Meet Grandpa Erv
Author, adventurer, terrible chess player, and the best storyteller you'll ever meet.
Where It All Started
It started with a rainy afternoon and a bored grandchild. Erv sat down, made up a story on the spot, and watched a seven-year-old's eyes go wide with wonder. That was it. He was hooked.
For years, Erv told stories only to his grandchildren — tales of treasure maps, mad scientists, curious kids, and wise old lighthouse keepers. Every story had a twist. Every story had a laugh. And every story had something real hiding inside it: a fact about science, a lesson about courage, a question worth asking.
Eventually, his grandkids said the same thing kids always say: "Write it down, Grandpa." So he did.
What Inspires the Stories
Erv draws from a lifetime of curiosity — decades as an engineer, years of hiking trails across the country, and an endless fascination with how things work and why people do what they do. He believes every kid is naturally brilliant, and that the right story at the right moment can unlock something in a child that no classroom ever could.
I write the books I wish I'd had as a kid.
— Grandpa Erv
A Few Things You Should Know
He once got lost on a hike for six hours. That became a chapter in The Map That Moved.
He has never, not once, beaten a child at chess. Not even close.
He keeps a notebook by his bed because "the best ideas show up at 2am."
His dog, Biscuit, has appeared (in spirit) in every single book.
He reads every piece of fan mail himself and tries to write back.
Want Grandpa Erv at Your School?
He loves visiting classrooms, libraries, and book fairs. Author visits are energetic, funny, and full of surprises.
Learn About School Visits