As works-in-progress go this one was, admittedly, getting a little long in the tooth.
By the time authors Bruce Kilby and Ken Johnson put the finishing touches on their co-authored children’s fantasy novel, Legend of the Tooth Fairy, more than 15 years had passed since the men first set pen to paper, so to speak.
The book — about a boy’s desire to become friends with a dragon and all the consequences that come with it — is loaded with references to teeth, oral hygiene and the importance of brushing. The city is called Bicuspid located on the Root Canal, Fangor is the Dragon's name, King Mo-Lar is the Fairy king, and so on.
But, toothy grins aside, the book is an adventure story with light moments, humorous situations and funny characters, said Kilby.
Still, a story wouldn’t be an adventure if there were no tense moments, he added.
Legend of the Tooth Fairy, a 240-page novel directed at children between eight and 10 years old, was written between 1998 and 2000.
However, after a rewrite in 2001, personal circumstances forced Kilby and Johnson to put their work on hold for more than a decade.
Although the book is pure fantasy, the authors found a bit of inspiration fairly close to home.
"Ken and I are both parents of grown children," said Kilby.
"The names in the book are based on two of Ken's three children — Holly and Connor."
Kilby and Johnson met through a mutual affinity for songwriting and have composed together on several occasions.
The book, meanwhile, began as a promotion for a product called the Tooth Fairy Tooth. Developed by Johnson, it is a plastic tooth that children use to keep their teeth in underneath their pillows.
"The story grew as the concepts were shared over many an evening," said Kilby, adding that numerous rewrites have taken place since the 1998 to 2000 original story.
When they're not writing, Johnson is a local business man, who manufactures shelving units, while Kilby is a retired corrections supervisor as well as a 33-year veteran and ongoing member of the Langley City Fire Rescue POC.
On Sunday, Nov. 3, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. the project will finally come full circle when the authors launch the book and sign copies at NY Bar and Bistro, 20204 Fraser Hwy.
Sean Cannon, the book's illustrator who created the cover art and the images at the beginning of each chapter will also be signing copies at the event.
Books are $18. Additional copies will be available through Amazon as well as e-books for $8.99.