FEATURE BOOK OF THE WEEK
SYLO
BY
D. J. MACHALE
High-school freshman Tucker Pierce lives on isolated Pemberwick Island,
just off the coast of Maine. He has the requisite wiseacre best friend,
Quinn, and is crushing on two unobtainable girls, Tori and Olivia. But
when a series of sudden and mysterious deaths, including one of Tucker’s
classmates, throws everything he knows into turmoil, it leaves him with
no idea where to turn or who to trust. Tucker’s conversational,
first-person point-of-view draws the reader in as SYLO, a military
operation endorsed by the president, takes over the island. It quickly
becomes apparent that SYLO forces will stop at nothing to see that
everyone stays put. But then Tucker witnesses several cold-blooded
killings, and he and his friends are determined to escape to the
mainland. Once there, they find more questions than answers, and the
story ends with a wide-open cliff-hanger and no resolution whatsoever.
With this extremely high-octane story that’s the equivalent to a summer
movie blockbuster (enough explosions and firepower to put Michael Bay to
shame), MacHale kicks off an apocalyptic trilogy sure to leave readers
demanding the next installment.
AUTHOR POST
When I was young (er), we didn’t
have the same wealth of wonderful novel-length fiction written for us the way young
readers do today. Yes there was
some. Narnia comes to mind. Lord of the Rings, too. Going back further there was The Hardy Boys
and Nancy Drew. Or you could go WAY back
to find Tom Swift. Still, hefty fiction
for young readers was few and far between.
Today, young readers have far more to choose from. Thanks mostly to Harry Potter.
My standard joke is that when I was
a kid, since there wasn’t much to choose from, my taste in reading went from
Dr. Seuss…straight to Dr. No. (James Bond).
My two favorite authors were Ian Fleming, who wrote the James Bond
novels; and Alistair McLean, who wrote adventure novels. Fleming’s novels were usually about some
ingenious bad-guy who hatches an incredibly complicated and clever evil
plot. It was up to the good guy (James
Bond) to solve the mystery and stop him.
The McLean novels, on the other hand, were usually about a team of
people who were thrust together to go on a dangerous mission. His stories were as much about the character
conflicts between the team members as they were about the missions
themselves. I read all of their books,
and still have some in my library today.
The
SYLO Chronicles (starting with the first book, SYLO) is my attempt to write
one of these stories. What I did was
combine some of the best story elements that were frequently used by my two favorite
authors. In SYLO you will read about a
mysterious plot being carried about by ingenious bad guys…much like a Fleming
novel. The trick with SYLO is to figure
out who the bad guys really are! It’s up
to the good guys to figure out what this plot is, and hopefully stop it. You’ll also have the added challenge of
trying to figure out who the good
guys are too! In classic Alistair McLean
fashion, a team is assembled, or in this case thrown together, and the question
becomes whether or not they’ll be able to solve the mystery without killing each other first.
My hope is that readers will get
the same kind of enjoyment from The SYLO
Chronicles as I did from reading books like Moonraker and Where Eagles
Dare. That’s a tall order, but it’s a
mission I have chosen to accept.
Hopefully I will survive.
Let the Book Battle begin!
D.J. MacHale
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
D.J. MacHale is a writer, director, executive producer and creator of several popular television series and movies. As an author, his ten-volume book series: PENDRAGON: JOURNAL OF AN ADVENTURE THROUGH TIME AND SPACE became a New York Times #1 bestseller.
He was raised in Greenwich, CT and graduated from Greenwich High School. While in school, he had several jobs including collecting eggs at a poultry farm, engraving trophies and washing dishes in a steakhouse…in between playing football and running track. D.J. attended New York University where he received a BFA in film production.
His filmmaking career began in New York where he worked as a freelance writer/director making corporate videos and television commercials. He also taught photography and film production.
D.J. broke into the entertainment business by writing several ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIALS. As co-creator of the popular Nickelodeon series: ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?, he produced all 91 episodes over 8 years. D.J. also wrote and directed the movie TOWER OF TERROR for ABC’s WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY which starred Kirsten Dunst and Steve Guttenberg. The Showtime series CHRIS CROSS was co-created, written and produced by D.J. It received the CableAce award for Best Youth Series.
D.J. co-created and produced the Discovery Kids/NBC television series FLIGHT 29 DOWN. He wrote every episode and directed several. His work on FLIGHT 29 DOWN earned him the Writers Guild of America award for Outstanding Children’s Script and a Directors Guild of America award nomination.
Other notable writing credits include the ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIAL titled SEASONAL DIFFERENCES; the pilot for the long-running PBS/CBS series GHOSTWRITER; and the HBO series ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN, BOY DETECTIVE for which he received a CableAce nomination for writing.
Also in print, D.J. co-wrote the book THE TALE OF THE NIGHTLY NEIGHBORS, based on his own teleplay and penned the poetic adaptation of the classic Norwegian folk tale EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON. His most recently completed work is the spooky MORPHEUS ROAD trilogy; and a whimsical picture book THE MONSTER PRINCESS.
SYLO is D.J.’s third middle grade/YA book series. It too will be a trilogy.
D.J. lives in Southern California with his wife Evangeline and daughter Keaton. They are avid backpackers, scuba divers and skiers. Rounding out the household are two elderly goldfish, a spoiled golden retriever named Casey and a Kitten, Kaboodle.
To learn more about D.J. MacHale's books visit his website.
D.J.
MacHale is a writer, director, executive producer and creator of
several popular television series and movies. As an author, his
ten-volume book series: PENDRAGON: JOURNAL OF AN ADVENTURE THROUGH TIME AND SPACE became a New York Times #1 bestseller.
He was raised in Greenwich, CT and graduated from Greenwich High
School. While in school, he had several jobs including collecting eggs
at a poultry farm, engraving trophies and washing dishes in a
steakhouse…in between playing football and running track. D.J. attended
New York University where he received a BFA in film production.
His filmmaking career began in New York where he worked as a freelance
writer/director making corporate videos and television commercials. He
also taught photography and film production.
D.J. broke into the entertainment business by writing several ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIALS. As co-creator of the popular Nickelodeon series: ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?, he produced all 91 episodes over 8 years. D.J. also wrote and directed the movie TOWER OF TERROR for ABC’s WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY which starred Kirsten Dunst and Steve Guttenberg. The Showtime series CHRIS CROSS was co-created, written and produced by D.J. It received the CableAce award for Best Youth Series.
D.J. co-created and produced the Discovery Kids/NBC television series FLIGHT 29 DOWN. He wrote every episode and directed several. His work on FLIGHT 29 DOWN
earned him the Writers Guild of America award for Outstanding
Children’s Script and a Directors Guild of America award nomination.
Other notable writing credits include the ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIAL titled SEASONAL DIFFERENCES; the pilot for the long-running PBS/CBS series GHOSTWRITER; and the HBO series ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN, BOY DETECTIVE for which he received a CableAce nomination for writing.
Also in print, D.J. co-wrote the book THE TALE OF THE NIGHTLY NEIGHBORS, based on his own teleplay and penned the poetic adaptation of the classic Norwegian folk tale EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON. His most recently completed work is the spooky MORPHEUS ROAD trilogy; and a whimsical picture book THE MONSTER PRINCESS.
SYLO is D.J.’s third middle grade/YA book series. It too will be a trilogy.
D.J. lives in Southern California with his wife Evangeline and
daughter Keaton. They are avid backpackers, scuba divers and skiers.
Rounding out the household are two elderly goldfish, a spoiled golden
retriever named Casey and a Kitten, Kaboodle.
- See more at: http://djmachalebooks.com/the-author/#sthash.5uinGEvj.dpuf
D.J.
MacHale is a writer, director, executive producer and creator of
several popular television series and movies. As an author, his
ten-volume book series: PENDRAGON: JOURNAL OF AN ADVENTURE THROUGH TIME AND SPACE became a New York Times #1 bestseller.
He was raised in Greenwich, CT and graduated from Greenwich High
School. While in school, he had several jobs including collecting eggs
at a poultry farm, engraving trophies and washing dishes in a
steakhouse…in between playing football and running track. D.J. attended
New York University where he received a BFA in film production.
His filmmaking career began in New York where he worked as a freelance
writer/director making corporate videos and television commercials. He
also taught photography and film production.
D.J. broke into the entertainment business by writing several ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIALS. As co-creator of the popular Nickelodeon series: ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?, he produced all 91 episodes over 8 years. D.J. also wrote and directed the movie TOWER OF TERROR for ABC’s WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY which starred Kirsten Dunst and Steve Guttenberg. The Showtime series CHRIS CROSS was co-created, written and produced by D.J. It received the CableAce award for Best Youth Series.
D.J. co-created and produced the Discovery Kids/NBC television series FLIGHT 29 DOWN. He wrote every episode and directed several. His work on FLIGHT 29 DOWN
earned him the Writers Guild of America award for Outstanding
Children’s Script and a Directors Guild of America award nomination.
Other notable writing credits include the ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIAL titled SEASONAL DIFFERENCES; the pilot for the long-running PBS/CBS series GHOSTWRITER; and the HBO series ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN, BOY DETECTIVE for which he received a CableAce nomination for writing.
Also in print, D.J. co-wrote the book THE TALE OF THE NIGHTLY NEIGHBORS, based on his own teleplay and penned the poetic adaptation of the classic Norwegian folk tale EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON. His most recently completed work is the spooky MORPHEUS ROAD trilogy; and a whimsical picture book THE MONSTER PRINCESS.
SYLO is D.J.’s third middle grade/YA book series. It too will be a trilogy.
D.J. lives in Southern California with his wife Evangeline and
daughter Keaton. They are avid backpackers, scuba divers and skiers.
Rounding out the household are two elderly goldfish, a spoiled golden
retriever named Casey and a Kitten, Kaboodle.
- See more at: http://djmachalebooks.com/the-author/#sthash.5uinGEvj.dpuf
D.J.
MacHale is a writer, director, executive producer and creator of
several popular television series and movies. As an author, his
ten-volume book series: PENDRAGON: JOURNAL OF AN ADVENTURE THROUGH TIME AND SPACE became a New York Times #1 bestseller.
He was raised in Greenwich, CT and graduated from Greenwich High
School. While in school, he had several jobs including collecting eggs
at a poultry farm, engraving trophies and washing dishes in a
steakhouse…in between playing football and running track. D.J. attended
New York University where he received a BFA in film production.
His filmmaking career began in New York where he worked as a freelance
writer/director making corporate videos and television commercials. He
also taught photography and film production.
D.J. broke into the entertainment business by writing several ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIALS. As co-creator of the popular Nickelodeon series: ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?, he produced all 91 episodes over 8 years. D.J. also wrote and directed the movie TOWER OF TERROR for ABC’s WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY which starred Kirsten Dunst and Steve Guttenberg. The Showtime series CHRIS CROSS was co-created, written and produced by D.J. It received the CableAce award for Best Youth Series.
D.J. co-created and produced the Discovery Kids/NBC television series FLIGHT 29 DOWN. He wrote every episode and directed several. His work on FLIGHT 29 DOWN
earned him the Writers Guild of America award for Outstanding
Children’s Script and a Directors Guild of America award nomination.
Other notable writing credits include the ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIAL titled SEASONAL DIFFERENCES; the pilot for the long-running PBS/CBS series GHOSTWRITER; and the HBO series ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN, BOY DETECTIVE for which he received a CableAce nomination for writing.
Also in print, D.J. co-wrote the book THE TALE OF THE NIGHTLY NEIGHBORS, based on his own teleplay and penned the poetic adaptation of the classic Norwegian folk tale EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON. His most recently completed work is the spooky MORPHEUS ROAD trilogy; and a whimsical picture book THE MONSTER PRINCESS.
SYLO is D.J.’s third middle grade/YA book series. It too will be a trilogy.
D.J. lives in Southern California with his wife Evangeline and
daughter Keaton. They are avid backpackers, scuba divers and skiers.
Rounding out the household are two elderly goldfish, a spoiled golden
retriever named Casey and a Kitten, Kaboodle.
- See more at: http://djmachalebooks.com/the-author/#sthash.5uinGEvj.dpuf
D.J.
MacHale is a writer, director, executive producer and creator of
several popular television series and movies. As an author, his
ten-volume book series: PENDRAGON: JOURNAL OF AN ADVENTURE THROUGH TIME AND SPACE became a New York Times #1 bestseller.
He was raised in Greenwich, CT and graduated from Greenwich High
School. While in school, he had several jobs including collecting eggs
at a poultry farm, engraving trophies and washing dishes in a
steakhouse…in between playing football and running track. D.J. attended
New York University where he received a BFA in film production.
His filmmaking career began in New York where he worked as a freelance
writer/director making corporate videos and television commercials. He
also taught photography and film production.
D.J. broke into the entertainment business by writing several ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIALS. As co-creator of the popular Nickelodeon series: ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?, he produced all 91 episodes over 8 years. D.J. also wrote and directed the movie TOWER OF TERROR for ABC’s WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY which starred Kirsten Dunst and Steve Guttenberg. The Showtime series CHRIS CROSS was co-created, written and produced by D.J. It received the CableAce award for Best Youth Series.
D.J. co-created and produced the Discovery Kids/NBC television series FLIGHT 29 DOWN. He wrote every episode and directed several. His work on FLIGHT 29 DOWN
earned him the Writers Guild of America award for Outstanding
Children’s Script and a Directors Guild of America award nomination.
Other notable writing credits include the ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIAL titled SEASONAL DIFFERENCES; the pilot for the long-running PBS/CBS series GHOSTWRITER; and the HBO series ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN, BOY DETECTIVE for which he received a CableAce nomination for writing.
Also in print, D.J. co-wrote the book THE TALE OF THE NIGHTLY NEIGHBORS, based on his own teleplay and penned the poetic adaptation of the classic Norwegian folk tale EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON. His most recently completed work is the spooky MORPHEUS ROAD trilogy; and a whimsical picture book THE MONSTER PRINCESS.
SYLO is D.J.’s third middle grade/YA book series. It too will be a trilogy.
D.J. lives in Southern California with his wife Evangeline and
daughter Keaton. They are avid backpackers, scuba divers and skiers.
Rounding out the household are two elderly goldfish, a spoiled golden
retriever named Casey and a Kitten, Kaboodle.
- See more at: http://djmachalebooks.com/the-author/#sthash.5uinGEvj.dpuf
