The story of the story

I can’t remember how this idea came to me, only that the name, Terth Willager, was stuck in my head and he needed a story. I settled upon a kid who’s family owns a museum with a secret – a time travelling portal activated by a small gem. Originally, I hoped for an ongoing series, much like Percy Jackson, and I wanted to have a measure of actual history entwined in the each book. The stories of the twelve labours of Hercules was appealing to me at the time so this book was focused around his first. There was a lot of embellishment here as, even with much research, I never found a lengthy telling of the event. I took what information I had and ran with it, again, with the excitement of new writer. I did begin a second book, revolving around King Arther but didn’t get very far.

Original synopsis:

Tuthrow Jacob Willager is a nineteenth century explorer. He was always mystified by the marvels and legends told in the artefacts long lost in time. During one visit to Guatemala, he uncovers an incredible secret in the tomb of an ancient Maya Emperor, Pakal the Great. It is a secret so great, Tuthrow must hide it away from the world for fear of history itself being changed forever. He builds himself a museum to house and display all his collections save for this one, which he hides in the basement, and the museum is passed from father to son for the next generation to protect.

It has come time for Terth, Tuthrow’s great, great grandson to bare the burden of the secret as he is next in line. As is tradition, the predecessor does not know about the secret until he has passed a test to prove he is ready for the responsibility. Terth is sent to the basement of the museum to retrieve a box for a new display but when he finds the box and opens it, he discovers the portal which sends him back to ancient Greece where he must dual the Nemean lion with the great hero, Hercules.