About the Book

Book: THE GODCHILD

Author: S.C. Terlecky

Genre: YA Christian Dystopian

Release Date: December 9, 2025

When fifteen-year-old Ellie Wilder discovers a contraband journal hidden in her attic, her decision to read its contents rather than turning it over to TEAMMATE officials will destroy any chance of living a normal life. The good news? Andy Jacobs, the most popular boy in her school, now realizes she exists. The bad news? She might not exist much longer if TEAMMATE has anything to say about it. Now that she’s awakened from the encompassing lie of the world she lives in, how can she possibly warn others who are content to remain in a blissful Neverland? She’ll need to challenge her own beliefs, embrace her destiny, and put everything on the line or else the dying spark she’s uncovered in this hostile future will be extinguished—along with her life, forever.

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Author Interview

1) Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (or a hybrid)?
I’m more of a hybrid these days. My first book, AMERICAN RELIC was nearly all
pantser. I was trying to learn how to write and ultimately proving to myself that I
could finish a book. It took the longest of all of my books—although its progress
was interrupted by college and other priorities along the way. I improved my
planning with each of my next two books, but my plotting is still not very
extensive. I like a one-page roadmap of where I want the story to go. I might
include themes and character traits I want to include but it’s really more “big
picture” and the writing occurs more organically or pantser-like as I go.

2) What is your favorite part about writing?
I love it when the puzzle in my mind comes together. It’s usually when I’m
thinking about writing instead of physically writing. I’ve created main characters
and problems and need a resolution. To me, it’s almost like solving an equation
or a riddle after thinking about it nonstop. It’s a jolt of energy to get back to the
writing part and hammer out the scene. Sometimes I get my characters into such
a fix there doesn’t seem to be a way out. I can get hung up on a scene for days
or weeks. I know where the story goes after, but how do I get them out of the
mess I put them in? Then I come to a moment of realization, where I’m able to
turn the story slightly, strengthen the theme, and hopefully create an entertaining
escape from the dead end I’ve created.

3. When did you become a writer?
It really became a dream of mine in seventh grade. Our class was required to
enter a VFW essay contest called, “What Makes America Great?” I put a lot of
time into that essay and was fiercely protective of it. My mom was a high school
English teacher and I wouldn’t even let her read it until after I turned it in. Looking
back, I should have had her proofread it because there were a few typos.
However, it had a lot of heart and emotion and ultimately won the local contest.
That’s when I really started believing in myself. I didn’t have a story to write quite
yet, but I knew it was something I wanted to do.

4. Where do you get your ideas for your books?
I’ve always had an active imagination going back to childhood. Visiting different
places seems to trigger it to this day. I start thinking, what if something like (insert
idea here) happened right where I’m standing. Once triggered, my creative side
takes over the challenge of crafting a story. As far as working out the details to
the idea, that seems to happen the most when I’m mowing grass, alone in the
woods, or working out at the gym. I can’t get the idea out of my head so it
bounces back and forth and eventually there’s that aha moment. That’s the time
when I’m running for my notebook to save the rough overview of what I’ve
mentally constructed.

5. What is your work schedule/routine when you write?
I usually write in the early morning, before my girls wake up. It started out of
necessity—finding time in the middle of the day just didn’t work for me. But I’ve
come to realize I am way more productive the first few hours of the day. I’m not
really a night owl so late night writing wasn’t really a good option. Now I’ve just
accepted that if I want to do my best work, I need to set my alarm.

About the Author

S.C. Terlecky lives in Northeast Ohio with his two daughters and herd of cats. He enjoys a multitude of outdoor activities and reading stories each night to his girls. His previous works include American Relic and Canticle of the Spear. He loves strong storytelling, interesting characters, and concepts with lasting impact.

More from S.C.

The truth may set you free, but are you prepared for the cost?

When I set out to write my third novel, THE GODCHILD, I wanted to create something that would remain on the mind of the reader after the final page. There are a number of excellent young adult books that left a lasting impression on me in my younger years, and my desire was to contribute something truly moving for the next generation.

Drawing from some of my favorite classic YA dystopian fiction novels, there is often one theme in common—they focus on fighting an all-powerful, evil group of people with a smaller group of likeable underdogs who want to preserve some important, physically tangible aspect of living. It may be saving a faction of people from oppression by another faction like in Veronica Roth’s Divergent or Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. The story may highlight a need to break free from a world of total control like in The Giver by Lois Lowry or A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. They may even primarily focus on saving humanity from extinction like in James Dashner’s The Maze Runner. But how many add the spiritual implications of eternity alongside these important physical themes? This is where THE GODCHILD is meant to have a deeper reach into the reader. And when the tale is completely told, the chilling part of this story is that it’s not unbelievable—especially in today’s world.