Genre : Fantasy (with Mythology elements)
A contemporary fantasy is a story that takes place on Earth, but has been infused with fantastical elements like magic or dragons or, in the case of ALEX WISE vs THE END OF THE WORLD, the Four Horsemen of the apocalypse!
Other examples of contemporary fantasy stories:
Amari and the Night Brothers, The Marvellers, Nic Blake and the Remarkables, and the Percy Jackson series.
Amari and the Night Brothers, The Marvellers, Nic Blake and the Remarkables, and the Percy Jackson series.
Meet your Fantasy Writing Coach: Terry J. Benton-Walker
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Terry J. Benton-Walker is the bestselling author of the young adult contemporary fantasy series Blood Debts, which is published by Tor Teen in the US and Canada and Hodderscape in the UK.
Alex Wise vs the End of the World is Terry’s apocalyptic middle grade contemporary fantasy series debut, which is published by Labyrinth Road and Random House Children’s.Terry is also editing and contributing to The White Guy Dies First, a young adult horror anthology featuring 13 subversive stories by authors of color that releases July 2024 from Tor Teen. Terry grew up in rural GA and holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Master's in Business Administration from Georgia State. He lives in Atlanta with his husband and son. When he’s not writing, he can be found gaming, eating ice cream, or both. |
Meet Terry and His Books!
Terry's Middle Grade Books
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Coming September 2024
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ALEX WISE : Book 3 - Coming 2025
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Terry's Young Adult Books
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Why Do You Like Writing Fantasy Books for Kids?
Terry's Writing Advice
Let's Talk World-Buidling
Challenges of Writing Fantasy
Bonus Q&A with Terry
Q: How would you define/ describe the genre of fantasy when it comes to children’s books?
A: I define fantasy in children’s books as any story that contains a magical or highly imaginative element, no matter how small. The fantasy genre has expanded considerably with the inclusion of many more diverse authors from various backgrounds, so I encourage you to read widely and often as you can! There’s tons of good stuff out there!
Q: For young writers interested in studying the fantasy genre, can you recommend some books they can read for research?
A: Here are some amazing fantasy books that have inspired and informed my own publishing journey:
(Middle Grade) Hide & Seeker by Daka Hermon
(Middle Grade) Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting by Roseanne A. Brown
(Middle Grade) The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron
(Young Adult) Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
(Young Adult) Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton
(Young Adult) So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
(Middle Grade) Hide & Seeker by Daka Hermon
(Middle Grade) Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting by Roseanne A. Brown
(Middle Grade) The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron
(Young Adult) Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
(Young Adult) Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton
(Young Adult) So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
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