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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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.

Interview with the Author

What helps you to write? Do you eat snacks, listen to music?

The two things that help me write are a quiet space and a comfortable chair. I really don’t require much else as far as food or outside music while I’m physically writing. But I do use music in another way. I will specifically listen to songs that make me feel a particular way while I’m brainstorming my next chapter. If I can find music that matches the mood of the scene, I’ll keep listening to that song until I have my mental map of what I’m going to write. Once I have my plan, it’s back to quiet time until the scene is finished.

If you could travel back in time, what time period would you go to?

There are so many good choices here. I think I’d really enjoy the period of the 1920s through the end of World War II. I’d love to see how both sides of my family lived on and operated their family farms. Both farms continue to be run by other family members today. I think picking their brains would be enlightening. I wonder if they had any of the same thoughts about our world that I’ve developed over four decades. I’d also just love to see the younger versions of my grandparents and great aunts and uncles. I’m sure they wouldn’t believe how much our world has changed.

What is one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you?

Probably that I’m not an expert when it comes to spelling. I need a dictionary or the app of a dictionary close at hand while I’m writing. I never won a spelling bee all through grade school. I think people assume after you write a book that you’re always right on things like that. I guess maybe that’s a lesson for other potential writers out there.

What inspired you to write this book?

I was inspired to write this book because of all the division I started seeing in our world—much of which seemed to occur on social media. I witnessed long-time friends have public feuds and become enemies. I saw families broken apart over differing ideas and it made my heart ache. I wondered, what would a world look like without these topics of contention? So, I created a world that removed them—a remade society after these same divisions destroyed our current one. But then, problems started to creep in. If you forcibly remove something, it turns out you are no longer free. The story grew from there.

Share with me a few of your favorite things.

I’m a big fan of watching wildlife. I love going on adventures to see new sights like national parks, historical sites, or pretty much anywhere I haven’t been. I’m more of a cat person when it comes to pets, but I have major respect and love for well-trained dogs.