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.

Click here to get your copy!

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.

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, January 12

Simple Harvest Reads, January 13 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 13

Artistic Nobody, January 14 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, January 15 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 16

Fiction Book Lover, January 17 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, January 18

Vicky Sluiter, January 19 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, January 20 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 21 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 22

Blossoms and Blessings, January 23 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, January 24 (Author Interview)

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 25 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 25

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, S.C. is giving away the grand prize of a $100 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/kZzku/the-godchild-celebration-tour-giveaway

Interview

What things molded your desire to write a novel?

Probably just being read great stories as a kid. My mom was an English teacher and she would read advanced stories to us starting at a young age. I remember not wanting the story to be over for the night so many times. Just one more chapter, we’d beg. There were a lot of classic books she covered that I’ve now reread to my daughters including, Where the Red Fern Grows, A Day No Pigs Would Die, and The Indian in the Cupboard. Looking back, these stories contained a good number of grown-up themes and probably had an effect on my maturation. The stories dealt with heavy things like loss, poverty, doing the right thing, responsibility, consequences, and love. I remember laughing at loud at some parts and fighting back tears during others. I decided I wanted to put something out in the world that was positive and hopefully entertaining as well. 

If you had a free day, what would you do?

I’d go on an adventure. Possibly visit a historical site or just get out in nature. I’d try a new restaurant, make a new friend on the way, and touch some grass as they say. In short, I’d get a break from screen time and enjoy some of the simpler things in life before returning to reality. We tend to overcomplicate our lives and often end up being slaves to our schedule. It’s important to take some time to reset occasionally. I’ve found no better way than getting outside. 

Do you have a favorite character you’ve created? Tell us about them.

My favorite character is probably Jerry from American Relic. I like him because he feels real. He’s very authentic, says whatever he wants, and he ended up being quite comical. He’s not the main character but he really helps develop Kenny in the story. Kenny goes through some serious trauma so Jerry was really needed in the story. Life is made up of all kinds of characters and the more colorful ones keep it interesting. 

Give us an insight into your faith in the Lord.

My parents took my brother and I to church every Sunday growing up. My uncle and grandpa and various relatives all attended the same church. They took it seriously, and I so I learned to as well. In college, I started really missing that after the first few weeks so I decided to try to attend on Sundays while I was away from home. It wasn’t always easy to find someone to go with and so I just had to become comfortable going by myself. My faith has become central to my life and my success. It's my refuge when things get tough in life. I wouldn’t be where I am today in life without the Lord. I’m trying my hardest now to pass that faith on to my two daughters. It was the most important gift passed down to me from my parents. 

Do your books revolve around certain themes?

I definitely have recurring themes in my books. While my genres vary, the core elements are similar. Of course, like many authors, I really put emphasis on good versus evil. Today, the line between good and evil feels more blurred in popular stories than when I was growing up. The other theme I can’t get enough of is redemption. I think it applies to all of us. It’s ultimately the storyline of each of our lives. No one is perfect and so we will all need it at some point. And with redemption comes hope. I always will prefer hope as opposed to bleak endings.