For local Whitehall author Bill Choinski, publishing his novels is more about storytelling than writing.

"I don't really consider myself a writer," he said. "I consider myself more of a storyteller. I like to tell stories."

In fact, Choinski has been telling stories since he was a child playing with his brother. He attributes his storytelling to a "strong imagination."

That strong imagination stayed with him throughout high school, while he was a Marine and while he attended East Stroudsburg University, where he studied middle school science education and philosophy. Choinski's science fiction writting stemmed from studying religious philosphy and science, he said.

Unfortunately, he was injured while he served in the Marines and since then, has to be hospitalized on occasion.

According to Choinski, "One day in the hospital, my wife said, ''You always wanted to put those [childhood] stories into writing,' so that's what I did. I just decided to finally sit in front of my laptop, and I found out that time decided to go a lot quicker."

Choinski reaeased his novel, "Song of the Levy," in November 2013.

Writing and publishing a novel isn't all fame and glory all the time, he said. Working with a publisher as a first-time author was a challenge Choinski faced.

Also, when trying to publish a novel, a writer gets "a million rejection letters," he said and then laughed. Fortunately one of his most influential English professors, Dr. Jeffrey Hotz, told him to expect a few rejections.

Choinski's apocalyptic novel takes place in a hub called Mannite. The author said this city is a powerhouse because it is the only city that can produce bread, called Mannas, which is the only available food source. Ravaged by ancient wars, ruin and hardship, the community of Mannite must survive by upholding strict law and tradition.

"My character in my book actually – in order to, as they say, write what you know – has a similar kind of symptom that I have to deal with all the time." But his main character is mostly based on a friend of his from the Marine Corps.

Choisnki said readers can expect another novel from him.

"It's finished, but I don't know what to call it yet," he said.

"It's an adventure. I want them to have fun with it," he said.

"My book is being read all over the world," he said. "It's a snowball [effect], you know. You roll it down the hill and more and more people read it. There are more people telling you that they like it, and hopefully they show it to their friends."

"Song of the Levy" and its prequel, "The Stone Doll," released in December 2013, are both available through Amazon.