By: Peter Grech

At first glance, Jeremy Carter: The Swell of Hope and Fury looks like a fast-moving YA sci-fi adventure filled with surfboards, secret artifacts, and danger in unexpected places. But behind the high-energy action is a story about courage, friendship, and the art of staying balanced when the world tilts.

The novel, written by Nova Scotia-based artist and author Lior Zelering, follows a teenager whose life changes forever after a run-in with school bullies. When Jeremy Carter stumbles into the wreckage of a crashed alien spacecraft, he discovers a glowing artifact that hums with power and mystery.

Across town, a Russian crime boss learns of the discovery and will stop at nothing to seize the artifact. What begins as a story of survival quickly turns into an adventure that stretches across oceans and continents. Jeremy and his close friends, along with his trusted Kung Fu mentor, set out to protect the artifact and find their place in a shifting universe. The book moves between surf breaks, neon streets, and intense showdowns, with a pace that keeps readers hooked until the final page.

A Story Built on Contrast

For Lior Zelering, contrast has always been at the center of his work. Before he began writing fiction, he built a career in art and design, exploring how opposites can create meaning. His visual work often blends analog and digital techniques, humor and critique, or politics and pop culture.

“I’ve always been fascinated by what happens when opposites meet,” Zelering said in a previous Authority Magazine interview, describing his creative philosophy. That same perspective runs through The Swell of Hope and Fury, where the peaceful rhythm of surfing meets the chaos of interplanetary conflict.

Zelering’s background as a designer gives his storytelling a strong sense of motion and composition. Scenes are built visually, with energy that feels cinematic. Every description of the surf, the light, or the action carries the same rhythm that defines his visual art.

From Design to Storytelling

Lior Zelering is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, and educator based in Nova Scotia, Canada. He is the founder and instructor at Masters Design Lab, an international online design school accredited by the British Accreditation Council. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he has collaborated with Unilever, Red Bull, and the Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, combining visual design, strategy, and education.

His creative roots go back to the street culture of his teenage years. Growing up as a skateboarder, he learned the independence and resilience that shape his current work. “That culture taught me to make my own way,” he has said of those early experiences, which still inform the themes of independence and determination in his art and writing.

The Energy Behind the Story

Jeremy Carter: The Swell of Hope and Fury blends the intensity of an action film with the emotional insight of a coming-of-age story. The novel’s pace rises and falls like the ocean itself, echoing the title’s dual themes of hope and fury.

Zelering’s earlier nonfiction book, Jazz Smart: Words of Wisdom About Art and Life from Jazz Giants, explored how creativity grows from improvisation and awareness. In this new work, he channels that same idea through story and character. Jeremy’s journey is about learning to listen, trust instinct, and find meaning in chaos — the same lessons that define jazz and art alike.

Readers will recognize Zelering’s ability to connect worlds that rarely meet. The surf scenes are vivid and grounded, while the alien elements introduce mystery without breaking the story’s emotional realism. His background in design adds a sense of precision, while his art influences the tone and pacing.

A YA Adventure with Heart

The novel is written for readers aged 13 to 18, but its appeal stretches further. It combines high-stakes adventure with deeper questions about identity, loyalty, and courage. The presence of Jeremy’s Kung Fu mentor brings a thread of discipline and philosophy to the story, reminding readers that growth often comes through struggle.

Early readers on Goodreads have praised the book’s energy and imagination. With a current rating of 4.2 out of 5, it is being recognized for its vivid action sequences and balance of humor, heart, and science fiction.

The book’s mix of genres — surf culture, espionage, and cosmic mystery — sets it apart from traditional YA titles. Zelering delivers an experience that feels both visual and emotional, using his background in art and design to bring scenes to life in full color.

About the Author

Lior Zelering is a Canadian artist, author, and educator. He teaches and leads at Masters Design Lab, an accredited international design institution, and continues to create art that explores culture, technology, and social commentary. His previous works include Jazz Smart: Words of Wisdom About Art and Life from Jazz Giants and Design Elements: Theory and Implementation. His visual art and design work have appeared in exhibitions and collaborations worldwide.

Zelering’s creative philosophy bridges disciplines. Whether through painting, digital design, or fiction, his projects reflect a single idea — that art and life are both acts of composition.

Publication Information

Title: Jeremy Carter: The Swell of Hope and Fury

Author: Lior Zelering

Publication Date: August 31, 2025

Formats: E-book and Paperback

Genres: YA Fiction, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction

Target Age: 13–18

Book Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Jeremy-Carter-Swell-Hope-Fury/dp/1835841201/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239507660-jeremy-carter

Author Website: https://www.liorzeleringart.com

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