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You can enter to win a print copy of Hunt for Eden's Star by D.J. Williams, courtesy of the publisher. (US ONLY!) You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the bottom of this post. (Contest ends June 23, 2023.) Click To Tweet If you’re the chosen winner, I’ll contact you for your information to pass along.
About the book…
A coming-of-age teen is thrown into a world of ancient secrets when he discovers a supernatural artifact that protects a weapon of mass destruction. With the help of a diverse group of friends, he embarks on a global adventure, seeking the truth about his sister’s death, and uncovers two clandestine, supernatural societies waging an epic, hidden war that threatens the future of civilization.
D. J. Williams’s suspenseful, page-turning style whisks readers into a wildly exciting, supernatural adventure that grabs hold of the imagination and never lets go. As Jack races to collect ancient artifacts critical to the survival of the world, readers are transported to incredible locales across Asia, including the lush jungles of the Philippines and the high-energy streets of Hong Kong. Themes of addiction, revenge, faith, and friendship emerge as Jack battles literal and psychological demons, and even his own friends and family members, on his quest to thwart the forces of evil.
FINDING HOME: DISCOVERING INSPIRATION ACROSS CULTURES
by D.J. Williams
We’ve heard it said, “Home is where the heart is.” As an expat born and raised in Hong Kong, this saying means more than a location—perhaps it is true for you as well. While I’ve resided in Los Angeles for over thirty years, a piece of me has remained rooted in the neighborhood on Waterloo Road in Kowloon where I lived until I was fifteen. When I returned to the United States, I left the world I’d known and faced a world I didn’t recognize. My first day at school, I stared around the room at faces who were strangers. Some might call this culture shock, but I thought of it as another universe entirely. The idea of “home” took on a different meaning for me because I’d left the only home I’d ever known.
In the years since, I’ve had opportunities to travel the world to immerse myself in a myriad of cultures, and I’ve encountered relationships from all walks of life. I’ve experienced friendships from growing up in Hong Kong that have remain unchanged—as if we are all still in grade six. I’m in the middle of writing a young adult series, Beacon Hill, rooted in Hong Kong and other places around the world and continue to be inspired by those cultures and friendships which have influenced me as a storyteller.
When I wrote my first novel, The Disillusioned, the story took my main characters into the heart of Africa to face the darkness of human trafficking. Where did this idea come from? I was in Zambia filming a documentary and spent three days on the Zambezi River in a tent. No electricity. No cell service. No Wi-Fi. Imagine not being able to check email or post on Instagram for three whole days. On our second day we traveled into the bush and came face to face with an elephant with pointed ivory tusks and a look in his eyes that told us we were not welcome even though our guide offered to get us even closer for a better shot. While I continued to film, the guide inched a few more feet before a blaring trumpeting sound sent a chill down my spine.
Before I could object, the driver of our Land Rover punched the accelerator, and we flew backward with the elephant gaining ground. While I kept rolling on camera—figuring it would be the only evidence of my death—the guide suddenly stopped the Land Rover and stood up in his seat, waving his arms at the enormous animal. To my surprise, the elephant stopped in his tracks and stood there staring at us. For five straight minutes no one moved, until the elephant disappeared in the bush. Of course, I kept rolling—and have lived to tell the tale.
What I’ve discovered over the years is “home” means more than a place. It’s where I can escape with family to recharge. It’s where I find my creativity at its strongest when digging into the cultures I’ve experienced along my journey. It’s where I turn those encounters into edge-of-your-seat adventures with a bit of supernatural to keep readers guessing. It’s where friendships have grown over a lifetime from all corners of the world, strengthened because of a common bond.
Now that’s home to me.
Q&A with D. J.
Q: What inspired you to write Hunt for Eden’s Star? Can you tell us about the research that went into writing this novel?
A: For over a decade the Beacon Hill series has lingered in my mind and haunted my imagination. Spending many years overseas, I’ve always been drawn to different cultures and have found myself amongst people from all walks of life. I was inspired to write the series because the story wouldn’t let go. The storylines, characters, and locations are inspired by places I’ve been or people I’ve met. And in Hunt for Eden’s Star the inspiration led me back to my roots of growing up in Hong Kong and
traveling through Asia as a teenager.
Q: You have traveled to many places in the world. What did you learn from living in a variety of different cultures?
A: One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that while we may have our differences such as ethnicity, economies, and addresses, there are aspects of our lives that bring us together. Friendship. Faith. Family. When you are surrounded by others who are unique from you, you can still find common ground instead of holding on to what divides us. And when you’re speaking of a common faith, there is only one that bonds us together for eternity.
Q: Tell us about some of the core themes explored in your book. How do you hope readers might relate these themes to their own lives and real-world experiences?
A: The value of friendship is a big one in Hunt for Eden’s Star and grows stronger throughout the series as those friendships are tested. Several themes that are woven into the story are addiction and revenge, which many have faced at one time or another from teenagers to adults. Of course, themes of faith are rooted from the first page—the challenge of walking out one’s faith and the victories when faith grows. My hope is readers will be inspired to embrace the adventures and challenges of life no matter what they might face and discover a deeper faith and purpose for their lives.
Q: Why is it important to explore these topics in our current culture?
A: With the craziness of the world around us constantly challenging our values, or even attempting to shape our values, rooting our lives in friendship, family, and faith guides our path instead of chasing after the next hashtag trend. Believe me, it’s not easy and oftentimes we fail, but what I’ve discovered is it’s worth the adventure to discover who we are created to be without compromise.
Q: Your novel discusses serious themes such as addiction and death. Why is it important for novels to tackle these issues?
A: For a story to leave the reader guessing, you need to constantly be raising the stakes for the characters in the world. Addiction and death are two major forces that alter the trajectory of a story, whether it be supernatural YA or real life. When I think of the YA readers who are facing many challenges in front of them, I wanted to approach these themes in a way that was real without preaching at them.
Q: What is the value of fiction and storytelling (and the fantasy genre, in particular) in today’s culture?
A: Most readers are looking for an escape from the highly charged culture around us, so I think a big part of the value is pure entertainment. There’s a bonus if we take entertainment to the next level with an underlying message driving the narrative. From the point of view of faith, the fantasy genre offers a unique opportunity to dive deeper into not only the supernatural but the spiritual.
Q: What has been the greatest challenge to living out your faith in today’s culture as a storyteller?
A: One of the challenges is to write a page-turner that appeals to a broad audience while remaining rooted to my values. Temptation has a way of pushing you beyond the boundaries, to cross the line, to make the story more edgy or socially acceptable. Believe me, I’ll push to the very edge but there are limits. When I think more about the characters and world that inspire me, I’ve found the challenges are less aunting. You’ll never please everyone, but you can entertain and inspire someone.
Q: What has been the greatest challenge in writing a YA fantasy series?
A: Honestly, the characters have jumped off the page while I’ve been writing, but probably the greatest challenge is going deeper into the world building so Beacon Hill stands out from other YA fantasy series. I’ve been writing the Beacon Hill series over the last year and a half and have been relentless to not watch or read any other YA series. Of course, I did break that rule to watch Rings of Power.
Q: What role does faith play in this story?
A: Faith definitely plays a role in the character’s evolution and the story arcs, however, I’ve worked hard to keep the faith thread as an underlying driver instead of making it the Holy Grail. As an author and believer, my hope is anyone who picks up Hunt for Eden’s Star or future books in the Beacon Hill series will be captured by the characters and the world, then discover the message along the way.
Q: What are some of the life lessons you’ve learned as a producer, director, and writer in the entertainment industry?
A: The main ones are to keep relationships the priority, to treat everyone around me as an equal, to harness the creativity of others to inspire the great adventures of life, and to never allow an ounce of success to define who I am whether it be in my past, present, or future.
Q: Which part of Hunt for Eden’s Star did you most enjoy writing?
A: I’ve enjoyed every aspect of writing Hunt for Eden’s Star because it’s been a dream of mine for so long to have the opportunity. One piece in particular that has been really fun has been writing the banter between Jack and his cast of misfits. And, the last chapter, that one was a blast to write. Everything led to this one moment where the world of Beacon Hill changed forever.
Q: As you were crafting the characters featured in Hunt for Eden’s Star, which one did you personally relate to the most? Which character surprised you the most?
A: I would say the one character who I related to the most would be Jack Reynolds, and probably Timothy Lloyd. The one character who surprised me the most is Areum Ho.
Q: Which authors inspired you most when writing this story?
A: Hands down the authors who have inspired me the most are C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and J. K. Rowling, especially within the YA genre. Each one for different reasons, and that’s been the challenge for me—to chase after them by creating my own world in Beacon Hill.
Q: If you could tell your teenage self one thing, what would it be?
Never be afraid to chase after your dreams, and never allow anyone to tell you those dreams are impossible. Fear has a way of keeping us from discovering what it is we’ve been called to do in this life. The longer we are paralyzed by fear, the less courage we have to chase after who God has called us to be. When in doubt, choose courage over fear.
Q: So true! What are some future projects you’re working on?
A: I’m in the middle of edits for book two in the Beacon Hill series, and I’m also writing book three in the series as well. Hunt for Eden’s Star is currently under consideration for film and television optioning by the producers, production companies, and studios who have created the most successful YA franchises of all time. We will also be releasing an episodic web series in January 2023, Chasing Lewis, Tolkien & Rowling, for the YA audience to follow along behind the scenes of the Beacon Hill series. And I’m beginning to develop a new adult fiction series.
Sounds interesting. Something to look forward to, for sure! Thanks for being here, D.J.
About D. J. Williams…
D. J. Williams was born and raised in Hong Kong, igniting an adventurous spirit as he ventured into the jungles of the Amazon, the bush of Africa, and the ancient cities of the Far East. His global travels submerged him in a myriad of cultures, providing a unique perspective that fuels his creativity. As an executive producer and director, Williams has produced and directed over 500 episodes of broadcast television syndicated worldwide. Residing in Los Angeles, he continues to develop new projects for television, film, and print which are being pitched to major studios, streaming companies, and publishing houses. Hunt for Eden’s Star, the first book in D. J.’s Beacon Hill series, will publish with Tyndale House Publishers on April 4, 2023.
Rules for giveaway can be found here.
This sounds like an exciting read!!
I agree! Good luck, Karen.
I agree with the concept of home being family oriented, not location based!
I think the diverse characters, mystery, suspense, and high stakes for the characters will make this a fun read.
Good luck, Danielle!
Such a fascinating interview. Wow! What rich, cultural experiences he has had traveling and living in so many different countries.
Yes, he sure does! Good luck, Vickie.
characters
Good luck!