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Time Travel Tugged At Me
Black Cliff Chronicles follows two high school seniors who become lost on a hike, and they wind up traveling back in time 300 years into a horrific civil war. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
During the Pandemic, I finished writing The Youngest Doughboy screenplay, the story of the youngest American soldier in WWI – 12-years-old – and was looking for around for another project when I remembered a news story about an incident that happened years ago. A woman and a man hijacked a bus in a small town in Arkansas and begged the local police to kill them. They were members of an odd little church and said they would be resurrected three days after their death. The police did everything they could to save the pair, but in the end, both died.
I asked myself what if the man and woman were telling the truth and were resurrected three days later? And then I thought, what if they were pawns in a larger story, a political plot perhaps, a plot that might even threaten the entire country? The idea of time travel tugged at me. It felt right. That was the start of Black Cliff Chronicles.
When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
The story grew organically with wonderful characters, ideas, and incidents seemingly appearing out of nowhere following the inciting incident – the bridge where the bus hijacking takes place.
I did a tremendous amount of research into the past events featured in the story. The chief historical event was the awful 1648 Cossack uprising in the Ukraine and its mass murdering general Bohdan Khmelnytsky.That research led to new avenues to pursue. Khmelnytsky became the novel’s antagonist.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Courage, selflessness, and bravery are the themes that fill the main action. We feel what our heroes are feeling – fear, hope, and the determination to succeed without regard to cost. Selflessness adds poignancy to the story.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Black Cliff Chronicles is written as a standalone novel. I’d like to write two more entries in the Black Cliff universe. Black Cliff Chronicles takes place at the millennium. Book Two will be located in time around 2016. Book Three will concern events in the 2030s or 40s. At least that is the plan.
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The thriving university town of New Jerusalem nestles in the secluded hill country north of the Ozark National Forest in rural Arkansas. New Jerusalem is a wonderful place to put down roots as long as you don’t go into the experimental forest and find Black Cliff, a place of dark power.
Was it a simple misstep in 1989 when high school seniors Mary Sanders and Charlie Barrows became lost during a fall hike and stood facing Black Cliff? Or were other forces at play?
Before they can flee, Black Cliff entangles Mary in a web of time travel, strands that transport her back 300 years in history to a horrific civil war and a daring solo rescue mission.
Months later, Mary returns to New Jerusalem and to 1989, battered by her war experiences and heartsick over those she left behind. Once home, her struggles continue. Time travelers and friends gather to help Mary and Charlie. They have less than three days to rescue America from a plot to seize the presidency.
Black Cliff Chronicles
Black Cliff Chronicles is an imaginative dive into the lives of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances, wrapped in a mix of speculative fiction and historical intrigue. The book chronicles the lives of its eclectic characters including Mary and Charlie as they encounter the enigmatic and dangerous mysteries surrounding Black Cliff. With a blend of thrilling action, historical depth, and deeply emotional character arcs, Steve Sterling creates a story that is as unsettling as it is captivating.
What really pulled me into this story was the dynamic relationship between Mary and Charlie, particularly their journey of evolving friendship and creative partnership. They felt real, and their banter was delightful to read. For instance, their brainstorming sessions over story ideas felt so natural. I felt it was a perfect blend of youthful creativity and camaraderie. But what makes their story resonate with me is the way they stumble into the surreal experience of Black Cliff. That chilling moment when Mary touches the cliff and collapses, only to awaken with knowledge and language from another era, was gripping.
Sterling’s strength lies in his ability to weave historical moments seamlessly into his story. A standout example is Mary’s “spirit walk” into Mussolini-era Rome, which was equal parts vivid and disturbing. The book slows its momentum by delving deeply into the backstory of certain historical figures and events. The sights, sounds, and oppressive atmosphere of fascist Italy were vivid. Sterling doesn’t just recount history, he drags you into it.
The deeper layers of this book, its exploration of free will, destiny, and the consequences of meddling with time, are thought-provoking. Reverend Blough’s chilling cult-like influence and his plans for a supposed resurrection added an ominous and almost gothic undertone to the story. The concept of “spirit walks,” where individuals’ consciousnesses merge with others from the past, felt both innovative and eerie. It made me pause and think about the cost of knowledge and the weight of being tethered to moments in history. Occasionally, the richness of these ideas made the plot feel a bit dense. The narrative’s ambition is impressive, though it sometimes stretches itself. I felt a few threads could have benefited from more development.
Black Cliff Chronicles is a strange and wondrous book that blends time travel, history, and a splash of thriller. If you enjoy speculative fiction that leans heavily on character-driven stories and historical intrigue, this book is for you. Fans of authors like Neal Stephenson or Connie Willis will likely find a lot to love here.
Pages: 365 | ASIN : B0DVQGCMJB
LITERARY TITAN 