Edgar-nominated author Bruce Hale is passionate about inspiring reluctant readers to read. He has written or illustrated more than 35 seriously funny books for children, including the popular Chet Gecko Mysteries series, Clark the Shark, and the School for S.P.I.E.S. series, as well as picture books like "Snoring Beauty" and "Big Bad Baby."An actor and Fulbright Scholar in Storytelling, Bruce is in demand as a speaker, having presented at conferences, universities, and schools both nationally and internationally - from the Maui Writers Conference to British Columbia's Surrey International Writers Conference and International Schools around the globe. His acting resume includes regional commercials, theater, and an independent film, The Ride. Bruce's book, "The Malted Falcon," was an Edgar Award Finalist. "Murder, My Tweet" won the Little D Award for Humor Writing.When he was a kid, Bruce knew exactly what he wanted to be: Daniel Boone. However, somewhere along the way, the right books and the right teachers encouraged him to try following his love of story in a different direction. He is eternally grateful to those who helped him along the path.A little-known fact: Bruce loves jazz, and sings with a latin jazz group called Mezcal Martini in Santa Barbara