Here's a review of the original Avery McShane book that I never saw. I think because it was released in Asia somewhere.

Avery McShane
By Greg Lyons
Published by Bloomsbury
ISBN 978 1408816745

Avery McShane is the new teen hero on the block, and we're pleased to report that his first adventure is an action-packed page-turner. It sets out its intentions in the first few pages, and keeps firmly on track until its gripping climax. Filled with suspense, mystery and danger, and peppered with quick teenage banter, this book knows its readers and piles on exactly what they want in spadefuls.

This is a boys-own adventure (ask your dad or grandad) aimed firmly at boys in the 11-15 range, readers who often miss out on great stories. Avery McShane is a very welcome attempt to address that imbalance. Author Greg Lyons is on to a winner from the start. Lyons grew up in Venezuela, and it's in this fascinating landscape that he sets this adventure.

Avery is a young American expat living in Campo Mata, a camp in the middle of the South American jungle, run by his engineer father, and owned by a US oil company. There are other families in the camp, and Avery has Billy and Todd, two close friends, to back him up and spur him on when adventure comes knocking. Avery is a personable hero and narrator, and Lyons brings him to life with zest and a lot of humour.

Lyons establishes the setting and characters in the first few pages, and then it's all systems go. Avery and his two pals have formed an exclusive gang and call themselves the Machacas. Adventure is always in the air: they know secret places in the jungle and have built a tree house from which girls, parents and other interfering adults are banned.

Each week, the Machacas set themselves a dare, and this week they decide to break into Pablo Malo's banana plantation, pick fruit from one of the trees, and get out as quickly as possible. While they know they may run into trouble, what the boys don't expect to find is a dead body. This gruesome discovery sees Avery and his friends turn detective as they seek the truth about what the devious Senor Malo is up to.

A simple dare quickly turns into a full-blooded adventure, with gun-carrying villains, floods, explosions and all kinds of dangerous mayhem thrown into Avery's path as he risks his life to unmask the villain. And when the boys discover that the local police assistant isn't to be trusted, and Captain Gomez, the police chief, goes missing, the boys add to their list of truths to uncover.

This is unashamedly a novel for lads: it doesn't quite carry a "Girls, Keep Out" label on the cover, but it might just as well. Boys will lap this up and eagerly await Avery's next adventure.

John Millen can be contacted on MillenBookshelf@aol.com

Back in the saddle again.

It's been 13 years since my last posts on this blog, but I'm officially back in the saddle again. The writing and publishing saddle, that is. The Avery McShane series has been release for an exclusive month or two at Village Books in Fairhaven, Washington. Soon they'll be released to the world. Achilles Wept and The Pirates of Xingu have been released as e-books. I'm just now starting the promotional part of these projects.

We've got a lot to catch up on. I'll start posting here soon to let you know what transpired over the last decade or so, and also give my followers a glimpse of the near future. 

Is this the End?

I just got back from Houston. I'm probably going to get a 'real' job soon. Is this the End of my writing career? I hope not, but it isn't going to be easy writing on my free time. I will miss the solitude of the office overlooking the marina. Life goes on, but will my writing?

I've completed five books. I'll tinker with them, maybe put them out there...see what happens. Worst case, I'll have one helluva hobby to pursue when I retire. Been a heckuva ride. I want to thank each and every one of you for your support over the last several years. For me it's a new adventure. And that's what life should be. One adventure after another.

Nyaaah...What's Up Doc?

Been a long while since my last post, but I've been busy. Time to catch up. As far as I know 'Avery McShane' is doing well. It's kinda hard to tell. Bloomsbury keeps the sales numbers close to the vest, but I am pretty sure it's selling well. I recently received a check from them with the second half of my advance, so they must feel confident that the advance is covered. I'm waiting to hear from them about when and if they want to move forward with the sequels. I've already given them two manuscripts to chose from. Also hope they'll find a publisher in the U.S. to sell the rights to. I think the book would do well here.

On another front, I sent 'The Pirates of Xingu' manuscript to market. Lot's of interest, especially from a major publisher in New York. Here's what they said:



June 12, 2012


Dear Leigh,


Thank you for submitting your manuscript The Pirates of Xingu to us. What a fantastic read! It is the first book in months that has made me gasp. You craft the adventure scenes deftly and seamlessly weave in moments of humor and emotional poignancy. The atmosphere is vivid, the characters well-drawn, and the momentum quick without overwhelming the reader. I see in this immense potential for a tight, riveting adventure story with emotional impact, complexity, and broad appeal. Should you be willing to engage in some revision, I would like to present to you some questions and observations for you to consider as you move towards another draft.


Of course, that paragraph was followed by three pages of comments and suggestions. They made some really good points. I turned in a new draft a couple of weeks later, and they liked what they saw. They will be sending me their next batch of suggestions in the next day or two. I think they'll make a move on the book. I hope so.

In the intervening time, I've turned my attention to 'Paleopeople' (and epic fantasy - sort of Lord of the Rings meets Journey to the Center of the Earth) and 'The Thief of Shadows' (sort of Harry Potter meets voodoo, set beneath the City of New Orleans). I'll be looking to get those out to agents and publishers in the near future. Just a few more tweaks, and they're ready.

That's the update. Hope you're all having a great summer. Cheers!

Looking Back (First Keystroke to Publication)

With three days to go before Avery McShane is released by Bloomsbury Children's Books in the U.K., I decided to look back and assess how long it took to get to this point. Here are the cold, hard numbers:


- From first keystroke (ever) to release date: 1,114 days (or 3 years, 1 month, 18 days)

- From first keystroke (ever) to Book Deal: 595 days (or 1 year, 7 months, 18 days)

- From first keystroke (ever) to Signing Agent: 491 days (or 1 year, 4 months, 6 days)

You see, Avery McShane was not the first manuscript I started. That honor fell to Paleopeople, which I have completed several times. Or at least I thought I had, until my agent sent me back to the keyboard again. 

I started writing Avery McShane while I waited for my agent to read and review Paleopeople. Here are the numbers starting from the day I typed the first word of Avery McShane:

- From first keystroke (of A/Mc) to release date: 869 days (or 2 years, 4 months, 16 days)

- From first Query Letter (for A/Mc) to release date: 821 days (or 2 years, 3 months)

- From first keystroke (of A/Mc) to Book Deal: 320 days (or 10 months, 16 days)

- From first Query Letter (for A/Mc) to Book Deal: 272 days (or 8 months, 29 days)


Obviously, not in any particular order, but you get the idea. For the record, it seemed much longer. These numbers will probably not mean jack to a non-writer, but they are the kinds of numbers any new, aspiring writer might find of interest. Good thing I never really gave it much thought. If I had, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have kept going - but I did. And now I have three more days to go. Drop in a bucket.

Marketing the Book

'Avery McShane' will be released in the UK on March 1st. We all know that. What's on my mind now is when it will hit the bookshelves in the good ole USA. I asked my editor and she told me that Bloomsbury will be 'aggressively' marketing the foreign publishing and translation rights at the upcoming Bologna Children's Book Fair, which starts a couple weeks after the release of the book. The Fair is THE PLACE where this kind of thing gets done. I'm glad it's happening so soon after the release. I've copy pasted some info below.

This means that I may be receiving some good news in the next month or two. So, I'm once again crossing my fingers and hoping for good things to come. Cheers.

BOLOGNA CHILDREN'S BOOK FAIR

The "rights" place for children's content

19 March through 22 March 2012, 49th edition

Bologna Fair Centre > Piazza Costituzione Entrance 

Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday: 9 am > 6.30 pm
Thursday: 9 am > 3 pm

The Fair is rigorously reserved to professional operators

The Bologna Children’s Book Fair is the most important international event dedicated to the children’s publishing and multimedia industry. In Bologna authors, illustrators, literary agents, licensors and licensees, packagers, distributors, printers, booksellers, and librarians meet to sell and buy copyright, find the very best of children’s publishingand multimedia production, generate and gather new contacts while strengthening professional relationships, discover new business opportunities, discuss and debate the latest sector trends.

The exhibitors

About 1200 exhibitors coming from 66 countries and 5000 international professional trade representatives in 2012. In its 49th edition, the Fair offers more than 20.000square meters (about 215.000 square feet) of exhibition space with a simple and easy-to-understand layout.

The Back Cover to 'Avery McShane'

(click on to see larger image)