Back-to-school season isn’t just about sharpened pencils and fresh notebooks — it’s about preparing teens for the challenges, opportunities, and choices that shape their futures. On this week’s episode of the Holistic Wealth Podcast, we’re joined by author and educator Derek Gagnon, whose thrilling time-travel novel Out of Time delivers powerful life lessons for teens and parents alike.

Derek’s book follows a 16-year-old protagonist who wakes up in a strange place — and a strange time — with no memory of who she is. Swept into a dangerous conflict between a ruthless antagonist and a rebel group fighting to protect people across timelines, she must make life-changing decisions without knowing what’s ahead. It’s a story of courage, identity, and resilience — and a perfect conversation starter for this season of new beginnings.

Derek Gagnon was born in a small town north-west of Quebec City. Thanks to the military life, his family moved to Ontario in the early 2000s, where he lived ever since. After attending high school north of Toronto, Derek pursued higher education at the University of Ottawa, where he completed his undergraduate studies in French literature. He now resides in Canada’s capital city with his wife and two children. In addition to family life, he has dedicated himself to teaching French to middle-grade students.