Today, I am thrilled to share an exclusive excerpt from a remarkable book. I’m referring, of course, to the book that I have been working on for the past twenty-five years. Henry Behemoth was late for his dental appointment:
“You’re late,” said the dentist.
“Oh, I apologize,” replied Henry. “I lost track of time.”
“Honestly, don’t worry about it,” the dentist said.
“Okay,” Henry responded.
Honestly, I’ve just realized that my book is terrible and should be used as toilet paper.
Instead, let’s enjoy an excerpt from the infinitely superior book in the new series of Minecraft: The Woodsword Chronicles
At the bottom of the page, it mentions that they will need something, but WHAT!? I need to know! Hopefully, the book will be released in Russian soon.
Currently, there are two books from the Chronicles of the Wooden Sword series available: Into The Game and Night of the Bats. Unfortunately, they can only be found in the UK and the US (with exclusive covers for those regions), but that’s not all yet.
To celebrate this, I had a chat with the delightful author of the new book series, Nick Eliopoulos. How many times have I written his last name? Pfft, definitely just once (actually, I simply copied and pasted it). I promise to learn how to spell it correctly, truly.
I: Please tell us about yourself and how you got started with writing!
By Nikom Eliopoulos: I am an author residing in New York. In fact, I relocated from Florida to New York to work as an editor at a children’s publishing house. I spent a solid twelve or even thirteen years there before transitioning to full-time writing. I have numerous projects underway; in addition to the Minecraft books, I’m developing a fantasy series alongside my best friend. Additionally, I write scripts and serve as a storyteller for a small video game studio based in Seattle. As a passionate gamer and avid reader and writer, the Minecraft Bedrock project is incredibly exciting for me!
I: From the books I’ve read, it’s quite clear that you have a solid understanding of the game.
Nikos Eliopoulos: It’s amusing because no matter how much I play, I still make silly mistakes from time to time. I was really pleased that the folks at Mojang took the time to read the book thoroughly and, like my editor, helped me correct some minor issues. For instance, there were times when I forgot that you need a crafting table to create certain tools, and they can’t just be made on the fly. Such small details can easily slip your mind.
In the third book, I wanted to include some phantoms, so I had a phantom attack, but I didn’t realize that they only spawn if you haven’t slept for about three in-game days?
I: That’s right, three days!
By Nikos Eliopoulos: so, I encountered them in the game, but I didn’t grasp what had happened; I hadn’t even considered that I hadn’t slept in my bed for several days. Such minor details were quite common. It’s important to ensure everything is accurate, even the most subtle aspects. However, regardless of how many days are spent in the game, it’s essential to have someone behind you keeping an eye out for any mistakes. 
I truly believe this isn’t a ghost peering over Nik’s shoulder…
I: But how strict are you regarding the game’s parameters? Because the books are set in a special version of Minecraft Pocket Edition for virtual reality, which doesn’t actually exist. So, would you say, “Can I take artistic license here?” Or do you believe, “No, it must be exactly like in the main game?”
Nik Eliopoulos: We initially aimed for utmost accuracy, and one of the key aspects of the book series at this point is that someone is still actively working on them. They are tinkering with details that are actually incorrect and shouldn’t be there, making corrections and adjustments. So I know that the work is ongoing and will likely continue for quite some time. I have a bit more experience in these matters, but my editor insists that I should express my thoughts on deviations from the rules. Then others might say, “That’s not how it should be.”
The characters in the book are avid fans of Minecraft, and they would definitely notice if something was off. They would pick up on unusual behavior from the crowd or something along those lines. Therefore, I believe there’s room for artistic license, but we found a way to incorporate it into the story where the characters recognize it just like the readers do. So if a reader thinks, “Wait, that shouldn’t happen…”, the characters should also catch on to that.
Me: You have four features in Minecraft Bedrock that don’t align with the game rules.
Nick Eliopoulos: Yes, I really enjoy Jodi’s reaction, one of the characters, when we inform her at the beginning of the book that she can only play in creative mode (she is unaware of survival mode). It’s amusing because she should have a lot of knowledge about the game, yet she doesn’t. In fact, she could easily be replaced by anyone who knows nothing about it.
I: A portion of the text in the book is highlighted in bold or printed in different fonts, creating a distinct stylistic difference. I’ve never encountered this in books before. Could you elaborate on your stylistic choices?
Nick Eliopoulos: Yes, I genuinely appreciate this approach. However, the credit isn’t mine. The concept originated from the editor and art director who collaborated on it. I believe there are certain challenges in creating books for young readers, as seen in our case. We developed a book about Minecraft Bedrock, which is much more engaging and enjoyable to play due to its visual effects and vast array of possibilities. Children’s books tend to be rather dull, making it difficult to attract their interest.
Thus, the concept was to create these books as entertaining, vibrant, and engaging as possible. With the help of our editor and art director, we discovered a way to achieve this. It’s not just the presence of stunning illustrations; the varied text also plays a crucial role in drawing you into the book.
I: You mentioned wanting to see the Ghost in the book. Were there any other aspects of Minecraft that were connected to your life that you thought, “This is exactly what I need to include in the books”?
One of my earliest ideas, even while sketching out the initial concept for the first book, was to transform Judy into a llama. She was meant to take on this form and continue in that guise throughout all subsequent books. However, I was advised: “Well, you know, the game doesn’t quite work that way. You can’t play as a llama, and since it might confuse readers, it’s best not to include that.”
Nonetheless, I am still eager to incorporate llamas into the stories. As soon as I get the chance to do so, I’ll jump at it!
I: There are llama skins in the game, so I’m sure…
Nik Eliopoulos: This character is all about the skins, so if he puts on a llama outfit, I think Jodi might feel a bit jealous! (Laughs)
I: I spent a few minutes before this interview trying to recall the name of the hamster from your books. I can’t remember what it was called, but it was fantastic…
Nik Eliopoulos: Baron Sweetcheeks!
I: That’s divine! How much time do you spend coming up with names? I might have to change my name to Baron Sweetcheeks.
Nick Eliopoulos: That’s an interesting question. It’s exactly the kind of thing I tend to postpone. I’m sitting there, music playing, coffee on the table, work in full swing, and suddenly it hits me: “I don’t have a name for this character!” So, I just get up, go for a walk, and spend about three hours mulling over all the possible options.
The situation with the hamster named Sweetchick was quite the opposite. I had already assigned names to all the other characters in my sketches, and there was an urgent need to write the book very quickly. So, I reached a point where I realized I hadn’t given the hamster a name yet, and thought to myself, “I can’t afford to postpone this. I would love to find the perfect name for this little guy that serves as some kind of inside joke or reference—like my very first favorite rodent or something along those lines—but time is not on my side, so I just threw in something ridiculous and decided I would come back to fix it later…”
Honestly, the first thing that popped into my mind was the hamster Sweetcheeks. Then I thought, “You know what? I can’t come up with anything better than this! He already has a name!” (Laughs)
I: So far, we’ve only seen “Into the Game” and “Night of the Bats.” The next book in the “Chronicles of the Wooden Sword” series is titled “Deep Dive.” Could you share a bit more about it?
Nick Eliopoulos: It will be released this year, but a bit later. At the time of writing the book, the Aquatic update had just been launched. It introduced many exciting features, making it a fantastic addition to the book: mobs, landscapes, and other elements. However, not everyone has seen many of my posts on Minecraft Pocket Edition.
As I conducted some research in the field of aquatic organisms, I found myself genuinely fascinated by certain real-world projects that Mojang is involved with, particularly coral restoration. This experience was both helpful and inspiring for me. In my books, my main principle is that children coexist with us in the same world, so they should engage with real issues starting from their school years. Games are no exception; I strive to maintain and implement this idea in each of my works. Therefore, it made sense to create an engaging underwater adventure linked to actual efforts in coral restoration and other challenges facing our planet. I believe even kids would find it interesting to read about the place we inhabit. I recognize the importance of developing such projects and programs—regardless of where children can learn about these issues—and most importantly, understanding that many of them can be addressed!
This is a profound exploration, filled with numerous elements. On the surface, it appears to be merely an adventure. However, upon closer inspection, it reveals itself as a significant issue, urging individuals to take action and assist our planet. These reflections were inspired by Mojang.
I: Thank you very much for sharing the details about the book!
