Guest Post from Tyler Whitesides, Author of the Janitors Series
We are so excited to have bestselling author Tyler Whitesides here with us at Fire and Ice to share this exclusive guest post as part of the official Shadow Mountain Janitors blog tour. Today he explains just how the Janitors series took shape:
“I always try to draw inspiration from everyday occurrences and real life experiences. The idea to write a series about janitors came when I worked part time to clean a middle school. I had a few friends that worked the night shift with me, and I’m sure we were much more effective cleaning alone than we were on those mischievous nights that we went to work together. Perhaps the following story will show you what I mean.
It was a late night, easily past midnight, when we got to the school to start cleaning. The task of emptying 300-plus trash cans was exhausting before we even began. About an hour into the work, it became clear that we needed a little something to energize us.
Two of us let ourselves into the front office and used the school intercom to call our other friend who was sweeping in the gym. By the time he arrived, we had discovered a CD player next to the intercom. There was already a CD in the device and all we had to do was press play, and turn on the intercom.
Pleased with our discovery, we went back to work, now enjoying a variety of songs playing in every classroom via the intercom. It was nearing two o’clock in the morning, and we were about three songs into the mix, when our boss arrived abruptly, pajama-clad, in the middle of the hallway.
We waved and asked him what he was doing at the school so late. But he didn’t look too happy. He raced past us and turned off the music and intercom as quickly as he could. He shared a few choice words with us and trudged off down the hallway.
You see, apparently the school was equipped with several sets of speakers OUTSIDE the building. And while we had been enjoying “The Entertainer” at work, the neighbors in their beds… not so much.
The next day, I apologized profusely to the boss. He was good-natured and merely replied with, “at least you were playing music I liked! That was Scott Joplin, wasn’t it?”
I didn’t listen to music after that. I worked quickly and quietly. But each night, as I wielded my mop down the hallway, I let my imagination roam. And there, in the dusty, grimy corners of that middle school, the JANITORS series took shape.”
Thanks so much Tyler!
And don’t miss Book three of his series, which is hot off the press!
Janitors, Book 3: Curse of the Broomstaff
A secret society of Janitors with wizard-like powers continue their battle, and now, the stakes are even higher. The Bureau of Educational Maintenance is after Alan Zumbro and this time they mean business, deadly business. Spencer, Daisy, and their little team of rebels must find the source of all magical Glop and destroy it before it can destroy the world as we know it. No small task with the BEM and their monster toxites at their heels. It s a wild and dangerous ride as they follow the trail of clues all the way to the hiding place of the mysterious aurans: guardians of a secret landfill. What they discover there will change the way Spencer sees himself, not to mention the fate of the rebels.
About the Author: Tyler Whitesides worked as a janitor at an elementary school to put himself through college. He graduated from Utah State University with a degree in music. In addition to writing novels, Tyler is an avid composer and arranger of instrumental music. He and his wife, Connie, who teaches third grade, live in northern Utah.
Learn more on Goodreads/ Author website/ Deseret Book
Purchase while they are all ON SALE 🙂
