I received this book from Adams PR Group and the author for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Book Description
Nick Reese wakes from a three-year
coma to find the world he once knew is gone. An ancient virus has
infected two-thirds of the world's population, turning humans into
either incredibly intelligent super-humans or large and indestructible
animalistic creatures. For the survivors, there is no government, no
antidote, and no safety. With the help of a beautiful hematologist named
Faith and a man they call the Commander, Nick must survive long enough
to discover the origin of the virus and learn how his blood could hold
the key to a cure. But he has to do it while being hunted by the
infected. And failure means the extinction of the human race.
Author and Hollywood actor John Prather intertwines history and science to create a plausible post-apocalyptic tale. The Nephilim Virus is an intense thriller implementing spiritual ideas. The Nephilim Virus is a nonstop race against time from beginning to end.
My Thoughts:
The Nephilim Virus is John Prather's debut book and it is FANTASTIC!! I really enjoy reading new writers first books and this one if NO exception. I would classify this book as Christian Medical and Science Fiction. I don't read much of Science Fiction but I am glad I gave this book a chance. John Prather writes with authority on The Bible, medicine especially hematology, and survival. I have to say I could NOT put this book down and I know that I haven't read a book this fast in a while. From cover to cover this book grabbed a hold of me and kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the in depth explanations of the scriptures about the Nephilim, I really learned a lot and found John Prather's interpretation very interesting. I found John Prather's style of writing unique, especially the short chapters, gives more suspense and the feeling of being on the edge of your seat. He has also assembled a great cast of characters in this book. The main characters in this book are well written and real. I have a hard time trying to pick just one but I am going to say Nick Reese is my favorite. From the time he woke up from the coma and getting hit with the new world reality, Nick took it all in and wanted to help. His strength and his faith are admirable. I really don't feel I can do justice to this book. This is one of those books that will stay with me for a while. I really hope there are more books to follow this one. Really left me wanting more. I cannot say enough good about this book. This is a must read, especially if you enjoy Christian Suspense, Medical thriller, and/or Science fiction, you have to read it. I cannot wait to read more from John Prather, I have found a new must read author.
I give this book 5+ STARS. Please check out the information below to learn more about this book and this author
Q&A with John Prather
Author of “The Nephilim Virus”
Q: What inspired you to write “The Nephilim Virus”?
A: I always had this idea for a story where two thirds of the world was infected with a blood disease, but I never knew how I was going to tell it. There are several obscure verses in Genesis 6 about the Nephilim, a race of beings created from the sons of god sleeping with the daughters of men and that passage always fascinated me. One day, I decided to put those two ideas together and tell a story where I got to imagine what the world would look like if that race of super humans were still around.
I have been a writer and lover of stories ever since I was young. My grandfather was a wonderful storyteller and I used to listen to his stories over and over to learn the rhythm and pace and punch line of a good story. I had dozens of unfinished stories lying around, but I never sat down and made myself finish one. Then in 2013, I decided it was time I finished a manuscript. And I did. And it was bad. But it showed me I could finish one. Then I had the idea for The Nephilim Virus, so I started writing that in 2014 as a short story. I knew I had to get the idea out of my head or it wouldn’t leave me alone. As I kept writing, the story kept coming. Five months or so later, I had another finished manuscript. This one seemed publishable. Now, almost four years later, here we are.
Q: What do you hope readers will experience with this novel?
A: All the great themes, like redemption and sacrifice and love, of all the great stories are just tiny versions of the greatest story, God’s story. That is the reason a reader can feel them in his or her soul—regardless if the work is Christian or non-Christian. I want readers to connect to the greatest story by reading a book that has little glimpses of that story woven into it. The overall theme of the book is the idea that every human has been infected with a blood disease, but there is a cure. I want readers to be entertained while subconsciously connecting to the truth —sometimes in ways they might not even realize.
Q: In addition to being an author, you are also an actor and model. How does that affect your work as a writer?
A: Working in the entertainment industry allows me to continually learn about people. Being an actor is a great way for me to be in touch with my own emotions and internal motivations and also to see and feel my fellow performers’ emotions and motivations. Everyone has tics and mannerisms that are specific to them and I feel being aware of these individual characteristics helps me create strong characters for my stories. It has also helps me hone the art of storytelling to see how other artists tell their own stories, whether they are writers, photographers, actors, directors, or whatever.
Q: Why do you believe this novel will appeal to both Christians as well as non-Christians?
A: My all-time favorite author is C.S. Lewis and he said something that has always stuck with me. He said, “What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects—with their Christianity latent.” The novel will appeal to Christians who like stories that can be taken seriously by the world while still holding deeper truths. Sometimes “Christian” entertainment can avoid or sugar-coat real life topics that people deal with every day. This novel is one a Christian could enjoy and pass on to their friends who might not read something blatantly Christian. The novel has no cussing or sex, but at the same time, it has death and villains and adventure. It shows the battle between good and evil without being offensive on one hand or preachy on the other. Non-Christians will enjoy the book because it reads like a movie or a Netflix series. It has short chapters and short sentences and lots of cliffhangers. The deeper truths are hidden just below the surface so a non-Christian could read it simply for its entertainment value and not realize the Christian themes, imagery, and symbolism right away. The Nephilim Virus doesn’t talk overtly about God, but you can see Him throughout the work, similar to the book of Esther in the Bible.
Q: How difficult is it to live your faith in the entertainment industry?
A: Being a Christian is the norm in the South. Everyone has a church, even if they never go to church. In the South, it costs you very little to be a Christian. But in Hollywood, it costs you a lot. Christians are the enemy out here. No one understands them. The good thing about that is that it cuts out the lukewarm Christians. Out here, if you aren’t deep with God, you will soon be done with Him because it costs too much. I’ve been to countries where faith costs much more than it ever will here, but it probably costs more to be a Christian in Hollywood than it does anywhere else in the United States. Being a follower of God in L.A. can get you ostracized, fired, friendless, and broke. For example, I literally got screamed at by a casting director because I turned down a role that I wasn’t comfortable doing. He screamed at me about how the role could make my career and how I was a moron and other unrepeatable things. And that was one of the more tame encounters I’ve had with someone who doesn’t understand my worldview.
Another difficulty of having faith in Hollywood is that, as an actor, you often don’t get to see the whole project for which you are auditioning. The small part of the script that they show you could be acceptable, but you don’t know what overall story they are telling. So you really have to trust God to keep you away from the wrong projects. The thing people outside of Hollywood don’t understand is the difficulty of the industry. Even someone who has no morals and no qualms about doing anything in any project has a one in a billion shot of making it. Being a Christian further narrows their odds by being an outcast who refuses to do something or represent something that is against their morals. I often think of Hollywood as America’s version of “the gates of hell” that Jesus talked about. Christians out here are the tip of the spear. They are in the hottest spot. They need lots of support. But that’s ok because Jesus promised the gates of hell would not prevail.
Q: Talk about why you and your wife decided to be foster parents.
A: My wife and I met on a mission trip in Brazil where we took a medical boat down the Amazon river. That is another story for another time, but one of the first things we connected on was our desire to build a family through adoption as well as biologically. We were both big believers in adoption. We also wanted to try to save a kid who wouldn’t have a great chance at life without us. We think adoption is a wonderful thing in all its forms, but we wanted to take a child from a situation where they had no hope of a family otherwise. We aren’t rich, and we don’t have a lot, but we do have a heart for children without a family. So we decided to adopt out of the California foster care system. We were very naive as to the difficulty of that process, but we started taking foster classes and getting certified two months after we got married. We planned on having our own children first and then coming back to adopt when the time was right. It is a very long story, but God had other plans. We ended up bringing a little foster boy into our home in order to adopt him. He was later given back to a family member. Giving up my son was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.
Two months later, we brought a little girl into our home. We brought her home from the hospital and she just became a one-year-old. We are currently in the process of trying to adopt her, and everything looks good so far, but things could change in an instant. It breaks my heart and scares me to death that a social worker could call tomorrow and say, “pack up your daughter, I’m coming to get her and you will never see her again.” The foster system is the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with in my entire life, and I hope that one day I will be in a position to help make changes in the system. Until then, I’m very open and write about our journey in my blog in hopes of helping other people and shedding light on the subject. God willing we will adopt our daughter shortly after our twins are born. Then, in a few more years, we will try to adopt another child from the system.
Q: As a sought-after model, you obviously keep yourself very fit. How do you believe your physical health impacts your spiritual well-being?
A: I believe the physical body and spiritual body are closely linked. As a Christian I believe that God himself lives inside the human body. God’s spirit should permeate every part of a person’s life, including the physical and mental aspects. The Bible says to love the Lord with all your heart and soul and strength —mind, soul, and body. I think sometimes Christians emphasize the mind and soul, but neglect the body. But God asks for all three. Your physical life is your spiritual life. You couldn’t say, “my mouth is eating donuts, but my body uses it like broccoli.” It doesn’t work that way. The outside begins on the inside.
In addition to the close link of your physical life and your spiritual life there is the idea that the discipline of building your body by exercising builds discipline in other areas as well. It builds self-control (another spiritual trait). The strength to build the discipline to work out every day translates to the strength and discipline to read your Bible and pray every day. God told Joshua four times in three verses to be strong and courageous. Paul often used physical examples to teach spiritual truth. When Samson failed spiritually, he also lost his physical strength. God asks for all of you. Every piece. Body and soul.
About John Prather:
John Prather grew up with seven siblings in Memphis, Tennessee, on a steady diet of BBQ and southern values. After graduating from the University of Memphis, he moved to Hollywood to try his hand at the entertainment industry. He has been featured in TV series such as Scream Queens on Fox as well as WWE Raw. His commercial work has included ads for FedEx, Old Navy, Burger King, and Ruffles, in addition to various other major corporations. As a model, he has been featured in national magazines such as People, GQ, Men’s Health, as well as on the cover of Muscle and Fitness magazine, among others. John and his wife are expecting twins in early 2018, and hope to adopt their foster daughter very soon.
For more information, visit www.JohnTPrather.com.
For interviews, contact:
Gina Adams
615-776-1590
Gina@AdamsPRGroup.com
Endorsements for “The Nephilim Virus”
“This book would make a great movie! It’s a cohesive, fun ride through some of my most beloved topics—science, the supernatural, and the apocalypse.” —Megan Fox, Actress – Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Jennifer’s Body, This Is 40
“Get ready to wake up and find yourself in a nightmare of epic proportions. Each page is an adrenaline-infused adventure that will leave you breathless as each paragraph is another jolt moving you toward the heart-pounding conclusion. Blending biblical history with modern high-tech thrills, John Prather emerges as a master storyteller with a tale that you won’t be able to read fast enough. The Nephilim Virus is infectious and the only cure is to read this amazing story.” —Jeff Dixon, Bestselling author – Dixon on Disney series
“This story isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a blood-pumping thriller sure to make your heart rate spike. The Nephilim Virus has villains that will make your palms sweat and a plot so real you’ll be looking over your shoulder for Nephilim while asking your doctor to test you for the virus. This is an amazing book!” —Kenny Schwartz, Emmy-nominated film and television writer –American Housewife; Modern Family; American Dad!; Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place
For interviews, contact: Gina Adams
615-776-1590 (direct)
888-253-3622 (toll free)
Gina@AdamsPRGroup.com
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Press Release
Actor and GQ model finds success in Hollywood despite hostility toward his Christian faith
His debut novel seeks to bridge the divide between Christian and
non-Christian entertainment
Los Angeles, CA −Actor, model, and author John Prather is outspoken about his Christian faith, even though it has cost him well-paying jobs in Hollywood. But he has found success in Los Angeles, nonetheless, landing roles in two television series as well as being featured in national magazines such as GQ, People, Men’s Health, and Muscle and Fitness. But with his debut novel, “The Nephilim Virus” (Deep River Books), he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his favorite author, C.S. Lewis, as well as his not-so-famous grandfather.
“My grandfather was a wonderful storyteller and I used to listen to his stories over and over to learn the rhythm and pace and punch line of a good story,” says Prather, who grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. “ Being an actor is a great way for me to be in touch with my own emotions and internal motivations, and also to watch my fellow performers’ emotions and motivations. Everyone has tics and mannerisms that are specific to them, and being aware of these individual characteristics helps me create strong characters for my stories. C.S. Lewis said something that has always stuck with me. He said, "What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects—with their Christianity latent."
“The Nephilim Virus” is based on some obscure verses in Genesis 6 about the Nephilim, a race of beings created from the sons of God sleeping with the daughters of men. Written in short chapters and with a plethora of cliffhangers, the novel is about the world being infected with a blood disease, and desperately seeking a cure. Prather says he wrote the story with the intention of appealing to both Christians and non-Christians alike.
“It shows the battle between good and evil without being offensive on one hand or preachy on the other,” says Prather. “Non-Christians will enjoy the book because it reads like a movie or a Netflix series. The deeper truths are hidden just below the surface so a non-Christian could read it simply for its entertainment value and not realize the Christian themes, imagery, and symbolism right away. The novel doesn’t talk overtly about God, but you can see Him throughout the work, similar to the book of Esther in the Bible.”
As proof of that claim, “The Nephilim Virus” has been endorsed by film star, Megan Fox, who said the book would “make a great movie” due to its combination of science, the supernatural and the apocalypse. And while Prather would be happy if the book were made into a film, he is grounded in the knowledge of what he’s up against in Tinseltown.
THE NEPHILIM VIRUS
“Being a Christian is the norm in the South where I grew up. Everyone has a church, even if they never go to church. In the South, it costs you very little to be a Christian, but in Hollywood, it costs you a lot. Being a follower of God in Hollywood can get you ostracized, fired, friendless, and broke. I often think of Hollywood as America’s version of ‘the gates of hell’ that Jesus talked about. Christians out here are the tip of the spear. They need a lot of support. But that’s ok, because Jesus promised the gates of hell would not prevail.”
About John Prather:
John Prather grew up with seven siblings in Memphis, Tennessee, on a steady diet of BBQ and southern values. After graduating from the University of Memphis, he moved to Hollywood to try his hand at the entertainment industry. He has been featured in TV series such as Scream Queens on Fox as well as WWE Raw. His commercial work has included ads for FedEx, Old Navy, Burger King, and Ruffles, in addition to various other major corporations. As a model, he has been featured in national magazines such as People, GQ, Men’s Health, as well as on the cover of Muscle and Fitness magazine, among others. John and his wife are expecting twins in early 2018, and hope to adopt their foster daughter very soon. For more information, visit www.JohnTPrather.com.
