Wizards, Beavers, and Such

About the Book

The story revolves around three fictional characters heading south on the Great Dismal Swamp searching for a safe, future homesite. The leader of the group is Ollie, a wise, spunky young beaver that insists on integrity. Second in command is a brazen coyote named Bud. His scruples are at times questionable, often conflicting with Ollie’s. But when an issue arises, Ollie maintains control. The last of the leaders is a former general for the Florida Alligator Homeland Security. The alligator, named Hector, challenges Ollie and Bud to a duel. Hector loses the battle, but Ollie calmly saves his life. There will normally be three short stories included with each book. This book, book 1, will contain three short stories. The first begins with General Hector; the second subbook will involve a huge sixteen-foot python named Thunder. The third and last subbook will describe the rescue of an enormous boar named Papa Boar. Papa, weighing close to six hundred pounds, had become mired in swamp mud. Ollie, with assistance from the local alligators, conjures up a successful rescue plan, freeing the boar from drowning. Future stories include the discovery of a space vehicle and the containment of a large ocean oil release.

About the Author

John Gary Shirley graduated from Easton High, Easton Pennsylvania, and, after a summer, followed his father’s footsteps joining the US Navy. Eight years later, he left the military and earned his BS degree in chemistry at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. He eagerly took a position with a Hazardous Waste Management company (Four Seasons Env). The work consisted of identifying unknown chemicals for EPA approved transportation and disposal. The job required extensive travel, introducing him to a diverse variety of personalities. Perhaps the greatest influence on him, for better or worse, were his childhood years growing up in Panama. Each day he would stumble upon a new and unique creature for my memory bank. Those post-Darwin day memories remain as clear and exciting today as they did for a youngster some sixty years ago.