First-time author Nowen N. Particular—real name Marty Longé, a pastor in Washington state—was spurred to write by his desire to awaken a passion for reading, especially in boys.

Boomtown, Book 1: Chang's Famous Fireworks Factory, to be published Sept. 9 by Thomas Nelson, aims to attract 9- to 14-year-olds with a quirky plot and the inclusion of more than 80 art pieces throughout the book, from vintage circus posters and old-style portraits to hand-drawn maps of Boomtown and curiosity-whetting Chinese fireworks images.

Having previously written a number of children's stories and curriculum for his own ministry uses, Longé has also created an associate Web site for his debut novel, visitboomtown.com.

Amid the humorous tall tale of mystery and adventure in a fictional town, he has woven positive messages about trusting people, honesty and being a good neighbor. The book aims to counter what he said is a trend in youth literature toward negative attitudes and behaviors such as gossip, runaways, sorcery and inappropriate romance.

"The book started with a joke between me and my daughter," Longé recalled. "I said if a chicken laid an egg that exploded, they'd call it a hen grenade." Other incendiary ideas-what would happen if you put gunpowder in pancakes?—hatched, and Boomtown was born.

Read more in the Aug. 25 issue of Christian Retailing magazine.