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 does success as an author look like to you?

My perspective on success as an author might look different than many other writers. For me, the impact the story has on the individual reader is the most important metric of success. By impact, I mean, did the story intersect with a part of the reader’s life that might have a positive influence on their day? Obviously, every reader is different and will experience the story through a different lens, but if by the end of the story, they’re counting their own blessings, or thinking fondly about someone they love—that’s what a win looks like to me. I believe the human soul needs stories with hope, love, and redemption.

Which character did you connect to best in this book?

As a father of two daughters, I connected most with Kirk Wilder, Ellie’s father. The story was originally written through multiple different characters, and he was one of the main other contributors. It was later changed to be solely through Ellie’s eyes, as it really is her story.

What inspired this book?

This book was inspired by observing the growing division we all see on a daily basis in the world. I wish I had more of an answer on how to eliminate this growing divide, but there doesn’t seem to be an easy answer. Then I wondered, what if we just removed everything that caused the conflict? How would we do it? Would human nature even allow it? From there the story grew.

Which author influenced the you most?

There are quite a few good ones I could name. Probably the one that got me thinking I could really do this writing thing was Richard Paul Evans. I read THE WALK series by him some years ago and saw what he was capable of doing with just a four- or five-page chapter and I was absolutely amazed. The man is talented and I really loved the positivity I felt after reading each one. I write short chapters as well, and I realized that quality over quantity was my path forward. I’m not as verbose as many other ultra-talented writers but I do sincerely believe in the heart of my stories.

What are you reading right now?

Right now, I’m finishing up TRUE BELIEVER, by Jack Carr. It’s the sequel to the popular Amazon show, THE TERMINAL LIST which stars Chris Pratt as a Navy SEAL. It was suggested by a good buddy of mine. I read quite a few different genres, mostly by recommendation. I also just finished THE CHRISTMAS STRANGER by Richard Paul Evans.