Author Interview with Nicholas Teeguarden, Author of 'THE COPPER SCROLL' #authorinterview

Today we are interviewing Nicholas Teeguarden, author of the archaeological thriller/suspense, The Copper Scroll.

Nicholas Teeguarden is the award-winning author of Masa Chronicles: The Copper Scroll, a biblical-archaeological thriller blending international suspense, ancient mystery, and faith-driven storytelling. His debut novel is a ChristLit Book of the Year Finalist, a Titan Gold Medal Winner, and has earned praise from readers for its gripping pace and moral depth. Nicholas hosts Teeguarden’s Writing Room, a weekly series chronicling his creative process and the ongoing development of the Masa Chronicles. He resides in Oklahoma and is currently working on the next book.

╰┈➤Visit Nick’s website at www.nickteeguarden.com.

Connect with him at the following social networks:

╰┈➤ X: https://twitter.com/nickteeguarden

╰┈➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579248636306

╰┈➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickteeguarden

╰┈➤ BookBub: The Copper Scroll: Masa Chronicles (The Masa Chronicles Book 1) by Nicholas Teeguarden – BookBub

╰┈➤ Goodreads: Masa Chronicles: The Copper Scroll by Nicholas Teeguarden | Goodreads

╰┈➤ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF_TUwTK0lQI0eu6_6QEyYQ/

Can you share a story about what brought you to this particular career path (becoming an author)?

I retired from the Army about eight years ago, and in the middle of struggling with PTSD I found myself devouring books about archaeology, the Bible, and the Middle East. One day I opened a blank document to see what would happen if I tried writing my own story in that world—and The Copper Scroll is what came out.

Your latest book, The Copper Scroll, is about a lost scroll, a deadly secret and a race across the Middle East. How did you come up with this very unique idea?

The Copper Scroll grew out of the real Dead Sea Copper Scroll, which reads like a treasure inventory instead of a religious text. I kept wondering what would happen if someone finally connected one of its clues to a real location today, and who—governments, extremists, religious leaders—might be desperate to stop them.

Can you tell us about the main character in the book?

Joshua “Masa” Bennett is an American Army veteran and archaeology grad student whose faith and curiosity pull him into danger. He’s trying to honor his grandfather’s stories and build a future, but the closer he gets to the scroll’s truth, the more he has to decide what he’s actually willing to risk.

Can you tell us about the other characters in the book?

Noa is a brilliant, guarded Israeli researcher who challenges Joshua’s assumptions and keeps him honest. Amina is a determined Palestinian journalist chasing the same story from a different angle, and together—with figures like Father Nance and Rabbi Cohen—they’re forced to work across deep historical and religious fault lines while others try to shut them down.

What is the very first line of your book?

“Joshua Masa Bennett hummed the Villines Trio’s familiar refrain, ‘I’m going all the way, I made up my mind,’ as he drove toward the University of Arkansas.”

What is the main reason people should read your book?

Readers who enjoy fast‑paced thrillers grounded in real history and real places—where faith, doubt, and danger collide—will find a lot to love in The Copper Scroll. It’s a treasure hunt across the Middle East that asks what matters more in the end: gold, or the truth about the stories we build our lives on.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I’d love to spark a movement of radical curiosity—getting people to seriously listen to perspectives outside their own, especially around faith and the Middle East. Through stories, conversations, and travel (even armchair travel), we could trade some fear and suspicion for understanding and empathy.

The Copper Scroll follows historian Joshua “Masa” Bennett as he journeys into the heart of the Middle East in an attempt to unlock the secrets hidden within the legendary Copper Scroll. Just as he begins making progress, disturbing warnings and shadowy sightings reveal that other powerful forces are also closing in: Templars, ISIS operatives, and government intelligence groups, each hiding their own motives for uncovering what the scroll may reveal.

Drawn deeper into a world of danger, deception, and spiritual tension, Masa must navigate hostile territory, shifting alliances, and a truth far more explosive than he ever imagined. As past and present violently intersect, he realizes the stakes extend far beyond archaeology, the secrets of the Copper Scroll could alter geopolitical power and shake the foundations of faith itself.

A blend of international suspense, ancient mystery, and truths long buried beneath history, The Copper Scroll delivers a gripping thriller for fans of Joel Rosenberg, Dan Brown, and archaeological adventure stories rooted in real-world intrigue.

*****

╰┈➤Book Details

Genre: Archaeological Thriller/Suspense/Action Adventure
Sub-genre: International Mystery & Crime
Pages: 230
Paperback ISBN: ‎ 978-1509264681
Kindle ISBN: 979-8999106025
Publisher: Independent
Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook & Kindle Unlimited

⤷Read sample here.

⤷The Copper Scroll is available at Amazon.

*****

╰┈➤Here’s What Readers Have To Say!

“The Copper Scroll: Masa Chronicles, authored by Nicholas Teeguarden, is extraordinary piece of literature that has made a significant impact on me. The last time I felt this level of excitement about a book was while reading the Bible for the first time, a bold comparison, but one that underscores the author’s exceptional God given talent!” – Louise Jane, CEO The Christlit Book Award

“The Copper Scroll is more of a quest for truth than a treasure hunt. I recommend this book to lovers of historical books with a bit of danger, and it put me in the mood to find out about Qumran myself.” – Mary Clarke for Readers Favorite

I’d recommend The Copper Scroll to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries wrapped in modern storytelling. If you like a blend of Indiana Jones energy with a more thoughtful, personal core, this book will hit the right notes. It would appeal to readers curious about archaeology, faith, or just a good chase story where the stakes feel both grand and intimate. It left me thoughtful, a little breathless, and eager to see where Masa’s journey goes next. -Literary Titan

*****

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