tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39444793344587374352024-02-21T02:20:20.982-06:00Mike GrossoAuthor of I AM DRUMS, game designer of Private Pook Games, illustrator, musician, middle school teacher, all around silly parent, and yeti sumo-wrestler.Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-86120912715877869352022-05-09T08:44:00.002-05:002022-05-09T08:44:13.474-05:00Interview and Giveaway on Legit Kidlit!<p>Have you checked out Legit Kidlit on social media and YouTube? They are an amazing duo of book lovers and educators, and I was lucky enough to be invited on their channel.</p><p>Watch below!</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ulD8-cQ0FuA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-43883193260919694382022-03-10T00:14:00.001-06:002022-03-10T00:18:58.408-06:00#iCantDrawEither - "Rick Diculous"<div>Today I decided to bring back #ICantDrawEither with a heavy dose of rock and roll mayhem...</div><div><br /></div>"Attention, Rosemont Horizon! Rick Diculous has left the building!"<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvA35V8aWyKoolB3s1HNs48rnmJoXKVYnd3WiS8CP3IMovO1w-K0I-U1kfeje22fupw33KGvBgAlCOtyRd2kXKordKURasRbcSsV0CyqQMaUOH34vznIomLu92FTto53zeWbrqso5C7S2zTlEq6BYQETMiFhhCv4i6eUba8_BeyC7ArXdAsIuQJAsWkA=s2560" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvA35V8aWyKoolB3s1HNs48rnmJoXKVYnd3WiS8CP3IMovO1w-K0I-U1kfeje22fupw33KGvBgAlCOtyRd2kXKordKURasRbcSsV0CyqQMaUOH34vznIomLu92FTto53zeWbrqso5C7S2zTlEq6BYQETMiFhhCv4i6eUba8_BeyC7ArXdAsIuQJAsWkA=s320" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-46481909588685256722021-11-04T14:02:00.002-05:002021-11-04T14:02:09.265-05:00New Music: THE UNEXPECTED now streamable on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTubeWhat do CRASH TEST DUMMIES and FAITH NO MORE have in common?<div><br /></div><div>They're both on THE UNEXPECTED, my new EP of two cover songs you'd never expect to be released together.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stream it on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2T97HIt7Xt3uL94KQV52Bx" target="_blank">SPOTIFY</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Stream it on <a href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-unexpected-single/1593424873?uo=4&app=apple+music " target="_blank">APPLE MUSIC</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Stream it on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du3SypMhfRs&list=OLAK5uy_kcNQ41Ip5nCrb6P_NUZeDU2AXBrroSB3o" target="_blank">YOUTUBE</a></div>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-62411288411717954242021-04-20T15:15:00.004-05:002021-04-20T15:15:34.636-05:00NEW MUSIC - "Photocopied Conspiracy"You know what's almost as cool as releasing a new book?<br /><br /><div>Releasing a new song.<br /><br /></div><div>Especially when that song totally slaps and you're super proud of it.</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eF16e706yCw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-73956770153218573302021-02-19T11:42:00.001-06:002021-02-19T11:42:10.878-06:00"Windy City Shoveling", a short animated film about snow shoveling<p>I got the itch to animate, so I decided to tell the true story of me shoveling the 5,000,000 pounds of snow that fell recently...</p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3MTTNjffu2Q" width="560"></iframe>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-79162729570246608912020-10-31T15:10:00.002-05:002020-10-31T15:10:14.158-05:00DRILLY WILLIS Gameplay Trailer!<p></p><div dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_6f"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">The final cut of the DRILLY WILLIS gameplay trailer will knock your socks off even if they're glued on your feet.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Watch, laugh, and <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1416150/Drilly_Willis/" target="_blank">ADD IT TO YOUR STEAM WISHLIST!</a><br /><span><br /></span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZDxZxzlLK_k" width="560"></iframe>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-78121218829935100902020-06-30T14:48:00.001-05:002020-06-30T14:48:47.225-05:00How to Code Basic Movement in ScratchA lot of kids want to take the big step from basic coding blocks to coding actual games, but often times they don't know where to start.<br />
<br />
I put on my "Educator Who Codes" hat and made a tutorial showing how to code basic movement in Scratch.<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="443" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3rgzbxJCZeE?autoplay=0&fs=0&iv_load_policy=3&showinfo=0&rel=0&cc_load_policy=0&start=0&end=0&origin=https://youtubeembedcode.com" type="text/html" width="788.54"><div>
<small><a href="https://youtubeembedcode.com/nl/">youtubeembedcode nl</a></small></div>
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<small><a href="https://www.hostsearch.com/">high quality website traffic</a></small></div>
</iframe>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-46313020447314977182020-05-26T22:49:00.000-05:002020-05-26T22:49:07.469-05:00CHAIR - a very short animated filmGot the itch to animate, so I made this yesterday...<br />
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<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/omORYC4FfWQ" width="560"></iframe>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-27496556143839391152020-03-21T11:57:00.002-05:002020-03-21T11:57:35.950-05:00I AM DRUMS Read Alouds For E-Learning!<span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Dear teachers, parents, and students,</span><br />
<br />
<span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">With the support of my publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and my agent, Eddie Schneider, I am thrilled to share read alouds of my debut middle grade novel, I AM DRUMS.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto"><u><b>TEACHERS -- it is 100% okay to share this video with your students for e-learning purposes via Google Classroom and/or any other online learning platform during the COVID-19 crisis.</b></u> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">I am hoping to post one chapter per day, so feel free to view/listen at your own pace. A playlist of all chapters posted thus far is embedded below. Closed captions seem to be working as well, so students with hearing impairments can turn them on if needed.</span><br />
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<span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Please excuse the backwards front cover -- it's a side effect of selfie camera mode! :)</span><br />
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<span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Stay chill and rock out,</span><br />
<span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Mike</span><br />
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<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLCXxcUcnBuFv7sDQE1X0ZZlRD5QZTQAVt" width="560"></iframe>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-64152153170533780572020-03-16T11:32:00.003-05:002020-03-16T11:50:58.047-05:00Play the DRILLY WILLIS demo in your browser!Want to play the ADVENTURES OF DRILLY WILLIS demo without downloading anything?<br />
<br />
Now you can play the demo in your browser!* Check it out below, then...<br />
<br />
... <b><a href="https://privatepook.itch.io/drilly-willis" target="_blank">PREORDER THE FULL GAME FOR PC AND MAC</a></b>.<br />
<br />
* Please note the final version of the game will not be browser based.<br />
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<br />
<iframe src="https://i.simmer.io/@privatepook/drilly-willis" style="height: 600px; width: 960px;"></iframe>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-39507932378184217212020-03-03T13:34:00.003-06:002020-03-03T14:09:30.734-06:00DRILLY WILLIS Playable Demo Available Now!There is now an official free playable demo of THE ADVENTURES OF DRILLY WILLIS for Windows PC and Mac OS.<br />
<br />
Download the demo for Windows or Mac OS over at Itch -- <a href="https://privatepook.itch.io/drilly-willis">https://privatepook.itch.io/drilly-willis</a> -- and/or preorder t<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">he game below...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Here's the official game synopsis:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="color: #222222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><i>"</i></b></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Drilly Willis has a drill for a head, shoots screws at foes, and rocks at guitar. But one night, in an envious rage, Flash Clappy crashes Drilly's concert and banishes them to a world of things that suck.</i></b></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Now Drilly is stuck in a weird limbo where he must battle odd creatures and relearn every song they once knew to escape. Along the way, they'll fight strange creatures and ally with musical accessories also banished by Clappy. Can Drilly survive in this strange new world and find their way back to the music? Can Flash Clappy, the worst musician in the world, be stopped from banishing all good tunes, instruments, and musicians for eternity?</i></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Only Drilly Willis can save music forever!</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Metroid meets Earthworm Jim meets Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure!</i></b></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"</i></b></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="167" src="https://itch.io/embed/542839?linkback=true" width="552"><a href="https://privatepook.itch.io/drilly-willis">The Adventures of Drilly Willis by Private Pook Games</a></iframe>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-12004780957245427392020-02-08T00:00:00.000-06:002020-02-08T00:00:00.180-06:00DRILLY WILLIS Gameplay Video<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://youtube.com/embed/31bdS6qi91w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-1863686196596434762019-09-29T23:08:00.000-05:002019-09-29T23:09:41.139-05:00The Misadventures of Drilly Nelson -- a short animated filmDrilly Nelson just wants to jam, but some dude in a suit isn't cool with that...<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="443" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BDUWrFkrS38?autoplay=0&fs=0&iv_load_policy=3&showinfo=0&rel=0&cc_load_policy=0&start=0&end=0&origin=https://youtubeembedcode.com" type="text/html" width="788.54"><div>
<small><a href="https://youtubeembedcode.com/en">youtubeembedcode.com/en/</a></small></div>
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<small><a href="http://add-link-exchange.com">http://add-link-exchange.com</a></small></div>
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Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-76258224118983140792019-08-31T15:04:00.002-05:002019-08-31T15:05:00.385-05:00Slapped Silly for Windows now has sound<div class="_5pbx userContent _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-testid="post_message" id="js_8oq">
SLAPPED
SILLY for Windows now has voice-overs and the satisfying audio of your
palm intimately connecting with your opponent's face.<br />
<br />
Best of all -- the price is PAY WHAT YOU WANT, so you can slap in whatever tax bracket you'd like.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://grossogames.itch.io/slapped-silly">https://grossogames.itch.io/slapped-silly</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMH5nv8nqT7jMXEaMI8ZXwD3bogmL1oewawyIXagYtzb1CZ0Tab_CodVtuQPdp_rBBWcPjW2DDcHNXOMhfX8qjuL1B_HwSFKFNJPd8tOvXjRHsU6zEOlfWigoSVWByCcAZXuR3AfNT5ZPa/s1600/Slapped+Silly+Title+Screen+WITH+SIR+PHILLIP+AND+MARTHA.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMH5nv8nqT7jMXEaMI8ZXwD3bogmL1oewawyIXagYtzb1CZ0Tab_CodVtuQPdp_rBBWcPjW2DDcHNXOMhfX8qjuL1B_HwSFKFNJPd8tOvXjRHsU6zEOlfWigoSVWByCcAZXuR3AfNT5ZPa/s400/Slapped+Silly+Title+Screen+WITH+SIR+PHILLIP+AND+MARTHA.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-15397379175239630542019-07-16T10:02:00.000-05:002019-07-16T10:02:31.170-05:00I AM DRUMS Paperback Animated TrailerBehold! I made an animated trailer for the I AM DRUMS paperback available November 19, 2019 anywhere books are sold.<br />
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<div>
Check it out below!<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="443" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FpyNR3kvXmI?autoplay=0&fs=0&iv_load_policy=3&showinfo=0&rel=0&cc_load_policy=0&start=0&end=0&origin=https://youtubeembedcode.com" type="text/html" width="788.54"><div>
<small><a href="https://youtubeembedcode.com/nl/">youtubeembedcode.com/nl/</a></small></div>
<div>
<small><a href="http://add-link-exchange.com">Add-link-exchange</a></small></div>
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<small><a href="https://youtubeembedcode.com/de/">youtubeembedcode.com/de/</a></small></div>
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<small><a href="http://add-link-exchange.com">visit us</a></small></div>
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<small><a href="http://add-link-exchange.com">click here</a></small></div>
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</iframe>
<br />
<br />
Preorder your copy...<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781328900135" target="_blank">Indiebound</a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-drums-mike-grosso/1120976970?ean=9781328900135" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Drums-Mike-Grosso/dp/1328900134/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-56736870735048071252019-07-15T09:09:00.002-05:002019-07-15T09:09:24.191-05:00SLAPPED SILLY out for Windows and Android devices!Hello all!<br />
<br />
My first official video game release is a reality! It's called SLAPPED SILLY, a "turn-based slap-fighting RPG" that'll surely provide you with a slappy good time.<br />
<br />
You can find it in <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details%3Fid%3Dcom.mikegrossoauthor.slappedsilly%26referrer%3Dutm_source%253Dgoogle%2526utm_medium%253Dorganic%2526utm_term%253Dgoogleplay%2Bslapped%2Bsilly&ved=2ahUKEwijtZK7jLfjAhXHWM0KHbKLB_gQFjAAegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw1lQFqPSbdr2zrFNmjZBaRk" target="_blank">Google Play here</a> or over at <a href="https://grossogames.itch.io/slapped-silly" target="_blank">Itch.io here</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-87196654665620861762019-04-15T14:36:00.000-05:002019-04-15T14:36:07.385-05:00PARTY ON SUNDAY and SLEDGEHAMMER Streamable Everywhere!I've been on an extended break from blogging, but now I'm back and with two new songs to share!<br />
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The first is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-I_t1wDbok" target="_blank">PARTY ON SUNDAY</a>, an original with a funky beat and bassline.<br />
<br />
The second is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7iF-dA4FZU" target="_blank">SLEDGEHAMMER</a>, a cover of an 80s hit by Peter Gabriel with filthy electric guitars instead of synths.<br />
<br />
Both are stream-able and purchasable anywhere music is streamed or sold.<br />
<br />
More book news coming soon!<br />
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<br />Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-2696065009527783012018-08-02T04:00:00.000-05:002018-08-03T14:30:14.764-05:00#ICantDrawEither, the Kickstarter EditionToday's #ICantDrawEither goes out to Aimee, a backer of the SILENT EXPLOSION Kickstarter campaign and all around cool person.<br />
<br />
Her backer reward included an original drawing, posted on my website as an official #ICantDrawEither illustration, so here it is...<br />
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The Flaming Unicamera!<br />
<br />
It's a unicorn...<br />
<br />
it's a camera...<br />
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and it's on fire...<br />
<br />
what more could one possibly want?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodezKIV4ohVaA2fL2RD5_R7cgouS7xUmozjvYVr4fDDTKviFo1eb840Jm-arLHOImWvNctupcxSFG_7Uv4JRVoieInzqAP5WrmiN_BJIxcY8HwDWYUETP9Mb940eygtFzws1SXXrG0CdI/s1600/The+Flaming+Unicamera.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodezKIV4ohVaA2fL2RD5_R7cgouS7xUmozjvYVr4fDDTKviFo1eb840Jm-arLHOImWvNctupcxSFG_7Uv4JRVoieInzqAP5WrmiN_BJIxcY8HwDWYUETP9Mb940eygtFzws1SXXrG0CdI/s400/The+Flaming+Unicamera.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-79844654522436121002018-07-30T15:59:00.000-05:002018-07-30T16:07:11.627-05:00SILENT EXPLOSION physical copies have arrived!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63fJQx7GCE_N3UB3DsCEeQI98hxQk7pxGnVrD8PzD67GHNvP1Mo0mf6KYcn5J3SnTuJlRCCTRMkwew_bSVvk9gnwQfkbkN0Bc9WG6Aa4CfYmSaFuxUkKZjY6FyffrNH32ibnEMIMEV5kD/s1600/Box+of+SILENT+EXPLOSION+cds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63fJQx7GCE_N3UB3DsCEeQI98hxQk7pxGnVrD8PzD67GHNvP1Mo0mf6KYcn5J3SnTuJlRCCTRMkwew_bSVvk9gnwQfkbkN0Bc9WG6Aa4CfYmSaFuxUkKZjY6FyffrNH32ibnEMIMEV5kD/s400/Box+of+SILENT+EXPLOSION+cds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some of you have been asking for those old things we used to spin in our CD players and in our cars. Good old compact discs!<br />
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If Spotify isn't tangible enough for you, and you're just dying to hold a copy in your hand, you can buy one direct from me over<a href="http://www.mikegrossoauthor.com/p/buy-signed-books-and-cds.html" target="_blank"> here</a>. Or at <a href="https://mikegrosso.bandcamp.com/album/silent-explosion-3" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> over here. Or at <a href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/mikegrosso2" target="_blank">CD Baby</a> over here. Of anywhere else online that sells CDs.Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-43328875562003941162018-07-10T13:04:00.000-05:002018-07-10T14:25:18.701-05:00My NerdCampMI sessionDid you attend my NerdCampMI session about creative writing activites and clubs that truly get kids focused on creativity? Wish you'd been there?<br />
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<a href="http://Click here for some resources I shared via Dropbox." target="_blank">Click here for resources I shared via Dropbox.</a>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-48764164005698369672018-07-06T11:03:00.001-05:002018-07-06T11:09:12.534-05:00SILENT EXPLOSION out July 16th!SILENT EXPLOSION will release on July 16th!<br />
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If you missed the boat pledging on Kickstarter, don't despair -- you can preorder the album on CD or in digital form over at Bandcamp and get immediate access to the song "Magnify". CDs will be shipped immediately after they return from the printer.<br />
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Stream "Magnify" and preorder SILENT EXPLOSION below... <br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1576764573/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 786px; width: 350px;"><a href="http://mikegrosso.bandcamp.com/album/silent-explosion-3">Silent Explosion by Mike Grosso</a></iframe>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-26252088025274665222018-05-30T09:02:00.001-05:002018-05-30T09:02:25.788-05:00I'll be at NerdCampMI!Hello all!<br />
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I'm happy to report that I'll be attending <a href="http://nerdcampmi.weebly.com/" target="_blank">NerdCampMI</a> again this year! I'll be there to sign books, present a few sessions for educators, and learn a bunch of new teaching tricks from other attendees.<br />
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I've also updated the <a href="http://www.mikegrossoauthor.com/p/author-events.html" target="_blank">EVENTS</a> page with a few Grosso Brothers Band shows, and there will likely be more on the horizon.<br />
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On a separate note, <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1537280999/a-rock-album-by-childrens-author-mike-grosso" target="_blank">SILENT EXPLOSION</a> is about 55% done and should be in the hands of Kickstarter backers within a month or two. Rock on, backers!Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-36192656601883803132018-02-03T10:38:00.000-06:002018-02-03T10:38:09.063-06:00Anything You Might've Missed From World Read Aloud!Hey everyone! I had a blast Skyping with classrooms all over the country this past Thursday for World Read Aloud 2018. Thank you to all the teachers and librarians who invited my virtual self into their classrooms.<br />
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Since every Skype is a little different, I wanted to post anything individual classrooms might've missed due to time constraints and technical difficulties.<br />
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Below are four videos of things I included in my Skypes -- me reading from I AM DRUMS, reading from a brand new book that is yet to be published, playing drums, and playing guitar. If your students missed any of the moments below, please feel free to share with them however you'd like.<br />
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Thank you for inviting me into your classrooms!<br />
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An excerpt from I AM DRUMS...<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KaAVvVbwN1U" width="560"></iframe>
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An excerpt from a brand new book...<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DGpYBymnkLM" width="560"></iframe>
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Me playing the drums...<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ua5nZewOrMA" width="560"></iframe>
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Me playing the guitar...<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aWs8pjk6AKc" width="560"></iframe>
Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-81504724319279452382018-01-22T11:37:00.000-06:002018-01-22T18:48:05.629-06:00The SILENT EXPLOSION Kickstarter is live!<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Sound the gong! I've launched a Kickstarter for a new music project!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It's a new rock album called SILENT EXPLOSION, and it's gearing up to be something truly amazing.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Check out what the album is all about, listen to a few samples (the final versions will be amazing if this campaign is successful!), and consider pledging at whatever level is comfortable for you.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1537280999/a-rock-album-by-childrens-author-mike-grosso" target="_blank">VISIT THE SILENT EXPLOSION KICKSTARTER PAGE!</a></span><br />
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<br />Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944479334458737435.post-27100590598550470072017-09-17T15:56:00.000-05:002017-09-17T15:57:25.905-05:00Behind the Soundtrack -- "A Chance to Really Play"<b>SPOILERS AHEAD</b>: Please note that in order to continue blogging about
the I AM DRUMS Soundtrack I will have to step into mild spoiler
territory. If you haven't read the book yet, <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780544707108" target="_blank">do that now. </a><br />
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This is the first song I wrote for SONGS FOR SAMANTHA: the I Am Drums Soundtrack.<br />
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I didn't know it was going to end up on a book soundtrack when I wrote it, but it's the first one I completed. I have an early recording of it with electronic drums somewhere, and I remember it was a lot slower and moodier. In some ways I really liked that sound for this song, but in the end I realized it was an inherently optimistic song and needed a quicker tempo to give a feeling of forward motion.<br />
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No mix is ever perfect, but I can at least appreciate the drum mix on this one because it made each hit feel like a punch in the face (which is an image Sam herself uses earlier in the book).<br />
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I had a lot of trouble figuring out what moment it would go with. It was originally titled "Fight Back" and went with the opening scene of Sam getting in trouble for clocking Danny with a mallet, but since Sam eventually learns better ways to deal with Danny it didn't make sense to dedicate a celebratory song to attacking someone with a musical instrument. <br />
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It was also briefly titled "Knocking on Pete's Door", but I retitled it to keep the reader guessing as to how she would eventually get the chance to really play.<br />
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<iframe name="mini" src="//widget.cdbaby.com/05acabdf-433d-41ca-97c6-d88ed5272177/mini/light/opaque" style="border: 0px; height: 100px; width: 100%;"></iframe>Mike Grossohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08602581726086546024noreply@blogger.com0