Attention Teachers: Free Odd Squad Books for your Class!

To promote my new Odd Squad web site,…

…we’re giving away 1600 FREE Odd Squad Books.  Just tell us why you have the “oddest” class and you can win 40 copies of the The Odd Squad: Bully Bait for your class! 

Click on the image above for your chance to win!

Seriously!

Fast, Furry and Out of Control

When you’ve written yourself up a tree and the tree’s on fire and the natives are shooting poison darts and the vampire scorpion on your neck is getting really thirsty and the asteroid the size of Texas with your name on it has just entered the atmosphere there’s only one thing you can do…

Play the Hammy card.

Hammy ex machina.

 

Why You Should Never Ever Click on Spine-Enhancement Ads

You want a firmer, straiter, stiffer, longer lasting spine?

Stand up straight!

 

Presenting “The Odd Squad: Zero Tolerance” Cover

Check out the almost final cover for book 2 of The Odd Squad series: Zero Tolerance.  Here’s the lowdown:

After taming the school’s biggest bully, Nick, Molly and Karl expect to bask in Safety Patrol glory. But without a bully to set straight, all they’re left with is helping sixth graders cross the hall and reminding everyone that Jell-o meat stains.

Enter new kid Simone, who becomes fast friends with Molly but gets on Nick’s nerves when she makes light of his quest to find Emily, the mysterious middle school protector who may or may not be real. In an effort to prove he’s right, Nick tries to flush Emily out, only to bring the wrath of a new Zero Tolerance policy down on Emily Dickinson Middle School.

Nick’s in way over his head (he’s not that tall in the first place) and risks expulsion if he can’t  restore his good name. Since Nick is an expert at making wrong moves, he could be in big trouble. Because if there’s one thing worse than being the shortest seventh grader in the history of the world, it’shaving to go through it twice.

Guess what?  New kid Simone is from FRANCE!

<twirls moustache melodramatically>

The Odd Squad: Zero Tolerance debuts September 3rd in bookstores everywhere both real and virtual.

As with Book 1, if you pre-order, and send me a receipt (to overhedge@verizon.net) I’ll send you a signed drawing.  Pre-order HERE.

 

Odd Squad Web Site Now Live

Check out the brand spankin’ new Odd Squad web site now live on Disney.com.

 

It’s got a look-inside-the-book, character stuff, where to buy, etc.  Perfect timing with the book launching tomorrow (2/12).  Click on the image above or go to:  disney.com/odd squad

Enter To Win One of Ten Free Copies of The Odd Squad: Bully Bait

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Odd Squad

by Michael Fry

Giveaway ends February 12, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

I’m giving away ten free copies of The Odd Squad: Bully Bait ARC (advanced review copy).  Hurry, it won’t have that new book smell for long.

Give the Odd Squad Facebook Page a Like

 

I’ve got a Facebook page now for all things Odd Squad.  Click on the art above or check it out here.  I you like please give it a LIKE.

Thanks.

February Odd Squad Book Tour Dates

Come say hey and get your book signed.  I promise to wear pants.

2/18

Naperville, IL
7:00PM
Anderson’s Bookshop
123 West Jefferson Avenue
(630) 355-2665

2/20

Cincinnati, OH
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
2692 Madison Road
Rookwood Pavilion
(513) 396-8960 (Call for Time)

I’ll also be visiting several schools in Chicago, Cincinnati and Houston. I’ll let you know the schools when I know.

Neil Gaiman Read My Book in the ER!

Two weeks ago I screwed up the courage to ask one of my favorite writers and inexplicable Twitter followers, Neil Gaiman (best-selling author of American Gods, Coraline and Newbery Award winner for The Graveyard Book) to read my new book, The Odd Squad: Bully Bait.  I sent him a private message. After some back and forth he agreed offering no promises.

On Thursday evening he posted this on his blog:

In other news, my second wedding anniversary last night was fun, except for the food poisoning, which meant that Amanda and I threw up in gutters a lot, and I spent this morning in the ER watching her get a saline drip. We went out for such a fancy anniversary dinner, and it was the most expensive food we’ve ever thrown up. Next year I think we’ll just go somewhere we like.

(I read Michael Fry’s The Odd Squad in the ER, because that was what I had with me. Perfect ER reading while the person down the hall is screaming and the homeless man in the wheelchair has begun to grunt, loudly and incoherently, and your wife is sleeping on a drip beneath the beautiful black Kambriel greatcoat, which seems to have found its person. Funny and sweet with a steely centre.)

My agent and I decided to sit on the news until we could confirm with Neil’s agent that he did indeed intend to describe my book as “funny and sweet with a steely centre” and not his wife. Although I’m sure Amanda Palmer is much funnier, sweeter and steely-er than my book, we were just assured that he was indeed referring to The Odd Squad. Whew!

Anyway, I’m gobsmacked and honored and just all-around ecstatic.  I don’t know how much difference it’ll make in sales, but Mr. Gaiman’s praise makes a HUGE difference to me.

Thank you sir.

Kirkus Review of My New Book, “The Odd Squad: Bully Bait”

Kirkus Reviews (notoriously harsh) has just posted their review for my new middle grade illustrated novel, The Odd Squad: Bully Bait.  It’s pretty darn positive. I can only post a portion (EXACTLY 35% they said) since pre-publication reviews are only available by subscription. The entire review will be available to the public two weeks before publication (1/26/13) here.

Here’s the EXACTLY 35% I can share:

In an illustrated novel, the first in a proposed series, cartoonist Fry (Over the Hedge) humorously mines the world of middle school as seen through the eyes of bullied Nick to answer the question: Can three oddballs team together to take down the school bully?

To counter their social isolation, Nick’s guidance counselor forces Nick and too-tall Molly to join nerdy Karl in the lamest club ever: Safety Patrol. Mr. Dupree, a Shakespeare-quoting hippie janitor who is able to arm fart “Greensleeves,” advises them to take control with a series of hilarious attempts to get back at (bully) Roy.

Much that the Odd Squad does to get to Roy (stealing, breaking into school records) is not admirable. But this gives the characters dimension: The bully is not all bad; the bullied are not all good. Abundant cartoon-style illustrations enhance the book’s silly yet sensitive portrayal of bullying and unlikely friendships.

An important message, humorously delivered, that will appeal to Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans.

Okay, so maybe that’s a tad more than 35%.  If they count the words and come after me I’ll let you know.

Anyway, terrific review!  Woo-Hoo!*

*Just a reminder: Pre-order your book on Amazon and I’ll send you a hand-drawn drawing of one of characters. See details in the side bar.