Welcome to My Book Site
Nearly 20 years of dreaming, writing, and rewriting have led to this moment. It hasn't always been easy, but I've never stopped believing this story deserved to exist. I'm so glad it finally does. Thanks for joining me on this publishing journey!
About the Book
Caput Mundi: The Head of the World is a middle grade fantasy adventure for ages 9–12 about friendship, courage, and standing up for what’s right. Perfect for readers who love imaginative middle grade fantasy series filled with magical cities, mystery, and unforgettable adventures.
Caput Mundi combines the bending arts of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the heart of Percy Jackson, and a Fullmetal Alchemist-style magic system. Big adventure, real mystery, and a world worth getting lost in.
If you love stories with:
- Friendship & found family
- Magical elements
- A hero you can’t help but cheer for
- Heartwarming moments
- A feel-good ending
- A magical world you’ll want to return to again and again
…then this book might be right up your alley.
Summary
When Niil Terra sets off to find his missing parents, he ends up in Caput Mundi, a dazzling place filled with flourishing innovation and alchemic wonders. It is also the home of enarii, a shape-shifting metal that can be willed into any shape, whether it be swords, forks or fly swatters.
As Niil’s talent for shaping enarii emerges, he discovers something he’s never had before: a place where he belongs.
But when secrets about enarii—and Niil’s parents—begin to surface, he is faced with an impossible choice that could cost far more than he’s prepared to lose
Story Inspiration
2007 was the year I finished reading Deathly Hallows—and the year I realized I needed to build a world of my own. Harry Potter wasn't just a series I loved; it was home. Losing it felt like losing a piece of childhood. I wanted so dearly to create a world that could hold me the same way. One that’s a little new, a little nostalgic, and a big reminder of why I fell in love with stories to begin with. That's how the world of Caput Mundi was born.
Setting
The story is set in an alternate Ancient Rome, though you may notice echoes of America and the modern world. Some of that idea came from Are We Rome? by Cullen Murphy, which draws some fascinating parallels between the Roman Empire and America today. But a big part of it was personal. As a young immigrant, I've always been struck by the speed, the convenience, and the sheer variety of life here. That culture shock never fully left me, and this world was my attempt to capture that feeling and reimagine it somewhere magical.
Audience
The book is aimed at readers ages 9-12, but the fantasy and mystery elements can appeal to just about anyone. At its core, it's also a hopepunk story. It's one that believes in optimism, and in the idea of hoping in a world that doesn't always make it easy.
Meet the Author
What Readers Say
“‘Unique’ isn’t quite strong enough to describe the magic of Caput Mundi… wildly different and wildly inventive, a storyline that reels you in and keeps those pages turning.” —V.J. Liston, Author of Darkness Calling
"Niil’s journey to uncover his family’s secret hooked me right from the beginning. The story opens in such an intriguing way that I immediately wanted to follow him on this adventure! Niil is brave, strong, and a little naive in a way that makes him incredibly easy to root for."—@lit.eraryme, Bookstagrammer
"I didn’t want the story to end." —@oddandbookish, Bookstagrammer
“A fully realized hopepunk experience...Leaves enough breadcrumbs that when the secrets unfold, the reader feels they’ve earned the discovery.”—@The.Werd.Nerd, full review here
“I really had fun reading this adventure story with my kids! The worldbuilding is superb and we really loved the main character Niil”—@summerandthebooks, Bookstagrammer
“I think I’ve found the ultimate "I wish this was real" magical object, and I’m officially ready to move to Caput Mundi!”—The Page Ladies Book Club
“This is one of those books that will have your kid hoping and wishing with everything in them that they’ll find out they’re magical one day! Ok let’s be honest, it has me wishing for that too.”—@IdahoGirlReads, Bookstagrammer
“With a very original, magical direction, this is an adventure about discovery…and that in so many ways.”—Tonja Drecker, Author of Music Boxes
"This is perfect for 9-13 year olds, and even older. If you enjoy adventure, magic, betrayal, corrupt systems of power, finding yourself, overcoming adversity, being brave, mysteries, special powers, family drama, friendship, choosing to do the right thing instead of the easy thing, and more…..then this book is for you."—LibraryThing Review
"Even though it’s a middle grade book, as a 31 year old female, I really enjoyed it! It was fantastical enough to get into but still complex enough and well written in a way that never made me feel bored or overwhelmed."—@veronicanread, Bookstagrammer
"Niil was my favorite part of this book, and I’ll be thinking of him for a long time"—Pine Reads Review
“Niil is a delightful, naïve underdog… determined to save innocent lives.”—YA Books Central
"I read this one with my little brother (for "research," I told myself), and we both ended up fighting over who got to hold the Kindle....My brother’s immediate reaction was 'I want Enarii for my birthday.' Same, kid. Same."—Goodreads Review