| Jake is about to embark on a perilous adventure through an alien wilderness filled with hidden wonders and hazards. While backpacking with his father, Jake Rogers discovers a mysterious portal and accidentally plunges headfirst into an alien world. Stranded on this bizarre planet, he must evade predators, adapt to the strange elements, and navigate the ever-changing landscape to return home. However, as Jake stumbles upon technologically advanced alien ruins, a chilling question arises: Are the aliens still alive? Even on this terrifying journey, God reminds Jake of the profound verse: “Do not fear, for I am with you.” Genre: Christian YA Science Fiction Release date: February, 2025 Click here to get your copy! |  |
Interview with Philip
#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
During my time as a missionary in the Middle East, I often wrestled with loneliness. I missed my family, my home, and my friends. I felt so far away from them and had the nagging fear in the back of my mind that God would call me to the Middle East for the rest of my life.
After a few months of praying over this fear, I was spending the day alone with God and decided to watch The Martian. While watching it, I realized that being stranded on another planet would terrify me. It brought all these deep fears to the surface. Then, God showed me that even if I was this guy stranded on another planet. Even if I would likely never see another person and would spend the rest of my life alone. Even then, God would still call me not to fear. Beyond this, I wouldn’t need to fear. God knows everything I need and want. He knows my future. Certainly, He knows what was best for me. I can trust Him more than I can myself. So if He leads me down a path that terrifies me, I can know deep down that He's doing something good even if I can't see it.
This realization hit me hard, and immediately got me thinking about how I could capture this profound truth in a story.
During my time as a missionary in the Middle East, I often wrestled with loneliness. I missed my family, my home, and my friends. I felt so far away from them and had the nagging fear in the back of my mind that God would call me to the Middle East for the rest of my life.
After a few months of praying over this fear, I was spending the day alone with God and decided to watch The Martian. While watching it, I realized that being stranded on another planet would terrify me. It brought all these deep fears to the surface. Then, God showed me that even if I was this guy stranded on another planet. Even if I would likely never see another person and would spend the rest of my life alone. Even then, God would still call me not to fear. Beyond this, I wouldn’t need to fear. God knows everything I need and want. He knows my future. Certainly, He knows what was best for me. I can trust Him more than I can myself. So if He leads me down a path that terrifies me, I can know deep down that He's doing something good even if I can't see it.
This realization hit me hard, and immediately got me thinking about how I could capture this profound truth in a story.
#2. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
Jake is probably my favorite character I’ve ever written. He doesn’t have any flashy skills or abilities like characters I’ve written in other stories, but he has a subtle and deep strength that grows more and more evident as the story continues. Who he is feels so deep and rich. He’s relatable, which gets fun as he faces out-of-this-world scenarios. He’s also hilarious, and I love how he views his crazy situation through the lens of a video game. There are so many funny lines that I wish I could share if they didn’t contain spoilers.
Jake is probably my favorite character I’ve ever written. He doesn’t have any flashy skills or abilities like characters I’ve written in other stories, but he has a subtle and deep strength that grows more and more evident as the story continues. Who he is feels so deep and rich. He’s relatable, which gets fun as he faces out-of-this-world scenarios. He’s also hilarious, and I love how he views his crazy situation through the lens of a video game. There are so many funny lines that I wish I could share if they didn’t contain spoilers.
#3. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
My hope and prayer is that readers will learn through this book that they do not need to fear because God is good. Sometimes He asks us to do hard things and make sacrifices, but giving up anything in this world in exchange for a closer relationship with him is always worth it. I also hope readers will walk away from this book equipped and inspired to take any wild steps of faith God is laying on their hearts.
My hope and prayer is that readers will learn through this book that they do not need to fear because God is good. Sometimes He asks us to do hard things and make sacrifices, but giving up anything in this world in exchange for a closer relationship with him is always worth it. I also hope readers will walk away from this book equipped and inspired to take any wild steps of faith God is laying on their hearts.
#4. How did you name your characters?
Normally I try to pick cool names, but in naming Jake I wanted the most normal and modern teen boy name I could think of. I did this because I want readers to relate with him and feel that they are flung into this world with him. I didn’t want a crazy name because there’s something powerful about a normal person facing a bizarre world. I wanted readers to think, “If Jake can learn to trust God and not fear on that planet, then I can trust God here with this decision.”
Normally I try to pick cool names, but in naming Jake I wanted the most normal and modern teen boy name I could think of. I did this because I want readers to relate with him and feel that they are flung into this world with him. I didn’t want a crazy name because there’s something powerful about a normal person facing a bizarre world. I wanted readers to think, “If Jake can learn to trust God and not fear on that planet, then I can trust God here with this decision.”
#5. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book.
I don’t often cry, but I cried writing the end of the book. When I read it to my wife we both had to stop numerous times to shed some tears. We weren’t certain if they were happy or sad tears, neither of us could explain why we were crying. It felt like a flood of emotions for Jake had to flow out of us before we could continue.
I don’t often cry, but I cried writing the end of the book. When I read it to my wife we both had to stop numerous times to shed some tears. We weren’t certain if they were happy or sad tears, neither of us could explain why we were crying. It felt like a flood of emotions for Jake had to flow out of us before we could continue.
#6. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
People often want to know about me because I’m “the author”, but let me tell you about my wife. Our society overvalues success and accomplishments but doesn’t give enough credit to those who simply want to help others. That’s my wife, and she’s incredible. The way she cares for our little boy every day. The way she loves our neighbors, gives generously, and goes out of her way to serve others is incredible. Anyone can write a book, but not everyone can genuinely love others the way she does. I hope to be more like her one day.
People often want to know about me because I’m “the author”, but let me tell you about my wife. Our society overvalues success and accomplishments but doesn’t give enough credit to those who simply want to help others. That’s my wife, and she’s incredible. The way she cares for our little boy every day. The way she loves our neighbors, gives generously, and goes out of her way to serve others is incredible. Anyone can write a book, but not everyone can genuinely love others the way she does. I hope to be more like her one day.
More from Philip
Fear is a dangerous enemy.
At the age of 22, I felt God calling me to become a missionary in the Middle East—not for a week or a month, but a year (that eventually became two). Having never traveled outside the US or moved away from my home city of Denver, I was overwhelmed by fear. I’d be moving to a foreign land where I didn’t know a single person and doing work that wasn’t widely accepted there. I spent many sleepless nights wrestling with God’s gentle prompting.
Fear is inevitable in a Christian’s walk, but its power diminishes as we learn to lean into God and trust Him with the unknown. No matter where a believer is on their faith journey, God always guides us to step outside our comfort zones.
The inspiration for this novel came in 2016 while I was living in the Middle East. While watching The Martian, I realized that even if I were stranded on Mars, millions of miles from humanity, God would still call me to trust Him and not fear. That realization was life-changing: no matter what we face, God assures us nothing is worth fearing if we walk in joyful obedience.
Moving to the Middle East was terrifying and far from easy, but God was always present when I needed Him. In following God to take this step, I realized another beautiful truth: God knows what we need, love, and desire more than we do.
My firm belief is that God has wired each of us to love and enjoy different things because He wants to lead us down a unique path, where He desires to see the deepest parts of our hearts come alive. Walking this path is hard and full of fear. It requires letting go of dreams and trusting God will fulfill the right desires at the right time.
This is the journey Jake faces in Jake Rogers’ Planet. The fears he wrestles with are the same ones I had to navigate to declutter my mind and follow God.
I hope this book will help believers overcome their own fears and follow God. My prayer is that everyone reading this novel will be inspired by Jake’s story to take wild steps of faith to follow God on the wondrous adventure he has in store for them.
Fear is inevitable in a Christian’s walk, but its power diminishes as we learn to lean into God and trust Him with the unknown. No matter where a believer is on their faith journey, God always guides us to step outside our comfort zones.
The inspiration for this novel came in 2016 while I was living in the Middle East. While watching The Martian, I realized that even if I were stranded on Mars, millions of miles from humanity, God would still call me to trust Him and not fear. That realization was life-changing: no matter what we face, God assures us nothing is worth fearing if we walk in joyful obedience.
Moving to the Middle East was terrifying and far from easy, but God was always present when I needed Him. In following God to take this step, I realized another beautiful truth: God knows what we need, love, and desire more than we do.
My firm belief is that God has wired each of us to love and enjoy different things because He wants to lead us down a unique path, where He desires to see the deepest parts of our hearts come alive. Walking this path is hard and full of fear. It requires letting go of dreams and trusting God will fulfill the right desires at the right time.
This is the journey Jake faces in Jake Rogers’ Planet. The fears he wrestles with are the same ones I had to navigate to declutter my mind and follow God.
I hope this book will help believers overcome their own fears and follow God. My prayer is that everyone reading this novel will be inspired by Jake’s story to take wild steps of faith to follow God on the wondrous adventure he has in store for them.
 Philip Wilder | Philip Wilder has been writing since the age of seven. He’s authored two nonfiction books, is a ACFW Genesis Contest finalist, and is currently a Realm Makers Aurora Contest double finalist. He’s spent two years as an undercover missionary in the Middle East, gone sky-diving, and traveled to 35 countries. Philip works with the Great Commission Alliance to train and equip believers around the world. He’s passionate about using fiction to inspire believers to live adventurous lives of faith. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate his tour, Philip is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card,
plus a signed hardcover copy of the book, a bookmark, and a vinyl sticker!!
plus a signed hardcover copy of the book, a bookmark, and a vinyl sticker!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
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Simple Harvest Reads, March 8 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, March 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 10 (Author Interview)
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 11
Blossoms and Blessings, March 12 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, March 13
Artistic Nobody, March 14 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 15
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 16 (Spotlight)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 16
Stories By Gina, March 17 (Author Interview)
cecereadsandsings, March 17
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 18
Guild Master, March 19 (Author Interview)
Little Homeschool on the Prairie , March 20
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