Targeted Age Group:: 9-12
In a world where only nobility are selected to study magic, the peasant Nathanial McGray is bullied and ridiculed because he wants to become a wizard. Even his parents tell him it’s impossible. Overcoming obstacles and trials, Nate must prove he is worthy of his dream.
The Golden Wizard is the first in a seven-book series that introduces readers to five unlikely heroes. The first five books will each introduce a new hero. They are also interwoven. Events happening in The Golden Wizard are rewritten in future books from a different point of view taking readers deeper into the world of Zndaria.
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
While finishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Jerry began envisioning the magical world of Zndaria. Saddened by the fact that the Harry Potter books were coming to an end, he wanted to create an uplifting book series for young readers. The more he wrote, the more he fell in love with Zndaria and wanted to share it with others.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
The Scrolls of Zndaria series introduces readers to five unlikely heroes. Our first hero, Nathanial McGray or Nate, faces bullying and discouragement. Although his story takes place in a fictitious world, his personality and struggles are patterned after some of Jerry's experiences growing up.
Book Sample
Nathanial “Nate” McGray, a lanky fifteen-year-old boy, pounded along the dirt road leaving a wake of dust. A glance over his shoulder confirmed the bullies were not far behind. Mustering all his strength, Nate ignored the intense burning in his legs and sprinted even faster. The sight of the bridge brought a flicker of hope—escape into the Darkoak Forest was near!
Three thugs scrambled out of the ravine, blocking Nate’s path. Fighting off a wave of panic, Nate lunged at a gangling elf with curly black hair. They toppled onto the cobblestone bridge. Nate attempted to scramble away. The elf grasped Nate’s foot long enough for his cohorts—a red-headed, freckle-faced dwarf and a baby-faced, beefy young man—to seize Nate’s upper arms and yank him to his feet. They turned him around just as Derik—an abnormally tall, flabby seventeen-year-old human—reached the bridge with the rest of his gang.
“Caught . . . you!” Derik panted, wiping his shirt sleeve across his sweating bald head. “We have a . . . surprise for you! Let’s go!”
Nate thrashed in protest. His captors tightened their grips and dragged him into a secluded area within the trees.
“How do you like flirgoo?” Derik leered. He nodded to a spiky-haired halfling. With a snicker, the halfling retrieved a wooden bucket from behind a thick mulberry bush. Tilting it mischievously toward Nate, he revealed its contents—red flammable sap from a flirgrossa tree.
“W-w-what’re you going to do with that?” Nate cringed.
“You’re about to become the Great Flirgoo Wizard!” Derik mocked. He grabbed Nate’s hair.
In a coordinated strike that surprised even himself, Nate jerked his head free and kneed Derik in the groin. Derik stumbled backward. Tripping over a raised root, he crashed with a screech into the mulberry bush. The gang erupted with laughter. Nate grinned.
Smeared with purple juice, Derik pulled himself out of the bush. “Shut up, you punkler nicklers!” Derik ordered. “Step on his feet!”
Derik stormed toward Nate with clenched fists. His face was bright red. A vein pulsed in his neck. He slugged Nate in the stomach, hard. The bullies lost their grip. Nate dropped to his knees and gasped for breath.
Derik yanked Nate’s shirt over his head. “Hold him still!”
Despite Nate’s squirming, Derik and the halfling used bark to smear flirgoo on Nate’s back and chest. Then Derik, the two elves, and the baby-faced young man each grabbed one of Nate’s limbs.
“Oh Great Flirgoo Wizard, what shall we do with thee?” they chanted sarcastically.
“Put me down you idiots!” Nate struggled to break free.
They carried him ceremoniously from the cover of the trees. Guffawing, the gang continued their charade, marching toward a bloated, moss-covered stump rooted on the embankment near the bridge.
“Great Flirgoo Wizard, receive thy throne!” They chortled wildly, wedging Nate into the decaying log until only his skinny legs flailed out of the stump.
“Get m-m-me out!” Nate hollered. His frenzied scream echoed inside the log. In an instant, tiny, fiery lights lit up all around him. Nate realized, with alarm, he’d disturbed a nest of fire wasps.
“Hope you know a good spell to get out of there,” Derik taunted. He kicked the log. The fire wasps swarmed menacingly around Nate.
“H-h-help me!” Nate pled. A fire wasp embedded itself in the flirgoo on Nate and exploded. Screaming in pain, Nate called for help again, stopping only when he heard indistinct arguing.
With a swift yank on his legs, Nate was freed from the stump right when another wasp exploded. Stumbling backward, Nate was grateful to see his older brother—Ted, Ted’s best friend—an elf named Nordof, and another shorter elf Nate didn’t recognize. They ducked to avoid a cluster of fire wasps raging out of the narrow opening.
Author Bio:
Parents to four wonderful children, Jerry and Stephanie Jaeger (J.S. Jaeger) want to bring uplifting, entertaining stories to children of all ages. Jerry overcame bullying to earn his black belt in Kempo Karate. He served as a special agent for the FBI and currently works as a prosecutor. Stephanie ran her own accounting practice for several years before turning her focus to writing Scrolls of Zndaria with Jerry. Together, they are excited to bring readers of all ages into the magical world of Zndaria.
Links to Purchase Print Books
Link to Buy The Golden Wizard Print Edition at Amazon
Link to Buy The Golden Wizard Print Edition at Barnes and Noble
Links to Purchase eBooks
This book is available in Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Link To Buy The Golden Wizard On Amazon
Social Media:
Goodreads
Facebook
Pinterest
Have you read this book? Tell us in the comments how you liked it!
