Do You Know Author David A. Kelly?

A visit from a real mystery writer!

Written by Thanha D., Emily O., and Sophia C.

David A. Kelly visited Horizon Elementary to talk about his books, his writing process, and how he became an author. He even shared stories about his Milwaukee Brewers mystery books!

From Struggling Writer to Author

When David A. Kelly was a kid, he didn’t like writing and said he wasn’t very good at it. He even joked that his younger self would be shocked to learn he had become an author! Later, his sons inspired him. They loved baseball and mystery books, so he decided to write stories for them.

Writing wasn’t easy at first. When he finished his first book, his editor told him it wasn’t good. He kept trying and improving until it was finally ready. That shows how important it is to never give up!

His Writing Process

David A. Kelly explained that his writing process is similar to that of 5th graders. First, he researches by visiting places, like baseball stadiums, and noticing what makes each one special. Then, he writes his story, which he says is the hardest part. After that, he works with an editor to revise before publishing.

Brewers Mystery Books

 Recently, he wrote two books about the Milwaukee Brewers: The Sausage Race Chase and The Bobblehead Bunt. In The Sausage Race Chase, the famous sausage costumes go missing, and Kate and Mike must solve the mystery.

Here’s the exciting part: Mrs. Riekkoff and her students, both past and present, loved his books so much that they wrote him letters, asking him to include the Milwaukee Brewers in a story. And guess what? He did! Even better, he dedicated The Bobblehead Bunt book to her class and Ballpark Mystery fans at Horizon Elementary School in Pewaukee!

David A. Kelly’s visit was exciting, inspiring, and full of great advice for young writers. He showed us that even if writing feels hard at first, practice and perseverance can lead to amazing things. From his early struggles to becoming a published author, his story proves that anyone can grow and improve.

Thank you, David A. Kelly, for visiting Horizon, sharing your journey, and inspiring us to keep reading, writing, and believing in ourselves. GO BREWERS!