About the Book
Book: Wellspring of Life
Author: Allen Brokken
Genre: Middlegrade Christian Fantasy
Release date: November 4, 2022
Lauren (12), Aiden(9), and Ethan(5) have been reunited with their mortally wounded Father. But, they must take him to the Wellspring of Life before it’s too late.
The Dark One suffered a massive loss when twelve-year-old Lauren and her younger brothers Aiden and Ethan rescued their father from his clutches. However, the battle left Father horribly burned and barely hanging on to life. However, they found a clue to his salvation, the fabled Wellspring of Life.
As the children trek across the wildlife of the prairie, take sides against them to drive them off their path. Meanwhile, the giant known as Skull Crusher hunts them mercilessly while seeking to master the Darkness so he can destroy the family once and for all.
New friends join them in their quest to save Father, but they could also choose the Darkness and lead them further astray. The children’s mission to save their father will fail if they can’t find the Wellspring of Life in time. Will they have the faith to stay on the narrow path to redemption?
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband and father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age appropriate way.
He’s dedicated 18 years of his life to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development. Now that his own children are off to college he’s telling stories and sharing clean humor on social media @allenbrokkenauthor, and through his website allenbrokkenauthor.com.
More from Allen
Wellspring of Life was a blast to write! As a writer, one of the things I’ve had to contend with is that my characters rarely take me on an easy linear path from the start of a book to the end. As I work on a story, things tend to develop organically, and suddenly, the story’s conclusion is very different than when I put the first word on a page.
That’s where I found myself at the end of book 4 in the series, Armor of God. Unfortunately, the devastating way Father was wounded wasn’t in the original outline of the story or the series as a whole. So I had to write a whole book to determine if he survived. I also wanted to collaborate with a good friend, K. A. Cummins, author of the Snowglobe Travellers series, on a possible crossover. These combined to let me try out some new things as a writer.
For example, Wellspring of Life has a glitter bomb, a murder of wicked crows, and no good egg stealin’ prairie dogs, to name a few of the twists and turns you’ll find in this book. The kids also meet some new friends along the way. I enjoyed this the most because the new kids reflect the personality of my kids’ best friends from our homeschool co-op. Despite these kids now being off to college, we all had fun brainstorming their roles in the story.
Speaking of homeschool co-op, the book is dedicated to the Wellspring Homeschool Co-Op that my kids grew up in. Their verse is Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart because it’s the wellspring of life.” I couldn’t find a more appropriate theme for this book that deals with the consequences of an unguarded heart.
So I hope you take the time to pick it up, because it’s a wild ride across the prairie with a message of redemption I’m sure your family will enjoy.
Author Interview!
What is your favorite book that you have written (Published or Unpublished), and why?
I have to say, and I know it’s a bit cheezy, but Wellspring of Life. I feel like I had the most fun with this book. I got to make a bunch of unique quirky things and I also got to write from my heart in a very satisfying way. So this is definitely my favorite.
What is your favorite genre to read? What is your favorite genre to write? And why are they your favorites?
I’m enjoying the middle grade fantasy right now, but I have a more adult work, Fat Guys can be Heroes if… that is a lot of fun to work on. Being a big guy, it gives me a chance to talk about challenges I have in my day to day while writing a fun story. That said, that project is on indefinite hold due to the demands of this series. From a reading perspective I enjoy sci-fi. I’m having a lot of fun with books from Steve Rzasa and Kerry Nietz right now.
What are your hobbies other than writing?
I play a lot of games. Lately it’s a mix of XBOX , No Man’s Sky to be exact. I’ve got a gaming group we’ve been playing on-line for over 20 years. We’re mostly all over 50 now and a bit slow. We call ourselves Team Fail and our motto is “Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory since 1999.” For my 50th birthday we all got together in persona and it was a blast. I also play Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures battles with my eldest son on Sundays after church as way to make sure we stay connected now that he’s out of the house.
Do you have a genre that you would never write? (In the Christian genre sphere i.e., speculative, historical, contemporary, etc.)
I can safely say it is very unlikely I will ever write Amish Romance. I just don’t get the genre, and can’t see myself promoting it even if I did write it. Pretty sure I’d miss the actual romance and get caught up in the challenges of greasing wagon wheels.
Lastly, what was your favorite book growing up?
I read Battlefield Earth like 7 times in sixth grade. It was so long that I never quite remembered the beginning by the time I got to the end. Although Star Ship Troopers was a close second.
Thank you For letting me interview you Allen! Always a pleasure to interview fellow fantasy fans 🙂
Giveaway
To celebrate his tour, Allen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Other stops on this book tour:
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 9
Texas Book-aholic, November 10
Inklings and notions, November 11
Blossoms and Blessings, November 12 (Author Interview)
deb’s Book Review, November 12
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 13
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, November 14
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, November 15 (Author Interview)
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 15
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 16
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 17
For Him and My family, November 18
A Reader’s Brain, November 19 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, November 20
Lights in a Dark World, November 21
Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen, November 22 (Author Interview)
Congratulations on your release of Wellspring of Life, Allen, great interview and I enjoyed following the tour and learning about your book, which sounds like an excellent book to share with the kids and I like the cover! Good luck with your book and I hope the tour was a success!
Thanks for sharing it with me and have a spectacular day! (Happy Thanksgiving!)
This Thanksgiving I wanted to thank you for taking the time to share with your audience. I really appreciate the work you’ve put into it. I hope you and your family have a blessed day.
I enjoy hearing what authors have to say. Thanks for the interview.
This sounds like a fantastic read.
Thank you for sharing your interview, bio and book details, Wellspring of Life sounds like a wonderful story to share with my grandchildren
My niece would like this book.
Thanks for the contest.