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Never Give Up On Yourself
Soul Scepter: Time Marauders follows two friends from Idaho who are transported through time to medieval England and have to stop history from being changed. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I grew up in Idaho near the area where the book begins and toured the Idaho National Laboratory when studying physics in college. I’ve always loved all things medieval and have been to all of the historical locations in England referenced in the book. The book is the product of a series of daydreams and the desire to provide young adults with inspirational fiction to help foster confidence and emotional resilience.
Did you plan the tone and direction of the novel before writing or did it come out organically as you were writing?
The tone evolved since the first draft. Some of the combat scenes started out as too mature for a younger audience and some of the teen interactions were probably too juvenile for an adult audience. I was fortunate to have many adult and teen beta readers which helped in striking a maturity balance that satisfied me and readers across an age spectrum.
The middle of the book changed from draft to draft, while the beginning and ending stayed consistent. An aspect that didn’t change was the importance of never giving up on yourself or the people you care about.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I sought to incorporate elements of characters digging deep to pull through desperate circumstances and sprinkle in nuggets of ways to find hope and resist self-harm. Some reasons this is important to me is that I’m an Air Force veteran, and a veteran commits suicide in the US every 65 minutes. Someone commits suicide in the US every 11 minutes, and a study estimated that there is a suicide attempt every 31 seconds. I wanted to be a part of the solution as much as I could. Most individuals taking their lives probably weren’t reading dry textbooks on techniques for overcoming suicidal ideations—but many people do turn to fictional entertainment when they want to escape.
Can you tell us where the book goes and where we’ll see the characters in the next book?
In the next book, the characters need to time travel to the future to find the solution to the havoc that the Dreizack has unleashed on the world. When they arrive in the future, they discover a Dreizack-ruled dystopian world where they struggle to survive as they search for answers.
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A militant organization attacks Will’s friends, sending him, a girl named Celeste, and their assailants time-traveling to medieval England. As a cunning modern-military commander plots a global conquest to rewrite history, Will and Celeste struggle to navigate the perils of 1345 while being hunted by the modern men.
With every heartbeat, the stakes grow higher as Will races against time to avert disaster—a challenge made more complicated by his growing feelings for Celeste and his uncanny link to the Soul Scepter.
Soul Scepter
Eric Westergard’s Soul Scepter: Time Marauders transports readers on a thrilling adventure that seamlessly blends history and fantasy. The story follows Will Donovan and his friend, who find themselves in the midst of a battle for a powerful scepter while playing paintball in Idaho. After being chased by a militant organization, they suddenly find themselves transported to medieval England. In this new world, they must navigate through history without altering the course of events.
The book is a captivating page-turner, with action-packed scenes around every corner. The author’s ability to set the scene and develop the characters will leave readers in awe from the opening chapters. From the first page, readers will be drawn into the non-stop action, adventure, and plot twists that keep going throughout the entire novel.
Westergard’s writing style and attention to historical accuracy are admirable, making it feel as though the reader is transported back in time. I could vividly imagine the battle scenes, smell the stench of England, and picture the grandeur of The Tower of London. The more I read, the more invested I became in the characters’ emotions and experiences. The author’s inclusion of themes surrounding depression and mental health is commendable and adds another layer of depth to the story. This is a story of self-discovery as much as a quest to stop evil from altering history. Will’s journey is one that teens will be able to relate to while rooting for him.
Overall, Soul Scepter: Time Marauders is a gripping action and adventure novel through time and medieval England. This excellent book is a must-read for teens and young adults with a passion for fantasy and history. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series and continuing the adventure with Will and his friends.
Pages: 390 | ASIN : B0C2GBTLRH
Promised Land
Taking place during the rise of Harlem before its renaissance, our author Danny Holst takes us on a journey through the lives of characters Robert and Clifford trying to find their footing in the music world. With the addition of songs and politics, we get to see the story of Harlem come to life. You will feel pain, sorrow, and triumph while reading this all-too-real tale. Never underestimate the power of fiction and how it can shed light on real-life issues from the past.
Holst knows how to add a unique flair to his writing abilities and I was in awe of the added music cues that really made this pre-Harlem Renaissance tale come to life. He chooses songs that add historical and topic relevancy to scenes, and he does it flawlessly. Often times when authors tie in unique additions to their story they have a tendency to place them awkwardly and without rhyme or reason. I particularly liked the introduction to Belinda’s new music teacher and the song Holst chose to add along with describing its historical relevancy. It showed why it would mean something to the characters in the book. You never had to sit and wonder why a song was chosen or how it could tie into the lives of our characters. It was straightforward to digest. Holst truly knows how to engage the senses of his reader audibly and visually. His descriptions of the area and scenes made everything vivid and realistic. I could see the actions jumping off the page.
Although this story may be fiction, it sheds light on real-life issues. It’s a great introduction to important topics in history. I highly recommend anyone who wants to dive into the history of how the Harlem Renaissance began to add this to their reading list as a supplementary fun text. You’ll get insights into small tidbits of general African American history as well as a bit of a music history education.
Promised Land by Danny Holst is a masterpiece with its musical-like additives and tantalizing writing style, everyone is sure to get something enjoyable from reading this work of historical fiction. I’ll be waiting on the edge of my seat until our star-studded author gives us another gem to devour.
Pages: 232 | ASIN : B09VPNWGZY
LITERARY TITAN 