Before Sands Hetherington became an author, he was just a dad with a knack for storytelling. Every night, he and his son, John, would make up wild bedtime adventures, complete with daring escapes, silly twists, and, of course, a bright red crocodile who had a serious thing for pineapple cheesecake. That crocodile—Crosley—quickly became a favorite, and it wasn’t long before Sands realized this quirky, lovable character needed to be shared with the world.
But turning bedtime tales into a real book was no small feat. Sands had to learn the ins and outs of writing, from plotting to pacing, and spent years perfecting Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare. His biggest rule? Write stories that make you laugh—because if a story isn’t fun for the writer, how can it be fun for the reader?
With Crosley leading the way, Night Buddies became a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud adventure about friendship, belonging, and the power of imagination. Sands’ journey from storyteller dad to published author is proof that the best stories often come from the most unexpected places. All it takes is a little creativity, a lot of perseverance, and maybe, just maybe, a red crocodile with a sweet tooth.
Excelsior!