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Author Spotlight: Sands Hetherington

Sands Hetherington credits his son John for being his principal motivator. Sands raised his son as a single parent from the time John was six. He read to him every night during those formative years. He and young John developed the Crosley crocodile character in the series during months of bedtime story give-and-take. Sands majored in history at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and has an M.F.A. in creative writing and an M.A. in English from UNC-Greensboro. He lives in Greensboro.

Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare by Sands Hetherington is an after lights-out adventure story that will delight young readers and middle graders who relish roller coaster fantasy and fun, filled with unforgettable characters and an astonishing and inventive collection of magical whatchamacallits.

The book is all about the nighttime adventures of a young boy named John (named after Sands' son), who is not ready to go to sleep, and his friend, a bright red crocodile named Crosley who turns up under John’s bed. 

Night Buddies is an astonishing and inventive adventure with unforgettable cast of characters that will make you laugh and win over your heart. The book has lots of thoughtful, multi-layered twists, giggles, and perils -- things kids can relate to and enjoy. 

Publisher: Dune Buggy Press; One edition (June 1, 2012)
ISBN-10: 0984741712
ISBN-13: 978-0984741717

Get a sneak peek of the book at http://tinyurl.com/7xxl8qw

In the book readers will find themselves sneaking out of John’s house using Crosley’s “I-ain’t-here-doodad” which makes John and Crosley invisible to John’s parents. They then embark on an adventure chasing down enemies and cleaning up one mess after another as they solve the earthshaking mystery: who stole all the pineapple cheesecakes from the only factory in the world that makes them! 

The investigation starts out fine but things get a little crazy when Crosley, who is allergic to water, gets wet. Hilarious things happen when Crosley’s allergy to water kicks in, and when they get to the pineapple cheesecake factory and meet Big Foot Mae, the investigation gets more complicated and zany than either of them bargained for.

About the illustrator:
Jessica Love grew up in California, with two artist parents. She studied printmaking and drawing at UC Santa Cruz, then went on to study acting at The Juilliard School in NYC. Jessica currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, toggling back and forth between her work as an actor and her work as an artist.

What People Are Saying

“This little book is a winner!”
 —Grady Harp, Hall of Fame Amazon Reviewer

“Hetherington seems to have the right ingredients for a classic children’s whodunit—talking animals, an unsolved mystery and a brave hero willing to face unforeseen foes…”
—Kirkus

“Stating that Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare is a creative, imaginative and delightful tale is simply giving it its just desserts. Yerk! Yerk! Yerk!”
— Drew Aquilina, International award-winning cartoonist and author, Green Pieces: Green From the Pond Up

“Night Buddies is a terrific story my second and third-graders would love to have read to them, complete with its colorful dialect. Thanks for the sneak peek!”
— Lorie Thompson, Principal, Haskell Elementary School, Los Angeles Unified School District


The World of Ink Network will be touring author Sands Hetherington’s nighttime adventure for kids, Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare published by Dune Buggy Press all through July and August 2012. You can find out more about Sands Hetherington’s World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/6vgevbh

Next Few Stops on Sands Hetherington's World of Ink Tour
July 6th
Home School Blogger - Book Review
http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolbookreview/

July 8th
Utah Children's Writer Blog – Spotlight
http://utahchildrenswriters.blogspot.com/

July 9th
BTR’s World of Ink Network: Stories for Children Show
Live Radio Interview at 2pm EST at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/worldofinknetwork
You can also listen on demand after the show airs!

July 10th
It’s About Time Mamaw – Book Review & Giveaway
http://itstimetoreadmamaw.blogspot.com/
http://itsabouttimemamaw.blogspot.com/

July 11th
Tidbits From A Mom – Author Spotlight & Review Book Giveaway http://tidbitsfromamom.blogspot.com

Writers On The Move – Spotlight/Interview
http://vbt-writersonthemove.blogspot.com/

July 12th
Teresa Nordheim Interview
http://www.teresanordheim.com/blog/
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