URUK
The first in an epic series inspired by ancient Mesopotamia, following a small band of misfits who found a new tribe and must best bloodthirsty neighbors before they can achieve their dream–the establishment of Uruk, the first city.
Ki, a member of a nomadic tribe, has figured out how to plant seeds to grow food and invented a dart-thrower, a new weapon that can kill from a distance. Labeled a witch, her sister is the only person who appreciates her genius—until Magog, a vicious warrior tribe, attacks, killing her entire family and enslaving her people. The Magog leader discovers Ki’s talent and takes her prisoner, hoping to exploit her knowledge for his own gain. Ki manages to escape down the river, but Jakka, the insecure and cruel son of the Magog leader, relentlessly pursues her in a desperate attempt to redeem himself to his father.
Ta has been exiled from his tribe with other unwanted members, his hand cut off for stealing food. When he steals again and is cast out of the small group, he fears he will die alone. Luck comes in the form of a man, a woman, and her baby who have fled their tribe to escape its rigid rules. Hopeful for a new start and greater freedom, they are headed toward the Euphrates River and invite Ta to join them. During a storm, they discover Ki stranded, and Ta risks himself to save her. Together, the misfits dare to dream of a new kind of tribe—one that lives by a revolutionary code where everyone has a voice and the elderly and disabled are protected, not abandoned. But Jakka is closing in, and they must unite their talents to stop the Magog from expanding their reign of terror.
Testimonials
“Uruk is…as exhilarating as it is enlightening. Zwerneman transports you to the dawn of civilization to join an endearing band of outcasts whose aspirations for humanity feel just as relevant and meaningful today. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down.”
“This book will keep you up late. URUK is a sweeping prehistoric tale full of adventure and heart. Readers will fall in love with the ragtag group of misfits on the search for a better, more equitable world. Zwerneman’s language is clean and powerful. The book transports, entertains, and moves. After you close the last page, you will want more.”
“… a story-teller’s story… heartbreaking… many wonderful scenes are woven into this story—some humorous, some wistful, some tragic….”
Author Bio
The son of a volunteer doctor, James moved around as a boy, living in places as diverse as Jerusalem, the Caribbean island of Grenada, Arizona, and Indiana. For college, he moved to Baltimore to study creative writing at Johns Hopkins University. After graduation, he spent a year in Madrid, Spain, then traveled to southern California to earn his MFA in Fiction from UC Irvine. While there, he won the Henfield Award, a prestigious cash prize given to just five of the top MFA students in the nation. He also published his first story in the respected literary journal “One Story.” Currently, he lives in Naples, FL, where he teaches literature, civics, and film classes to high schoolers (he was named “Teacher of the Year” in 2025). He has written and illustrated six children’s books, and his debut adult novel, “Uruk,” comes out November 2025. He is currently working on the sequel.
