Devo Mannix the Sorcerer’s Apprentice

About the Book

Devo Mannix, a young boy, becomes frightened in a thunderstorm and uses his grandfather’s Book of Magic and Incantations to make his dog, Speeler, speak and understand his language. He sneaks into the den of his grandfather, who is a world-renowned sorcerer and magician, in hopes of using his secret Book of Magic and Incantations to make his dog speak. With the recently obtained power of speech and understanding, the dog entangles himself in a web of unfortunate incidents that are attributed to his owner. In an attempt to undo his magical spells and correct all of the unfortunate events that have occurred, Devo looks for ways to undo the problems caused by his impulsive actions. The mayhem continues as Devo decides he would like to go fishing in the neighbor’s pond. Devo seeks advice on fishing from his dog who believes he truly knows everything about fishing after watching one TV episode of Fishing with Fred Wilson. Trying to ensure that there will be fish in the pond, the boy again uses his grandfather’s Book of Magic and Incantations to cast a spell to stock the pond. Sadly, the incantations the young boy cast were not what were intended. Undoing the spells with the help of his dog becomes a disaster. This chain of events sets off a ripple effect that challenges Devo’s imagination in solving this and other exciting magical adventures.

About the Author

Roland Vincent Boike was born October 28, 1930, in Madeira, Ohio. He is the son of Dr. Stephen Boike and Ludvica Rensi Boike. He was one of seven children: Eileen Boike Yochim of Sacramento, California; Geraldine Boike Knight (deceased) of West Covina, California; Dr. Stephen D. Boike (deceased) of Beaver Creek, Ohio; Evelyn Boike Kraft (deceased) of Lakeland, Florida; Loretta Boike Edwards of Eagle Lake, Florida; and Carol Boike Snipes of Clearwater, Florida. He is a first generation American. His mother’s parents were from Val Di Non, Italy. His father’s parents were born in Romania. He comes from a family of chiropractors, which includes his father, uncle, brother, and a nephew. Roland has been married fifty-eight years to the former Lu Gray of Hamersville, Ohio, and has three daughters, Cindy Boike Pieczonka, Lori Boike Neumann, Carolyn Boike Kenney, and a son Stephen C. Boike III. A drunk driver struck Stephen in an automobile accident in 1981. Stephen remained in a coma for thirteen years and died in 1994 without ever regaining consciousness. The Stephen C. Boike Youth Park is named in his honor. During the Korean War, Roland served in 134th and the 147th Field Artillery as chief of section of a 105 Howitzers Battalion. He attended St. Gertrude Catholic School, graduating in 1943. In high school, he attended both Madeira High School and Withrow High School and graduated from Withrow in 1948. Roland attended Western Kentucky State Teachers College, Department of Industrial Design; Ohio State, Department of Agriculture; the University of Cincinnati, Department of Applied Arts; and Lincoln College of Chiropractic, where he graduated in 1962 and was awarded the doctor of chiropractic degree. Roland Passed the Ohio State Medical Board Exam in 1963 and was licensed to practice chiropractic in Ohio. He worked in Loveland, Ohio, for thirty-five years and was a staff physician at a Jewish hospital in Kenwood, Ohio. He was elected to City Council for nineteen years and served as mayor and vice mayor in a community of over 10,500 residents, overseeing a period of unprecedented growth and progress. Roland was a founder and director of Community National Bank, Loveland, Ohio. Roland was chairman of the Loveland 1976 Centennial Celebration in Loveland, Ohio, which produced an outdoor spectacular, “History of Loveland.” Roland was a founder, president, and member of the board of trustees for Loveland Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized with an award from the National Safety Council for saving the lives of three children in a submerged automobile at Lake Isabella in May 1964. Roland taught trampoline at the YMCA in Indianapolis, Indiana, and St. Columban Parochial school in Loveland, Ohio. He served as team physician for Loveland High School, Western Brown High School, and Wilmington Girls Soccer Team. He held an Ohio real estate license, journeyman plumber license, and a Cincinnati Milling Machine fraternal order of cutter grinding master’s certificate. Roland was honored by the city of Loveland, Ohio, on November 20, 2003, at the dedicated service to the Veterans’ Loveland Memorial Park with a commemorative marker.