"Great books for bored, smart kids who know what's good for them and are tired of it." -- Sarah Morrill

Mr. Snicket, who is more conventionally known as Daniel Handler, is an absolutley wonderful writer of children's books. Children's books with a twist. And of course, like all good children's books, they cross over into the world of adults.

Not too long ago he attended Lowel High in San Francisco.

One reason we like Mr. Snicket so much is that he's a beloved neighbor.

Daniel loves classical music and he's married to the beautiful and charming Lisa Brown. He wears colorful clothes, likes flowers and looks young for his 31 years. He's always been very pleasant and polite but nobody we know has ever seen that boyish face smile except maybe the Bison in Golden Gate Park.

Mr. Snicket's first book is titled A Bad Beginning. He has 12 other books but if you haven't read any of them yet, we suggest you read the first one first.

There are so many good things to say about his books that we don't know where to begin.

You must have heard that many critics are not very fond of Harry Potter. "At least the kids are reading," is a lame endorsement. Unlike Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket is clever and original and does not insult your child's intelligence.

Darkly humorous without crossing the line into actual morbidity, the Lemony Snicket books remind one of Edward Goréy, the Addam's Family, Edgar Allen Poe and Joe Frank. They're tongue-in-cheek noir. Gothic but for children.

These are strange books which happen to be very clever and amusing.

These books are perfect for middle school students who are a bored by typical children's books--or should be. They're not for everybody but they're perfect for some.

All of his books are available at our store and many are autographed. Here's a list that you can order by mail through our corporate brethren. They each cost about $8.00.

An Interview with Mr. Snicket:

Q. What were some of your hobbies as a child?

A. Taxidermy and playing the harpsichord.

Q. How do young people respond to your books?

A. People, young and old, have responded to my books with a mixture of shock, horror, melancholy, resignation, and enthusiasm.

Q. How did you start writing A Series of Unfortunate Events?

A. For various personal and legal reasons, I began researching the terrible things that happened to the three Baudelaire children following the death of their parents. The good people at HarperCollins offered to publish my findings, both as cautionary tales and for the general good.

Q. Did your own childhood inspire aspects or events in your books?

A. What happened to me in my childhood in no way resembles what has happened to the Baudelaire orphans. When I was very young, however, I was taught the power of the written word and the importance of exposing evil wherever I found it, which are two of my highest guiding principles.

Q. What was your favorite book as a child?

A. The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily by Dino Buzzati

Q. What advice do you give children who want to be writers?

A. Avoid wearing squeaky shoes when listening at keyholes.

Q. What do you do to prepare to write?

A. I look at the only photograph I have of my beloved Beatrice, and I say to myself: If you do not write these books, her wrongful death will go unpunished.

Q. Are you a real person?

A. Of course. Aren't you?