This article was contributed by Glenn Somodi
Barb and John Somodi of Orchid Lane in The Villages didn’t know their son, Glenn Somodi, had any interest in writing. They remember struggling to get him to finish his writing homework during childhood. Then, they received a call in November informing them his first book of a series was published and being sold online.
Their son’s debut fiction book, Olly & The Spores of Oak Hill, puts young adult and adult readers into the adventures of Olly, Ember, and their magical Spore friends, Cremini, Bella, Truffle, and Magpie. Together they fend off school bullies, greedy mall developers, and nosy townspeople to protect their homes and a secret – that a community of nature-loving creatures has been peacefully living under Oak Hill for hundreds of years.
As a mental tourist, Somodi didn’t realize the history, charm, and ties to celebrities when he first picked Littleton, Massachusetts, as the setting for his first book of the planned series, Olly & The Spores. Early into his writing, Somodi discovered the town was home to the Nipmuc people, the sixth Praying Indian village, and a place of employment for Steve Carell, the American comedian front man in the sitcom The Office. Carell worked as a mail carrier in Littleton before making it big. Fictional versions of these characters made their way into the book.
“It’s a story of friendship and young love, combined with the discovery of magical creatures and their secrets. A shared adventure introduces the main characters to a cast of likable townspeople and village villains,” shared Somodi. “This first book introduces readers to Olly, Ember, and their magical Spore friends, opening the door to many new adventures planned for the future books in the Olly & The Spores series.”
Although the book is less than four months old, it is getting great reviews and earned praise from Terri Stepek of Reader Views with “5-stars: Fun, delightful perfection.” Kristine L. of Reedsy Discovery wrote, “This book is Just. Plain. Fun. Witty and whimsical.”
You can find paperback, hardcover, and e-book editions on the Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble websites. An audiobook recorded by NYC city actor Ben Hauck is available on Nook, Audible, Spotify and other retailers. The second book of the series, Olly & The Spores of Sapphire Creek, is in the works and will be released early in 2023. Learn about the series of books and the author at www.OllyAndTheSpores.com.
For further information or review copies, contact the author, Glenn Somodi, at gsomodi@ollyandthespores.com or (216) 533-2520. High-resolution book cover photos, author photos, and graphics are available at: www.OllyAndTheSpores.com/media.html