BOOKS:
APPS:
We are David and Annie Fox, award-winning multimedia producers. We’ve been active in the computer entertainment industry since 1977 when we founded the Marin Computer Center, the first public access microcomputer facility. While we began as game designers, we started Electric Eggplant in 1992 to support our work in educational software, mobile device apps, Emotional Intelligence content, emerging technologies, as well as writing books for children and teens.
What’s New?
Available Now, Annie Fox’s Latest YA Novel
“Leeta Simtar: A Life on Two Planets”
“. . . Fox’s novel tells a richly told story of going rogue. A rousing tale about a young woman coming to terms with an unresolved past.”—Kirkus Reviews (“Verdict: Get It”)
“Fox knows how and when to surprise, and her warm and empathic way of writing Leeta’s relatable arc through internal monologues feels personal yet universally urgent, examining her real-world struggles of marginalization, racism, and rigid hierarchies that enforce systemic exclusion.”—BookLife by Publishers Weekly (“Editor’s Pick”)
For fans of Alechia Dow and Pittacus Lore comes Leeta Simtar: A Life on Two Planets—the latest book from young adult author Annie Fox about an interspecies hybrid looking to find herself on a new planet.
A coming-of-age story that explores the meaning of birth family and found family, Leeta Simtar shows readers how breaking out of the past can help us figure out where we’re going next.
“A stunning YA sci-fi novel . . . Leeta is in my soul, and when I look up at the night sky and see those shining stars, she’ll be there in my mind.”
“. . . a fantastic ride that combines deep emotional exploration with thrilling sci-fi adventure!”
“When I first sat down with Leeta Simtar I was unsure what to expect. What I got was a story I wished had been written years ago, so I could have read it while still a teen myself.”
Our Newest App:
Middle School Confidential 3: What’s Up with My Family?
Two and one half years after Real Friends vs. the Other Kind, we’ve just released Middle School Confidential™ 3: What’s Up with My Family?, the third installment of the much lauded app series for tweens and teens. We continue the story of Jack, Jen, Chris, Abby, Mateo, and Michelle—a tight-knit group of friends in middle school—who are realizing that growing up often means changes at home. What’s Up with My Family? follows the gang as they each work through some difficult family situations and learn to appreciate the people they live with… even siblings!
Rube Goldberg on Your Computer and Mobile Device, Coming Soon to VR
Click to play level 1 of Rube Works now, for free.
We’re excited to announce Rube Works: The Official Rube Goldberg Invention Game™, available for iOS on the iTunes App Store, for Android on Google Play or the Amazon Appstore, for Mac on the Mac App Store, and for Windows/Mac/Linux on Steam, produced by Electric Eggplant in conjunction with Kalani Game and the Heirs of Rube Goldberg. You can download the press kit here.
Official Rube Works Trailer on Vimeo.
Other News
Also we’ve released two picture books (People Are Like Lollipops and Are We Lost?), Spanish translations of the Raymond and Sheila books, and Annie’s new parenting book, Teaching Kids to Be Good People: Progressive Parenting for the 21st Century. Teaching Kids is receiving enthusiastic reviews and the eBook version is currently Half Off!
Our Middle School Confidential 2: Real Friends vs. the Other Kind app is featured in the new book, iPad Apps For Kids For Dummies by Jinny Gudmundsen! Awesome review!
Our Current Titles:
- Leeta Simtar:
A Life on Two Planets
(The Unauthorized Biography)
A novel by Annie Fox
For fans of Alechia Dow and Pittacus Lore comes Leeta Simtar: A Life on Two Planets—the latest book from young adult author Annie Fox about an interspecies hybrid looking to find herself on a new planet.
A coming-of-age story that explores the meaning of birth family and found family, Leeta Simtar shows readers how breaking out of the past can help us figure out where we’re going nextLeeta Simtar isn’t the only interspecies hybrid on the planet Fure, though she is, without a doubt, noticeably different from all the others. Not only is she impossibly tall and wildly unpredictable, she leads with her feelings, in contrast to everyone else’s steady calm and logical demeanor. When Leeta’s offended, she rages and attacks. When something touches her deeply, she gushes and weeps. No wonder she has always believed something’s wrong with her, because clearly, she doesn’t belong on Fure.
When Leeta suddenly finds out that what she’s believed about herself is a lie, she is more than ready to discover the truth. Since no one on Fure is talking, her only hope is to go rogue and find her own answers. She travels forty light years in search of others like herself—assuming there are others.
With just eight days to unearth her origin story, Leeta follows clues that lead her across time and space hoping to find where she truly belongs. Readers of young adult science fiction, speculative/what-if fiction, and coming-of-age stories will connect to Leeta’s intergalactic adventure. They’ll be rooting for her to get what she needs, whether that means returning to Fure armed with the truth, staying in a far away place with her new found family, or finding home within her own heart
Available in print, as an ebook, or as an audiobook. More info on Annie’s website»
- The Little Things That Kill:
A Teen Friendship Afterlife Apology Tour
A novel by Annie Fox
They say it was suicide, but Nicole knows damn well she didn’t kill herself and won’t take this lying down.16-year-old Nicole, high school drama queen (onstage and off), dies and finds herself on Substation Fifteen, an afterlife campus for teenage suicides. She can’t, for the life of her, remember how she died, but she’s sure it wasn’t by her own hand. In thirty days Nicole faces the all-important Evaluation. If she can’t piece together the mystery of what actually killed her she won’t be moving on. Her only route to uncovering the truth is a fact-finding trip to Earth, beginning at her own funeral, where the facts she finds may be harder to piece together and accept than death itself.
Our journey unfolds simultaneously “up there” in Substation Fifteen and in Northern California, told by three, first-person teenage narrators: Nicole’s best friend, Isabel, a germaphobic young witch with undeniable gifts; Nicole’s romantic rival, Cassie, a tough girl hiding heartbreaking vulnerability; and Nicole “Dead Girl” herself, whose adoring single dad raised her on abundant love and one really big lie. This tale of hope and redemption will appeal to fans of afterlife storylines like 13 Reasons Why, If He Had Been With Me, and The Lovely Bones.
Available in print, as an ebook, or as an audiobook. More info at TheLittleThingsThatKill.com»
- The Girls Q&A Book on Friendship:
50 Ways to Fix a Friendship Without the DRAMA
Written by Annie Fox, M.Ed.
Illustrated by Erica De Chavez
“There are times when even best friends have problems and times when you wonder who your real friends are! That’s normal, but it can also be upsetting. When we’re upset, we don’t always know how to make things better and we need help.” —Annie Fox, M.Ed.
• A new girl stole my bff! What do I do? • Why does she keep breaking promises? • Are they really “just kidding?” • Why is my friend being so mean? • How do I find new friends?! • Why are people mean to each other?
When you’ve got great questions like these, you need great answers—ASAP! But where do you find them? Right here in The Girls’ Q&A Book on Friendship. For girls 8–12 years old. Available in print or as an ebook. More info at GirlsQandA.com»
- Middle School Confidential 3:
What?s Up with My Family?
Written by Annie Fox
Illustrated by Matt Kindt
Jen disagrees with her parents on just about everything, especially dating. Jack feels like his sister is always getting away with stuff. Abby doesn’t know how to deal with constant “reminders” about her weight. Mateo feels like his huge family is always in his business. Michelle wishes it were more than just her and her mom at home. And after a divorce, Chris is still getting used to life in a stepfamily. Based on Book 3 of the award-winning Middle School Confidential series by Annie Fox and illustrated by Matt Kindt, this app is available for download on the iTunes App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
- Rube Works: The Official Rube Goldberg Invention Game™
Produced by Electric Eggplant and Kalani Games, in conjunction with the Heirs of Rube Goldberg
(Originally published by Unity Games)
Click to play level 1 of Rube Works now, for free.
Based on the comically complex machines by American Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, humorist and inventor, Rube Goldberg, Rube Works (the first officially licensed Rube Goldberg-themed puzzler) challenges players to complete everyday tasks in traditional Rube Goldberg style by connecting familiar objects and animals to build a comical chain reaction machine. Ages 10 to adult. Visit the Rube Works Facebook page, follow us at @RubeWorks on Twitter, and download it now for iPad and iPhone on the iTunes App Store, for Android on Google Play or the Amazon Appstore, for Mac on the Mac App Store, or for Windows/Mac/Linux on Steam. Download the press kit here. Includes English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German translations.
- People Are Like Lollipops
Written by Annie Fox
Illustrated by Brian Narelle
There was once an old man
with great wisdom who lived
in the Land of Salizar . . .The wise man discovered the key to getting along with other people, no matter how different they may seem. He’s happy to tell you the secret!
When children first start school, they begin to notice that all people don’t all look, or dress, or talk alike. With simple words and delightful illustrations that shine a light on those differences, People Are Like Lollipops helps kids understand that in spite of all these superficial differences, when it comes right down to it, all people are just people. And that’s something to smile about! Ages 3-7
People Are Like Lollipops features Read-It-To-Me audio narration and music (included in the iBook edition for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or available as a free MP3 download for the Kindle and print editions). More info at PeopleAreLikeLollipops.com» 
- Teaching Kids to Be Good People:
Progressive Parenting for the 21st Century
Written by Annie Fox, M.Ed.
Edited by Douglas Fehlen
“Not all teachers are parents, but all parents are teachers. When we teach kids to be good people who possess the social courage to do the right thing, we help to make the world a safer, saner, more accepting place for all of us.” —Annie Fox, M.Ed.
We live in a time shaped by a viral culture of cruelty. Now and in the future, we desperately need more good people. But where will these young people come from? From the homes of parents with a game plan! In Teaching Kids to Be Good People, Annie Fox has written a very personal, step-by-step guide to teaching your children to make healthy choices (online and off). Because being good is not enough. We have to do good. Available in print or as an ebook. More info at TeachingKidsToBeGoodPeople.com» - Are We Lost?
Written by Annie Fox
Illustrated by Eli Noyes
Raymond and Sheila’s peaceful day at the beach turns into a wild goose chase involving a flying teddy bear in distress, a disappearing ice cream truck, and a couple of sly boa constrictors. Is there such a thing as too much adventure? All they were trying to do was keep an eye on their “valuables” without losing sight of what’s really important! Now available for Kindle and in print. Spanish edition also available. Ages 4-8. More info at RaymondAndSheila.com»
- Are You My Friend?
Written by Annie Fox
Illustrated by Eli Noyes
Raymond is a painfully shy 5-year-old who feels left out when his big sister Sheila has her friend over. Raymond loves his teddy bear, but lately, he is beginning to wonder if he needs something more in the friend department. This fully illustrated picture book features music and read-to-me audio narration. It also includes a unique guide for parents interested in helping their kids with social and emotional learning. Ages 4-8. Available as a Read-it-to-me iBook for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, and as an app on Kindle Fire, Nabi, and other Android devices. Spanish edition also available on select platforms. More info at RaymondAndSheila.com»
Middle School Confidential 2:
Real Friends vs. the Other Kind
Written by Annie Fox
Illustrated by Matt Kindt
Jack, Jen, Chris, Abby, Mateo, and Michelle are back. But their tight circle of friends looks like it’s breaking apart. What’s going on? The very popular Monique might be using one of the girls to get to one of the guys, and never noticing that one of the other guys is in love with her! Based on Book 2 of the award-winning Middle School Confidential series by Annie Fox and illustrated by Matt Kindt. Visit our Real Friends website or download it now from the iTunes App Store. Now also available on the Kindle Fire, and Android Tablets.
- Middle School Confidential 1:
Be Confident in Who You Are
Written by Annie Fox
Illustrated by Matt Kindt
Our comic book reader brings you into the stories like never before so you can follow even more closely what’s happening with our gang of 7th graders who’re just trying to figure out what the heck middle school is all about. Of course, they’ve got some serious challenges (don’t we all?)—bullies putting them down, blowups threatening friendships, and real doubts about whether they measure up in looks, popularity and the rest of it. Ages 8-14. Visit our Be Confident website or download it now from the iTunes App Store. Now also available on the Kindle Fire, and Android Tablets.
Other items of interest:
Annie launched a podcast series, “Family Confidential: Secrets of Successful Parenting,” interviewing parenting experts and authors. Check it out. Also available as a free subscription on iTunes.
- More relevant than ever, check out this 1992 talk David gave at an early Virtual Reality conference: Virtual Reality: It's Not the Hardware
- Check out our 1978 article about The Marin Computer Center from People’s Computer Magazine and a later article, “You want to open a what?”
- Recently unearthed, rare archival video from Lucasfilm Games’ 1984 press conference announcing Rescue on Fractalus! and Ballblazer, their first two computer games.
