Ward the Wolf Boy: Night Terrors

By Famous John Urban

All his young life growing up at the Home for Young Gentleman Orphanage a talented but misunderstood boy named Ward was told that he was different than the other boys and didnt fit in because he had recurring dreams about half men, half wolf monsters and obsessively drew them. But were these visions dreams or memories? Was his diagnosis of having sleep tremors accurate or was he in fact starting to turn into a werewolf? There is truth to all myths and legends, and sometimes the worst monsters are not the ones hiding in closets or under beds. Ward the Wolf Boy explores overcoming abuse and neglect and embracing your true inner self, and Ward finds out that being a werewolf doesnt make you a bad person.

What makes this book unique is several key factors. Werewolves are usually mindless killing monsters and they are usually just a sidekick for vampires or wizards and are rarely a main character in books despite their popularity. Ward and the other werewolves in "Ward the Wolf Boy" is more of a shape shifter and not a monster or a killer. In this adaption of the werewolf legend when werewolves turn they can still speak and think and behave like their normal human selves, only with greater strength and keener wolf like senses. While there are vampires in the series, they are the natural enemies of werewolves and they are grotesque teritorial killers. But this book is primarily about werewolves. They are the stars and heros of the series.

"Ward the Wolf Boy, Night Terrors" is an introduction to the heros and villains of the series of books that are already in the planning stages. It appeals to the young and young at heart, and the author hopes that its readers will grow up with the young boy werewolf as he understands and fullfills his destiny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781479752003

Famous John Urban

Famous John Urban started writing as a music journalist for the heavy metal magazine Aardschok America Magazine in 1992 and has been a featured writer for many Tampa Bay publications including the Tampa Tribune Newspaper, Thrust Magazine, Music Magazine, and his own publication the Last Word. He was the bass guitarist of the groundbreaking Tampa Florida metal band Brat. He wrote and illustrated a cartoon titled “Behind Bars” that was published in several Tampa Bay publications and he also was a professional caricature artist at various theme parks, zoos and aquariums in Florida since 1999. He still resides in Tampa Florida. He loves 80’s music, horror movies, wolves, God and long crawls on the beach.

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 by Famous John Urban.

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication including copy text and illustrations may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author or publisher.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional. Any similarity to any real persons, living, dead or undead is coincidental and not intended by the author.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

123060

CONTENTS

Act One   Running With the Pack.

Act Two   Sir Bach’s Legacy.

Act Three   The Ghost in the Attic.

Act Four   Ward’s Night Terrors.

Act Five   Calling Dr. Miriam.

Act Six   Don’t it make my Brown Eyes Blue

Act Seven   Ward’s Baptism of Fire.

Act Eight   Dying to Get to the Cemetery.

Act Nine   Dancing with Werewolves.

Act Ten   Biting the Hand that Feeds.

Ward the Wolf Boy, Night Terrors is a modern day fairy tale about a talented yet misunderstood boy facing the growing pains of learning that he is a werewolf. While this is Famous John Urban’s first illustrated children’s books he has been a respected music journalist covering the Tampa Bay music scene since 1985. Here is what some of the pioneers of the Tampa Bay music community say about him.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with cartoonist/illustrator/writer Famous John Urban for over twenty years. His comedic wit and timing is classic, and his punch lines are heavyweight knockouts. Don’t expect the conventional from Urban, but definitely expect to laugh.-Christopher R. Phillip (Founder/Senior Editor for Thrust™ Magazine.) www.thrustmagazine.org/

Being myself a huge werewolf fan since I was knee high to a grasshopper, Famous John Urban strikes a chord with my inner kid in me. His characters come to life with words that take little imagination to ponder. Young Ward’s adventure into the real world can only be matched by one’s own adventures in life. A young one’s imagination will bring his characters to life in their world and wish that every day was Halloween so they can be like young Ward the Wolf Boy. Must reading for those who loves Monster movies and books. On a side note, Famous John Urban has been a friend of mine for over 20 years. His mastery of words from the days of the music business interviews to the characters in this book does not surprise me. He will soon be in the halls of writing fame with the likes of Steven King and Clive Barker one day.-Steve Doc" Wacholz (drummer of Savatage, Crimson Glory and Reverence.) reverencemetal.com/2011/news.html

Rock journalist and wordsmith extraordinaire John Urban delves deep into the world of the supernatural with the haunting, Ward the Wolf Boy. Filled with mystery, suspense, and (as expected) heavy metal, this story is brilliantly illustrated to add to the mystical allure of this chilling tale!-Dallas Perkins (solo performer and lead guitarist for Roxx Gang, Chip Z’ Nuff and the Zeros.) dallasperkins.com

John Urban is the first journalist to ever interview me, way back in the 80’s. I’ll never forget how surprised I was that someone wanted to interview me. A long time figure on the Florida music scene, John, like many of us, has expanded into other areas of writing, highly recommended.-Ralph Santolla (lead guitarist for Obituary, Deicide, Death, Iced Earth, Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, and Millenium.) [e-mail]

I have known John Urban for about 25 years now and not only is he a highly imaginative and extremely creative writer, artist, and musician, he is a really nice guy.-Kevin Steele (lead vocalist for Roxx Gang & the Mojo Gurus) www.mojogurus.com

John Urban’s artwork and writing span the generations appealing to the young as well as the older of readers, a true talent.-Wes Dearth (solo performer and guitarist for Fish (of Marillion,) Porcupine Trees, Mike Tramp and Autodrive.) http:www.john=Wesley.com/

John Urban has been a writer, musician, artist, and a hard worker. He wrote stories on many bands in the magazine Thrust. He did a great story on Nasty Savage and Gardy-loo which were bands I have played for. John also illustrated the Sex Death Violence girls for the inside cover of Lowbrow’s second CD Sex, Death, Violence. He has been a caricature artist at Busch Gardens and always working on something creative! Keep up the great work!-Ben Meyer (solo performer and former lead guitarist of Nasty Savage, Lowbrow and Gardy-loo.) https://www.facebook.com/BENMEYERACOUSTIC#!/benmeyerguitar?fref=ts

An original spin on the werewolf stories as well as a spin on growing up.-Remmington Pearce (vocalist/bassist for Quilted Fish and bassist for Sibyls. Search for both bands on FB and reverbnation.com

John Urban has a witty, conversational style that never fails to drawn the reader into his very entertaining point of view. I always look forward to his writing, because I know they will be edgy and fun, yet articulate and informed.-Janelle Sadler (solo vocalist and guitarist, starred in VH1’s Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, and toured singing with Natalie Wood, Donnie Osmond and Crimson Glory.) www.janellesadler.com.

I love the story. And the pictures; wow!-Famous John Urban (bassist/song writer for Brat, Breaker and Urban Vault.) www.wardthewolfboy.com.

Summary: a young but misunderstood boy named Ward was raised in a small private orphanage by a cruel and superstitious woman named Helen Bach. She neglected him and banishes him from the other boys because she thought he was wicked. She assumed this because he had bright red hair, different colored eyes and obsessively draws werewolves which he saw in his dreams. Are these nightly visions nightmares, dreams or is there a reason Ward sees these visions of monsters so clearly in his sleep? This book explores the supernatural as well as the notion that there is truth to all myths and legends. Monsters come in all shapes and forms and you must choose for yourself if you will be a victim or a survivor.

www.wardthewolfboy.com

image%202%20-%20special%20thanks.jpg

This book is dedicated to my Mother Virginia Lee Urban, who not only was the first to recognize my talents and took me to art classes and music lessons since childhood but raised me in a Christian home and supported me no matter what. This book is also dedicated to my older brothers Bob and Bill Urban for their unconditional love for an odd kid and the memory of my Father Charles Urban whom I inherited my repertoire of corny jokes from.

Special thanks to Steve Doc Wacholz, Ralph Santolla, Chris Phillips, Kevin Steele, Ben and Kathy Lee Meyer, Wes Dearth, Janelle Sadler, Dallas Perkins. Dr. Jack Graham for spiritual guidance, Matt Kramer, Gothic Fantasy Artist Joseph Vargo, Niña Saberond and Kim Oliver of Xlibris Publishing, Remmington Pearce for editing advice, Steven Plotz and Chris Akes for their daily council, Bruce Batten, Brat and Retrospect Records, and last but not least Janette Heeschen and her wonderful daughters Megan and Crystal for still being there.

Famous John Urban.

There are many kinds of monsters, but the worst are not the breed that hides in closets or under beds. These merely kill you and tear you to shreds. The worst kind are the ones that scar you for life and let you live . . . . instead.

Famous John Urban.

image%203%20-%20%20%20before%20chapter%20one.jpg

ACT ONE

Running With the Pack.

The season was on the edge of autumn, but the bitter wind slightly stinging against his face felt unusually cool for this time of the year. Ward could see his breath in the air as he explored the dark forest. Under the haunting light of the full moon above he could make out the tracks easily. By the look of the oversized paw prints in the fresh mud Ward figured he was following about six of the creatures tonight. And judging by the soulful cries getting louder and more distinctive as he advanced deeper into the woods it was clear that he was almost upon them.

Ward increased his pace until he saw the large unmistakable shadows just ahead of him. He could tell that they were aware of his presence as their instincts were much sharper than his own. There was no turning back; it was too late to hide now. And if they sensed his fear he could not outrun them.

Throwing caution to the wind, Ward slowly stepped into clear view and stood his ground. Just as he suspected, there were six creatures in the pack tonight. Their silhouettes were human like, except for the long erect ears protruding from their heads like horns. And as they turned their massive heads, the profiles revealed canine like muzzles. Yet while their faces were not covered with hair which gave them an almost humanlike appearance they shared the snouts of a wolf. It was hard to define but they all seemed to have their own identity, their own personality. These were more than just beasts!

The moonlight reflected the beast’s eyes. And like him, they had one brown eye and one pure blue eye. In the distance the creature’s fur looked dark brown, but as the moon illuminated the beast Ward saw that most of them had reddish fur, like a fox. This was interesting to him as Ward himself was also a redhead. All of them had red or reddish brown hair except for the largest one, obviously the leader. Its hair was white, almost