Fast-Paced Action from a Christian Worldview: The Heart Behind Rob Baddorf's Books

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An Insightful Conversation with Rob Baddorf

Valerie - Welcome to Bookworthy! Today, we are talking with middle-grade author and illustrator Rob Baddorf. Rob has worked many years as a creative director at a publishing company. He then started his own, publishing over 80 titles. These include a Christian space adventure, the Kimberly the Cat series, a Christian fantasy chapter book, and recently, the Animal Shelter Detective Agency series. Today, we're focusing on his Recruited by the FBI series, which has more exciting content coming our way. Welcome to Bookworthy, Rob!

Rob - Thank you, Valerie! It's a pleasure to be here.

Valerie - I discovered you through my middle-grade reader, who I call a book dragon because he devours everything. He has read every book he's allowed to read in our house at least twice. It has been fun to see your content and the engaging stories you produce. But first, let's start with our random question of the week. What is your most-used emoji?

Rob - My most-used emoji is probably the standard smiley face. It might be a bit boring, but I also really like the little scooter emoji. It reminds me of my childhood and the fun I had with my hand-held scooter.

Valerie - That does sound fun! Right now, as we record this in April, it's the end of the school year for my kids. We're in a sprint marathon of events. My most-used emoji is the melting smiley face, as we just want to survive this month! Now, tell us a little about theRecruited by the FBI series.*

The Recruited by the FBI Series

Rob - Sure! It's an upper-middle-grade YA series with three books so far. The story follows a boy who gets recruited into the FBI because his dad was an agent. The FBI isn't always clear about the age requirements for recruits. When they have an opportunity to use a teenager, they hire Robin Banks. He brings along some of his best friends, forming a team of two boys and two girls who assist the FBI.

Valerie - That's an interesting twist! It's not every day you find a Christian element in an FBI story. How did you choose to weave that into your storytelling?

Rob - That's a great question! My passion in writing is to bring God into places we haven't seen Him before, like in action stories. Why can't characters stop to pray? Why can't there be conversations about God? I wanted to incorporate all parts of our Christian life into a fun, over-the-top adventure.

Valerie - It does get wild at times! The friendship element is also fun. It's not just focused on Robin Banks, but on how he interacts with his friends. This coming-of-age theme is prevalent in middle-grade books but with a unique spin. Now, were you ever recruited by the FBI?

Rob - If I were, I couldn't tell you! But that idea inspired me. Growing up, I went to public school. On slower days, I daydreamed that the FBI would need kids' help. I imagined the principal walking into the classroom, asking for a child, and I would be the one picked to help with a case. That's where a lot of this story stemmed from.

Valerie - Instead of getting letters from Hogwarts, you wanted to be recruited by the FBI! It's fascinating how imaginative ideas from childhood come into our stories as adults. What do you hope to communicate with kids through this series?

Communicating Adventure and Faith

Rob - I want to convey that there is adventure in life, as God created it. Often, God asks us to follow Him, even when it seems unsafe or unwise. I love stories like Abraham's, where he was called out of Ur. God invited him on an adventure. The series explores where God is in our adventures and how we should seek Him out.

Valerie - That's a powerful message. You've also done something different with your middle-grade books. The page ranges can vary widely, but you've kept these books short and serialized. What made you choose that format?

Rob - I studied film, and my major was screenwriting. I learned to write scripts close to 90 pages. I enjoy the limited dramatic series format because it allows for deeper character development than standalone stories. I aim to keep the pace moving, avoiding too much backstory or description.

Valerie - You've done that well! It resonates with how kids read today. With video games and fast-paced media, many classic books wouldn't be published today. You've honed in on your audience's reading habits, which is clever and unique. My son could read one of your books a night and would always want more. As an author, you want kids to have that desire to read, right?

Rob - Absolutely! It's essential for kids to dive into reading and get excited about it.

The Illustrator's Perspective

Valerie - You're also an illustrator. Tell us about that side of your creativity.

Rob - I've always been fascinated by illustration. I started practicing at a young age and got some training in school. Working with a publishing company allowed me to explore illustration further. I enjoy putting images on the page to complement my stories. I sometimes include illustrations in my series, but not all of them.

Valerie - As a creative person, you explore various forms of creativity. I find that drawing helps me communicate ideas that are hard to express in words. Illustrations can connect with different types of readers, especially reluctant ones. They provide a break for readers who may feel overwhelmed by text.

Rob - I created a small series called Fighting Fear. It includes Fighting Fear and Monsters, Fighting Fear and Space Aliens, and Fighting Fear and Giants. I had a lot of fun illustrating those.

Valerie - Those sound intriguing! I can't wait to check them out. When did your writing journey begin?

Rob - My journey started when I was young. In middle school, I had an assignment to write a story, and I ended up writing a play. We performed it, and I really enjoyed the experience. The play format allowed for costumes and dialogue, which was fun.

Star Wars was a significant influence on me. I loved the first film, but it wasn't until I saw the making of it on PBS that my perspective changed. I realized people created these stories and that it was a job. That revelation hooked me.

Valerie - What took you from playwriting to screenwriting and then to writing books?

Rob - In high school, I had a wealthy friend with a home camcorder. We made movies every Friday night, often copying James Bond films in our childlike way. This led me to screenwriting. I eventually moved to Los Angeles to pursue work, but I became disillusioned with the industry. Many friends worked long hours and lost touch with family and friends. I decided to leave that path.

At that point, I felt inspired to write manuscripts and novels. Initially, I resisted because writing a novel seemed overwhelming. It took about ten years of practice and learning to overcome my fear.

Valerie - Fear plays a significant role in many writing journeys. It's amazing how faithful God is when He guides us in a direction. What is one of the most impactful books in your life, other than the Bible?

Rob - One impactful book is King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard. It’s an action-adventure book that swept me off my feet. I found it thrilling, especially for a book that’s over a hundred years old. Another impactful book is E.B. White's The Trumpet of the Swan.

One day, my wife rented the audiobook of The Trumpet of the Swan for our kids. I initially thought the narrator was unprofessional because of his New England accent. However, after listening for an hour, I realized he was the perfect person to read it. It turned out to be E.B. White himself!

Valerie - That's amazing! It's funny how we can get attached to specific narrators. What can we expect next from you?

Rob - I'm currently working on three more books in the Sneaky Ink, Recruited by the FBI series. They will feature the same characters and new conflicts. I hope to have them ready by fall.

Valerie - You have a unique opportunity on your website for readers to sign up for your email list and become ARC readers. How did you come up with that idea?

Rob - I saw other authors doing it and thought it would be a fun idea. If you're interested in becoming an ARC reader, which stands for Advanced Review Copy, feel free to visit my website and sign up.

Valerie - It's been exciting to see your work and get sneak peeks. Where can people find out more about you and your books, Rob?

Rob - You can visit my website at www.robbaddorf.com for more information.

Valerie - We'll include that link in the descriptions for our listeners. Thank you for joining me today, Rob!

Rob - Thank you, Valerie! This has been fun.

Valerie - And thank you for joining Rob and me on this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast. Check the show notes for any books or links we discussed, and let us know in the comments what your most-used emoji is. Be sure to like and subscribe to discover more great books together.

Happy reading!