Spike has been writing about the world around us, the stuff in it and how it all works for the past 30 years. He worked as a carpenter and general contractor for 15 years before trading in his hammer for a pen. He was an editor with Readers’ Digest’s, Family Handyman magazine for (yet, again) 15 years where he wrote hundreds of articles on home improvement and woodworking, and oversaw the books division. He’s written for The Wall Street Journal, Men’s Health, Smithsonian, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, Mother Earth News, Fine Homebuilding and lots and lots of other magazines.

He’s written seven books including the award-winning “A Splintered History of Wood,” selected by NPR as one of the best books for gift giving. He’s appeared on NBC’s TODAY SHOW, Modern Marvels, HGTV, the CBS Early Show, and dozens of other radio and television programs.

His most recent book, “A Walk Around the Block: Stoplight Secrets, Mischievous Squirrels, Sewers, Manhole Mysteries & Other Stuff you see Every Day (and Know Nothing About” (Harper Collins) was released fall of 2020. To see the “Walk Around the Block” segment featured on the TODAY SHOW, click here.

Spike’s latest project involves crafting Wooden Beings: Little People with Big Stories to Tell. You can discover what that’s all about by clicking here or clicking “Wooden Beings” in the menu bar.

In his free time he enjoys biking, woodworking, playing guitar and attempting to keep their 170 year old house from keeling over. He and his wife Kat live in Stillwater, Minnesota, in close proximity to their 5 kids and 8 granddaughters (who also—joyfully—consume a considerable amount of free time.)

Writing about the world around us for 30 years

… and maker of Wooden Beings

Wooden Beings: Little People with BIG stories to tell. Click here.