Review: Things That Go Bump in the Night by Andrew Buckley

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

Hair in All the Wrong Places, Book 3

by Andrew Buckley

Month9Books

YA Paranormal

237 pages

A menacing shadow looms over Elkwood, as a dark and sinister evil creeps into town. Only Colin Strauss can feel it happening. He is a werewolf, after all.
A routine Night Watch mission ends with Colin rescuing a mysterious girl from monster hunters, causing shock waves threatening to rock the town of Elkwood to its very foundations. Just when Colin thinks things can’t get any worse, he starts having girl problems.
If anyone is up to the task, it’s Colin. In the past year, he’s faced an evil biology teacher, defeated a power-hungry wizard, and united a group of unlikely creatures and freaks to defend their home.
Can Colin defeat the growing evil, evade ancient monster hunters, and not mess things up with his sort-of girlfriend?
Having hair in all the wrong places is fast becoming the least of Colin’s problems . . . 

MY TIDBITS

What a fun read! But then, I enjoyed the first two books in the series as well.

Colin has this werewolf thing pretty well under control and is a member of an elite force of other 'freaks', who stop supernatural creatures. But when a mission ends at a group of Hunters, who are holding a strange girl prisoner, things start running out of control. Add the temper of his powerful Grandma, the bumps of teenage romance, more dangerous monsters, and an ancient evil group no one seems to know much about, and Colin's days are anything but boring.

The relaxed and fun style of writing draws in so naturally, that it's hard not to feel at home in the story right away. Colin is a great guy. He's only fourteen, so he has a lot to learn...especially as a new werewolf with growing powers even his werewolf mentor has never seen. There's school drama, a dash of every day teenage life, and a ton of paranormal weirdness. And Colin takes it all in stride, more or less. It's an easy, fun read which simply insures a great adventure.

There's never a boring moment, but with everything going on, that's not surprising. The creatures are dangerous, yet hold a bit of humor too. It's a nice balance of action and lightness. To add to the fun, layers of mystery make it impossible to guess the outcome, and when a few things are a little predictable, they still include an interesting twist. The story definitely builds into more than first hits in the first pages, promising a huge adventure still to come.

Fans of young adult paranormal creatures, quirky action, teenage life and a boy, who's doing his best to stay on top of it all, will enjoy this read.

Happy Book Birthday, Hair In All The Wrong Places 2 by Andrew Buckley and an Interview!

HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES 2

The Perils of Growing Up Werewolf

by Andrew Buckley

YA Paranormal

Month9Books

Being a werewolf is no picnic. Colin’s constantly hungry, spends a ton of time shaving, and fights to keep his emotions in check to avoid turning into a giant, drooling, hairy, smelly, howling wolf. But Colin's not the only creature hanging around the town of Elkwood. Vampires, zombies, goblins, ogres, and other questionable visitors and their various shenanigans have got everyone on edge.

Colin just wants to live a normal life, date, and get his homework done on time. But the town of Elkwood needs him. So when a secret government organization asks for his help, will he be able to control the animal inside, or will he give in to the perils of growing up werewolf?

MY TIDBITS

Young fans of werewolves, witches, vampires, demons and all sorts of other fantastical creatures will dive into these pages and be howling for delight all the way to the last page.

Colin is a teenager. If that wasn't hard enough to deal with, he happens to be a werewolf too. Luckily, he lives in a town where magical creatures can mix with 'normals' and lead a somewhat peaceful life. That is, until classrooms explode, strange men with evil eyes appear and killer werewolves haunt the forest. Now, Colin not only has to survive algebra, he has to figure out what danger is about to destroy the town and keep his inner werewolf from controlling him. 

This is the second book in the series, and although I'd highly recommend reading the first one, there is enough background information to sink into this book without reading book one.

Colin is a fairly normal guy. He's level-headed, pretty mature in his decision making but still a teen, which sometimes means getting into more trouble than he'd hoped. He's settled pretty well into his new existence as a werewolf and enjoys a little more popularity at school since his adventures in book one. But he still is awkward and doesn't really fit in. In other words, he's a pretty average teen and easy to sympathize with and like. 

Although Colin has some fairly impressive werewolf powers and gets to show off in several scenes, this is also a story of friendship and working together. Colin takes the lead. . .somewhat hesitantly. . .but it's the support from those around him which help him pull through. But even this doesn't always work smoothly. Every character has their own quirks, and not all of them are ready to help him. Despite all of the magic and fantasy, the relationships and dialogue between the characters stays realistic and makes the story feel like it could happen in any school—if there was magic, that is.

The pacing holds steady the entire way through, making this a read which is hard to set down until the very last page. There are layers of mystery, and although some things are easy to predict, others come as a complete surprise. It's not a deep read but weaves a constant flow of humor into the action. Even the romance stays light and never overshadows the main plot or fun. The only disappointment to this tale is that it does have a last page. But luckily, there will be more to come.

INTERVIEW

Despite all of the hectic the last few days and a trip to GeekGirlCon as well as conducting a workshop and joining a discussion panel, Andrew still found the time to sit down and answer some questions for us. Thanks a ton, Andrew!

So without further adieu, here we go. . .

After reading up on you—*aehm* never stalking—I discovered that you've got quite a bit going on. You co-host a podcast, write novels under two names, and are an acquisitions editor for Curiosity Quills Press. Where do you find the time to get it all done?

Firstly, I’ve always wanted a stalker, so thank you :) Time does seem to constantly be in short supply these days. Many a time I’ve wished for a clone or a time machine, but neither have come to pass. My attempts at a clone were woefully miscalculated and I only tried turning the toaster into a time machine once before my wife said I was no longer allowed to do that. I’m a fairly determined and persistent person and despite having a flair for procrastination, I’m actually quite disciplined. My family is very understanding and supportive of my writing and everything that comes along with it, so I just make all the pieces fit the best I can. Sometimes it works, and sometimes the toaster explodes. 

2) HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES was your first dive into fiction for the young adult audience. What inspired you to take that plunge?

I want to say it’s because I wanted to speak into young minds and inspire imagination and creativity, but the real answer is a little more boring. A lot of publishers are looking for MG/YA/Adult crossovers because it speaks to a larger audience. A 10 year old is unlikely to read an adult book but a 40 year old could and would definitely read a book written for a ten year old. That was part of my decision. The other half was influenced by my own kids who are still years away from being able to read my adult titles. I wanted to write something that they could read, and voila! Hair in All the Wrong Places :)

3) What would you rather eat worms than do?

I’m saying this because it just came up during GeekGirlCon: I would rather eat worms than watch the movie adaptation of ‘Into the Woods’ again. That’s two hours of life I can never get back, and this is coming from someone who LOVES fairy tales and musicals. There was just so much of them going into the woods, and singing about going into the woods, and how once they were out of the woods they’d like to go back into them again, all the while singing about said woods. Pass the worms. 

4) What is your favorite part about writing?

I still love the aspect of creating new worlds and characters. It’s always such a thrill to come up with a new concept, to introduce new character to each other, and to build out the story. Writing for younger audiences also opened up a whole new world for me as an author. I now spend a large part of the year visiting schools and classrooms, speaking about being an author, and presenting storytelling workshops. It’s not something I’d ever really considered before, but it’s something I’m really enjoying. 

5) What are your favorite books to grab up and devour?

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is my favourite book of all time. I’ve read it multiple times and it influenced me heavily in becoming an author. I’ve also read Lord of the Rings multiple times (such an amazing example of world building), and I’m currently working my way through the original James Bond series of novels by Ian Fleming. 

6) What book are you reading right now?

I’m currently reading three books: Wonder Woman: Warbringer (audio book) by Leigh Bardugo, Ember in the Ashes (ebook) by Sabaa Tahir, and Sycamore Row (print) by John Grisham. 

7) What was your biggest wish as a child?

I went through several big wishes . . . We lost our dog when I was ten and I remember wishing for him back. For a while, I wished I was a werewolf (coincidence?). I wished I could talk to girls without turning the same colour as Superman’s underwear. At least one of these came true ;)

And here he is. . .

Andrew Buckley attended the Vancouver Film School’s Writing for Film and Television program. He pitched and developed several screenplay projects for film and television before completing his first two novels, DEATH, THE DEVIL AND THE GOLDFISH and STILTSKIN, both published by Curiosity Quills Press. Andrew also writes under the pen name 'Jane D. Everly' for his HAVELOCK series of novels. 

His foray into writing for a younger audience resulted in the HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES series of books, published by Month9Books, part of the Georgia McBride Media Group. 

Andrew also co-hosts a geek movie podcast, is working on several new novels, has a stunning amount of other ideas, and is currently attempting to bend time and space to allow for more hours in the day. He now lives happily in the Okanagan Valley, BC with one beautiful wife, three kids, one cat, one needy dog, and a multitude of characters that live comfortably inside of his mind. 

Andrew is represented by Mark Gottlieb at the Trident Media Group.

You can stalk him yourself at. . .

http://www.andrewbuckleyauthor.com

https://twitter.com/abuckley23
https://www.facebook.com/AndrewBuckleyAuthor/

Cover Reveal: Hair In All The Wrong Places 2 by Andrew Buckley

Last year, HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES by Andrew Buckley introduced us to teenage werewolf, Colin Strauss, and the creepy and strange town of Elkwood. The book was released by Month9Books and was also picked up by Scholastic Book Clubs in North America. Now it’s time for things to get hairier . . .

I reviewed this first book from Andrew Buckley last year and loved it (gave it 5-stars). Although I could place the whole review again here . . .that might be a bit much. So, if you're curious, head on over Here to see my exact thoughts.

ANYWAY. . . 

Today is the official cover reveal for HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES 2: THE PERILS OF GROWING UP WEREWOLF! Below you'll find the official cover along with links to pre-order your copy! The official release date is October 3rd (just a couple of days before this year's full hunter's moon) so mark your calendars!

You can check out Buckley's interview with Month9Books regarding what you can expect from the sequel, why he decided to write a werewolf series in the first place, introducing the new villain, and a couple of hints about the mystery surrounding Jeremy. 

Happy Howling!

And here it is!

Being a werewolf is no picnic. Colin’s constantly hungry, spends a ton of time shaving, and fights to keep his emotions in check to avoid turning into a giant, drooling, hairy, smelly, howling wolf. But Colin’s not the only creature hanging around the town of Elkwood. Vampires, zombies, goblins, ogres, and other questionable visitors and their various shenanigans have got everyone on edge.

Colin just wants to live a normal life, date, and get his homework done on time. But the town of Elkwood needs him. So when a secret government organization asks for his help, will he be able to control the animal inside, or will he give in to the perils of growing up werewolf?

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

Pre-order on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Wrong-Places-Perils-Growing-Werewolf-ebook/dp/B074TZJNK9

Pre-Order on Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hair-in-all-the-wrong-places-2-andrew-buckley/1126978969

Purchase Book #1 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1942664982

Month9Books Interview - http://month9books.tumblr.com

Andrew Buckley’s Website - http://www.andrewbuckleyauthor.com/

Andrew BuckleyAuthor/Professional Writer/Public Speaker

Novels: Stiltskin | Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish | Hair in All the Wrong Places | Hair in All the Wrong Places 2

Writing as Jane D Everly: Havelock

Web: andrewbuckleyauthor.com
Podcast: Trilogy Spoilers
Follow Me: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

Represented by Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group

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Review: Hair in All the Wrong Places by Andrew Buckley

HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES

by Andrew Buckley

Month9Books LLC

Middle Grade Urban Fiction

ages 9+

237 pages

What has he done? What's happening to him? And what on Earth is that smell? For Colin Strauss, puberty stinks. Blackouts, hallucinations, and lapses in memory are the perils of growing up werewolf. Worse than that, Colin worries he might have had something to do with the recent attacks on the townspeople. He may have eaten a person. It doesn't matter that it's someone he doesn't particularly like. What kind of boy goes around eating people? Foolishly, all Colin can think about is how Becca Emerson finally kissed him for the first time. Yep, hormones are afoot. Yikes! But girls will have to wait. Collin better get himself under control before someone else ends up hurt or worse . . . dead.

MY TIDBITS

The title alone caught my eye--what a great one for a werewolf novel!

Colin is a kid with a pretty rough life. He's been pushed off to a small town to live with a super cranky grandmother, isn't exactly prime masculine material, is bullied and several townspeople make it clear that he's not welcome and should just leave. In other words, his life isn't exactly a sunny day dream. When enough is enough, and he tries to run away, a really weird accident turns his life upside down.

This is solid middle grade which will especially appeal to boys. The first pages start a direct conversation with the reader, drawing them in with tips and tricks to werewolves. After that, the story starts with Colin's miserable life. Any kid who has ever felt out of sorts and like a misfit will get Colin and feel for him. He's a natural type with a little sarcasm and not exactly filled with happy thoughts, except for the girl he likes...which he's also not sure how to deal with. So this really fits the age group well.

As for the writing, it does follow traditional story telling fashion for the most part, but throws in some other methods keeping it an interesting read. The pace flows nicely a little slower at times but never boring. The reader gets to know Colin and his thoughts well, which makes this an original and interesting pre-teen werewolf story with a fun twist.

Summed up, this is a great read for boys ages 9 and up, which takes a struggling boy and throws him into one of the whackiest situations ever. One thing is guaranteed, the readers will know how to deal with becoming a werewolf if, indeed, this problem should ever cross their path.




And here he is. . .

ANDREW BUCKLEY!!!

Andrew Buckley attended the Vancouver Film School’s Writing for Film and Television program. After pitching and developing several screenplay projects for film and television, he worked in marketing and public relations, before becoming a professional copy and content writer. During this time Andrew began writing his first adult novel, DEATH, THE DEVIL AND THE GOLDFISH, followed closely by his second novel, STILTSKIN both published by Curiosity Quills Press.

Andrew also writes under the pen name 'Jane D. Everly' for his HAVELOCK series of novels. And look for his first upper middle grade novel HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES coming Summer 2016 from Month9Books.

​Andrew also co-hosts a geek movie podcast, is working on several new novels, and has a stunning amount of other ideas. He now lives happily in the Okanagan Valley, BC with one beautiful wife, three kids, one cat, one needy dog, and a multitude of characters that live comfortably inside of his mind.

​

Andrew is represented by Mark Gottlieb at the Trident Media Group.

www.andrewbuckleyauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewBuckleyAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/abuckley23