Delightfully aromatic, sluggish, treacherous, bearded-- these are but a few of the adjectives that employers, friends, and law enforcement have used when struggling to describe Houston-based novelist James Caruthers. He is a dad, attorney, writer and author of the frankly dangerous middle-grade novel Snardler. James has dreamed of being a writer since the second grade. Now that this has been accomplished, he's pretty darn full of himself. He loves his kids, loved being a kid, and is crazy about writing for kids. His writing philosophy is simple: never patronize. His snardling philosophy is equally as simple: never get caught.

James grew up in Baytown, Texas. He spent most of his childhood reading, hating school and exploring the outdoors. His family moved to South Louisiana when he turned fourteen-the move turned out to be quite a culture shock, and this experience informs quite a few of the themes of his work: fitting in, the rarity and importance of true friendship, and dealing with unfamiliar environments. After high school, James spent eight years working on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and off of the coast of Brazil. He met a lot of really cool and interesting people during this time and learned how to do some pretty neat stuff but absolutely does not miss it. He and his wife Lisa have been married a long, long time. James really likes: wearing suits, lifting weights, cooking, avoiding parties and social events, leaping out of doorways, recesses and shadowy places to scare people, crispy tacos, kids, dogs, Christmas, sparkling water and replacing the deodorant inside (other people's) deodorant sticks with cream cheese (pro tip: after you do this dust the top of the cheese lightly with powder for a more realistic effect). Fun fact: Just like Xavier, the main character in Snardler, James always has pumpkin pie (a.k.a. nature's perfect food) on his birthday instead of cake.

James believes that kids can truly change the world and accomplish anything so long as they dream big, celebrate differences, maintain tight operational security and pull epic practical jokes on anyone opposing them. James has a degree in English Literature and is a licensed attorney. As an attorney, James has spent the last five years working to improve state laws to create better outcomes and brighter futures for kids in Texas. When he's not writing or advocating for better laws and policies, devising fiendish snardles (and writing them down), or playing with his kids James enjoys experimental potato salad. James, his wife Lisa and their two children, Julian and Genevieve, live in Sugar Land, Texas. He is absolutely not responsible for any snardles that occur within that region and would definitely appreciate you not bringing it up. His philosophy is that kids should be allowed to be kids.