Dax to the Max is back!
Carlsbad resident Scott Feld has followed the success of his first children’s book, “Dax to the Max, Book1: Imagination,” with the publication of a sequel. It is called “Dax to the Max: Blah Blah Blobs vs. Power Pods.”
Like the initial volume that came out in 2022, the new book promotes self-empowerment among youth readers by using themes and language to which they can relate.
The main character is a fictionalized version of Feld’s son Dax, who will turn 9 in January. Dax attends Encinitas Country Day School, where Feld, a certified life-skills coach, helps with communications.
Dax, the character, battles his inner fears in the form of “Blobs” that torment him in disturbing dreams. A superhero — “Max” — sprouts in his dream world to lead him on a quest to vanquish the troublesome creatures.
The “Blobs” are projections of Dax’s negative thinking, which Max describes as “stink think.”
Says Feld: “This book to me is a much better book just because of the experience I’ve had. It’s a more powerful book and it will reach a wider range.
“People who have read it or heard it (read), even adults, are like ‘Wow. I just got a lot out of that. Like I can really relate to stink think. I can really see a Blah Blah Blob being created and getting in the way. I can understand that through the tools Max teaches, which is how to power think and visualize, that I can beat the Blah Blah Blobs. I can get past the fear of being out of my comfort zone and do what it is I want to do.’ …
“This book is an awareness book. It brings awareness to what’s happening with everybody and, hopefully, they can have some breakthroughs.”
The real-life Dax said being the character of his father’s books is “exciting” and he is proud to be able to help other kids get past their own fears through being in the book.
At 70 pages long, “Blah Blah Blobs vs. Power Pods” is more than double the length of the first book. Like that offering, it is being produced by the same company, Hasmark Publishing International. Feld also retained illustrator Kezzia Crossley, whose vivid drawings make the story jump from the page.
In saying the forthcoming tale benefitted from “experience,” Feld is largely referring to the unexpected path he traveled along in crafting it.
While he had planned a second volume, as insinuated by the subtitle of “Dax to the Max,” he postponed it because of another opportunity. Intrigued by Feld’s first book, a video content producer offered to create a TV show based on the Dax character.
That project hit a roadblock, however, and not from the coronavirus pandemic. Rather, it was derailed by the screenwriters and actors guild strike that paralyzed Hollywood’s studios in 2023.
As a result, Feld opted to use the script he had been working on as the basis for his second publication.
“This book comes from the time I spent writing that script, which got stopped by the strike,” Feld said. “I really wanted (the show) to happen. But we got into action (writing) and wrote the second book and now we really, really love it. …
“We believe there will be a TV show and it will be bigger and better because I’ve spent so much time writing this book and building up the characters even more so than when we first pitched the TV show.”
Feld said the first “Dax to the Max” met with critical acclaim, which included making at least two international best-seller lists.
A native of Reno, Nevada, who has lived in North San Diego County for three decades, Feld plans to aggressively market the new book.
Its official release is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2025 through Amazon’s website. Meanwhile, you can get a signed copy of “Dax to the MAX: Blah Blah Blobs vs. Power Pods” by sending an email to [email protected] with the subject line: Book (limited supplies. First 20 free).
For more information on a reading/g for your school or organization email: [email protected] with the subject line: Reading! Visit scottfeld.com for additional information.
“Dax (the son) and I are going to go much harder into marketing,” Feld said. “We’re going to travel a bit. We’re going to do readings and gs and book fairs and festivals and whatever it is we can find, wherever they’ll take us.”
