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Daniel Schwabauer takes young writers seriously.

About “Mr. S.”

Daniel Schwabauer is the creator of highly imaginative writing programs designed for homeschool students! Once asked if he would like to be the next C.S. Lewis, Mr. S.—as he is called by his students—replied, “I’d rather train a thousand C.S. Lewises.” A compelling speaker, he loves to share his passion for Story, and while he’s a huge science fiction nerd, what fascinates him most is how stories across all genres work. He has a Master’s in creative writing from the University of Kansas, where he studied under the late science fiction great James E. Gunn, and he is currently working on his doctorate in semiotics.

Daniel’s military science fiction novel Operation Grendel (2020) won an Earphone Award from Audiofile Magazine; his newest release, Maxine Justice: Galactic Attorney (2022), also science fiction, received a Publishers Weekly starred review. He is also the author of a fantasy series for young readers. Runt the Brave and Runt the Hunted, the first two of his young adult novels, received numerous awards, including the 2005 Ben Franklin Award for Best New Voice in Children’s Literature and the 2008 Eric Hoffer Award. The final book in the trilogy, The Curse of the Seer, released with AMG Publishers in 2015.

His professional work includes stage plays, radio scripts, short stories, newspaper columns, non-fiction ghost-writing, and comic books.

He is also editor of Crosswind Comics, which develops educational materials for youth-at-risk and prison inmates, among them the Amazing True Life Stories series as well as The Amazing Gospel graphic novel, which has been translated into several languages and distributed around the world.

“I want to help take the intimidation factor out of writing. Helping students to enjoy the process is part of that. I love to see them discover they can do it.”

– Daniel Schwabauer

Daniel Schwabauer award winning author and writing instructor
Mr S and Mrs S as pirates

With “Mrs. S.,” our Creative Director

Teaching at the One Year Adventure Novel Summer Workshop

Real Students. Real Comments.

“Mr. Schwabauer’s approach to storytelling has changed the way I write. He taught me how to create compelling, multi-faceted characters; how to write in a way that engages readers’ emotions; and how to use my stories to communicate values to an audience. No one has taught me as much about the craft of fiction as he has.”
Justin Ferguson

“Mr. S. makes learning fun. His engaging teaching style . . . showed me that he clearly loves what he’s teaching and is really passionate about writing. This was only confirmed when I got the privilege to hear him teach in person at a workshop. He also takes a genuine interest in each student. Mr. S. showed me how much fun writing and learning can be.”
Katie Farrar

“I’ve always loved to write stories, but it wasn’t until I took the One Year Adventure Novel that they came alive. Mr. S. took what seemed [to me] an insurmountable task of writing a full novel and led me step by step through the creation of my own story. He pours his passion into this course and inspires you to better your work in every way.”
Michael Farrar

“Mr. Schwabauer has the amazing gift of being able to reach students at their level in a way that really clicks with them. You’re not just being taught, you’re being welcomed into a realm of wonder and discovery. And that is what makes his teaching so amazing.”
Adrienne Rollick

“Mr. Schwabauer has been one of the best teachers I’ve ever encountered during my high school experience. His manner of teaching through story improved my writing and storytelling astronomically, as well as being one of the kindest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of learning from.”
Lauren LaForest

“Mr. Schwabauer gave me the means to turn an unorganized product of old inspiration into an actual story with order and depth. His teaching on how crucial meaning in fiction is went on to change how I look at real life and gave me a passion for my newfound calling as a novelist!”
Nicholas L.

“Mr. S is a mentor, and not just in the realm of writing, but in the realm of life in general. He’s one of the few people I truly look up to on both a professional and life level.”
Hannah Mills

“Mr. S taught me that you don’t need perfect characters in a book, just characters that are human. He also taught me to find beauty in everything: friends, family, school, work and even total strangers.”
Mary Beth

Books by Daniel Schwabauer

Runt the Brave by Daniel Schwabauer

For Young Readers
FANTASY

Runt the Hunted by Daniel Schwabauer

For Young Readers
FANTASY

The Curse of the Seer by Daniel Schwabauer

For Young Readers
FANTASY

Operation Grendel by Daniel Schwabauer

For Older Readers
MILITARY SCI-FI

Maxine Justice Galactic Attorney by Daniel Schwabauer

For Older Readers
SCIENCE FICTION

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