Mark of the Star by Caleb Indhivan Victor is shortlisted for the 2024 Author of Tomorrow, 12-15 Category. 

Mark of the Star: ‘Two will come from the same seed.’ Calvin, an ordinary boy from Earth. Transported into a land not his own. Shrak the Strange, a wicked being. Hell-bent on a mysterious experiment.‘One shall perish, the other shall rise.’ What will happen when the two combatants clash?

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An interview with Caleb:

WNSF: What is your favourite book?

Caleb: My favourite book would be the Spy School Series by Stuart Gibbs. In my opinion, this series has the perfect blend of action, adventure, humour and suspense.

WNSF: Who is your favourite author? Or one who has inspired you and why?

Caleb: An author who has inspired me is J.R.R Tolkien. He is an extremely imaginative writer, creating vast mystical worlds. His use of descriptive language is amazing and his storylines are intriguing and full of adventure. He is a persistent writer, and never gave up in the 13 long years it took to complete The Lord of the Rings.

WNSF: What is your favourite subject at school?

Caleb: My favourite subject at school is Physical Education. I’m into sports and it gives me a break from my classes!

WNSF: What does ‘adventure writing’ mean to you? Why did you choose to try your
hand at an adventure story?

Caleb: To me, adventure writing involves action and suspense. In adventure writing, you have the opportunity to immerse your reader into a world of infinite possibilities where anything can happen.

WNSF: If you could ask an author anything, what would you want to know?

Caleb: If I could ask an author anything, I would like to know where they source their inspiration from. Writer’s block can be hard to deal with.

WNSF: Who would you consider one of your heroes and why? 

Caleb: I would consider my mother as one of my heroes. She has nurtured my love for writing and brought me up with books. The sacrifices she makes and her dedication to teach me are invaluable.

WNSF: What is the most adventurous thing you would like to do, or place you would like to visit and why?

Caleb: I would like to scale the Himalayan mountains, relish the view, the wildlife, and the thrill of adventure! 

WNSF: Where do you find inspiration for your stories? 

Caleb: I find inspiration from books. They expand my imagination and plant new ideas in my mind. I also get random suggestions from other people.

WNSF: If you could time travel, where would you go and why?

Caleb: I would like to head back into prehistoric times. Not much was recorded and no one really knows for sure what daily life was like back then.

WNSF: What three words would you use to describe your story?

Caleb: Suspenseful. Mysterious. Prophetic.