About the Book

Book: Masa Chronicles: The Copper Scroll

Author: Nicholas Teeguarden

Genre: Christian Fiction Action/Suspense

Release Date: October 7, 2025

When American grad student and Veteran Joshua Bennett lands in Amman, Jordan, he thinks he’s chasing academic glory. What he finds instead is a centuries-old mystery that’s been waiting for someone reckless or desperate enough to uncover it.

At the center of it all is the Copper Scroll, a cryptic Dead Sea artifact rumored to hold clues to an ancient treasure buried deep in the Judean desert. But Joshua soon learns it’s no ordinary scroll.

Hidden symbols, coded phrases, and whispers of a “shepherd’s path” point to something far more significant and far more dangerous.

As the clues mount, so do the warnings. A silent observer in the library. A cryptic priest with a knowing smile. A message slipped into Joshua’s backpack: The shepherd’s path is not for the faint-hearted.

A cryptic priest and a rabbi jump in to help understand uncovered information. As Mossad agents, Templar knights, and ISIS operatives close in, Joshua and his allies race to unravel the truth. But who seeks to unearth it, and who will kill to keep it buried?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Nicholas Teeguarden writes faith-fueled thrillers that explore the intersection of history, belief, and discovery. His debut, The Copper Scroll: Masa Chronicles, follows archaeologist Joshua “Masa” Bennett across the Middle East in a race to uncover one of history’s most enigmatic biblical relics. Praised for its vivid realism and clean storytelling, the novel has been honored with a ChristLit Award, a Readers’ Favorite 5-star review, and recognition at the Paris Book Festival.

A veteran whose global service inspires his storytelling, Teeguarden aims to create cinematic fiction that uplifts while it thrills. He is currently developing the next installment in The Masa Chronicles alongside The Teeguarden Writing Room, a growing creative community where readers and writers explore faith, art, and story together.

 

More from Nicholas

Whenever I think of telling a story, I have Indiana Jones swapping the bag of sand with the golden idol. The spirits swirling around the Nazis and the uncanny escapes from the clutches of death.

I spent my early adult years stomping through biblical lands with the military, experiencing life that seemed to represent many stages of evolution. Seeing the differences in how people value life, faith, and each other.

I experienced the heart-pounding adrenaline of adventure, the edge of life moments, and the strange stillness that follows them. The sights, sounds, and smells of those places stay with you forever.

When I finally retired, I walked to the altar, a different kind of battlefield, and realized that all those years of chasing survival were really leading me to understand purpose.

That moment changed how I responded to almost everything that came after, and it’s what shaped The Copper Scroll.

Like me, Joshua “Masa” Bennett isn’t just searching for an ancient artifact; he’s looking for proof that faith still matters, that truth can survive the centuries, and that even when everything feels lost, redemption can still be found buried beneath the dust.

Writing this book was my way of reconnecting with those memories, with the lands I once marched through, and with the faith that anchored me through it all.
It’s a story of mystery, courage, and belief. The kind of adventure that begins in the desert but ends in the heart.

Author Interview

Favorite genre
Science fiction is the favorite. It offers a world far enough from everyday life that it becomes easy to get
lost in it, and there is a deep appreciation for the sheer story-making ability required to build those worlds,
especially since writing sci‑fi personally has always felt like a struggle.
One project or many?
Definitely more of a multiple-projects-at-once author. Right now there are two main works-in-progress
that trade places, depending on which one is yelling the loudest on any given day.
Life experience and writing
Spending time in other cultures and actually walking the streets or landscapes being written about has
been invaluable. Even when a setting is only a “close second” to the real place, those lived details give a
strong starting point for atmosphere, character reactions, and how a scene feels on the ground.
Funniest writing moment
One of the funniest and most encouraging moments was when a daughter gave a “Future Bestselling
Author” decor piece. It was both a joke and a vote of confidence, and it has become a kind of running gag
and quiet motivator in the writing space.
Relaxing after writing
There is not a big ritual for winding down, because most of the time the relaxation is actually in getting
lost inside the story itself. The real challenge is less about de-stressing and more about not stressing over
whether there is enough tangible “proof” of work done that day, even though the movie in the mind has
been running nonstop.
Greatest inspiration
A lot of inspiration comes from a mix of personal travel and a dad’s travel stories. There is something
powerful about going somewhere, picking a random direction, and finding some small, unforgettable
detail—like the (locally) famous family story of him at the Vatican, happily waving at the Pope in the
popemobile for several minutes before realizing everyone else had bowed to cross themselves while he
just stayed standing and seizing the moment.
Favorite author right now
Pinned down to just one name in this moment, Ernest Cline stands out. The nostalgic way he builds a
world—especially in Ready Player One—was captivating, weaving pop culture, virtual reality, and
adventure into something that feels both wildly escapist and strangely grounded.
Outlines or write-as-you-go?
Both. There is usually a loose outline at the start, but it tends to morph constantly as the story reveals
what it actually wants to be, so it ends up functioning more like a sketch than a rigid plan.
First book remembered
Danger on Panther Peak is the first book that really sticks in memory. It was probably the story that made
reading exciting rather than just an assignment, opening the door to books as something to look forward
to.
Writing space needs
What is needed in the writing space changes day to day. Often there is a show or movie playing in the
background, not to watch closely, but to keep the “main voice” in the head focused on the story, while the
other voices or personalities take a break to watch.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 10

Simple Harvest Reads, February 11 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, February 12 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, February 12

Guild Master, February 13 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, February 14

Fiction Book Lover, February 15 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 16

Vicky Sluiter, February 17 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, February 18

For the Love of Literature, February 19 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 20

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 21 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, February 22 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, February 23 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, February 23

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Nicholas is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card, a copy of the book, bookmarks, and stickers!!

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

https://gleam.io/XuOgC/masa-chronicles-the-copper-scroll-celebration-tour-giveaway