About the Book

Book: How to Make a Miracle (How to Be a Hero Book 2)

Author: Carol Schlorff

Genre: Middle-grade action and adventure

Release Date: February 17, 2026

Three teenagers. One perilous quest. A miracle worth risking everything for.

Trapped in the Past … A visit to an old palace takes an unexpected turn when Stefan, his sister Julia, and their friend Hugo are mysteriously hurled into the harsh, unpredictable world of the Bible, where they meet Nasiya, a young slave girl caught in a dreadful fate.

Danger and Destiny … In a land where any shadow can hide an enemy, the trio must summon every ounce of faith to survive. For Stefan, however, the battle isn’t only against ruthless warriors—it’s against the anger and guilt holding him captive for too long. As the teens embark on a dangerous journey, Stefan must face the wounds of his past before they shatter his future.

A Race Against the Clock … With time running out and lives hanging in the balance, Stefan must discover that the greatest miracles aren’t about changing the world—they’re about renewing the heart. Fast-paced, richly immersive, and carrying a powerful message of redemption, this middle-grade adventure will grip readers from the first page to the last.

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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 Krakow, Poland, where she teaches English and organizes language camps. She also writes a blog on faith-related topics.

Carol enjoys watching or reading a good murder mystery and getting nervous while watching NFL games.

More from Carol

The idea for a middle-grade novel came to me while I was listening to a series of sermons on meditating on God’s Word. How could I show that the Bible is exciting, far from boring, relevant to our lives, and has the answers we seek about our purpose in life? And do so in a way that is fun and intriguing, keeping the readers on the edge of their seats? Write a time-travel adventure into the Bible, of course! Granted, the premise may not be new, but I aimed to write it in a way that is fresh and stimulating, giving valuable insights into the Bible.

The result of this crazy idea is the How to Be a Hero series, of which How to Make a Miracle is the second installment, although each book can be read as a standalone novel.

I targeted middle-grade readers because it’s an awkward age when young people begin to question what their parents have taught them and seek answers for themselves (speaking from experience, here). If my books can encourage them in their faith, I will consider my writing a success.

I chose the book themes based on issues young people struggle with. How to Make a Miracle addresses the problem of anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness, which I don’t need to tell you are far too prevalent in our society. The solution is forgiveness—and we all need to learn how to forgive each other, regardless of age.

Interview with the Author

What does success as an author look like to you?

I’m not going to lie and say the number of books sold isn’t important. It’s certainly an important measure of success, but only to a point. For me, the most important thing is that my books help my readers grow in their faith and trust in God. The higher the sales, the more people can be impacted for the kingdom of God, but if only one person reads my books and turns to God as a result, that is also success.

The problem with a “spiritual” measure of success is that it’s hard to evaluate. As a result, it’s easy to get discouraged. What keeps me going is positive feedback from parents or adults who’ve read the books.

Which part of the book was the most difficult to write?

Since the theme of How to Make a Miracle is forgiveness, my biggest challenge was writing certain scenes in which my teen characters discuss forgiveness. I didn’t want them to sound forced or preachy, but to feel natural. Frankly, I recoil when books or films become preachy, even when I agree with what they’re trying to say. I hope I succeeded in avoiding preachiness, and I’m sure the reviews of my book will let me know!

What inspired this book?

The idea for the How to Be a Hero series, of which How to Make a Miracle is the second book, came to me during a church sermon on meditating on God’s Word. As I reflected on the role of the Bible in our lives, time-travel adventures set in the Bible suddenly filled my thoughts, and I knew they would be the perfect illustration of the Bible’s power and influence. My motivation for writing is to show that the Bible remains relevant to us today, provides answers to the questions we seek about life, and is exciting. Of course, I also want my readers to have fun and stay on the edge of their seats. Growing up in a Christian home didn’t stop me from having many questions and doubts about the Bible and Christianity, especially starting in middle school, which is why I target this age group.

What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

One of my favorite verses is Ecclesiastes 12:13-14:

“¹³Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
¹⁴For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

The reason this is one of the verses I aim to live by is that it brings me back to what’s most important in life: to fear God and keep his commandments. Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes at the end of his life, after he had tried all the pleasures the world has to offer and had come back to his senses. His final conclusion is found in these two verses—all that matters is our relationship with God and how our lives reflect Him. These verses remind me of this truth as I go through life’s craziness.

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

I’m in my bedroom, sitting at my desk where my laptop is. To my left is my bed. Behind me is a dresser and a wardrobe. To my right, I look out from a wall-to-ceiling window with a fifth-floor view of houses with apartment buildings in the distance. Since it’s winter, the trees that line the road between my building and the houses don’t block the view. But during the summer, all I see are trees. The dirt road that runs past my apartment leads to a small community forest and is continually filled with people walking their dogs. Occasionally, I see wild boars running or walking through the unmowed grass next to the dirt road. When that happens, everyone else makes themselves scarce, as you can imagine. For the record, I live in a city, but the nearby forest attracts the wild boars.