"How to Kill a Giant" by Carol Schlorff -- Author Interview

 

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!

Author Interview 

1. Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (or a hybrid)?

I’m definitely a plotter. Before I start writing a book, I must first create an outline. I need to know where I’m going before I begin. To aid this process, I use the general beat sheets from the book, Save the Cat! Write a Novel, because I’ve found they offer a helpful roadmap. That said, my outline isn’t something I can’t change once I start writing. Quite the opposite. As I progress through the story, I often come up with new ideas and plot twists that alter the direction I was heading.

So, to summarize, yes, I need an outline to get started, but I may or may not follow it too closely as I progress through the book. And if I get stuck anywhere, the outline helps me get back on track.

2. What is your favorite part about writing?

I love the creative process of imagining characters and getting into their heads. But most of all, I love the challenge and the privilege of communicating spiritual truth through my writing, whether in my novels or on my blog about the Christian life (bibleandsoul.com). I write because I have a message to share: the message about a loving God who has done everything necessary so that we, sinful human beings, can be reconciled to him. If my readers grow closer to God through my writing, then I will have considered it a success.

3. What is your writing space like?

I write in my bedroom, which is quite small but big enough to fit my bed, a wardrobe, a dresser, some narrow cabinets, and, most importantly (when it comes to writing), my desk with my laptop. To the right of my desk is a floor-to-ceiling window that offers a fifth-floor view of the trees and dirt road below, where everyone walks their dogs. (No, that view doesn’t distract me—no more than anything else, anyway).

4. How long does it usually take you to write a book?

My first book, How to Kill a Giant, took five years from conception to publication. Part of that time was also spent learning more about the craft of writing. My second book, How to Make a Miracle, which will be released in February 2026, took about three and a half years to write and edit. I’ve been working on my third book, How to Mess up Christmas, for nearly a year and a half, and I’m about 80 percent done. I hope to complete the first draft in another month or two. As you can see, I’m gradually becoming faster, but I’m far from reaching my goal of writing a book each year.

5. Do bits of yourself/friends show up in your characters?

I partly based Hugo, the protagonist of How to Kill a Giant, on my high school experience. Like him, my family suddenly moved, and I was thrown into a new school where I didn’t know anyone. For me, it was more traumatic than for Hugo because I moved to a different country—from France, where my parents worked as missionaries, to the U.S. I wasn’t bullied anywhere near as much as Hugo was, but I shared some of the same feelings he experienced, especially a complete loss of confidence and difficulty overcoming fear.

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!

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

Click here to get your copy!