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  • TUXEDO MAN BIO

    CJ Ryan is an average 9-year-old kid who believes that his suit gives him super powers when he wears it to school. The kids start calling him "Tuxedo Man", and he becomes elevated to hero status by solving typical 4th grade problems with a little help from his advice-giving mom.

    CJ eventually learns the true origin of his powers, so he starts wearing tuxedo T-shirts under his clothes for courage and confidence. He realizes that not all heroes wear capes and begins to recognize other kids who have some pretty cool "superpowers," and hands out tuxedo T-shirts to the heroes around him, to inspire everyone to be the hero of their own story.

  • OUR MISSION

    Tuxedo Man Adventures strives to empower kids with a superhero mindset built on courage, confidence, kindness, and appropriate conflict resolution. We promote independent thinking and problem-solving strategies through SEL-inspired stories, guided questions, and interactive journaling and doodling pages. We offer custom merchandise crafted to support our little heroes, and to encourage everyone to be the hero of their own story!

Educator Resources

The author of Tuxedo Man Adventures is available to schedule school visits, book sales/signings, presentations, interactive activities, and student assemblies.

COMING SOON:

Forms to download for upcoming school visits. Please stand by patiently as we create this new section for you. 

 

Meanwhile, please contact us by email to schedule and plan a visit geared to your specific school or district.

UPCOMING EVENT INFORMATION

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wauconda, IL - Sunday, 2/22/26 10am-2pm

(OPEN TO PUBLIC)

Dock's Bar & Grill

www.docksbarandgrill.com

313 E Liberty Street, Wauconda, IL

Meet the Author and Book Signing Event

(Click Upcoming Events at top left corner for more information and details)

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Thank you to all who attended our book launch on 11/29/25, despite the terrible weather; our New Year’s Eve book signing and fundraiser at Photo’s Hotdogs in Palatine; and our Meet The Author event at Adrenaline Monkey in West Dundee! We appreciate you tremendously!

Stay tuned for more upcoming events.

We are currently scheduling media interviews and school visits for 3rd - 5th grade classes.

If you would like to schedule an author visit to your school or workplace, email us below for details.

Not All Heroes Wear Capes! Some wear Tuxedo Man T-shirts!

Instill courage and confidence in your young heroes with their own Tuxedo Man T-shirt or hoodie! Be a hero to them by supporting hero mentality with your own cool Tuxedo Man hero gear! Check out our adult, baby and toddler gear as well!

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About the Author

Patricia Guzak dedicated 30 years of her life, striving to reach the “unreachable” and teach the “unteachable” in her career in the criminal justice system. She continually worked toward motivating people to rebuild themselves using tools they didn’t realize they already possessed, while simultaneously using those very lessons to improve and rebuild herself. She raised two highly spirited boys, working two, and sometimes even three jobs to provide them the opportunities to grow into the fine men they have become.


With an already large and busy extended family, she was blessed with two wonderful bonus kids when she remarried. Together, she and her loving husband have redefined family, adding even more love and laughter to the ever-growing crew. She enjoys spending her free time with her wide circle of lifelong friends, taking her giant labradoodle, Kevin, to her childhood home to visit her 93-year-old father, or at the ice hockey rink, cheering on her favorite goalie and husband.

Her real-life Tuxedo Men, her C and her J, remain her deepest source of pride and purpose.

About the Cover Illustrator

Dan Rickert is a naturally gifted artist, having taught himself to play several musical instruments to accompany his strong vocals. Dan has additionally excelled at drawing, cooking, and creating mixed media art.

Dan is a software engineer/developer, so when asked to create a cover for Tuxedo Man which would allow every kid the ability to imagine themself as the hero, he taught himself graphic design and applied it to the sketches he drew. He brought the author's vision to life, and gave Tuxedo Man the perfect image.

This is Dan's first published book illustration.

About the "Doodle" Illustrator

Tracy Guzak Lawrence had the pleasure of looking up to her MUCH older cousin her entire life, turning to her for advice, friendship, and unconditional love as well as the answers to some of life's bigger questions. The two share a deep connection and history, so when Patti turned to her for illustrations for this book, she was hesitant; fearing that her cousin's heart might compromise her vision to spare her feelings. But the two also share a thick skin, and are truly soul-sisters; so the outcome was the perfect intermingling of love, respect, and understanding into every word and drawing, along with two proud cousins who will forever be each others' loudest cheerleader!

Tracy has always been a gifted artist; and additionally provided years of critical analysis and creative editing to this project, from its inception to the final product.

Tracy works with children as her local school librarian. She and her loving and supportive husband, Ron, are the proud parents of their two amazing adult sons and brand new daughter-in-law; in addition to their extended family of several fur babies.