’s about solving puzzles, facing fears, and discovering ...

In 2025, van life isn’t what it used to be — it’s smarter, more connected, and more accessible than ever. Whether you’re dreaming of a retirement filled with road trips or looking to live simply and affordably, Traveling Free and Easy (They Laughed When I Said I Was Going to Retire and Live in My Van) is your complete guide to making it happen without draining your savings. Author Steven Doornbos blends practical tips, real-world stories, and a dash of humor to walk you through every stage of the journey — from choosing and outfitting your van to living comfortably on less than $...

The American frontier was changing. Railroads carved steel paths across the wilderness, powerful companies controlled entire territories, and the law often traveled too slowly to stop the men who believed they owned the West. But the railroad empire made one mistake. They underestimated the woman known as the Midnight Queen. After exposing a massive railroad corruption conspiracy, the Queen and her allies believed the war against the railroad barons was finally over. The stolen ledger had already revealed the truth behind decades of frontier land seizures, railroad fraud, and violent ...

Welcome to another adventure with Calvin and his very curious beagle, Pudge. Calvin loves three things more than almost anything: solving mysteries, building the world’s greatest sandwiches, and spending time with his best friend Pudge. But one ordinary afternoon, something very unusual happens. Calvin builds what he believes is the greatest sandwich ever made. Peanut butter. Strawberry jam. Bananas. Honey. Crunchy cereal. And even potato chips. But when he turns around for just a moment… The sandwich disappears. Did Pudge eat it? Did someone sneak into the kitchen? Or could there be a ...

Deep in the Amazon jungle lies a plantation unlike any other—where bananas gleam like glass, hum with strange energy, and hide secrets older than explorers’ maps. When Calvin and his beagle Pudge stumble into the mystery, they find more than fruit: they uncover doorways to another world, guarded by shadowy figures called the Watchers. With journals from a missing explorer, glowing symbols carved into trees, and an ancient Keeper guiding their steps, Calvin and Pudge must face traps, shifting paths, and the greatest test of all: whether courage and promises are enough to bring someone ...

Meet Sir-Sticks-A-Lot, the bravest knight in the Backyard Kingdom. Phillip is nine years old, armed with a mighty collection of sticks, and absolutely certain that dragons live in the clouds above his home. From the towering heights of Castle Maplefort to the mysterious Tall Grass Valley, Sir-Sticks-A-Lot patrols his kingdom ready to face anything that might swoop down from the sky. But when strange shadows begin gliding overhead, Phillip must investigate. Are the clouds hiding the fearsome Red Fire Dragon? Is the suspicious crow actually a dragon spy? And what happens when thunder, ...

Welcome to Camp Creepout. You know the place—the fog rolls in heavy, the trees whisper your name, and the canoes? Well, they have teeth. When 11-year-old Josh and his best friend Cooper arrive at Camp Creepout, they expect some hiking, s’mores, and maybe a few bug bites. What they don’t expect is to be stalked by a wooden monster with paddles for arms and a taste for rule-breaking campers. Now it’s up to a crew of goofy, terrified kids, a glowing-eyebrowed counselor, and a lot of marshmallows to stop an ancient canoe uprising before the entire camp is eaten—one bunkmate at a time....

Sit, Sweat, Repeat: The Ultimate Wheelchair Exercise Program for Seniors Over 60 is more than just a workout guide—it’s a celebration of movement, confidence, and fun. Whether you’ve been using a wheelchair for years or have recently joined the “wheels club,” this book will show you how to build strength, boost energy, improve flexibility, and increase balance—all without leaving your chair. And it’s not all serious—laughter and humor are as much a part of the program as resistance bands and soup-can curls. With safe, step-by-step instructions, easy-to-follow routines, and ...

Strong for Life is the fitness book you’ve been waiting for—one that doesn’t demand perfection, expensive gear, or endless hours at the gym. Whether you’re 35 or 85, this simple, science-backed program shows you how to stay strong, steady, and independent for life. With a practical blend of strength training, balance drills, mindset shifts, and everyday nutrition, you’ll learn how to build real-world fitness that protects your future. Written in a conversational tone by someone who’s lived it, Strong for Life helps you train smarter—not harder—with a clear, adaptable system ...

What if the greatest obstacle to learning isn’t ignorance… but certainty? Throughout history, intelligent people have confidently defended ideas that later proved spectacularly wrong. Doctors once rejected handwashing. Scientists once declared flight impossible. Entire industries have collapsed because leaders were certain the world would never change. In The Certainty Trap, author Steven Doornbos explores the fascinating psychology behind why humans cling to beliefs—even when the evidence suggests they shouldn’t. Through compelling stories from science, history, business, and ...

What happens when an entire nation realizes it has forgotten God? After months of relentless drought, the land is dry, crops are failing, and hope is fading. Then a mysterious voice in a marketplace delivers a simple but powerful message: “Come to the river. Come and pray.” From distant villages, dusty roads begin to fill with travelers. Farmers, shepherds, merchants, and families journey toward the Jordan River, seeking mercy from the God their ancestors once trusted. What begins as scattered prayers soon becomes something no one expected. Confessions rise from the water. Thousands cry...

Welcome to the kitchen! In this fun and family-friendly cookbook, Calvin and his loyal beagle Pudge discover that the kitchen can be one of the most exciting places in the house. With the help of Calvin’s mom, they mix, stir, flip, bake, and taste their way through 25 easy recipes for kids that are simple, delicious, and full of adventure. This book is designed to be more than just a cookbook. It is a kids cookbook for beginners that encourages children to learn basic cooking skills while spending meaningful time with the adults in their lives. Each chapter combines a short story with a ...

Sometimes the future doesn’t arrive with a map. For Calvin, watching his best friend Sky take flight toward her dream sparks a quiet question he can’t ignore: What will my own path look like? Known around Maplewood for solving small mysteries with his loyal beagle, Pudge, Calvin begins to sense that curiosity alone won’t guide him forever. When an unexpected opportunity draws him from familiar streets to open water, Calvin steps into a world where patience matters more than speed, listening matters more than confidence, and the horizon is never a finish line—but an invitation. ...

The American West was built on railroads, ambition, and men who believed they could own the land beneath other people’s feet. In this gripping Western frontier adventure, readers are transported to a time when railroad barons controlled towns, lawmen were often outnumbered, and the fate of entire valleys could be decided by a single rider with the courage to stand against corruption. When a mysterious woman known only as the Midnight Queen rides into a dusty frontier town, she carries with her a secret powerful enough to bring down an empire. Hidden inside a stolen railroad ledger lies ...

Calvin and his trusty beagle, Pudge, aren’t just best friends — they’re the neighborhood’s most determined detectives. So when strange footprints begin appearing — and vanishing — in backyards, gardens, and sandboxes, the duo springs into action. Armed with a notebook, a magnifying glass, and Pudge’s super-powered nose, they set off on a case that will take them across fences, through sprinklers, and even onto rooftops. But this isn’t just any mystery. The prints vanish before their very eyes, neighbors whisper about prowlers, and Calvin’s traps never quite work the way he...

The publishing world has changed forever. For centuries, traditional publishers controlled who could become an author. Writers waited months—or years—for permission to publish their ideas. Today the gates are gone. Self-publishing platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) have opened the doors for anyone to publish a book and reach readers worldwide. But this new opportunity created something unexpected: A flood of books. Millions of authors now compete in the largest bookstore the world has ever seen. Many publish one book and hope for success. Most disappear before they ever ...

Why This Book Exists There is a growing problem in history classrooms—and it isn’t the students. It’s disengagement. Today’s learners are surrounded by stories, visuals, and instant information, yet history is often delivered as if curiosity were optional. Dates are memorized. Names are tested. And the most powerful stories humanity has ever lived through are reduced to bullet points and worksheets. This book exists to change that. When History Walks Into the Classroom was written for educators who know that learning happens best when students feel connected—when history becomes ...

Most people think decluttering is about effort. If you just tried harder. If you were more disciplined. If you had the right system. But if you’ve ever stood in a room full of things and felt overwhelmed before you even started, you already know the truth: Decluttering isn’t hard because you’re lazy. It’s hard because it’s emotional. This book isn’t here to tell you how many items to keep, how fast to work, or how your home should look when you’re done. It’s here to explain why letting go feels so complicated—especially for thoughtful, responsible people who want a calmer ...