I really appreciate you visiting my website! My name is Mike, but I write under the pen name ML Hodder, and that’s the name you’ll see on my book covers.

Sometimes I get asked where the idea for The Talismiths came from, so I wanted to share that with you. It started years ago while I was jotting story ideas during lunch breaks at Nike, where I designed sports uniforms and graphics for athletes. That design job sparked a simple question: Who designs all the magical gear for storybook heroes?

That simple question became the foundation for The Talismiths and my first book, The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur, about a twelve year old boy who discovers his late father’s secret factory, where mythical creatures and gifted craftsmen build enchanted inventions for fairy-tale heroes.

I like to weave a lot of mythology into my stories, drawing inspiration from classic sources like Bulfinch’s Mythology, The Facts on File Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, and The Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, along with ideas and interesting things I find in books and online research as well as the gray matter between my ears.

I think the best stories have an imaginative world, memorable characters, and a clever hook/idea. I really enjoy writing fast-paced adventures for kids who might not read very much, because as someone with ADD, it takes a lot to keep me engaged. My hope is that readers will have fun reading my books and come away feeling more capable than they realize.

After nearly three decades in design, I now put my creativity toward writing for young readers. When I’m not doing that, I enjoy running, painting, listening to podcasts and spending time with my family and our two cats Bug and Lil.