The Smart Aleck Press

12/06/2023

SAVE THE DATE!!! Good news, everyone! On January 18th, our at will feature an in-person and event with BODY ON THE BEACH writer Chris Wieland! Chris may also bring along some for the program. Come out and support a great and ! And get signed copies of both books in the series!!!
Hope to see you there!

12/05/2023

Hey, !!! Have you heard?! It’s the again, and that means it’s time to get for all your !!!
Well, our friends at have you covered with their HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE. We know there’s a perfect book for everyone this year, and we’re that has included THE CRABTREE MONSTERS (the 1st ) as one of its recommended !!! If you haven’t already, pick up a copy for the or the in !!!! (Heck, while you’re at it, pick up a copy of THE BODY ON THE BEACH, too! They’ll thank you for it!!)

12/01/2023

How ! Thrilled that THE BODY ON THE BEACH (2nd ) got featured by writing community!! Thanks, you guys, for the !!!

11/30/2023

Thanks so much to .Grace for featuring THE BODY ON THE BEACH (The 2nd ) earlier this month. Love the !!
“An immersive, for and . It’s fast-paced and doses of position the well to capture young looking for an but .” Thank you!!

11/29/2023

Taking a quick break from all the of THE BODY ON THE BEACH (the 2nd ) to remind you that if you haven’t already, you should definitely pick up the book featuring .
Here’s a review from that by reviewer :
“A journey filled with laughter, and a touch of healing …. Chris Wieland delivers an outstanding ”

11/28/2023

Love this if THE BODY ON THE BEACH (the 2nd ) by .
“It’s a rollercoaster of suspense and wit that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next installment in the .”
Thanks so much! Hope everyone checks it out for themselves!

11/25/2023

FINAL HOURS, you guys! You’ve got till tonight to join our , brought to you by and . You could win free, signed novels and a $50 gift card! Follow this link: https://gleam.io/ho2xH/the-body-on-the-beach-book-giveaway?l=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thechildrensbookreview.com%2Fthe-body-on-the-beach-a-kat-dylan-mystery-awareness-tour%2F&r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thechildrensbookreview.com%2Fchris-wieland-talks-about-the-body-on-the-beach-a-kat-dylan-mystery%2F.

11/24/2023

Happy , everyone, from !!!! Just remember that tomorrow is a great time to invest in some cool action! THE BODY ON THE BEACH (the 2nd ) is available on , and all your fave bookstores(like and , if you’re in )!!!
But don’t forget: you’ve got to enter our in partnership with !!! You could win and a $50 !!! Enter now!!! https://gleam.io/ho2xH/the-body-on-the-beach-book-giveaway?l=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thechildrensbookreview.com%2Fthe-body-on-the-beach-a-kat-dylan-mystery-awareness-tour%2F&r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thechildrensbookreview.com%2Fchris-wieland-talks-about-the-body-on-the-beach-a-kat-dylan-mystery%2F

11/23/2023

Love, love, love this of THE BODY ON THE BEACH (the 2nd ) from .with.emilee!!!
“A gripping and suspenseful read that keeps young and enthusiasts on the edge of their seats …. Author Chris Wieland expertly weaves a tale of , and the of .”
REMEMBER: Just 2 more days to enter our and win your own copy (and a $50 gift card!!!!

https://gleam.io/ho2xH/the-body-on-the-beach-book-giveaway

11/22/2023

How about an special, style??? Just a few more days to enter THE BODY ON THE BEACH !!! 1 lucky winner will get signed copies of both novels plus a $50 . 4 other winners get a of the new book!
You can’t win if you don’t enter!!!! Giveaway is in partnership with our friends from !!!!!! https://gleam.io/ho2xH/the-body-on-the-beach-book-giveaway

11/21/2023

WOW!! In all the excitement from our in partnership with , we forgot to share our from !!!!
“is everything readers might want in a young hero: she’s whip-smart, loyal to her friends and brother, and has a wicked sense of humor …. A delightful and surprising that bodes well for further installments.”

11/17/2023

Happy Friday! Sooooo to have THE BODY ON THE BEACH (the 2nd ) featured on the CONFESSIONS OF A BOOK ADDICT by !!!! Thank you!!!!
The book “sounds perfect for readers who enjoy a good story and/or a compelling .”
Check it out, and don’t forget to enter our !!!! Just 1 week left!!!

11/16/2023

Love, , looooove this review by .magical.tale about THE BODY ON THE BEACH!!!!
“I love it when a book gives you a good mystery to solve! And this book had me guessing with all the twists and turns …. If you love , , books for , , solving a mystery, you should pick up this book!”

11/15/2023

Need something to listen to on the morning commute? Or the evening one? You’re in !!!!!
SOOOO EXCITED to announce that author Chris Wieland is back on the great podcast, brought to you by !!! Hear Chris and Bianca chat about and the genre, not to mention , and more!!!! Give it a listen!!!

11/14/2023

So thrilled to have BODY ON THE BEACH author Chris Wieland The Children's Book Review’s AMAZING Growing Readers podcast!!! Give it a listen for some new talk about the 2nd !!!

Step into the intriguing world of Chris Wieland, the mastermind behind the captivating Kat Dylan Mystery, The Body on the Beach.

11/10/2023

“This is a fun middle grade mystery,” writes Connie Hill of the great “Because I Said So” blog about THE BODY ON THE BEACH. “Kat is hysterical with her wit and humor. My son and I really enjoyed this book.” Thanks so much, Connie! And thanks to for bringing her onto our great virtual !!! Don’t forget to enter our !!!! Just a couple weeks left!!!

11/09/2023

What’s this??!? There’s a “lost” chapter of THE BODY ON THE BEACH??!? Another 25 that would’ve taken the book in a different direction?? Something that might be a ???
How !!
It’s true. All of it. And now thanks to and our friends at the Country Mamas with Kids blog, you can read it for yourself!!! It killed author Chris Wieland to lose it, but the Internet (and our ) have saved it!!!! Read on!!! Link in the comments!

11/08/2023

So happy with today’s interview with the Life Is What it’s Called blog!!!! This captures BODY ON THE BEACH author Chris Wieland so well.
“I love writing Kat and Alec’s dialogue and banter. It doesn’t matter if they’re just annoying each other, or if they’re doggedly trying to solve a puzzle together …. Writing those scenes makes me smile.”

11/08/2023

Thanks so much, The Children's Book Review for posting this quote from yesterday's interview with My Reading Getaway!!! Tough, smart girls like should rule the world!

11/07/2023

What a way to start the week!!! As part of the virtual sponsored by , the awesome blog MY READING GETAWAY has an interview with series author Chris Wieland!!! Great questions and fun talk about our favorite !!! Link in the comments!

11/04/2023

“Mystery fans rejoice!” writes in its new and review of THE BODY ON THE BEACH (the 2nd ). “Kat and Alec, the dashing detective duo, are back on a new case …. Wieland once again proves to be a master of in this tantalizing sequel …. this book is one gripping and stimulating read that mystery lovers don’t want to miss.”
Thank you soooo much, and !!!

11/04/2023

Thank you, Country Mamas with Kids!!! Thrilled to have this interview with Kat Dylan (and Alec) on your awesome site!!!

Presented in partnership with The Smart Aleck Press:

An Interview with Tween Girl Detective Kat Dylan

Here's the scoop on what she's doing to make the world a better place: https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-body-on-beach.html

And in the words of her brother, Alec: “Hold onto your socks! Forget everything you know. Here comes the real, unvarnished truth about tween girl detective Kat Dylan and her smarter, braver, cuter little brother.”

11/04/2023

Thank you, The Children's Book Review and icefairy's Treasure Chest!!!! What a great review!!! Glad to have you backing Kat (and Alec, too)!!!

"Chris Wieland once again proves to be a master of storytelling in this tantalizing sequel. Told in Kat's voice, the story keeps the readers engaged and entertained with humor, action and unpredictable twists and turns. ...

Alone and as part of the series, this book is a gripping and stimulating read that mystery lovers don't want to miss." — icefairy's Treasure Chest

Read this review of THE BODY ON THE BEACH (The Smart Aleck Press )in full here: https://icefairystreasurechest.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-body-on-beach-kat-dylan-mystery.html

11/03/2023

THE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR CONTINUES!!! Many, many thanks to for today’s great notice and review!!!!
“Are you ready for a cozy middle grade mystery novel? …. Fans of Carolyn Keene’s , Enid Blyton’s or Kelly Swan Taylor’s will love this eventful mystery novel! It is fun, well written and has well developed ”!!!
Appreciate the kind word!!! Hope you’ll check it out for yourself!!!

11/02/2023

Thank you, The Children's Book Review!!!! Check out the interview, everyone!!

Presented in partnership with The Smart Aleck Press:

An Interview with Tween Girl Detective Kat Dylan

Here's the scoop on what she's doing to make the world a better place: https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-body-on-beach.html

And in the words of her brother, Alec: “Hold onto your socks! Forget everything you know. Here comes the real, unvarnished truth about tween girl detective Kat Dylan and her smarter, braver, cuter little brother.”

11/02/2023

Super cool day today on the virtual for THE BOFY ON THE BEACH (the 2nd )!!!!
Our friends over at Cover Lover Book Review gave us a look and also published an awesome by Chris Wieland that includes an interview with (and her little brother Alec). Check it out!!!! Links below in the comments!!!
Thank you, Cover Lover and for getting this profile out there!!!!
Also … don’t forget to enter our !!!! You could win!!!

11/01/2023

What a great review of THE BODY ON THE BEACH from ! “It is perfect ….The Nancy Drew for this new generation. Only Nancy Drew has male sidekicks now!”
Thank you so much!!!
Don’t forget to enter our giveaway! You could win free signed books and a $50 gift card!!

10/31/2023

Thanks sooooo much to and for the kind words about THE BODY ON THR BEACH (the 2nd )
Keep following our Virtual Tour and don’t forget to enter our giveaway!!! You could get free signed books and s $50 gift card!!!

10/28/2023

Many, many thanks to The Momma Spot blog for the great review of THE BODY ON THE BEACH, part of our virtual tour sponsored by !!!
“I absolutely fell in love with Kat and her brother Alec.”

10/27/2023

Many, many thanks to for the great review of THE BODY ON THE BEACH!! It’s all part of our Virtual Tour sponsored by !!!
“The suspense in the book is built to a fever pitch and kept me guessing throughout. The writing is stellar …”

10/26/2023

Great review from The Children's Book Review!!!

The Body on the Beach: A Kat Dylan Mystery is a strong sequel to what is proving to be an engrossing middle-grade mystery series.

10/25/2023

OH MY GOSH!!!! THE BODY ON THE BEACH BIRTUAL TOUR is underway, and we’re so thrilled to thank and The Fairview Review for their great write-ups of the book!!!! Links to the reviews in the comments!
And remember: You can enter to win a free, signed copy of both books in the series and a $50 gift card!!!! Details below!!!!

10/24/2023

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!!! The Smart Aleck Press is proud to announce the release of THE BODY ON THE BEACH (the 2nd )!!!! Today is also the launch of our VIRTUAL sponsored by !!! But wait! There's more!!! You can also enter to win a free, signed copy of THE BODY ON THE BEACH, as well as THE CRABTREE MONSTERS and a $50 gift card!!!! details below in the comments!!!!

10/23/2023

One more day until Tween girl detective and her little brother Alec go out into the to catch killers and kidnappers in THE BODY ON THE BEACH!!!
But : you can order your copy now at , and !!!Details in the comments!!

10/18/2023

The official release date for THE BODY ON THE BEACH is next Tuesday, but paperback and Kindle editions are now available on Amazon!!!!
If you can’t wait for your girl detective fix, order now!!! Link in the comments!

10/09/2023

So proud to reveal the cover for THE BODY ON THE BEACH, the 2nd , available on October 24th wherever you buy your books!!! Illustrations here as always by the great !!!! Winter in Crabtree is murder, and Kat and Alec Dylan are about to embark on a frosty mystery that will test their limits!!! Watch this space for details on our virtual book tour and more!!!!

10/05/2023

Just 3 weeks away from the release of THE BODY ON THE BEACH (with full cover reveal coming THIS WEEKEND!!!)!!! For this last partial reveal (illustration by ), check out our character Q&A with Kat and Alec’s Grandpa Nick Hawkins, police chief of Crabtree, MI. It’s below in the comments!

09/27/2023

Less than a month to go until the release of THE BODY ON THE BEACH (the 2nd )!!! COVER REVEAL coming this week!!! Before that, come get to know Kat’s Grandpa Nick Hawkins, police chief of Crabtree, Michigan, and sometimes parental figure. You’ll know him on sight by: 1) hair and goatee; 2) leather jacket; 3) St. Jude medal and police whistle in his pockets; 4) and at every meal; and his new obsession - while questioning suspects (he !).

09/21/2023

Getting ever closer to the release of THE BODY ON THE BEACH next month, so let’s do another partial cover reveal!! Here’s Kat Dylan’s little brother and partner/sidekick as he appears on the cover (illustration by the awesome ). Check it out! And in the comments below, get to know Alec with a Character Q&A!!!

09/18/2023

Getting ever closer to the release of THE BODY ON THE BEACH (the second Kat Dylan mystery). Get to know Kat’s little brother and sidekick Alec! Here are some of his quintessential accessories: 1) Bright pink helmet; 2) ironic brightly-colored baseball cap; 3) neon-hued elbow and knee pads, worn at all time, including over winter clothes; 4) super board; and 5) xtra large coffee sugar bomb drink! Not pictured: top secret iPhone he’s not allowed to have (not pictured because it’s secret …)