SYNOPSIS
When a hidden jump rope causes Johnny Ashton to stumble into nasty blackberry bushes, he takes vengeance on the family of neighbor twins Callie and Laurie.
After an ambulance comes screeching to the house with sirens blaring and the driver announcing a fire at the mill, Johnny sneaks into the back of his father’ work truck. Once there, they hear there are people trapped inside!
What will Johnny do? Johnny wakes suddenly during the first night in his new tree house. What he sees through the window will bring him to a place he never imagined and requires great courage!
When immigrant Irish brothers Tom and Nathan O’Reilly move into the ‘haunted’ house behind the Ashton’s, Johnny is determined to make friends with them. He learns about their culture as they learn about his secret “problem.” During the Plainsville Independence Day celebration, the three friends find themselves in a frightening predicament.
To save the town, Johnny “Peppertoes” Ashton must overcome his greatest fear.
CREATION OF THE STORY
It is such a privilege to be able to live in a magical world where one can walk across the room and receive inspiration for a title of a future book, i.e. “Johnny Peppertoes.”
I bounced the word ‘Peppertoes’ off my mom who lived with me after my husband died. At least 3 times, she said, “that’s silly, honey!” I thought it was cute.
At 3:00am that night, I was awakened by a voice that said, “It is going to be a book!” I freaked out because picture books were hard enough for me…how in the world could I write a chapter book…especially when I only had 2 daughters! The irony is that everyone thinks I was a teacher while I barely finished two courses at the University of WA. That’s because a family emergency forced me to work even before I turned 18. Thankfully, an incredible former publisher named Swanee Ballman entered my life and helped make my vision a reality.
A young man (13) who lived next door begged to do the 36 vignettes. It took 3 months to finally realize he could do the job and over 2 years to finish the original self-published book. There were 2 more editions, including the present cover page, before it became better known. Patience is a hard virtue!
What’s truly amazing is the wide age span of those who’ve read and loved it. Many were recipients of over 800 business cards I’ve given out, usually spotting kids or families with kids around 10 years old. April, a 4th-grade teacher friend used it for 3 yrs. in her class for their English curriculum. At the end, the principal attributed it to their highest grades ever.
Three screen plays have been written because many have felt there was something special about Johnny and his adventures. Yes, a movie will come!
Rita's Publishing 