Adventures beyond imagination are waiting right outside your door... When a lonely boy living on a small tourist island off the coast of California befriends a sea lion, he embarks on a journey that will send him on extraordinary adventures and escapades, pit him against an evil pirate, and teach him the value of friendship as he and an unlikely band of heroes risk everything to save each other's lives. A rip-roaring good time filled with action and intrigue, David Michael Layne's Zachary Thackary is as heartfelt as it is entertaining. Zachary Thackary has recently lost his father. Feeling sad and rebellious, his lone confidant and best friend is a sea lion named Inky, and together they forge a rich and wonderful friendship exploring the world around the island. But the world around the island holds many surprises-and some of them are deadly. When they set out on a forbidden journey to a distant snorkeling reef, Snake Arm, a villainous poacher turned pirate confronts Zachary, but Inky drives the blackguard off and saves his friend's life, returning him safe and sound to the docks just as a mega-yacht arrives in the harbor. Penelope, the daughter of the boat's owners couldn't have a personality more different than Zachary's, yet they form an unlikely alliance after a series of humorous encounters brings them closer together. What they don't know, however, is that Snake Arm has not forgotten the skirmish at the reef and is determined to seek vengeance. When he does, it will be up to Zachary and a colorful cast of characters to save the day and bring everyone back alive. The question is, will they be successful? Sharing his love of the sea, first-time author David Michael Layne transports you to a world of unbridled imagination and epic flight of fancy as good battles evil in this coming-of-age journey. Ebbing and flowing like the powerful pull of the sea itself, his warm and playful story carries with it an undertone of ominous intrigue that is as suspenseful as it is enthralling. Filled with vibrant characters, wondrous creatures, and thrilling adventure, Zachary Thackary is an honest, humorous nautical journey that transports you to a magical world that exists right under your nose.