Grant Beagan: The Finder's Code

Grant Beagan isn't looking for trouble.

He's just an ordinary teenager who likes astronomy, video games, and keeping his mom happy... or at least, happy enough. But everything changes for Grant when, by a twist of fate, he stumbles into a magical world very different from his own, a world filled with breathtaking wonders and amazing abilities, known as the World of the Lit. It is a world hidden in plain view, right in front of the rest of us (aka “the Unlit”), but most of us only catch fleeting glimpses of the magic it contains. Overnight, Grant finds himself standing face to face with bizarre creatures, becoming a member of a complex magical society, and best of all, having his own dormant channeling abilities “lit” by a very special recruiter, called a Flame.

As Grant begins to experience his new life as a member of the Lit—becoming a student of magic, exploring mind-bending new locations, and meeting extraordinary new mages of different nationalities (and species!)—he can’t imagine ever going back to his old life in the Unlit world. That is, until he learns of a dangerous conflict arising in his midst. Before long, Grant finds himself embroiled in a battle between the Finder, a powerful type of mage that hasn’t been seen in five hundred years, and the Controller, a dangerous being with the power to exert control over the minds of others. To emerge unscathed, Grant will need to hone his channeling skills, build upon the powers he’s gained, face his deepest fears, solve a series of unusual mysteries, and apply the wisdom of the Mage Code, a set of seven principles left behind by the previous Finder centuries ago.

Featuring memorable characters, fun and imaginative locations, uplifting themes, and a rich set of magical abilities, the first book in the Grant Beagan series unveils the extraordinary world of the Lit, a society of mages that is concealed from—yet intricately intertwined within—the everyday lives we lead.

Bio:

Jonathan R. Miller is an author of genre-bending thrillers and YA fantasy stories featuring diverse, complex characters.  

Miller was born in Illinois, lived in New Mexico for most of his childhood, and then became a California transplant after undergraduate school at Stanford University. He was an 8th-grade teacher for 7 years in the Oakland public school system, and has worked as a writer in the San Francisco Bay Area ever since.

Miller's own biracial heritage -- Black and white, but "passing" as white -- has had a strong influence on his thought processes and writing approach. His novels deftly explore issues of identity while providing storylines that are layered, thought-provoking, and moving.