Utah Wrestler and Coach Releases Book Two in Award-Winning Battle Calm Cycle

West Jordan, Uta. — W.D. Kilpack III, a native of West Jordan, Uta., has his third science-fiction novel, Battle Calm: Omega Message, published on Amazon.com on July 15, 2025. This is the second in the award-winning Battle Calm Cycle, which also includes Battle Calm (book one) and will conclude with Battle Calm: Keeper's Creed (forthcoming).

"It's very exciting to have this trilogy come to life," Kilpack said. "Even more so to have it be so well-received by readers. Being dystopian military sci-fi, to have it praised by military veterans just about brings me to tears every time. I wrote the first draft back in 1984 (when I was a teenager) and it has had several rewrites over time, growing from one book to three, but it's been a labor of love. The research that went into developing the military aspect was particularly gratifying, aside from humbling. I interviewed veterans to get a feel for the grit of being in the trenches. So having veterans ask me, 'How long did you serve?' is about as great a compliment as I can imagine."

Battle Calm: Omega Message is the second book of the Battle Calm Cycle trilogy, which centers around Badger, Base leader; and other Keepers, Trinity, his right-hand, but careful she bites; and Korry, a genius mech-head. When Badger succeeded his father, Red Skin, as Keeper Base Leader, he was well prepared, raised to handle anything the enemy threw at him. He was the best killer and the most respected tactician. He knew Red Skin’s Laws like he wrote them himself. Most importantly, he was always calm, no matter how frenzied the combat. Trinity would die for him. Korry would follow him without question. They were Keepers. They fought, they killed, they lived to kill another day, even when it meant bugging out to another Base ... and another. That was life when life was war. They knew nothing else. But even war cannot last forever, regardless of the infallible truth of Red Skin’s Law #35: “Under conditions of peace, men attack themselves; thus, there never has been, and there never will be a time without war. It is the greatest, most perfect thing men can do.”

In Battle Calm: Omega Message, Badger thought leading his Keepers to Base Resurrection would be a fresh start. He did not know that the fighting would not end when leaving the trenches. He has to teach Red Skin’s Laws and relearn them himself, as the relentless combat with an enemy that never stops takes its toll, even affecting his closest bonds with Trinity and Korry. Those changes pale when lifelong truths are challenged by the discovery of the Omega Message.

Battle Calm is a finalist (one of five) in the Utah Book Awards for Speculative Fiction, with winners to be announced any day. It is one of 45 book awards Kilpack's works have earned to date, including the International Firebird Book Award, The BookFest Award, and the International Impact Book Award. In the most recent Outstanding Creator Awards, his epic-fantasy novel, Crown Prince: Book One of New Blood, won the Ultimate Championship Trophy, Super Champion Medal, Best Fiction Writing, Best Book in the following categories: Fiction, Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Myths/Legends, and Romance; Best Character for Natharr, Most Beautiful Character for Darshelle, and Best World-Building. His works Demon Seed, Rilari, and Vengeance Borne were featured as Editor’s Choice on BooksShelf, and both Order of Light and Rilari were named Top Picks. He earned an Honorable Mention from L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest for his novella Pale Face. 

Kilpack is an award-winning and critically acclaimed internationally published writer, with works appearing in print, online, radio and television. In addition to previously noted awards, his novella, Pale Face, is also in movie development. He has been editor and/or publisher of 23 news and literary publications, both online and in print. He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Westminster University. As an undergrad, he double-majored in communication and philosophy, while completing the Honors Program. As a graduate student, he earned a master of professional communication with a writing emphasis. He was also a high-performing athlete, qualifying for international competition in Greco-Roman wrestling.

For 25 years, he was a communication professor and a nationally recognized wrestling coach. He is happily married to his high-school sweetheart and is father to five children, as well as helping to raise five step-children. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he continues to live, consult and educate. For more information.

Praise for Battle Calm

Jasveer Singh Dangi, author of The Hunter Genesis (Ontario, CAN): "Battle Calm is a dystopian military science fiction novel that explores the life of soldiers entrenched in perpetual war. The story revolves around Badger, the successor of his father, Red Skin, as the Keeper Base Leader. Badger is a complex character — renowned as a skilled tactician and fighter, he navigates a relentless world governed by the unyielding Red Skin’s Laws, which assert that war is humanity’s perpetual state. The narrative dives deep into the psyches of its characters, illustrating the psychological toll of endless combat and the fragile bonds formed among comrades. The book’s intense action sequences and vividly detailed world-building are highlights. Kilpack immerses the reader in the brutal realities of dystopian warfare, where moments of calm between battles carry their own form of tension and danger. The thematic exploration of war’s cyclical nature and its dehumanizing effects offers thought-provoking insights, making it more than just an action-driven tale. Not just the protagonist but the emotional depth of characters like Trinity and Korry, also bring additional dimensions to the narrative as Badger's loyal allies. Fans of hard military science fiction and dystopian sagas will likely find Battle Calm a rewarding, intense, and reflective read. It balances relentless action with philosophical underpinnings."

Jessica Bair, former Special Agent, US Army CID: "Battle Calm is a visceral dystopian war novel. Kilpack builds a world that is haunting in its vivid depictions of a world at war for so long that humans remember nothing else. Born to train, fight and live to take the lives of their enemy. Following the laws of a veteran leader, the characters strive to find humanity in the loss of their compatriots, as their numbers dwindle and the enemy continues to advance with more hardware and seemly endless combatants. Kilpack brings you into the lives, histories and hopes of soldiers fighting for survival. Combat is fierce, on the battlefield and in the calm between enemy engagements. Awaiting book two - Battle Calm: Omega Message.”

RedHeadedBookLover.com: "Battle Calm is a sensational book that I did not want to end. From the first page, I was enchanted by the author’s incredible words and wanted [to] follow Badger as well as fellow Keepers whose lives are dominated by killing and fighting against the backdrop of a vicious war and the result is an unforgettable and twisty tale that [kept me] hooked from the get-go! The author has done this [to me] time and time again with his work. W.D. Kilpack III is an incredible author who has created a fantastic, brilliant story and it is evident to me that he has invested so much thought and time into his new series, perfectly executed and full of vibrant and descriptive scenes! Battle Calm is a fascinating tale laced with many incredible moments that will captivate, shock, and thrill its readers, while these elements are also woven around a sensational story that will have you on the edge of your seat. It makes for a memorable reading experience full of many ups and downs and will have you saying ‘Just one more page!’ as it is that incredible. Beautiful descriptions will send the reader’s mind into visual overdrive, perfectly imagin[ing] every detail the reader comes across! Five stars!”

Kurt D. Springs, author of the Dreamscape Warriors Series: "W.D. Kilpack III’s book, Battle Calm, is a dystopian military science fiction novel. Keepers have known nothing but war, fighting in a radioactive, blasted landscape and trying to kill as many 'Reds' as the enemy can throw at them. It has not always gone their way; Badger and his keepers have been forced to bug out of a few bases. However, the world and the enemy are changing. Radiation storms are no longer the certain death sentences they once were, and the Reds are becoming more aggressive. The bonds between the Keepers have begun to fray. Battle Calm takes place many years after the war began. None of the characters recall a time before the war. The interactions among the characters reveal the emotional complexity of individuals striving to cope with the dehumanizing effects of endless warfare. Adapting to cybernetic body parts is a way of life for most, a reality that Badger must now come to terms with. The book is intense, encompassing everything from the action sequences to the interpersonal relationships. While intended for a mature audience, Battle Calm captivates with its compelling narrative."