Tappan Zee High School senior Ethan Chen is now a two-time published author! Chen self-published “Another Candle Left Unblown” this past February following the release of his first book, “To Be a Hero,” in July 2021.
“Another Candle Left Unblown” is about Elijah Dawson, a superhero and king, who has been absent from his son’s life as he saves the world. The question is, can the world remain at peace long enough for them to spend quality time together on his son’s 15th birthday? “While it takes place in a fantasy world, it’s an emotional and grounded story,” reflected Chen. “The book focuses on the relationship between a father and son, which I think is something that a lot of readers can relate to.”
Chen has been developing and sharing stories with his sister since age 12. “I’ve had these characters in my head for years and developed a timeline that spanned multiple generations. I’ve always been inspired by the Marvel movies and comic books and how it was turned into a universe in which characters from different stories interact with each other,” he explained. The main characters from Chen’s book, “Another Candle Left Unblown,” are also briefly mentioned in his first book.
Chen self-published both of his books through Amazon Direct Kindle Publishing and was responsible for designing the cover and overseeing the layout of the books. “I wanted to be able to get my work out there as soon as possible. My long-term goal is to become an author full-time. For now, my plan is to major in English and get my masters degree to become a teacher,” noted Chen.
