Best-selling author Peter Lerangis closes Seven Wonders Series, opens two new trilogies

As American author Peter Lerangis' latest adventure ends, new ones begin – two, to be precise.

The release of the fifth book of the best-selling fantasy series "Seven Wonders" concluded the journey of Jack McKinley, but it allowed Lerangis to create two brand new trilogies.

A hidden manuscript. A great secret. A ticking clock.

This sets the stage for Lerangis' new adventure-science fiction series called "Max Tilt," which will be released in 2017.

The idea was born out of Lerangis' veneration with the French science fiction novelist Jules Verne and his work.

"One of my favorite authors growing up was Jules Verne. 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,' 'Around the World in Eighty Days,' 'Journey to the Center of the Earth,'" Lerangis listed off during an interview with GMA News Online.

"So I came up with the idea that way back in the 1800s when he wrote these books, he wrote them as fiction. But in reality, he actually did all those adventures, in search of a great secret. But nobody would believe him so he wrote them as novels. Nobody's noticed, until our heroes in the new series," Lerangis said.

The heroes are 13-year-old Max Tilt, and his 18-year-old cousin.

Living in a crumbling mansion in Ohio, the two venture into the attic one day and discover a manuscript by Jules Verne.

With one of his parents getting treatments in the hospital and his family's finances declining, Max Tilt goes running off in search of the great secret that Jules Verne spent his whole life looking for.

Lerangis said that he's already finished writing the first book of the Max Tilt trilogy, but he hasn't fully conceptualized the second trilogy yet.

"I'm working on another one simultaneously, a time travel series. I haven't quite got that started yet," he said.

The second series, taking place in New York City, will be released in 2018.

Lerangis admitted that he was worried as it was his first time to juggle two series.

"I don't know, I've never done it before. I'm a little worried," Lerangis said.

"I'm always kind of doing things like that, pausing to do another project, so it will work out," he added.

Lerangis is in Manila to conduct book signings of his series "Seven Wonders" with National Bookstore. He will also be holding presentations in schools.

He is the author of more than 160 books, including the best-selling story collection 39 Clues. — RSJ, GMA News