Visiting Author
Cherokee Home was honored to welcome accomplished author Timothy Cerepaka to our campus last week!
What a treat it was for our kids to have the opportunity to meet this talented fantasy author who grew up right here in Cherokee. Timothy was just 12 years old—similar in age to many of our students—when he began writing, and only 20 years old when first published.
When Timothy’s series, The Superhero’s Son, written under the alias Lucas Flint, was first published in 2016, he donated signed copies to the Cherokee Home library. His stories have been enjoyed by many of our kids over the years.
Timothy moved to Sherman, Texas, with his wife a few years ago. So when he reached out and offered to speak with our students while visiting Cherokee, our librarian, Kandis Dobbs, was excited to arrange the opportunity.
During his visit, Timothy gifted us copies of his two newest books, Codex Quest and Codex Trial, which will be released later this summer. He shared some of the ups and downs of his writing career and gave both students and staff the opportunity to ask questions.
The kids were full of curiosity and enthusiasm, asking questions such as, “How many books have you written?” “What is your favorite book that you have written?” and “How long does it take you to write a book?” They also explored deeper topics, including, “Do you have plans to make your books into movies?” “Have you ever been accused of copyright infringement?” and “Do you get inspiration for your superhero books from video games?”
Timothy’s most popular book, The Superhero’s Test, is about a 17 year old who discovers he has superpowers when he unintentionally punches the local bully through the cafeteria wall at school. That bully turns out to be the son of a super villain. When asked whether any of his characters were inspired by people he knew while growing up in Cherokee, Timothy laughed and replied, “I changed the names to protect the innocent.”
Kandis asked Timothy to share advice for any students or staff members who aspire to become authors. He encouraged us all by saying, “Keep working on writing every day. It is hard work, like anything worth doing, but it’s also a lot of fun. Just keep at it!”
We are grateful to Timothy for taking the time to visit Cherokee Home, share his experiences, and encourage our students to pursue their dreams. His generosity, both through his book donations and his willingness to invest in our kids, made a lasting impact. Thank you, Timothy, for inspiring the next generation of readers and writers.
Photos by Janice Hull