Young readers of the Barnabas Bigfoot series waiting for the third instalment can browse the bookstores with glee.
Author Marty Chan just announced he is holding an official launch for Barnabas Bigfoot: The Bone Eater on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at Audreys Books in Edmonton.
A special second launch is planned for his boyhood hometown at the Morinville Public Library on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m.
The Bone Eater follows the initial two instalments: A Close Shave and A Hairy Tangle, in which Chan introduces characters and sets the scene for Sasquatch adventures.
“In this one what I want to get across is the importance of being true to your beliefs. It’s easy to go with the crowd if you think the crowd is right. But the crowd isn’t always right,” says Chan.
In this adventure, Barnabas has developed more confidence.
“I’ve taken him from a clumsy, socially awkward sasquatch to someone who can become a leader in the tribe. He has to make harder decisions in this book and not everyone gets along.”
Book three picks up where A Hairy Tangle left off as Barnabas, Hannah and Ruth unwittingly step into another plot. This time the spunky sasquatches confront the Bone Eater, a legendary creature from sasquatch mythology who suddenly appears.
“I wanted to play on the notion that we have legend of the sasquatch and the sasquatches have a creature that eats the bones of a sasquatch,” Chan chuckles.
The intrepid trio feels compelled to warn the tribe about this monster that just might pose a greater threat to the tribe than the humans who hunt them.
Throughout the 35,000 word novel, there are double crosses, loyalties are tattered and sasquatch values of selflessness and honesty are tested.
There’s also an abundance of Chan’s signature warm humour.
“When you build a world, it’s like a playground,” he said. “Now that I’ve built the world, we can play and get lost in the fun.”
