About the Book

Book: Marcus and the Emperor’s Coin (In God We Trust: Book 2)

Author: Dennis Conrad

Genre: Christian Children’s Picture Book

Release date: December 2, 2023

Marcus and the Emperor’s Coin is an exciting adventure in the Ancient Roman Empire at the time of Christ. Eight-year-old Marcus and his father are on a mission for the Emperor and visit a mine and a mint where coins are made. Marcus himself makes a denarius, a coin with the emperor’s image.

Marcus goes to Jerusalem where he sees Jesus hold a denarius saying, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” What will seeing Jesus mean for Marcus, and will he ever be the same again?

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About the Author

A former coin collector for over fifty years, Dennis combines his love for the Bible, children’s literature, and sharing stories about the history behind coins.

Dennis retired as a professor of speech communications from Barstow Community College. He and his wife served as English and public speaking teachers ten summers overseas.

Dennis became a sustaining member of the Numismatic Association of Southern California in 1979. He is also a life member of the American Numismatic Association.

Dennis is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a Fellow of the National Writing Project.

More from Dennis

James L. Rubart narrates Marcus and the Emperor’s Coin on Audible.

Rubart is the best-selling, Christy Hall of Fame, CAROL, INSPY, and RT Book Reviews award winning author of sixteen novels.

His voices for the characters make the story come to life.

When first released, Marcus and the Emperor’s Coin became a #1 Release on Audible.

The book by Dennis Conrad became a number one bestseller in two categories: Children’s Christian Historical Fiction and Children’s Christian Learning Concepts Fiction.

Marlene Bagnull, Author and Director of Write His Answer Ministries says, “This story behind the familiar Bible story of Jesus’s words about the coin someone handed him will hold the attention of boys and girls and encourage them to consider what they can give to God.”

Marcus and the Emperor’s Coin opens the door for teachers, parents, and grandparents to have the salvation conversation with the next generation.

Receive Monthly Activity Sheets

Want to encourage the child in your life to learn more about coins? Sign up at https://dennisconradauthor.com so your child can become a Junior Coin Collector. Receive free, monthly activity sheets like a crossword puzzle. There is a Coin Hunt section where children can search for and find coins in change for their collection, and a Vocabulary Builder section with coin collecting terms.

Author Interview

What drew you to your chosen genre of historical fiction/Christian children’s picture storybooks? 

I wrote several short stories about faith and coins. Fellow writers in my two read-and-critique groups kept saying, “These would make wonderful stories for children.” One agent told me she did not handle children’s books. I was persistent. Six months later, she finally agreed to be my agent and helped me sign a multi-book deal with my publisher.

Are you a planner or a pantser?
Years ago, I was a pantser, meaning I wrote by the seat of my pants.

The last few years, my editor encouraged me to plan my children’s picture storybook ideas in advance. For my most recent manuscripts, I laid out my story plan in a chart.

Page Numbers

The Scene (What happens?)

Explain how this scene moves the story forward.

This was a great timesaver. I could quickly see each scene and how the story flowed.

If you had to describe your main character, Marcus, in just three words, what would they be?

Early in the book, Marcus is (1) clumsy and (2) insecure. Later in the story, some would say he is (3) confident.

What was the most challenging part of bringing this story to life? 

In a scene where Marcus makes a coin, he misses and hurts himself. I read several books and researched online about how to make ancient coins. I wrote and rewrote the scene about Marcus’s initial clumsiness, and how he ultimately makes a real coin.

What was the most rewarding?
As I neared the conclusion of the book, I wrote various endings. When the last few sentences were finally in place, I felt a sense of relief. The ending could account for the book winning the Carolina Christian Writers Conference, First Place Children’s Book, Kudo’s Award.

How can readers and listeners get free resources that support the topics you write about?

Readers can visit https://dennisconradauthor.com and learn how children can become Junior Coin Collectors and get free Activity Sheets (like a crossword puzzle) each month. Activity sheets also include a “Coin Hunt” section that encourages young people to search for and find coins in change, and a “Vocabulary Builder” that teaches words related to coin collecting.