about the book
Sometime around the year 2020, the United States is plunged into a second Civil war between the North and the South. This time the divided states call themselves, in the North, the U.S. Federal Army (the remnant of the former U.S. government), and in the South the Army of the Glorious Path.
The Glorious Path—a new religion founded by the fanatical Nathan Hill. It spread quickly and with it Hill took over much of the southern and western states.
That was over six years ago. In that time, Callum Roe and his brother, James, were captured and converted by the Army of the Glorious Path. They were only kids at the time, and now they are in their teenage years.
Callum works in the Army’s kennels. He has been befriending a stray dog he named Bear. One day Bear’s life is put in danger by a superior officer. Without thinking Callum strikes out at the officer to save Bear, killing him in the process. Suddenly Callum begins questioning everything the Glorious Path stood for.
One thing’s for sure—he and his dog cannot stay in Path-controlled lands. Together, Callum and Bear set out on the run, hoping to find refuge in the North. In the end, a major battle comes to rest on Callum’s decisions, and it will decide the course of the war…
about the author
Growing up in the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, young Jeff Hirsch loved comics, sci-fi, horror, and paranormal books. But truth be told, he’d read anything and everything.
He always wanted to have a creative career, and by junior high he was writing poetry and short stories. In high school, the theater bug bit him and he wrote, directed, and acted in plays.
Jeff studied acting at East Carolina University and moved to New York to be the next Marlon Brando. When that didn’t work out, he headed to the University of California to study playwriting.
For years, his plays were rejected. Just as he was about to give up being a writer, he decided to write a novel for young readers. His first book was about a girl who ran away to be a rock star and was tutored by a six-foot drag queen. He learned a lot from the writing experience but, according to Jeff that manuscript will remain locked in a desk drawer until the end of time. His second book, The Eleventh Plague, was well received by agents and quickly bought by a publisher.
Jeff writes every night, at least two hours after dinner, 4,000 to 5,000 words a week. He usually plans out the big events in the books, but the rest just happens as he types away. At this point, he still has a day job. He writes for a non-profit organization where he also organizes conferences and festivals.
Jeff and his wife Gertie are now back in New York State, living in Astoria. Gertie is a blogger and writes sewing books.
There are a few unusual things about Jeff. He is extremely superstitious. And although he can’t swallow a sword, he’s darn good at eating fire and escaping from a straitjacket while suspended from the ceiling by his ankles!
Sources:
Author website
Author interview: Writing is a Blessing
Also by Jeff Hirsch:
Magisterium. Scholastic. 2012.
The Eleventh Plague. Scholastic. 2011.
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