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Local Author Launches Wildly Imaginative Middle-Grade Adventure
“The Unbelievable Ultrafrog vs. Nutsfuratu, the Giant Alien Vampire Squirrel from Planet Schnark” Blends Humor, Heart and Out-of-This-World Chaos by Tinley Park author Jon Bigness
Young readers looking for outrageous fun, unforgettable characters and nonstop adventure have a new hero to cheer for in The Unbelievable Ultrafrog vs. Nutsfuratu, the Giant Alien Vampire Squirrel from Planet Schnark, a new middle-grade novel by local author Jon Bigness.
Packed with cosmic calamity, laugh-out-loud moments and an unlikely amphibious superhero, the book delivers a fast-paced adventure aimed at middle-grade readers who love imaginative storytelling and big, cinematic action.
At the center of the story is Ultrafrog – an extraordinary frog hero who must battle the eccentric Duke Nemesio Nutsfuratu, a gigantic alien vampire squirrel from the bizarre and mysterious Planet Schnark. Along the way, readers encounter a host of absurd characters, kooky predicaments and a story that celebrates courage, friendship and embracing what makes you different.
“This book is meant to be pure fun,” said Bigness.

“I wanted to create the kind of story that kids would stay up late reading under the covers – something funny, weird, adventurous and completely unhinged.”
Inspired by 1970s Saturday morning cartoons and classic vampire stories, The Unbelievable Ultrafrog vs. Nutsfuratu, the Giant Alien Vampire Squirrel from Planet Schnark is designed to appeal to reluctant readers as well as passionate young book lovers – not to mention Gen Xers who fondly appreciate 80s nostalgia.
The novel is now available in paperback on Amazon.
About the Author
Jon Bigness was born on the Southwest Side of Chicago during the infamous Blizzard of 1967. After graduating summa cum laude from Columbia College Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, he worked as a staff writer for The Wall Street Journal and Chicago Tribune. Jon also graduated from The Second City Training Center. He moved on to a career in public affairs. Jon currently resides in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and enjoys weightlifting, hiking and squirrel-watching. The Unbelievable Ultrafrog vs. Nutsfuratu, the Giant Alien Vampire Squirrel from Planet Schnark is his first published novel.

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