Mosaic Creative LLC

Welcome to Mosaic Creative LLC—the creative force behind Tales from the Trowel, a chapter-book series that brings real archaeology to life for young readers. Crafted by archaeologists and historians Mike Thomin and Nicole Grinnan, this series transforms hands-on teaching experiences into captivating, educational narratives. Our inaugural featured story, Luna the Cat, emerges from the 1559 Spanish settlement of Pensacola—one of the oldest Spanish colonies in the continental U.S. Through Luna’s eyes, readers experience a journey from the quiet village life in Mexico to the dramatic adventure aboard a shipwrecked galleon in a new land. Luna’s tale weaves courage, resilience, and transformation into historically grounded storytelling. At Mosaic Creative, our mission is simple yet ambitious: make history meaningful, personal, and—most importantly—fun. We believe that when children connect emotionally to the past, they become lifelong advocates for preserving our shared heritage. These stories aren’t just tales—they’re invitations to explore, learn, and grow. Visit our website at http://talesfromthetrowel.com

Mike Thomin received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Public History from the University of West Florida Nicole graduated with a Master’s degree in Historical Archaeology from the University of West Florida in 2014 and received a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Central Florida in 2010. She is currently working on a doctoral degree in History with a focus on archaeology at the University of St Andrews (Scotland).

Mike Thomin is a historian and storyteller who has spent nearly two decades bringing the past to life for audiences of all ages. He works for the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) as the Director of Education and Interpretation and is a Faculty Senior Research Associate at the University of West Florida. Through his work, Mike helps people discover Florida's buried history—from sunken shipwrecks in the Gulf to ancient Indigenous villages beneath our feet. Mike's love of storytelling led him to create "Archaeology Storytime," a program designed to spark curiosity in young minds by blending archaeology and imaginative tales. His debut children's chapter book, Luna the Cat, grew out of that very idea—making history fun, relatable, and exciting for young readers. Nicole Grinnan is an archaeologist who studies shipwrecks, coastal heritage, and clues left behind by people who lived long ago. She works at the University of West Florida's Archaeology Institute and has spent more than a decade diving into Florida's underwater history—literally! As a trained scuba diver and maritime archaeologist, Nicole has helped discover real shipwrecks from a 1559 Spanish expedition, including one that inspired Luna the Cat. Like Luna in the story, Nicole believes in being brave when facing the unknown and loves using stories to share the excitement of archaeology. She hopes her writing will help young readers see that adventure, mystery, and courage can all be found in history. She has two cats.