Birch Bay author G. Leigh Lyons has recently released his children’s book series “Avery McShane” in the U.S. following its initial release over a decade ago under the U.K. publisher of the original Harry Potter books. The four-book series is named after the debut novel, “Avery McShane,” that tells the tale of the eponymous hero, his friends and his dog, Mati, on their adventures in the Venezuelan jungle. The series takes inspiration from Lyons’ own upbringing on oil camps in Venezuela, Ecuador and Iran as well as his years abroad working as a geologist and businessman.
“At the end of the day, I’m really keen to break down prejudices about people in foreign countries because I grew up there,” Lyons said. “I worked most of my career in foreign countries. I traveled the world.” Bloomsbury, which oversaw the Harry Potter series, published “Avery McShane” in 2012 in the U.K. and the Commonwealth. Four years ago, Lyons bought the rights back and spent time editing and revamping the series before releasing it worldwide.
Lyons began writing after the financial crisis in 2008, when his consulting business in Blaine closed. He was in the process of being signed for another book, “Paleopeople,” a not-yet-published fantasy work that New York-based literary agency Sterling Lord was interested in. That process took longer than anticipated, so while waiting, he wrote the first Avery McShane book.
The series is targeted toward children aged 8-13, particularly boys, which Lyons believes is an underserved demographic. He described the series as action and adventure fiction, with “the feel of a period piece in the ’60s.”
Lyons’ books are available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Walmart, Target and both Village Books and Paper Dreams locations in Lynden and Fairhaven. To learn more about Lyons and his work, visit his website at gleighlyons.com.
