Michael McDowell – författare

The second book in the gothic horror phenomenon that is sweeping across Europe, with over 2 million copies sold worldwide'RIVETING, TERRIFYING...JUST ABSOLUTELY GREAT' STEPHEN KINGPerdido, Alabama, has scarcely recovered from the floods that devasted the community. Now a scheme to build a levee is dogged by a series of mysterious events: unpredictable currents in the river, worrying disappearances. Meanwhile in the Caskey family, Marie-Love, the matriarch, continues her machinations against Elinor, her strange daughter in law. Plots, unholy alliances, sacrifices - in the struggle between them, nothing is off limits. In Perdido, the changes will be profound; the consequences irreversible.The Blackwater Series titles have sold over one million copies, The Bookseller, July 2024

The third book in the gothic horror phenomenon that is sweeping across Europe, with over 2 million copies sold worldwide'RIVETING, TERRIFYING...JUST ABSOLUTELY GREAT' STEPHEN KINGPerdido, 1928. Torn apart by the continuing tensions between Mary-Love and her daughter-in-law Elinor, the Caskey family must also confront other crises. As the economy plummets and relationships sour, something sinister is prowling the darkest recesses of the Caskey household. Patient, implacable, waiting to catch its next victim in its deadly web…The Blackwater Series titles have sold over one million copies, The Bookseller, July 2024

The fifth book in the gothic horror phenomenon that is sweeping across Europe, with over 2 million copies sold worldwide'RIVETING, TERRIFYING...JUST ABSOLUTELY GREAT' STEPHEN KINGIn Perdido, Alabama, the Caskey family have endured; some face death whilst others welcome new life. Unexpected alliances have formed, bitter conflict divides former friends. Hardened by years of experience, Miriam, now head of the family business, is relentless in her pursuit of wealth. And when she makes a surprising discovery beneath their lands, it is not just the Caskey family that benefits, but the whole town.But will this sudden fortune be enough to lay to rest the ghosts of the past? And how long before nature comes to reclaim its debt?

The electrifying finale in the gothic horror saga that is sweeping across Europe, with over 2 million copies sold worldwide'RIVETING, TERRIFYING...JUST ABSOLUTELY GREAT' STEPHEN KINGEven if the years weigh heavily on their shoulders, the Caskey family now enjoy wealth way beyond their wildest dreams. Parties, lavish receptions and social gatherings give a rhythm to their existence, their days spent in carefree abandonment. But the past is not forgotten and a dark presence looms over Perdido, its inhabitants and its rivers.The time of reckoning has come.

Discover the gothic horror phenomenon that is sweeping across Europe, with over 2 million copies sold worldwide'RIVETING, TERRIFYING...JUST ABSOLUTELY GREAT' STEPHEN KINGA new era has begun for the Caskey family.Elinor’s relentless determination and the years of struggle are finally beginning to bear fruit: old hostilities have faded and the town is ripe for change. The conflict in Europe has brought new blood to Perdido, men arriving from far afield wanting to ingratiate themselves with the powerful family.But tangling with the Caskeys comes at a cost, and soon they must ask themselves how close is too close…

THE DARK GOTHIC HORROR PHENOMENON, PERFECT FOR FANS OF GRADY HENDRIX, STEPHEN KING, AND SHIRLEY JACKSONOVER 2 MILLION COPIES SOLD'RIVETING, TERRIFYING...JUST ABSOLUTELY GREAT' STEPHEN KINGYou are now entering Perdido, Alabama. In this small southern town, the dark, menacing waters of the local river have risen, submerging buildings and causing the inhabitants to seek higher ground. And as those waters recede, something terrifying will emerge.The town is ruled by the Caskey clan, a family of rich local landowners dominated by the fierce matriarch, Mary-Love. When her son meets Elinor Dammert - a compelling but ambiguous young woman with a troubling past - a toxic power struggle ensues.But perhaps the biggest threat to the family lies in what they cannot see, in the swamps beyond the boundaries of their fine mansion and the sawmills and lumberyards of the town.The first to disappear is a child. He won't be the last..._______'Beyond any trace of a doubt, one of the absolutely best writers of horror' Peter StraubWhat readers say:‘It's one of those books that doesn't just make you want to turn the page, it makes you utterly desperate to find out what happens next, as if your life depends upon it.’‘5 Bajillion Stars!! I can’t even fathom how to write a review at this moment. What I need to do at this time is sit back and soak it all in.’‘A powerful water-based beasty… The supernatural is never the focus, merely a spice. The family is the meat. Sometimes literally.’‘I didn’t feel like I was reading a book. I felt like I was living in Perdido and the lives of the Caskeys felt like a part of my life.’‘Came for the monster suspense, stayed for the family drama’‘Reminded me of Game of Thrones, only played out in an Alabama river town over the course of three generations.’‘This is going in my top ten books of all time’'One Hundred Years of Solitude for horror fans'‘A bloody masterpiece of Southern Gothic historical fiction. From intricate family dramas that span decades, beautiful slice of life, brilliant characters, masterfully crafted character dynamics and so much more.’

Behavioural Problems in Developmental Disorders: A Paediatrician's Guide helps paediatricians better understand and manage behaviour issues in children and adolescents with developmental disorders. These challenges are common but often not well covered in paediatric training, making them difficult to address in practice.A key challenge is determining whether a child's behaviour is due to brain differences or shaped by their environment and experiences. Traditional diagnostic labels may not always offer clear guidance. This book bridges the gap between psychiatry and paediatrics, offering practical tools and insights. It covers how to assess a child in context, understand their abilities and experiences, and build a flexible, evolving understanding of their behaviour. It also provides a toolkit for managing behaviour, including what paediatricians can do themselves and how to work effectively with others.Real-life case examples illustrate the process, and the book ends with a look at specific developmental conditions from a behavioural point of view.

Effective teaching involves checking and responding in the moment to learning, as you discover which students are getting it and which ones need more support. But how do you make decisions on the fly based on information gleaned during class?In this handy playbook, Sackstein and McDowell help you collect formative assessment data in real-time, and then they provide step-by-step flowcharts and images to demonstrate how best to proceed once you have the data you need. They offer set plays for secondary students below, at, and above standards. They also provide specific instructional advice for when the challenges occur at the beginning, middle, and end of lessons, or in full group or small group settings. And finally, they cover ways to shift instruction based on student needs, engagement, and metacognitive opportunities.With this helpful resource, you'll have a plethora of instructional moves that work in different situations, so you can continually adjust to where students are and help them truly grow in their learning.

Effective teaching involves checking and responding in the moment to learning, as you discover which students are getting it and which ones need more support. But how do you make decisions on the fly based on information gleaned during class?In this handy playbook, Sackstein and McDowell help you collect formative assessment data in real-time, and then they provide step-by-step flowcharts and images to demonstrate how best to proceed once you have the data you need. They offer set plays for secondary students below, at, and above standards. They also provide specific instructional advice for when the challenges occur at the beginning, middle, and end of lessons, or in full group or small group settings. And finally, they cover ways to shift instruction based on student needs, engagement, and metacognitive opportunities.With this helpful resource, you'll have a plethora of instructional moves that work in different situations, so you can continually adjust to where students are and help them truly grow in their learning.

Reclaim student attention with interval-based instruction

Struggling with student disengagement and dwindling attention spans in your classroom? You're not alone. To meet the needs of today’s learners, teachers must find ways to transform instruction into a more dynamic and engaging experience.

In The Attention Gap, author Michael McDowell tackles these urgent challenges head-on, proposing a new, actionable framework—the Interval Instruction Approach (IIA)—to reshape the rhythm of your classroom. Inspired by interval training and grounded in cognitive science, this approach alternates short bursts of direct instruction with immediate, active student practice to build focus, boost motivation, and make learning stick.

This book will help you:

Alternate your instructional routine between building the learner (metacognition, focus) and building the learning (academic content)Implement the five-step IIA approach of cognitive snacking, launch intervals, content intervals, pattern breaks, and cool-downsAccess real-world classroom examples, model lessons, and reproducible activities that can be implemented tomorrowApply research from the science of learning, attention science, and cognitive psychology to your daily practice

Discover how to create a classroom where all students can improve, not just in effort or engagement, but in actual growth. This innovative guide will help you invigorate your instruction, get you and your students working in tandem, and transform your classroom dynamics for lasting student success.

Thoughtful Design Guide for Maximum PBL Impact When problem- and project-based learning (PBL) is designed and delivered effectively, it has the potential to create confident and competent learners. Educators must know how to thoughtfully design projects that move students from surface to deep and transfer learning. Bridge the gap between expected PBL success and real-life classroom implementation by diving deep into the design for new and existing projects. Through in-depth examples, discover how to make three shifts essential to improving PBL’s overall effect: Clarity: Students should be clear on what they are expected to learn, where they are in the process, and what next steps they need to take to get thereChallenge: Help students move from surface to deep and transfer learningCulture: Empower them to use that knowledge to make a difference in their life and the lives of othersBe the key to help students discover, deepen, and apply their learning to a world beyond them. "This is an outstanding resource for educators, providing a practical framework for creating effective and impactful PBL experiences. We are committed to strengthening our PBL practices and we look forward to adding this valuable resource to our professional reference library."Rachel Bergren, MSc, Director, Education and Guest ExperienceThe Marine Mammal Center "Michael McDowells book provides powerful insights to ensure the conditions essential for PBL are present for increased impact on student learning. This magnificent book provides educators with practical ways to design authentic and ′ever-lasting′ learning."Sarah Martin, PrincipalStonefields School, New Zealand

To make a lasting impact, start with your own learning.  What’s better: a rigorous system that emphasizes traditional academics, or an innovative one that prepares students for tomorrow’s world? With McDowell’s new model of educational leadership, you don’t have to choose. You can create an impactful system that ensures growth for all students in both core academic content and 21st-century skills.  The Lead Learner shows you how starting with your own professional learning helps you plan for and meet the unique learning needs of staff and students—while getting the biggest impact from your limited time. You’ll also find ways to: 

Ensure clarity in strategic planning Establish coherence throughout the system Enact system-wide capacity-building processes Craft your personal leadership skills  

With practical examples, stories from the field, and numerous activities and reflective questions, this insightful book takes you step-by-step through the work of the learning leader—so you can ensure engaged learning for all.

The enduring contribution of this book is in the guidance it provides leaders to recognize that they are part, an important part, but just a part, of a networked system.  As such, their decisions and actions send messages throughout the system about what is valued and what is not.  Take heed to McDowell’s advice and you’ll have a healthy, growth-producing system that will be the envy of those around you.  The work is possible, the information is available, and the results are clear.  Douglas Fisher  San Diego State University