Cereal Box Surprise

by Lori R. Lopez

Overview

A ninety-eight-pound weakling orders cereal hyped by a once-famous athlete. During the mayhem that ensues, he discovers heroes aren't always what they seem. And the prize at the bottom of the box might be more of a surprise. Poor Ned winds up in a horror story by Lori R. Lopez! He just wanted to improve a few things about himself and impress a girl. The product that was supposed to transform him "Like Ike" has some serious and disturbing side-effects. In fact, the small print on the back of the cereal box neglected to warn him its secret ingredient works too well. Or maybe it's that the prize inside appears to be cursed. Like the saying goes, be careful what you wish for! Look for the author's horror collection ODDS AND ENDS, containing "Cereal Box Surprise"!

Product Details

BN ID:	2940015928235
Publisher:	Fairy Fly Entertainment
Publication date:	10/29/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	730 KB

About the Author

As a child Lori R. Lopez was a huge fan of those small surprises in boxes of cereal. A product of the times, she like many kids clamored for the sweetest and least healthy morning morsels to obtain whatever exclusive wondrous trinket their boxes contained, hidden deep within. At home she would promptly dig inside the box until claiming the prize, rather than wait until it tumbled out after several bowls. She and her brother might squabble over who should have it and sometimes Lori won. DISCLAIMER: Kids, do not try this at home! Much like Cracker Jack boxes, these little treasures appealed because they were fun, just as the crunchy edibles attracted the tastebuds. At that age, Lori would even put spoonfuls of sugar on her lettuce! Her Sweet Tooth must have shrunk (or fallen out), because she no longer does this or chooses the cereals with the most (or any) sugar, preferring the most fiber and wholesome good-for-you ingredients with the fewest chemical-enriched qualities and no animal products. Lori wrote “Cereal Box Surprise” as a fond tribute to not necessarily better days but certainly interesting ones. The story, however, is not based on fact. This bio on the other hand is based on historical humor, although not everything you read in Lori’s humorous bios can be believed. Like the fact she has a mole shaped like a Kraken (it’s closer to an Aardvark) or that her Rubber Duck is named Irving. Like a cat she doesn’t care for bathtubs, and if she did she would probably name her Rubber Duck Lucy or Ethel. She would probably have two and name the pair Lucy and Ethel because she couldn’t decide. And then she would think of additional names she loves, so before long she would have an entire menagerie of Rubber Ducks. Wow, this has strayed a bit from the topic of cereal boxes and their surprises. Sometimes it is merely the fact they are not that good for you! Surprise! Meanwhile, Lori cannot wait to see what she turns into after so many formative-and-otherwise years of eating highly questionable food. She will be sure to let you know in a future bio if there are any notable changes, along with further details and information that you should for your own safety (perhaps sanity) be aware or fairly skeptical of. Lori has established a creative company with her sons, who were raised on much healthier cereal as a rule, the kind without any immediate or future surprises!

Editorial Reviews

Sad and lonely picture of a man, this is what Ms Lopez hands us this time, so wonderfully portrayed I felt like kicking his butt. As the bought, consumed and promised juju works its magic so our little wimp is transformed and goes on the rampage... but of course with Ms Lopez there is always the sting in the tale!
Loved the image of an inner monster leaking into the outside. Fantastically wicked ending.

The Fluffy Red Fox Reviews; Amazon Reviewer - Vix Kirkpatrick

The rhythm and narrative flow read like an EC Comics story, with its descriptions that cried for frames drawn by artists like Wally Wood or Jack Davis. The story tells of Ned, a 98 pound weakling not unknown in the 1950s when Charles Atlas graced the ads in comic books across America, promising homely males to become the "man" they long to become . . . Structurally, the story is a change of pace for Lori that displays her versatile talent for telling tales with a wide range of voices.

Servante Of Darkness Blog; Amazon Reviewer - Anthony Servante

This story grabbed me because most people can relate. Everyone who is unhappy with themselves are looking for the next great thing to make us look better, feel better or just to give us the most amazing body ever. Well, unfortunately for our main character, Ned, he not only gets pulled into the hype of the next best thing, it really works!!!!

Amazon Reviewer - Jennifer Thomas