July 17, 2015 at 3:52 p.m.
Children's adventure series author Patti Wheeler to sign books Monday
Children's adventure series author Patti Wheeler to sign books Monday
Her latest book, with coauthor Keith Hemstreet, is "The Adventures of Gannon and Wyatt in Ireland."
The series is loosely based on her twin sons, Gannon and Wyatt, at about age 14.
The real life Gannon and Wyatt will be with Wheeler at the book signing.
"The books are part Hardy Boys, part Indiana Jones," Hemstreet said.
Each book features an adventure at a different location around the world. Other locations featured in the series have included Botswana, Egypt, the Great Bear Rainforest, and Greenland.
Wheeler home-schooled her sons, who are now in college, so they were able to travel extensively growing up.
"They're great kids, they've traveled since they were born," Hemstreet said. "They see the value of the series."
Nowadays, each book takes considerable research, Hemstreet said. The authors visit the location where they are setting the book and utilize expert guides to teach them about the culture, history, and environment of each locale. Hemstreet and Wheeler take thousands of photos and videos as well as voluminous notes each day, Hemstreet said.
Once, while trekking through the Kalahari Desert, they encountered a family of white rhinos, Hemstreet said. They were on foot, and the mother, trying to protect her young, threatened to charge.
"I could hardly breathe as she aggressively swiped her horn at us," Hemstreet said. As she took a few quick steps in their direction, the guide jumped in between them and the rhino, and yelled for everyone to talk loudly to the rhinos.
"It was awkward, talking to rhinos, but we all did what he said, and it worked. All of our loud talking startled them, and eventually they ran off, leaving us trembling in a cloud of dust," Hemstreet said.
The series is educational, meets Common Core standards, and one book already has an educator's guide, Hemstreet said. Eventually all of the books will include a guide.
The books are geared toward children between the ages of 8 and 12.
The series has won the National Outdoor Book Award, the Nautilus Award Silver Medal, and several others, Hemstreet said.
The next book Wheeler and Hemstreet are finishing up is based in Hawaii, Hemstreet said, adding that future books will be set in Australia, Cuba, Iceland and the American Southwest.
"We'll keep writing the books as long as we continue to get great feedback," she said.
The book tour is a 15,000 mile Adventure Bus Tour, Hemstreet added.
"It's been a huge hit with kids around the country," she said.
"Travels with Gannon and Wyatt" is filled with exotic settings, high stakes adventure, and the wonder of nature, Hemstreet said. Through the series, the authors bring the magic of the natural world and faraway cultures to the imaginations of children and their families, she added.
Katie Perttunen may be reached at [email protected].
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