I love reading fantasy titles! The years of my youth spend scouring the shelves at our local library in Queensburgh rewarded me with golden memories of finding the gems such as the Drenai Saga from David Gemmell. Now imagine meeting a local author starting out with his own fantasy saga!? I loved helping Caleb through the publishing of his debut Novel. From one geek to another, this book is a sterling effort from a South African author looking to make his mark in the shelves of readers.
Your author name
Caleb Birch
Your book title
Give us the elevator pitch for your book?
Join the illustrious knight, Ramsay Wick, and his team on the greatest mission of their lives. In a world of monsters and magic, teams of warriors and wizards make a living by defending the realm against evil. As the leader of Team Leopadillo, Ramsay must find and kill the Alpha Dragon, who threatens to destroy humanity. This wouldn’t be possible without his secret weapon.
Join the team on their nail-biting journey to the dragon’s lair where, confronted with an impossible choice, Ramsay will have to make a life-changing decision.
Action-packed fantasy that will keep readers gripped until the last page.
What would you give as your main reason or goal for writing?
I use writing to share my internal world with others. It allows me to express ideas that I value and find meaningful. If someone feels better after reading my books, then it has accomplished its purpose.
Who was the book written for?
My book’s target readers are young people familiar with the fantasy worlds commonly explored in online video games. It is designed to be enjoyed by those who want to get into reading but do not have to dig through a complex story with multiple plots to keep track of. The book takes the reader on a straightforward journey, focussing on the development of the characters.
How long did it take for you to finish the final draft of your book?
It took about six months, on and off. Sometimes I took a break to refresh my creativity.
What makes this book different from others on the shelf?
Peril and Splendor follows the typical hero’s journey but focuses on the dangerous experiences of the main characters. The reader will feel like a passive member of the team and observe how they overcome obstacles. The attention is on the main characters, as opposed to grand events that they happen to be involved in.
What was the hardest part of the writing journey for you?
The hardest part was expressing the movies that played in my imagination. I tend to be concise and to the point.
Your favourite place to write?
I am most comfortable sitting quietly at a table in my home.
What kept you motivated to write during the times you felt stuck?
I would simply take a break and turn my attention to my other interests, such as playing games, going out with friends, or watching movies. Soon I would feel inspiration coming through automatically.
Tell us something about yourself that readers would not be able to guess?
I am interested in martial arts and have basic training in Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai.
Have you written any other books?
Yes, a spiritual, non-fiction book called Transformative Awakening.
Assuming you may not write full time, what is your day job?
I am a software engineer and I write various types of applications from embedded systems to mobile fraud detection. I write code so I thought I might as well write books.
How should someone get in touch with you?
- The website for my fantasy books is www.fantasymission.co.za.
- I am on social media, and my Instagram handle is caleb_b111
- Feel free to spam my inbox at
