JERY TILLOTSON

"Doofus, the Little Christmas Boy" is destined to become an American classic--one read by millions not only during the holidays but throughout the year. Written by 'Kandy Kristmas,' this 229 page fantasy extravaganza, follows the adventure of an abused little boy, Doofus, who refuses to believe there isn't a Santa Claus. In the year 2040, Doofus lives in a grim, dying little town and is violently abused by his demonic mother, Dorothy. She heads RATS, an extremist organization that has already succeeded in banning Halloween and Thanksgiving from America's calendars. Now, she and her fellow bigots will stop at nothing to destroy Christmas in America. Doofus and his buddies vow to fight RATS. Helping Doofus out is red-haired little Maggie, crazy, impish Ziggy and moody but powerful Buck. Determined to escape their nightmare, the adventuresome youngsters are befriended by a beautiful sorceress. She starts them on their journey underground as they seek to journey to Santa Land. On their trip, they encounter nightmares and miracles never imagined before. They're given extra encouragement to stay the course by the charismatic, handsome young American President, Barney Jordan, who is also determined that Christmas will never die. The dashing young President and his sister, Karla, discover an entrance into the underworld that leads them to Santa Land. There, these courageous leaders help Doofus and his buddies fight the terrifying forces of darkness that will stop at nothing to erase Christmas from the calendars. Don't miss "Doofus, the Little Christmas Boy!" In bookstores everywhere this Christmas!

RAVES FOR DOOFUS, THE LITTLE CHRISTMAS BOY!
Dixie says, "He's Our New Hero!"

Thomasville native Tillotson creates a new hero for kids

Special to the Times
- Thomasville-born author Jery Tillotson has a message for Harry Potter this Christmas: “Look out! There’s a new kid on the block from Davidson County who can out-fight, out-fly and out-enchant you any time.”

Tillotson, who grew up on Cox Avenue in Thomasville, has created a new fantasy hero for the holidays because “I’m tired of reading books about boy heroes who are always from every place except America. And they’re never from Dixie.”

Writing under the pen name of Kandy Kristmas, the now-New York-based Tillotson has created “Doofus, the Little Christmas Boy,” a holiday saga of an abused young Southern boy who can do everything better than any of the classic heroes like Harry Potter or even Alice in Wonderland.

The story begins in the near future, against a dreary, depressed locale named Coal Town, N.C. Very quickly, however, the action revs up when a resourceful little boy, Doofus Dunlap, and three of his friends race underground to save Santa Claus from homegrown terrorists. There’s madcap Ziggy, feisty Maggie and a mystical, handsome hero, Buck.

Each member of the quartet has his own special talent for dealing with a brutal world above ground. These talents really come into play when the youngsters encounter dangers beneath ground as they attempt to reach Santa Claus before the demonic King Mirakle and his league of monsters can destroy Santa Land and its ruler.

Patriotism is a powerful theme in this fantasy saga with a future American President, Barney Jordan, who jumps in to help the youngsters in times of danger.

“I wanted to highlight the famous American spirit that’s recognized through history as a heroic, can-do, resilient attitude,” said Tillotson. In fact, the author has dedicated his book to “those valiant American military men and women who are the real heroes of the world.”

Tillotson remembers growing up on Cox Avenue in a big, two-story house. His grandparents, Charles and Alma Bodenheimer, lived across the street and were famous, he said, “for always having a pot of coffee on the stove and shelves filled with apple pies.”

The author has numerous relatives who still reside in Thomasville and neighboring towns. Two of his aunts, Nancy Bodenheimer Wright and Eloise Bodenheimer Hundley, still live on Cox Avenue.

“Christmas was when my brothers and sisters and I would get out all of children’s classics and read them before a crackling fireplace while nibbling on baked goodies and drinking hot chocolate,” he said.

Tillotson is known to many readers in North Carolina and the South as author Andrea D’Allasandra, who specializes in gruesome tales of terror and suspense that occur in his favorite locale in the world — North Carolina. He’s also famous as Jason Fury, who pens tales of passionate love. He assumes other literary alter egos, but D’Allasandra and Fury are his two best-known names.

As D’Allasandra, his most popular books are “The Creaking Door and Other Tales of Madness and Horror” and “Horror House.”

As Fury, his best sellers “Eric’s Body” and “The Rope Above, the Bed Below” have been reprinted by the Author’s Guild series of American classics.

In 1948, Tillotson and his family moved to Denton, where he finished school and went on to Brevard College and East Carolina University in 1965.

After graduating from East Carolina, Tillotson embarked on a career as a journalist for the Associated Press and several daily newspapers. He’s lived in Manhattan for nearly 22 years.

Kandy Kristmas is the newest pseudonym from Tillotson and was inspired, in fact, by his aunts who lived in Thomasville and Lexington.

“They were wonderfully warm, vivacious women who were great listeners and they really knew how to tell a story,” Tillotson said. “They also always had good things to eat. So, I wanted Kandy to embody all of these qualities.”

Tillotson said that he is presently working on a sequel to “Doofus, the Little Christmas Boy.”

“I hope that within a year or two that readers will be wanting to read about Doofus instead of Harry Potter,” he said.

Tillotson creates new fantasy hero


FROM THE COURIER DIGITAL NEWSPAPER, FOREST CITY, N.C.

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Look out Harry Potter, there's a new kid on the block from North Carolina's Piedmont and mountain area who can out-fight, out-fly, and out-enchant them all.



Former Denton, N.C., resident, Jery Tillotson, has created a new fantasy hero for the holidays because he says, "I'm tired of reading books about boy heroes who are always from every place except America, and they're never from Dixie."



Writing under the pen name of Kandy Kristmas, the now New York based Tillotson has created Doofus, the Little Christmas Boy, a holiday saga of a young southern boy who can do everything better than even the classic heroes.



The story takes place in the dreary, depressed locale of Coal Town, N.C.



The action revs up very quickly when a resourceful Doofas Dunlap and three of his friends, madcap Ziggy, feisty Maggie, and the mystical, handsome hero, Buck, race underground to save Santa Claus from the evil King Mirakle.



Doofus, the Little Christmas Boy promises to bring thrills and excitement as the forces of demonic darkness threaten to destroy Christmas. But, only brave Doofus and his quartet of friends can save Santa Claus.



Writing as Kandy Kristmas, Tillotson creates North Carol-ina's own Harry Potter.



"I wanted to create a literacy voice who kids and adventuresome adults would be drawn to," he said.



The author recalls growing up in the small community of Denton, near Lexington and Asheboro.



"Christmas was when my brothers and sisters and I would get out all the children's classics and read them before a crackling fireplace while nibbling on baked goods and drinking hot chocolate."



Tillotson is known to many readers in the south as author Andrea D'Allasasndra, who specializes in tales of terror and suspense in North Carolina. The writer is also known as Jason Fury, who pens tales of passionate love.



Visit his website at www.jerytillotson.com.



(Nov. 2)