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February 27, 2026 —
Three members of Young Voices' network just inked new book deals.
Young Voices' Program Manager Caleb Franz along with our alumni Stephen Kent and Alexandra Hudson, are each working on their second book projects:
Stephen Kent
Stephen closed his second book deal with Post Hill Press, tentatively titled Great Escape: How Stoicism and Timeless Stories Can Change Your Life, If You’ll Let Them. It is due out in bookstores for Thanksgiving 2026 and explores the prevalence of Stoic philosophy in modern popular culture, ranging from Star Wars to J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, from C.S. Lewis's Narnia to Hogwarts and the anime worlds of Studio Ghibli. Stephen's first book, How The Force Can Fix The World, is available online, and you can sign up for updates on Great Escape here.
Caleb Franz
Caleb’s next work is scheduled for release in Spring 2028. Tentatively titled Becoming Ulysses: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Young Ulysses S. Grant, the book will explore the pre–Civil War life of Ulysses S. Grant, offering a fresh look at the experiences that shaped America’s 18th President. Caleb’s first book, The Conductor, tells the story of Grant’s teacher, Rev. John Rankin, and is available for for order.
Alexandra Hudson
Alexandra’s new project, Heroes and Villains: The Soul of Civility for Young Citizens, introduces the widely embraced framework from her first book to a new generation, teaching children that civility is an inner disposition rooted in recognizing the inherent dignity of others, while politeness is merely a surface technique. It aims to form young citizens who can confront injustice without hatred, engage in disagreement without dehumanizing, and help build communities capable of flourishing across difference. Her first book, The Soul of Civility, is available online.
Their success as authors shows how publishing a book can turn young writers into long-term voices in media and public debate, creating opportunities for TV appearances and speaking engagements to influence the national conversation.
That is precisely why Young Voices is launching a Book Writing Track, designed to empower select writers from our network to develop strong book proposals and connect directly with publishers.
Our first cohort features Noah Gould of the Acton Institute and Neetu Arnold of the Manhattan Institute, both mentored by Caleb. Over the coming months, we'll work with both to refine their ideas into full proposals as they move toward becoming published authors. More to come!
