Welcome to the Blog Tour for How to Kill a Giant by Carol Schlorff, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: How to Kill a Giant
Series: How to Be a Hero #1
Author: Carol Schlorff
Publisher: Elk Lake Publishing Inc
Release Date: June 11, 2023
Genre: Middle Grade Action and Adventure Fiction
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 is caught up in a scary world where danger lurks on every side.
A terrifying adventure ... As Hugo and his friends navigate the perils of this strange 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.
How to Kill a Giant is a 2024 Christian Indie Awards Winner.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon
Excerpt from How to Kill a Giant
He was hiking along a rocky path in the wilderness, wearing those same weird sandals, when a towering hulk of a man suddenly appeared before him. His features were mostly hidden—like in a picture out of focus—except for his bulging biceps. An overwhelming terror took hold of Hugo, who sprinted in the opposite direction, but he felt powerful hands grab him from behind and lift him straight off his feet. He tried to shake loose, but the man’s grip was too firm. He screamed but instinctively knew no one could hear him.
Hugo woke up. He lay in bed, sweat pouring down his face—another nightmare. While his pulse slowly returned to normal, his distress refused to let go. Both dreams had been so vivid and with the same strange sandals! What could they mean? He was sure they contained a message he couldn’t decipher. Maybe this new nightmare was his mind’s sick way of rehashing his encounters with the bullies and the day. Or perhaps the dreams were a warning about something else altogether. He fell back into a troubled sleep.
About the Author
Carol Schlorff’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. Connect with her on her blog and Facebook.
Author Interview
Q: What inspired you to write How to Kill a Giant?
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. 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.
Q: How long did it take to write this book?
Carol: It took me five years from the moment the idea first popped into my head until its publication. I spent a lot of that time not only writing the book but also learning everything I could about novel writing, which included attending writers’ conferences, taking online courses, and reading countless books.
Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?
Carol: I was surprised by how difficult everything related to the publishing industry is, from writing to publishing to marketing. Frankly, it’s overwhelming. I was tempted to give up more than once, but each time I was about to throw in the towel, God sent me the exact encouragement I needed to keep me going, whether in the form of a kind word, a card, or an email.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote from How to Kill a Giant?
Carol: I love the last line in the book: “Certain things are best seen through the eyes of faith.” Hugo, the main character, struggles to understand what has happened to him and decides to leave it in God’s hands, choosing to trust God even if he doesn’t understand. I love this quote because it captures what God wants from us—to trust him no matter what.
Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
Carol: I honestly didn’t think much about becoming an author until the idea for the book popped into my head. I had always thought it would be cool to write a novel, but I never had much time to think about it. Starting at a young age, I have always loved reading, and writing has always been a part of my life, but more on a personal level, such as diaries and private devotions.
Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?
Carol: I was a sergeant in the U.S. Army. After graduating from Penn State, I enlisted in the Army and spent four years serving Uncle Sam in California, Arizona, and Texas. I don’t regret a single minute of my time in the Army, but I admit I was glad to return to civilian life when my enlistment was up.
Q: What are you currently reading?
Carol: I always read several books at once, usually a fiction and a non-fiction title. Currently, I’m reading "Prayer" by Philip Yancey, and I just finished "An Ode to Poison" by Lisa E. Betz, a cozy murder mystery set in ancient Rome.
Q: What is your favorite genre to read?
Carol: I love reading murder mystery books, both cozy and non-cozy. I also enjoy books about the Christian life that help me grow in my faith. Finally, I like books about history or current events, although I usually go through those types of books in phases, such as a phase when I read everything about World War II or another phase when I focused on books about women in Muslim countries.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
Carol: I love photography, particularly capturing landscapes and flowers (as well as my cat, Tabasco). A few years ago, I switched from a Pentax to a Panasonic Lumix camera because the Lumix is smaller and lighter, which increases the chances that I’ll carry it with me. I can’t take a picture if I don’t have my camera!
Q: What is your favorite season and why?
Carol: My favorite season is summer. I love the long days of sunlight and the warm weather (not too hot). I enjoy eating breakfast outside on my balcony or sitting in the sun while reading a book. I appreciate the abundance of ice cream and being able to walk or sit outside while enjoying it without getting cold. I also look forward to summer because I’m always leading evangelistic English language camps, which are not only fun but also a wonderful opportunity to share God’s love. There isn’t much I dislike about summer (okay, maybe the mosquitoes and ticks).
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will each receive a $30 Amazon gift card and a copy of How to Kill a Giant (winner's choice between paperback or kindle)!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 11, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 18, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
I enjoyed the interview,
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ReplyDeleteVery attractive cover art.
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