While on a family vacation to Slaughter Beach, the three Ficus brothers stumble upon an abandoned rowboat with a mysterious box inside.
Through a strange turn of events, they find themselves separated from one another, and stranded on an island filled with talking creatures and imminent danger.
Now the brothers have to hold on to hope and courage in order to find one another, and escape the island of Terikiak.
“I’m writing a children’s adventure series and my children are helping me.”
– Ben Lueders
It all started when my three sons Jonah, Isaiah, and Gideon began coming up with crazy creatures from their imaginations.
Creatures like Far-Langs, Goomfar Rats and Toola Bears. Soon my kids had created the entire fantasy island of Terikiak and I began to see it as my parental duty to bring this hidden treasure to life.
Along the way, a story began to develop that coincidentally included three boys getting stranded on the shores of the island and having to battle pirate walruses, bizarre creatures, and their own fears to get back home.
The first draft of Terikiak is now complete and is in the process of being reviewed by beta readers. Once finished, it will include chapter illustrations (by me) as well as daring feats of adventure and bravery (inspired by the imaginations of actual children).
Terikiak is only the first book in a series.
I plan to continue the adventures of the Ficus family in the Terikian isles and beyond. (The outline of book two is already well underway!)
I’m seeking a literary agent to represent Terikiak now.
I’m looking for the right agent to represent this forthcoming children’s adventure series to publishers. I want my message of hope over fear and courage over cowardice to reach the widest amount of young people possible.
If you, or someone you know, is a literary agent with a penchant for boyhood adventure, survival, family bonds, talking animals, mysterious islands, author-illustrators, and/or coffee-addled pirate Walruses—please consider representing this work.