First Book in the Series Released March 25, 2026

Emmy, Mick & Max: Life Lessons Through Mischief and Magic

Emmy, Mick & Max: Life Lessons Through Mischief and Magic is a playful and heartfelt illustrated book series for kids and families.

Inspired by real children and real-life adventures, each story blends laughter, imagination, and gentle life lessons—proving that even the smallest mischief can lead to big wisdom.

In every adventure, Emmy, Mick, and Max follow their curiosity into mysterious places, unexpected trouble, and unforgettable moments. Along the way, they learn something new about courage, honesty, friendship, and making wise choices.

At the end of each adventure, the trio returns to their clubhouse to add a new rule to their Clubhouse Code of Honor—a growing list of lessons learned through experience.

The first book in the series, The Creepy Clubhouse, begins with a mysterious old house at the end of Grandma’s street and one very questionable decision involving a brick and a window.

The result?
A wild adventure, a few scraped knees, a hard lesson about honesty, and the very first rule of the Clubhouse Code of Honor.

These stories are inspired by Katina’s own childhood adventures—along with the personalities of three very real kids who helped bring the characters to life.

More details about the series and upcoming adventures will be added soon.

✨ First book release: March 25

The Story Behind the Adventures

The Emmy, Mick & Max series is inspired by real childhood adventures, curious kids, and the kinds of summer memories that stick with you for a lifetime. Each story follows three young explorers whose curiosity sometimes gets them into a little trouble—but always leads to an important lesson.

While the adventures are fictional, the personalities behind the characters are very real. The three kids who inspired Emmy, Mick, and Max helped bring these stories to life with their imagination, laughter, and ideas along the way.

And now, you get to meet them.

Meet the Real Kids

Emmy, Mick, and Max might be characters in these stories, but they’re inspired by three very real kids who bring joy, curiosity, and adventure to my life every day.

Emmy

Emmy is based on Emma, my granddaughter—thoughtful, kind, and always ready with a plan. She’s a rule-follower to her core, a bit of a perfectionist, and the one who makes sure everyone stays (mostly) on track.

Mick

Mick is based on Trey (Michael), my grandson—brave, curious, and full of wild ideas. He’s a rule-stretcher with a heart of gold who loves to dance, sing, and turn any moment into a performance.

Max

Max is based on CJ, my nephew—imaginative, loyal, and endlessly curious. He’s fascinated by tales of Bigfoot, always chasing after the next mystery, and dreams of being a comedian when he grows up.

Their personalities helped shape these characters—but the stories themselves are drawn from my own childhood adventures (with a few creative twists and exaggerated mishaps, of course).

While the details have been shaped for fun and fiction, the heart behind each tale is rooted in truth, memory, and a whole lot of love.

I hope you enjoyed meeting them as much as I love knowing them.

— Katina Lee