David Francis Royce Baker
David Francis Royce Baker, known as David Baker in the literary world, is an accomplished author, gaining recognition for his literary talents. He has authored The Chronicles of Cancatia, an epic fantasy series for young adults and he is a world record holder at the age of sixteen. In addition to his literary pursuits, David possesses a diverse range of interests. When not engrossed in writing, he can often be found immersed in expressing his creativity through drawing and painting, playing chess, unravelling the mysteries of the world, and engaging in various competitions.
David’s Passion for Writing:
At the age of thirteen, David made the choice of penning a novel. Ever since he first learned to read, he has been captivated by various books. This passion led him to explore world history and the fascinating mythology of different cultures. He began writing stories at the age of seven, unaware that his mind would conceive the spark of inspiration for his book, both published and upcoming. David’s writing style is vivid and he has a flair for making the overall story and even the small scenes to bloom, remark reviewers. David doesn’t shy away from addressing the prolonging issues of the modern world, such as war, gender discrimination, the emotional and psychological toll of leadership, and political affairs. In addition to this, his books contain elements of magic and fantasy, intertwining storylines, and multiple plot twists.
David’s Journey as an Author
His journey as a writer began at the age of seven, initially experimenting with short stories. However, it was the arrival of The Chronicles of Cancatia that sparked the creation of his debut novel, Divided, when he was fourteen. The novel received widespread acclaim, a triumphant launch at Amir Mahal in Chennai by the Prince of Arcot, Muhammed Abdul Ali and Nawabzada Mohammed Asif Ali, followed by the notable achievement of winning the esteemed Golden Book Award in 2023, alongside Ruskin Bond, J. K. Rowling, Jeff Kinney, and others. An article about the book and the launch was released in The New Indian Express. Inkzoid Foundation also felicitated David as one of the top 14 eminent personalities who made India proud, published in Indo-Asian News Service (IANS).
In October 2024, David released the second book in the series, The Chronicles of Cancatia: Risen. Risen was received with equal acclaim by readers and reviewers. And it won him multiple awards.
About The Chronicles of Cancatia
The Chronicles of Cancatia is an epic young adult fantasy tetralogy, packed with thrilling adventures and battles for empires. You will experience betrayal, clean romance and dark magic alongside enchanting creatures and mysterious lands. You can unravel chilling prophecies and cunning conspiracies throughout the captivating tale, filled with secrets that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
In Divided, you can witness secret curses, forgotten memories, realistic battles, high adventure, and astonishing twists. Risen begins exactly where Divided left readers, and new realities burst onto the scene, unleashing a wave of daunting challenges. Unprecedented twists and turns, filled with trials and tribulations, loom large as fate weaves disaster. The thrilling truth begins to untangle—each revelation more shocking than the last. And with the title reveal of the third book as Gifted, readers are eager to know how the story goes on. The title of the final book is yet to be announced.
Reviews for The Chronicles of Cancatia: Divided:
‘With unexpected twists, turns and revelations, the novel’s fresh voice stands out creating an impressive read. David Baker is a talented writer who has the right imagination and language skills to enchant and entertain’—Harry MacLure, editor, writer, comic book illustrator and filmmaker. ‘The Chronicles of Cancatia: Divided, a masterpiece by David Baker… The remarkable storytelling is just mesmerizingly outstanding’—Nawabzada Mohammed Asif Ali, Dewan to the Prince of Arcot. ‘David is able to paint images on the inside of our eyeballs, in our imagination, with his words. David has truly shown us what it means to “Dare to be great”’—Bill Graham, founder of the Global Dare to be Great Movement. ‘The setting of the plot in a surreal land, the distinct characters with distinguished features make it a fantasy with unique roots’—Thirupurasundari Sevvel, writer, Honorary Secretary of the Madras Literary Society. ‘The magic cuts you deeper as you begin to read, a book that should be on your next read list’—Sunantha Sugendran, founder of Droplets Creation.
Reviews for The Chronicles of Cancatia: Risen:
‘Crammed with intrigue, suspense, excitement and magic, this is brilliant storytelling’—Harry MacLure, editor, writer, comic book illustrator and filmmaker. ‘Risen builds on the momentum of the first book while setting the stage for even more significant confrontations in the future’—Eliyas Johnjoseph, 7 times bestselling author. ‘The interplay between political drama and magical elements is masterfully balanced, keeping the plot both fast-paced and thought-provoking’—Tushar Kiran Moodgal, Author of ‘Lamentations’, winner of William Shakespeare Memorial Award. ‘Fans of high fantasy like me will appreciate the novel’s rich character development, immersive world-building, and tense, unpredictable plot twists’—Usha Kiran Moodgal, author, winner of Bharat Shree Award. ‘The author has created a rich and immersive environment that draws you in’— Thirupurasundari Sevvel, Architect planner, author. ‘David delivers yet another Magic’—Sunantha Sugendran, founder of Droplets Creation.
David’s World Record and Recent Accolades:
David entered the prestigious OMG Book of Records 2024-25 as the youngest Indian author to achieve the Amazon best selling rank within 24 hours at the age of 16. Kalam Writer’s Forum of Bengal appreciated his work in The Chronicles of Cancatia: Risen and felicitated him with the title: Best Author of the Year 2024. Rabindranath Tagore Global Awards 2024 recognized him with the title of Best of the Best 2024.
Conclusion:
David always encourages young minds to focus on their goals. His journey is inspiring to many young authors who wish to make their mark in the field of literature. In addition to The Chronicles of Cancatia, David also plans to publish his other stories in the future. In the meanwhile, you can enjoy some of this short stories on Medium.
David’s Books:
- The Chronicles of Cancatia: Divided: https://amzn.in/d/46fPLeT
- The Chronicles of Cancatia: Risen: https://amzn.in/d/d3a4Kfq
- (Upcoming) The Chronicles of Cancatia: Gifted (Book III)
- (Upcoming) The Chronicles of Cancatia (Book IV) (title yet to be revealed)