Ted Dekker's next projects

Ted Dekker has revealed his publishing and writing schedule over at his website. He says:

"One nice thing about fiction is that you get to change the world as you go. Part of my world is writing novels and it's no secret that my releases have changed over time. Let me offer an explanation.

I write what moves me. What moves me tends to change with world events, my relationship with my readers in cyberspace, God's imprint on my heart, and a whole host of personal considerations -- boring stuff like what I've had for breakfast, if my cat has died as of late, who won So you Think you can Dance. The lyrics of RED's album by same name. (Excellent album for those who like rock, BTW. Check them out. Awesome God-inspired band on tour with Breaking Benjamin. Go to itunes, search for RED.)

So let met tell you what's come out of this toxic mix.

2007:

Blink re-release called Blink of an Eye.
Graphic Novels of Black Red and White.

2008:

ADAM, a thriller that will have you whispering prayers through the night and thankful once again for the life you have. A mountain top experience in the end, but only after a valley or two have been crossed.

CHOSEN, INFIDEL, RENEGADE, CHAOS, four half length novels that continue the Circle Trilogy when four of the Forest Guard are given a mission to find the Seven original Books of History now lost. Starts in the other reality and goes... You'll know by next summer when the 4th book releases. Look for a very cool hunt for the seven books in the United States. For the first time you'll be able to actually get your hands on one of these things.

SINNER: The Final chapter in the Project Showdown series, completing Showdown and Saint. Next fall.

By the end of 2008 the whole Books of History saga will be complete. We'll have the original Circle Trilogy: Black, Red, White. We'll have the middle chapters in Chosen, Infidel, Renegade, and Chaos. And we'll have Project Showdown completed -- Showdown, Saint, and Sinner, which will reveal all things.

A new reader could easily read any one of these three series first and then jump to any one of the other series. But in the end we're talking about 10 novels that all make up one mind bending saga.

In 2009 I return to thrillers like ADAM, which is similar in style to THR3E and in no way ties into the Books of History (like Skin and House did.)

Also look for ALL of the Books of History Novels (Black, Red, White, Chosen, Infidel, Renegade, Chaos, Showdown, Saint, Sinner) to come out as Graphic novels over the next couple years.

There you have it as things stand now, subject to change however unlikely :-) Lots of other details will be coming your way. Next year is going to be a crazy, crazy year."

Read our interview with Ted here.
Read our review of Skin here.
Read our review of Saint here.

Trish Berg on The Harvest Show August 7th!

Author Trish Berg to appear on The Harvest Show August 7th. She'll be talking about her latest book The Great American Supper Swap. To find a station near you click here. (For those with DirectTV, it's channel 321.)

Want to know more about supper swapping? Listen to Trish talk about it by clicking here (this is an .mpe file).

Says Trish on her website

The Great American Supper Swap presents the simple solution to your dinnertime dilemma. A way to provide a delicious and nutritious, freshly prepared supper for your family each and every night of the week by simply swapping meals with your girlfriends. You cut your cooking time by 80%, and your kitchen counters stay clean. For about one to two hours of meal preparation, and a 20-minute delivery time one day a week, you are blessed with a week’s worth of homemade, nutritious and delicious meals for your family to enjoy. Supper swapping is simple, and it simply works! Let The Great American Supper Swap show you how!

Read our review of The Great American Supper Swap here.

Robin Parrish unveils "Guardian" comic

For those unfamiliar with the name Robin Parrish, he's the founder and editor-in-chief of Infuze Magazine.

From his bio: "One of his more "high concept" ideas for Infuze was to return to his love for storytelling and create a serialized tale that would play out every two weeks, telling a complete, compelling story over the course of nine months. That serialized story eventually came to the attention of several publishers, who saw it as a potential debut novel for Robin Parrish.

In 2005, Bethany House Publishers brought Robin full circle by contracting him for the rights to not only that first book -- but two sequels. A trilogy, to unfold in the consecutive summers of 2006, 2007, and 2008. One massive tale -- of which that first, original story would form only the foundational first volume of the three -- spread across three books."

The first novel in this series, Relentless, was an amazing work. (Read a review of the novel here. And a first chapter excerpt here.)

Now the second novel in the series, Fearless, is hitting shelves across the country (read the first chapter here).

But what happened to the characters in between Relentless and Fearless? Now you can find out. Guardian: The Comic Book written by Robin with art by Tim Bates has been unveiled exclusively online. This 4-part web-comic, starring Grant Borrows and his friends, and set during the gap between Relentless and Fearless, will debut a new mini-issue every other Wednesday. Collected together, these four issues will tell a complete story.

Best of all, it's available now as a free PDF download! Click here to download the .pdf file.

Visit Robin's website here so you won't miss any issues.

Christian Book Expo 2009

ECPA Announces Christian Book Expo Dallas 2009 Consumer Book Event to Be Held March 20-22 in Dallas.

05/11/2007, Phoenix, AZ -- The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is launching the Christian Book Expo Dallas 2009, a new consumer-oriented book event. This event, a first for ECPA, will bring together publishers, authors and consumers. ECPA is holding this event to reach a critical demographic anybody making or influencing book buying decisions.

The first Christian Book Expo will be held in Dallas, Texas, March 20-22, 2009 at the Dallas Convention Center. More than 389,000 square feet (100,000 is exhibit floor) has been reserved and dates are being set for the event in 2010 and 2011. ECPA is inviting publishers, ministries, authors and booksellers to exhibit in this open-to-the-public event. Activities at the three-day Expo will include workshops, seminars, mini-events and evening programming all lead by authors.

Reaching the consumer is essential to the future of Christian publishing, said ECPA President Mark Kuyper. Our goal with the Christian Book Expo is to connect the top authors from across the country with core customers from the region. We are dedicated to reaching the largest audience possible with the life-changing message in books, Bibles and other Christian resources.

ECPA will actively market this event to area pastors, lay leaders, Christian ministry workers, area counselors, retailers and influential consumers. Dallas was the natural choice for the first-ever Christian Book Expo, says Kuyper. There are more mega churches in the Dallas metropolitan area than any other city in the country and thousands of Christian book buyers call Dallas home.

ECPA is currently researching the event pricing structure and expects to announce the specific prices within the next two months. According to current price models, a consumer would pay no more than $50 for admission to the entire three-day event. Day passes will be significantly less.

Kuyper and the ECPA Board believe the Christian Book Expo will compliment other industry shows. Says Kuyper: We are strategically reaching out to consumers of Christian books. We know that a positive experience will only make them more loyal to Christian products wherever they are sold.

Christian products will be sold to consumers at the Christian Book Expo. ECPA sees several options for purchase either direct sales from an exhibiting publisher, direct sales from an exhibiting retailer, or an exhibiting publisher can make sales arrangements in its booth from a local retailer. ECPA is also talking to retailers about a centralized store for the entire Expo.

However, Kuyper says that event sales are not the goal of Christian Book Expo Dallas 2009: We are trying to build future retail sales. We believe these influential Christians will experience these authors and their message and take that message back to their friends and church families and in turn refer them to their local retailer. Our goal is for awareness and exposure.

Support for the event is widespread across the industry. Michael S. Hyatt, President and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Nelson and ECPA's Chairman of the Board, believes this consumer-oriented event will provide significant opportunities to enhance the audience for religious books, After attending the Guadalajara Book Fair this past fall, I saw first-hand how an event like this could connect authors and their books to the general public on a large scale. I think that ECPA's Christian Book Expo will provide a similar opportunity for authors, retailers, and consumers to come together in a way that creates excitement for anyone who loves books. And for Thomas Nelson, we believe this event will be a positive experience for both our authors and our retail partners. We are committed to making this event a success.

Hardy Weathers, President of the Nazarene Publishing House, agrees: As a member of ECPA's board and the leader of a denominational publishing program, I am excited about the Christian Book Expo in Dallas. It is an opportunity for us to reach outside our natural audience to a larger group of influential book consumers.

For more information on the 2009 Christian Book Expo, contact Mark Kuyper, 480-966-3998.

First look at "First the Dead" by Tim Downs

Tim Downs' next novel, First The Dead, is coming in January from Thomas Nelson. For fans of his previous "Bugman" novels Shoofly Pie and Chop Shop, you'll be pleased to know this novel marks the return of Nick Polchak (aka "The Bugman").

Summary:

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina all government agencies were ordered to assist with efforts to rescue those who had survived. "First the Living" was the clear mandate given to everyone--including those who were there as part of the DMORT team and whose specialty was identifying and notifying the families of the deceased.

But there's a problem with that plan when forensic entomologist Nick Polchek realizes that some of the bodies he's seeing in the putrid waters flooding New Orleans were dead prior to the hurricane making landfall. Someone thought the hurricane would cover any evidence and literally allow them to get away with murder. But what are they trying to hide? And who could have been so certain that a hurricane of this magnitude would strike?

Someone is willing to do anything to keep these secrets hidden beneath the floodwaters. Nick must fight a desperate race against time and decomposing evidence--and the orders of his superiors--to raise the truth.

Tim also recently told us that his next book after "First The Dead" is also going to be a Bugman novel. Read the full interview here.

Read a review of Head Game here.
Read a review of Plague Maker here.

New Athol Dickson novel (Winter Haven) coming next spring

On the heels of his successful novels River Rising & The Cure, Athol Dickson is set to release his next novel this coming spring.

Summary:

Boys who never age, giants lost in time, mist that never rises, questions never asked…on the most remote of islands off the coast of Maine, history haunts the present and Vera Gamble wrestles with a past that will not yield. Will she find refuge there or will her ghosts prevail on... Winter Haven.

Read a review of The Cure here.
Read an excerpt of The Cure here.

Zonderkidz announces fiction for teens

“While revenue in other sectors of the book industry remains flat, YA is booming.”
—Los Angeles Times*

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-- Teens are reading like never before with books like Eragon and the Harry Potter series fueling the Young Adult market. The growing rate of teenage readers, who want entertaining books that meet their spiritual needs, can now look to Zondervan. In May 2008, Zondervan will launch their Young Adult line with fiction titles by three of the top five selling Christian YA authors: Melody Carlson, Bryan Davis and Bill Myers.

“Book sales to teenagers are booming in the secular market. But there is very little out there for Christian teenagers,” explains Alicia Mey, vice president of marketing for Zonderkidz. “We’re excited to be able to fill this gap with the best authors in the business: Bryan Davis, Melody Carlson, Bill Myers, Robert Elmer, Brandilyn Collins and DJ Reynolds.”

To meet the interests and spiritual needs of a growing youth market, Zondervan will publish in a variety of genres, including chick lit, supernatural, adventure and fantasy for teenagers 12 to 15 years old. Readers can look forward to books by bestselling fiction author Brandilyn Collins. Collins will make her debut in 2009 bringing her trademark “Seatbelt Suspense” to the YA market. Author DJ Reynolds, the author of Scarlet Moon and Midnight Pearls, which was recognized as an ALA 2005 Popular Paperback for Young Adults, will debut in 2008.

By entering this market, Zondervan will bring their family-friendly, Christian values to a group that is searching for the influence of Christ-centered books. In a recent study by the Barna Group, two-thirds of all born-again Christians make a profession of faith before age 18. Zondervan intends to publish ten titles a year to help provide the resources necessary for teenagers making this profession and commitment.

(Thanks to Brandilyn Collins for this information.)

New YA series coming from the Collins mother/daughter team

Popular suspense novelist Brandilyn Collins (Eyes of Elisha, Kanner Lake series) has just announced she and her daughter will be writing a youth fiction series together for Zondervan.

Says Brandilyn at her blog: "The three-book Rayne series features Shaley O'Connor, 16-year-old daughter of mega rock star Rayne O'Connor, lead singer in her band Rayne. It's an intriguing idea for teenage readers. What would life be like for the daughter of a famous rock star? In the first book Rayne is on tour, and things are going fine--until Shaley discovers the body of a tour member backstage. Worse, the victim is her closest friend on the tour. The books are written in first person from Shaley's point of view. This first book, currently titled Always Watching, is now about half written."

Books 1 and 2 of the Rayne series will be published together in the spring of 2009. Book 3 will come out in the fall of 2009.

Chosen by Ted Dekker coming in January 2008

Ted Dekker's Chosen is set to release in January 2008, much to his fans' pleasure! Check out the photo of the cover at left, and here's a description:

Summary:

It has been 13 years since Black, and the Forest Guard is slowly being defeated by the Horde. Thomas Hunter is forced to lower the recruiting age from 18 to 16 in order to find enough troops to train for his armies. Of those new recruits, four are chosen to become squad leaders--two boys and two girls--but first they must pass one of Thomas's tests and bring four cacti back to the group.

Nothing goes as expected on their quest, though. They are pursued by the Horde and Johnis, the youngest of the four, sees both Roush and Shatiki--both of which vanished 13 years ago. The Roush give Johnis a new mission: he, along with the other three recruits, must recover the six missing Books of History. Silvie is the only one willing to follow John's lead, though, and rescuing the other two from the trouble they bring upon themselves only delays the quest for the books. The books have the power to bring about unspeakable evil if they fall into the wrong hands.

Read our interview with Ted here.
Read a review of Skin here.
A review of Saint here.
And a review of Thr3e the movie here.

My Name Is Russell Fink by Michael Snyder

An interesting title coming in March 2008 from Zondervan:

Synopsis:

Russell Fink is twenty-six years old and determined to salvage a job he hates so he can finally move out of his parents’ house for good. He’s convinced he gave his twin sister cancer when they were nine years old. And his crazy fiancée refuses to accept the fact that their engagement really is over.

Then Sonny, his allegedly clairvoyant basset hound, is found murdered.

The ensuing amateur investigation forces Russell to confront several things at once—the enormity of his family’s dysfunction, the guy stalking his family, and his long-buried feelings for a most peculiar love interest.

At its heart, My Name Is Russell Fink is a comedy, with sharp dialogue, characters steeped in authenticity, romance, suspense, and fresh humor. With a postmodern style similar to Nick Hornby and Douglas Coupland, the author explores reconciliation, forgiveness, and faith in the midst of tragedy. No amount of neurosis or dysfunction can derail God’s redemptive purposes.

About Michael Snyder:

Michael Snyder has spent the bulk of his professional career in sales, has fallen in love, and continues to struggle with the balance between art and vocation. He’s never investigated a murder, much less that of an allegedly clairvoyant dog. The author has published several short stories online, is the winner of the Florida Christian Writer’s Conference short story contest, and has received an acceptance letter from the Ankeny Briefcase literary journal. Michael Snyder also writes a bi-weekly column for The Master’s Artist and serves as editor for Rejected Writers magazine.

Only Uni by Camy Tang (Book #2 in the Sushi series)

Coming in February 2008 is Only Uni, Book #2 in Camy Tang's Sushi series. Book #1, Sushi For One, releases very shortly.

Summary:

Flirty biologist Trish Sakai has alienated her best friends and her family because of her wild behavior with her artist ex-boyfriend, Kazuo. Then she finds her father kissing another woman, and her mom suffers a heart attack. Convinced God is punishing her for her sexual promiscuity, Trish comes up with three rules from First and Second Corinthians: 1) Stop looking at guys, 2) Only date Christians, and 3) Persevere in hardship by relying on God. If she follows them, God will restore her life to the way it was before her mistakes. If she can somehow regain her chastity, she won’t feel as dirty and unworthy as she does now. They’re only three rules. How hard can it be?

For more info on Camy, visit her website.

The Battle for Vast Dominion by George Bryan Polivka

The 3rd book in George Bryan Polivka's Trophy Chase Trilogy is coming January 2008.

Summary:

When The Legend of the Firefish, the first book in the Trophy Chase Trilogy was released in March of 2007, it immediately garnered great reviews and strong sales. Readers were then anxious for the second book in the trilogy, The Hand that Bears the Sword, released in July.

Now, in the eagerly awaited conclusion to the trilogy, author Bryan Polivka spins another compelling tale of pirates, monsters of the deep, and the battle between good and evil.

Packer Throme, determined to demonstrate that power comes only from above, leads his people in a war against the dreaded Drammune. The evil Hezzan of Drammun will kill without remorse for the secret of the Firefish...and so will dark forces lurking within Nearing Vast.

As army faces army, and navy faces navy, all are drawn inexorably to the source of the epic struggle... the feeding waters of the Firefish within the Achawuk Territory. One final surprise awaits Packer Throme there in the foreboding place where the struggle for the dominion of the world will be settled at last.

Read our review of The Legend of the Firefish here.

Robert Liparulo book and movie news

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – In a unique twist on the film option process, THOMAS NELSON has announced that their leading thriller author Robert Liparulo (COMES A HORSEMAN, GERM) is partnering with director Andrew Davis (THE GUARDIAN, THE FUGITIVE, HOLES) on a new thriller to be developed into both a movie and a novel. Mike Medavoy’s Phoenix Pictures (ZODIAC, STEALTH, THE SIXTH DAY) has optioned the movie rights for the yet-to-be-titled project, which Thomas Nelson will publish.

“Robert Liparulo and Andrew Davis is a match made in storytelling heaven,” says Liparulo’s publisher Allen Arnold. “Liparulo writes extraordinarily exciting suspense and action stories and few filmmakers have done better in that genre than Davis.”

Liparulo and Davis will co-write the screenplay, which Liparulo will solely pen into a novel. The plot centers on a military construction project in Illinois where evidence of the oldest known settlement in the Western Hemisphere is uncovered. Soon after, the lead archeologist makes an even more startling discovery: the remains of a recent murder victim. Fearing that an investigation will jeopardize the archeological treasures of the site, he and his team - accustomed to piecing together clues to solve mysteries - decide to investigate on their own. What they uncover is a conspiracy bigger than they could have ever possibly guessed, one that threatens thousands of lives and the U.S. government itself.

“Thomas Nelson is focused on entertainment driven properties,” Arnold continued. “This project is a natural given Liparulo’s acclaimed writing and the connection with top Hollywood talent who are committed to making this into a movie before it is even written.”

Read our interview with Robert Liparulo here.
Read our review of Germ here.

The Dead Whisper On by T.L. Hines trailer

2007 Christy Award Winners

Named after Catherine Marshall's novel Christy, which has over 10 million copies in print, the Christy Award is designed to honor novels from a Christian worldview.

Last night the Christy Awards dinner was held in Atlanta, and according to author Tricia Goyer (who attended the event), the winners are ...

Contemporary Standalone:
Winter Birds
Jamie Langston Turner





Contemporary Series, Sequels, and Novellas:
The Brethren
Beverly Lewis





Historical:
Madman
Tracy Groot





Lits:
Sisterchicks in Gondolas
Robin Jones Gunn





Romance:
The Measure of a Lady
Deeanne Gist





Suspense:
Plague Maker
Tim Downs





First Novel:
Where Mercy Flows
Karen Harter





Young Adult:
William Henry is a Fine Name
Cathy Gohlke

Healing Promises by Amy Wallace cover

Thanks to Rel Mollet for spotting this over at Amy Wallace's blog. This is the final cover for Book #2 in Amy's Defenders of Hope series.

Summary:

Facing a new threat.

When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he’s seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the overwhelming powerlessness of hospital tests revealing an unexpected diagnosis. If only Sara weren’t retreating into doctor mode…he needs his wife now more than ever.

Frozen in fear.

Sara Rollins is an oncologist with a mission—beating cancer when she can, easing her patients’ suffering at the very least. But now the life of her tall Texan husband is at stake. She never let the odds steal her hope before, but now the question of God’s healing promises is personal. Can she hold on to the truth she claimed to believe?

Faith under fire.

As Clint continues to track down a serial murderer despite his illness, a past military incident haunts his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?

Demon's Bluff by Jenkins & Perrodin trailer

Created by co-author John Perrodin's two sons Jace & Patch, this trailer is for Book #2 in the Renegade Spirit Trilogy. Demon's Bluff is the sequel to Tatooed Rats, also by Jerry Jenkins & John Perrodin.

The Restitution by M.L. Tyndall trailer