About the Book

Book: How to Kill a Giant

Author: Carol Schlorff

Genre: Middle Grade

Release Date: June 10, 2023

He lost his courage. Will meeting a real superhero help him find it?

An awful summer … Thirteen-year-old Hugo is miserable. His move to a small Pennsylvania town has brought him nothing but trouble. Ignored by his new classmates and a favorite target for the school bullies, Hugo lets fear rule his life. It’s going to be a long summer.

An unexpected twist … Hugo meets siblings Julia and Stefan, who are just as unhappy as he is. After finding a mysterious old Bible, all three are magically transported to ancient Israel, where they meet the young shepherd David, who suspects they’re spies. The trio finds themselves caught up in a strange world where danger lurks on every side.

A terrifying adventure … As Hugo and his friends navigate the perils of this weird and frightening land, Hugo must face his greatest fear—that he’s a coward. His only hope of survival is to learn the secret of David’s bravery, but will he do so in time to face his biggest test? Find out in this thrilling tale of courage, friendship, and faith.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Carol’s passion is to write exciting stories that encourage, inspire, and boost the reader’s faith, possibly because she has always felt like an outsider. She was born in North Africa to American parents and grew up in France. At age 15, her family’s abrupt move to Philadelphia resulted in a rough transition to American life.

After graduating from Penn State, Carol joined the Army in search of adventure. She was stationed in exotic—for her—locations like California, Arizona, and Texas.

Since then, Carol has lived in Cracow, Poland, where she teaches English and organizes language camps. She also writes a blog on faith-related topics.

Carol enjoys caring for her cat, Tabasco, watching a good murder mystery, and getting nervous while watching NFL games.

More from Carol

The idea for my book about time travel back to the Bible came to me during a church sermon on meditating on God’s Word. As soon as the outline for the story popped into my mind, I could no longer focus on what the pastor was saying, as I was too busy organizing my thoughts into the semblance of a logical plan. That day marked the beginning of a five-year journey to write and publish my first novel, How to Kill a Giant.

My motivation for writing is to demonstrate that the Bible is relevant to our lives, provides the answers we seek about life, and is far from boring. Of course, I also want my readers to have fun and stay on the edge of their seats. Growing up in a Christian home where my parents were missionaries, I still had many questions and doubts about the Bible and Christianity, especially starting in middle school. That’s why I target this age group. If my books can help my young (and older) readers grow in their faith and trust in God, then I will consider them a success.

If you asked me to summarize my book in one sentence, I would say it explores the heart of David and the courage that enabled him to fight Goliath, wrapped up in the packaging of a thrilling action and adventure story. Happy reading!

Author Interview

• What is your favorite genre of books? Why?

I love reading murder mystery books, both cozy and non-cozy. What I enjoy about these books (and movies, too) is the psychological aspect of the stories—trying to understand why a crime was committed. The plots often focus on the battle between good and evil, especially within the human soul. I find it fascinating to explore the human mind and figure out what drives people, all while trying to solve a mystery. I also like books about the Christian life that help me grow in my faith. I typically read two books at a time: one fiction and one non-fiction.

• Are you a one project at a time author or do you have multiple projects going at once?

I’m still fairly new to the writing experience, so I’m not exactly sure what will be typical for me long-term, but I’ve recently been working on two projects simultaneously. When I finished the first draft of my second book, How to Make a Miracle, I started researching for the third book, How to Mess up Christmas. Then, while editing the second book, I began writing the first draft of the third book. I enjoy working on two projects at once because it provides variety. Also, when I need to step away from one project to let it “settle” or “percolate,” I can focus on the other book instead of being idle. So I think I’ll keep this pattern—editing one book while writing another.

• How has your life experience helped in your writing journey?

One of the Bible passages I’ve tried to follow throughout my life is Proverbs 3:5-6, which encourages us to trust God and seek his will when making decisions. I wouldn’t be writing if I hadn’t applied those principles to my life. God placed the idea for the three books of the series into my mind, and when I fearfully took a step of faith to follow his voice, he guided me every step of the way. He led me to the right contacts, the right courses to take, and even the right books to read. Whenever I felt like giving up, he sent me the encouragement I needed to keep going. Without developing the habit of listening for God’s voice, my writing would have never gotten off the ground.

• How do you relax after a long day of writing?

I read (what else? 😉). I don’t always read books. Sometimes, when I want to avoid anything too serious and escape a bit, I’ll check the sports page on some online newspapers and read about my favorite NFL team (the Philadelphia Eagles). If I’m not reading, I might watch a good murder mystery or a documentary, and on some rare occasions, a comedy. Another favorite way to relax is to go for a walk.

• Do you remember the first book you read? What sort of impact did it make on you?

I don’t know if it was the first book I read, but the one that had the greatest influence on me during my childhood was “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” Honestly, I think my parents initially read it to me, and then I read and re-read it multiple times since then (even as an adult— I still read it from time to time, along with the rest of the Narnia books). Not only did I love the story, but the character of Aslan fascinated me. Thanks to my parents, I knew he represented Jesus, and I really believe he helped me be drawn to Jesus.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, September 17 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 18

Artistic Nobody, September 19 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 20

Guild Master, September 21 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 22

Fiction Book Lover, September 23 (Author Interview)

The Mommies Reviews , September 23

Blossoms and Blessings, September 24 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, September 25

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 26

Stories By Gina, September 27 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 28

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, September 29 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, September 29

A Reader’s Brain , September 30 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carol is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://sweepwidget.com/c/92781-arnfst2q