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.

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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!

Interview with the Author

1)What does success as an author look like to you?

If my books help my readers grow in their faith and trust in God, then I consider them successful. Of course, I still want as many people as possible to read them. However, ultimately, success isn’t measured by sales; it’s about making a lasting impact for the kingdom of God. Such a measure of success is hard to evaluate, which is why it’s easy to feel discouraged. Sometimes, I unexpectedly receive an email from a parent sharing how the book has impacted their child. These rare glimpses of success keep me going, even when I want to give up.

2)What inspired this book?

The idea for How to Kill a Giant came to me during a church sermon on meditating on God’s Word. I suddenly thought of a time-travel book set in a Bible story as the perfect illustration of the power of the Bible in our lives. My motivation for writing is to demonstrate that the Bible remains relevant to us today, provides answers to the questions 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, which is why I target this age group.

3)What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

These were the first verses I memorized, and I’ve tried to follow their message whenever I’ve faced a decision. To be honest, I can’t say I’ve always succeeded, but God has always been faithful to me. Looking back on my life, I can confidently say that God has always guided me when I needed his direction and has proved himself trustworthy. Satan throws lies at us to keep us from submitting to God, but the reality is that following God’s ways is the best path for our well-being. This passage has been a constant reminder of this important truth.

4)Describe your view as you’re sitting in your writing chair.

Right now, I’m gazing into my cat’s big eyes as he stares up at me and meows with the loudest command voice he can muster, demanding food. His name’s Tabasco, and he’s a sixteen-year-old Maine Coon who still has some spunk despite his age. If I turn my head to the other side, I look out from a wall-to-ceiling window with a fifth-floor view at a bunch of trees taller than my apartment building and a dirt road, with several houses beyond it and apartment buildings behind them. The dirt road, which leads to a small community forest, is continually filled with people walking their dogs. Occasionally, I can see families of wild boars running or walking in the unmowed grass next to the dirt road. When that happens, everyone else makes themselves scarce (for the record, I live in the city of Krakow, maybe not in the center, but not out in the boonies either).

5)If you could have one book or piece of art or music on a deserted island, what would it be and why?

Aside from the Bible (which goes without saying), I would choose The Lord of the Rings trilogy (one-volume edition). I’m not usually a fan of fantasy, but ever since my parents read those books and The Hobbit to my brother and me when we were children, I’ve loved everything Middle-earth. So why would I pick that book? It’s so long and captivating that it would keep me busy for hours, and I wouldn’t get bored. Plus, its message would give me the hope to keep going and not lose hope, even in my desperate situation on a deserted island.