Sneaky Hollow Books

08/30/2026

Tucked away in Quebec's Eastern Townships, the Pine Knot General Store & Cafe is where the coffee's always fresh, the chalkboard menu has a sense of humor, and the maple scones are worth the drive. It's also the heart of Sneaky Hollow -- the village where time stands still and the stories are on the house.

08/28/2026

Meet Harold Hartley — Sneaky Hollow's resident inventor, dreamer, and the man behind the legendary Bug Zapper Hat. Does it actually zap bugs? The jury's out. But Harold's not one to let a little thing like proof get in the way of a good invention. The Sneaky Hollow Chronicles is full of characters like Harold — the kind you wish lived next door. Grab your copy at sneakyhollow.ca or wherever books are sold.

08/27/2026

We’re adding more stops to the Sneaky Hollow map!
A big thank you to the wonderful team at La Maison Anglaise in Québec City for putting The Sneaky Hollow Chronicles – Where Time Stands Still on their shelves.
Québec City friends, Sneaky Hollow just got a little closer to home.

08/27/2026

Wow, Austin, it was amazing to meet you!

When I shared the picture with the folks at the Pine Knot Café, Daisy pinned it right up by the cash. Harold is beaming. He’s never had a superfan before. Who knows what he’ll invent next!

It was a real pleasure to meet you, Austin, and thank you for taking the time to show me your artistic vision of Sneaky Hollow. It was an honour to sign it.

And thank you, Lyne, for the very kind words about the book! They meant a lot.

I have a feeling Austin might find his way back to Sneaky Hollow someday. ❤️

Author meets superfan at Sneaky Hollow Chronicles launch in Lennoxville
Record Staff (MM)

Andrew Retchless, author of The Sneaky Hollow Chronicles: Where Time Stands Still, held a launch for his debut novel at Black Cat Books in Lennoxville on Saturday, Aug. 22, and was greeted by 11-year Austin Dubois.
According to Austin’s grandmother Lyne Clément, he was so excited to meet a real author that before the launch, he decided to draw a picture of Sneaky Hollow.
Retchless was happy to sign Austin’s picture.
“By the way- the book is really good!” Clément said in an email sent to The Record along with this photo.

08/26/2026

There's a hand-painted sign in the Eastern Townships that points somewhere most maps leave out. Sneaky Hollow. Pop. ? Not a tourist stop — a village where the coffee's always on at the Pine Knot and Earl can predict your afternoon before you've had your first sip. The Sneaky Hollow Chronicles — where time stands still. Available at sneakyhollow.ca, Amazon, and Brome Lake Books.

08/25/2026

If you stop by the Pine Knot General Store & Café, Daisy's the one behind the counter. She keeps the coffee hot, the pastries fresh, and Earl's predictions taped to the register — 'Out of Earl's predictions — ask again tomorrow.' Small towns, small mysteries. The Sneaky Hollow Chronicles — available at sneakyhollow.ca, Amazon, and Brome Lake Books.

08/25/2026

Want your own signed copy of The Sneaky Hollow Chronicles – Where Time Stands Still? Take the backroad to SneakyHollow.ca. Every signed copy gets a little note from me before it heads out the door. Nothing fancy. Just a few words to welcome you to the Hollow — and perhaps a warning not to take directions from Harold. The coffee’s strong, the neighbours are a little unusual, and there’s always room for one more. Welcome to Sneaky Hollow.

08/24/2026

The Sneaky Hollow Backroads Tour of the Townships.

A Little Sunday Evening Reflection… and Maybe a Road Trip!

Well folks, yesterday was one of those days I think I'll remember for a very long time.

We held the second launch event of The Sneaky Hollow Chronicles – Where Time Stands Still at Black Cat Books in Lennoxville, and somewhere in the middle of the afternoon, something struck me.

There were old friends, new friends, former students, weather followers, neighbours and, wonderfully, quite a few people who had already read the book. We talked about the characters, the places that inspired it, and all those little bits of the Eastern Townships tucked between its pages. And I realized something. Sneaky Hollow isn't really mine anymore.

I may have written the book, but people are finding their own way into the Hollow now. They're meeting Jim, Daisy, Earl, Harold and the rest of the gang, choosing their favourites, recognizing places and bits of people they know, and finding a little something of themselves in this peculiar village where time stands still.

For a storyteller, that's pretty darn special and apparently Harold, Daisy, Earl and the rest of the citizens of Sneaky Hollow have decided we're not finished.

So tonight, I'm reaching out to the greater Townships community.
They think it's time I take this show on the road.

They're calling it..."The Sneaky Hollow Backroads Tour of the Townships." And you know what? I think they may be onto something.

Why stop in Lennoxville?

I've already got a book signing in the works at the Fitch Bay Hardware Store, and I'd love to start wandering some of the other backroads of the Townships.

Community events, fairs, libraries, book clubs, historical societies, service clubs, little general stores, cafés and wherever folks might enjoy hearing a few stories about the weather, the Eastern Townships, how Sneaky Hollow came to be, and perhaps meeting Harold, Daisy, Earl and the rest of the gang along the way.

I'm also looking for a few more interesting places around the Townships that might like to carry The Sneaky Hollow Chronicles on consignment. It doesn't necessarily have to be a bookstore. In fact, somehow I think Earl would approve of that.

I'll probably pop up at the Ayer's Cliff Fair. Townshippers' Day is a must. Brome Fair? Absolutely. And why not Richmond? Or Stanstead? Cookshire? North Hatley? Or some little place down a backroad I haven't even thought of yet?

So I'm throwing this one out to all of you.

Where should the Sneaky Hollow Backroads Tour go next?
If there's an event, community group, store, café, fair or little corner of the Townships where you think we ought to show up, put it in the comments or send me a message.

Because yesterday reminded me that this whole adventure has become about a lot more than promoting a book. It's about the places we know, the people we know, the stories we share, and this wonderful corner of Quebec we call home.

And I've come to the conclusion that if folks can't make it to the Hollow....The Hollow can make it to the folks. Have books. Will travel.

Although Harold has apparently volunteered to navigate. So God knows where we'll end up. 😄 See less

08/17/2026

Well folks, the road to Sneaky Hollow leads to Lennoxville this Saturday!

My next book launch and signing for The Sneaky Hollow Chronicles: Where Time Stands Still will be at Black Cat Books in Lennoxville, Saturday, August 22nd, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Black Cat may be a small bookstore, but it is absolutely packed with treasures — just the kind of place where Sneaky Hollow feels right at home.

I’ll be doing two short 15-minute sessions of readings, stories and a little Sneaky Hollow what-not:

2:15 p.m. — First session
3:15 p.m. — Second session

The rest of the afternoon, I’ll be signing books, chatting with readers and generally trying to keep Harold away from anything requiring electricity.

Unfortunately, we may already be too late.

Harold and the Sneaky Hollow Archaeological Society — S.H.A.S. — have dug up the parking lot.

So far, their archaeological discoveries consist of several broken quart bottles believed to date from the old Georgian Hotel era and a few badly faded Bishop’s University IDs. Harold assures us this is “historically significant.” Everyone else is waiting for a second opinion.

The good news: Black Cat Books is still completely accessible!

So come by, meet Anne-Marie, browse a wonderful little bookstore full of treasures, get your book signed and spend a little time in the Hollow.

Saturday, August 22nd
2–4 p.m.
Black Cat Books, Lennoxville

Welcome to Sneaky Hollow — your friends await!

08/13/2026

Well folks, the first book launch talk and signing is officially in the books.

A huge thank you to Brome Lake Books for all the support, and an even bigger thank you to everyone who took the time to come out. Your support has been heartwarming, humbling and very much appreciated.

In the photos, you'll see me presenting a certificate — along with a signed hardcover copy — to Ilze Epners, my very first beta reader. Ilze was the first person, other than me, to read the story that would eventually become The Sneaky Hollow Chronicles: Where Time Stands Still.

In recognition of services above and beyond the call of literary duty, the Sneaky Hollow Town Council has officially voted to grant Ilze citizenship in Sneaky Hollow. Jim approved the resolution. Earl isn't entirely sure what citizenship entails, and Harold is apparently working on the passport.

You'll also see Chris Bockus, who surprised me with a wonderful painting of Muffin the cat. Thank you, Chris. Your support of the Sneaky Hollow world has definitely been noticed by the gang at the Pine Knot Café. Daisy says there's a coffee waiting for you. Earl claims there's a muffin too, although nobody has confirmed which Muffin he means.

And if you'd like to discover what more than 100 readers already have, you're invited to take your own trip down the back roads and into the Hollow.

You can order The Sneaky Hollow Chronicles: Where Time Stands Still directly from www.shop.sneakyhollow.ca, or find it locally at Brome Lake Books in Knowlton, Black Cat Books in Lennoxville, Blue Seal Animal Nutrition in Lennoxville, and Quincaillerie Fitch Bay.

Next stop: Black Cat Books in Lennoxville — Saturday, August 22nd, from 2–4 p.m.

Come by, say hello, get your book signed and spend a little time in the Hollow.

Welcome to Sneaky Hollow — your friends await.