Help a homeless Brandilyn Collins reader

Today over at Brandilyn Collins' blog Forensics and Faith she told us about the plight of a teen girl and her Mom (a reader of Brandilyn's novels) who've recently become homeless and are currently sleeping in their car. The teen, Katy, an aspiring artist and writer has started a blog called Anywhere But Here chronicling their predicament. At left is the picture she has of herself on the blog. We presume she drew it herself!

We'd like to call on all of you to first of all read Brandilyn's post. She explains how she knows the ladies and their current status. Says Brandilyn in part (brackets are mine):

For a number of years now I have sent Liz [the Mom] a free book every time one of mine releases. She has always graciously written back with thanks and much praise for the story. She's been a real encouragement to me. I'm hoping to now help her through my online network of blogging, Facebook and Twitter. I'd appreciate any way you can help spread the word through your own networking.

But she also shares how we can help:

As people are getting involved to help Liz and Katy, it's becoming clear they need an easier way to send money. Liz doesn't have a Paypal account. If you'd like to send funds to Liz and Katy, please send them to my account, and I'll make sure every cent goes to them. Please put in the subject line: For Liz and Katy. My account is under my email address: brandilyn@brandilyncollins.com

In this time of economic hardship, chances are most of you have a warm bed and a house/apartment to come home to. This Mom and daughter don't. Let's not sit back and watch this unfold and become an even more desperate situation. Let's do what we can to help. If you can spare a couple dollars, please do.

We trust Brandilyn on this and know she wouldn't send out a call for the family if they didn't really need it. How about it? Want to join us in helping Liz & Katy?

Veiled Freedom by J.M. Windle

Coming in June 2009 (Tyndale) from Jeanette (J.M.) Windle is Veiled Freedom.

Summary:

When a disillusioned Special Forces veteran, a relief worker with stars still stubbornly in her eyes, and an Afghan medical school dropout intersect on the streets of Kabul in Veiled Freedom, they can’t predict an explosion of events that will test the hypocrisy of Western leadership and Afghanistan’s new democracy and face each of them with the true meaning and only Source of freedom.
Read our interview with Jeanette.

New cover for Boneman's Daughters by Ted Dekker

This is the second cover we've seen of Ted Dekker's upcoming mainstream release Boneman's Daughters. What do you think?

Summary:

Military intelligence officer Ryan Evans is hot on the trail of Boneman, a Texas serial killer who murders his victims by breaking their bones. Evans witnessed this torture technique when he was serving in Fallujah. Now he's a suspect and his daughter is Boneman's latest target! Can he clear himself and save his daughter?

Read our latest interview with Ted here.

Angel of Wrath by Bill Myers

Coming in April from Faithwords is the sequel to Myers' popular novel The Voice.

Summary:

Thirteen-year-old Jazmin, her ex-Special Ops uncle Charlie, and former FBI agent Lisa are reunited in the second of the Voice of God series to stop a an assassin driven to murder members of a megachurch led by Lisa's brother. This assassin has drawn in a coven of teens toying with satanic practices to support his efforts. The naive youth engage in ceremonies that appear to usher in the death of each of his victims. When their rituals open a portal into the spiritual realm, a terrifying and mysterious entity crosses over to our world.

The battle culminates with the capture of Lisa's father as the next target and a Black Mass requiring both their deaths as a sacrifice. The team will, once again, have to rely on all their wits, strength, and faith to survive in this action-packed, unearthly warfare.

Read our interview with Bill.
Read our review of The Voice.

The Night Watchman by Mark Mynheir

Coming in May 2009 from Multnomah is Mark Mynheir's The Night Watchman.

Summary:

Eleven months ago, Ray Quinn was a tough, quick-witted Orlando homicide detective at the top of his game–until a barrage of bullets ended his career…and his partner’s life.

Now medically retired with a painful handicap, Ray battles the haunting guilt for his partner’s death. Numbing the pain with alcohol and attitude, Ray takes a job as a night watchman at a swanky Orlando condo.

But when a pastor and an exotic dancer are found dead in one of the condos in an apparent murder-suicide, Ray can no longer linger in the shadows. The pastor’s sister is convinced her brother was framed and begs Ray to take on an impossible case–to challenge the evidence and clear her brother’s name.

Ray reluctantly pulls the threads of this supposedly dead-end case only to unravel a murder investigation so deep that it threatens to turn the Orlando political landscape upside down and transform old friends into new enemies. As Ray chases down leads and interrogates suspects, someone is watching his every move, someone determined to keep him from ever finding out the truth–at any cost.

Read our review of The Void.

Listen to House of Wolves by Matt Bronleewe for free!

Matt Bronleewe is offering a free Podcast of his book House of Wolves as a special gift. Says Matt:

"Earlier this year I created an audio book for HOUSE OF WOLVES. It's formatted somewhat like a "director's commentary." In addition to reading the story I sprinkled in some interesting facts I think you'll enjoy. It's available now as a FREE podcast on iTunes. It might be just the thing you need to survive that long trip to Aunt Edna's.

Click HERE for the link or type "House of Wolves Podcast" in your iTunes search box. Check it out and let me know what you think. If you enjoy it, please share with a friend"

Read our review of House of Wolves.

Read our interview with Matt.

The Knight by Steven James

Coming in August 2009 from Revell, is Steven James' third Bowers novel.

Summary:

In The Knight, the third installment in the bestselling series of thrillers featuring FBI criminologist Patrick Bowers, the stakes have never been higher.

Agent Bowers is used to tracking the country's most dangerous killers, but now it looks like a killer is tracking him. When he realizes the murderer is using clues from an ancient manuscript as a blueprint for his crimes, Bowers faces a race against time to decipher who the next victim will be and to stop the final shocking murder--which he's beginning to believe might be his own.

Gritty, chilling, and intense, this psychological thriller is guaranteed to keep readers up all night.

Read our review of The Pawn
Read our review of The Rook

Countdown in Cairo by Noel Hynd

Here's a peak at a book that isn't releasing until January of 2010 (Zondervan). No word yet on a summary.

Read our review of Conspiracy in Kiev, Book #1 in the Russian trilogy here.

Also, our friend and TitleTrakk writer Rel Mollet of Relz Reviewz has a terrific interview online with Noel Hynd here.

Christmas Short Story by Jenny B. Jones

Jenny B. Jones, author of the Katie Parker Production series (In Between, On the Loose, and The Big Picture) has a brand new short story featuring main character Katie Parker online at Briomag.com.

So if you've missed Katie (and Maxine!), you'll want to check the story out here. It can also be found in the print version of the December issue of Brio.

Read our interview with Jenny here.

Coming soon from Beverly Lewis: The Secret

Be looking for a new release from best-selling author Beverly Lewis in 2009 (Bethany House). It's called The Secret and looks like it'll please fans!

Summary:

In the seemingly ordinary Amish home of Grace Byler, secrets abound. Why does her mother weep in the night? Why does her father refuse to admit something is dreadfully wrong? Then, in one startling moment, everything Grace assumed she knew is shattered. Her mother's disappearance leaves Grace reeling and unable to keep her betrothal promise to her long-time beau. Left to pick up the pieces of her life, Grace questions all she has been taught about love, family, and commitment.

Heather Nelson is an English grad student, stunned by a doctor's diagnosis. Surely fate would not allow her father to lose his only daughter after the death of his wife a few years before. In denial and telling no one she is terminally ill, Heather travels to Lancaster County--the last place she and her mother had visited together. Will Heather find healing for body and spirit?

As the lives of four wounded souls begin to weave together like an Amish patchwork quilt, they each discover missing pieces of their life puzzles--and glimpse the merciful and loving hand of God.

Read our interview with Beverly here.

FREE audio book download: Sin Boldy - Limited time

For a limited time, Zondervan is offering a free audio download of the book Sin Boldly : A Field Guide to Grace by Cathleen Falsani.

Summary of the book:

Justice is getting what you deserve. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. And grace is getting what you absolutely don't deserve.

Award-winning author and columnist Cathleen Falsani says, “People regularly ask me why I believe in God. The simple answer … is grace.” In Sin Boldly: A Field Guide to Grace, Falsani explores the meaning and experience of grace through story and song, quotes and photos.

Falsani says, “Grace makes no sense to our human minds. We're hardwired to seek justice, or our limited idea of what that means, and occasionally dole out mercy. Grace is another story.” Sin Boldly is an uplifting, multifaceted, and thought-provoking look at what makes grace so amazing.

Click here to access file.

News from Rene Gutteridge

In her latest newsletter, Rene lets readers in on her upcoming book schedule:

"I know some of you are wondering what will happen with the Occupational Hazards Series. Unfortunately, I can’t really answer that question yet. I have put the series on hold for the moment to work on a couple of different projects. Some of you are dying to get to know Cassie, aren’t you?? Well, hopefully I’ll have some news about it in the future. Although there is a possibility of seven books in this series, my short term intentions were to write three. So, now that those are completed, I need to determine if the series should continue...

"While working on the novelization [of The Ultimate Gift], I got to know the screenwriter, Cheryl McKay, and we became instant friends. So, we decided to work on another novelization together. Our upcoming project, NEVER THE BRIDE (Waterbrook Press), will be out in June of 2009. You’ll be hearing a lot more about this project in the coming months, and I’ll be excited to introduce you to Cheryl...

"I am in the editing phase of that book and moving on to write my new suspense, LISTEN (Tyndale Publishers). For those of you who are fans of my suspense books (GHOST WRITER and THE STORM SERIES), I am pleased to bring you another one! Although I have focused on comedy lately, I am very excited to get back to my suspense roots and bring you a story I am sure you won’t soon forget...

Read our interview with Rene here.
Read our review of Skid here.

SO Not Happening by Jenny B. Jones

First she brought us the Katie Parker Production series, now author Jenny B. Jones is set to release The Charmed Life series in early 2009 (Thomas Nelson) featuring Bella Kirkwood!

Summary:

New York's social darling Isabella Kirkwood just woke up in a nightmare: Oklahoma.

Isabella Kirkwood had it all: popularity at a prestigious private school in Manhattan, the latest fashions, and a life of privilege and luxury. Then her father, a plastic surgeon to the stars, decided to trade her mother in for a newer model.

When her mother starts over with her new husband, Bella is forced to pack up and leave all she knows to live with her new family in Oklahoma. Before her mother can even say "I do," Bella's life becomes a major "don't."

Can Bella survive her crazy new family? Will the school survive Bella? How can a girl go on when her charmed life is gone and God gives her the total smackdown?

Read our interview with Jenny here.

Isle of Fire wins Moonbeam Award

Thomas Nelson is pleased to announce that Isle of Fire, a familiar face on the CBA bestseller list, is the proud recipient of the 2008 Moonbeam Award Silver Medal for Young Adult Fiction. For an award that recognizes not only the creators of exemplary children’s books but also authors who support literacy and life-long reading, there could not be a better choice.

Having witnessed firsthand the lack of quality reading material for young minds, Batson set out to develop his own teaching tools through the creation of his first published series, The Door Within; and now with his second series, Isle of Swords and Isle of Fire. Batson involved his students in the writing process, welcoming critique of his work.

In this new series, Batson weaves a spell-binding adventure filled with high-seas drama where battles rage, storms brew, a long-dormant volcano awakens, and a sea creature slithers in the deep as pirates race for a cliff-top fortress. It is a story of amazing courage that will take young readers on the ride of their lives as well as encourage and challenge them to be heroes themselves.

The bestselling Isle of Swords adventure continues in Isle of Fire as ancient mariners rise from legend and cut an all-too-real swath of destruction across the Atlantic. The newly formed Wolf Fleet scours the Caribbean, hunting the pirates they once called comrades. And in the pitiless winds of a monstrous hurricane, whole fleets will be blasted apart and devoured.

Wayne Thomas Batson is the author of the bestselling The Door Within Trilogy. A middle school reading teacher in Maryland for 17 years, Batson tailors his stories to meet the needs of the young people he cares so deeply about. Batson writes adventures set in imaginative locales because he believes that on a deep level, we all dream of doing something that matters and that we all long for another world. When last seen, Batson was tromping around Westfarthing with his beautiful wife and four adventurous children.

About the Moonbeam Awards
Presented by Jenkins Group and Independent Publisher Online, the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are designed to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading. Awards are given in 30 categories covering the full range of subjects, styles and age groups that children’s books are written and published in today. For more information, visit www.moonbeamawards.com.

Read our review of Isle of Fire here.

Travis Thrasher's "Sky Blue on 66" video

A fun compilation of Travis Thrasher's travels to promote his novel Sky Blue across the country.

The Boneman's Daughters by Ted Dekker

Dekker's mainstream debut is coming this April from Center Street.

Summary:

Military intelligence officer Ryan Evans is hot on the trail of Boneman, a Texas serial killer who murders his victims by breaking their bones. Evans witnessed this torture technique when he was serving in Fallujah. Now he's a suspect and his daughter is Boneman's latest target! Can he clear himself and save his daughter?

Read our latest interview with Ted here.

Salty Like Blood by Harry Kraus

Coming in March from Harry Kraus and Howard/Simon & Schuster.

Summary:

Dr. David Conner's idyllic life is unraveling. First his 7-year-old daughter is abducted, then his already-troubled marriage gets worse and his medical career disintegrates, forcing him to take a job at a correctional facility. When he meets a particular prisoner, David is faced with a decision---can he forgive his daughter's kidnapper?

Read our review of Perfect here.
Read our review of All I'll Ever Need here.

Chat with Travis Thrasher November 12th!

WHO: Travis Thrasher, suspense, adventure and drama novelist, shares thoughts about his new supernatural thriller, “Isolation.” With the dream of being a writer since the third grade, his first novel, “The Promise Remains,” was published in 1998 and received accolades from Publisher’s Weekly, which said it was “one of the nicest surprises in CBA fiction.” Now, with nine additional published books, Thrasher is known as a writer who remains ever-changing, tackling and succeeding in various genres. His newest novel, “Isolation,” is masterfully written and will keep readers on edge until the chilling end.

WHAT: “Authors at Abunga” Weekly Online Chat with Travis Thrasher at Abunga.com, an online bookstore offering family-friendly materials.

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008
11 a.m. – Noon PST / 1 – 2 p.m. CST / 2 – 3 p.m. EST (LIVE)
At www.Abunga.com/AuthorsAtAbunga

DETAILS: “Isolation” is a thrilling mystery about a missionary family that moves into a secluded mansion in the mountains of North Carolina, thinking they are escaping their nightmares. But when a snowstorm hits and they are trapped inside their new home, their worst fears become reality. As they fight to stay alive, they will be tested in ways they never imagined – spiritually and physically. Thrasher weaves suspense and drama into this gripping story centered around fear and faith.

For information, visit http://Abunga.com/FeaturedAuthorThrasher or www.TravisThrasher.com.

Abunga.com is an online bookstore founded to provide families a protected shopping environment. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Abunga.com offers safety with more than 2 million family-friendly titles; savings through distributor-direct prices and support to nonprofit organizations by donating 5 percent of each transaction to a customer-selected charity. For more information, visit www.Abunga.com.

Trailer for The Face by Angela Hunt

Read out interview with Angela here.

FREE book download: 13 Ways to Ruin Your Life - A Practical Guide for Guys

13 Ways To Ruin Your Life – A Practical Guide For Guys, by author/speaker Jarrod Jones, is available for free download beginning today at www.13waystoruinyourlife.com. From Gresham Hill Publishing, the book uses biblical exposition, real-life examples, and Jones’ personal testimony to describe the devastating effects of sexual immorality, and how men can better equip themselves—and those they care about—in the battle. The free download is specifically designed to reach men via the Internet, the very place where pornography rules.

13 Ways To Ruin Your Life is already generating significant media attention, as pornography has become a catastrophic problem both within the Church and mainstream culture. Jones is slated to appear tomorrow on FamilyNet TV’s “EveryDay with Marcus & Lisa,” and he is currently featured at CBN.com as well as Relevant’s Neueministry.com. In addition, JesusFreakHideout.com debuted a guest blog entry from Jones today.

Author and speaker Jarrod Jones is a graduate of Samford University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has spoken around the world at churches, conferences, retreats, camps and public school assemblies. His other titles include The Backward Life: In Pursuit of an Uncommon Faith (Revell/Baker), as well as Worship, which he co-authored with Joel Engle.

Camy Tang signs again with Zondervan for 3 more books!

Just reported at Camy's blog:

My agent called me today with the great news! Zondervan has contracted me for another three books!

Right now, they’re all stand alone books—not a series.

The first book is slated to release May 2010 and is tentatively titled The Year of the Dog (they’ll probably change it). It’s a women’s contemporary novel. Here’s the back cover blurb from my proposal:

Tessa Ota, a professional dog trainer, is having a bad year.

While moving ahead with renovation plans for her new dog kenneling and training facility, Tessa needs to move in with her disapproving mother and her antagonist sister. She convinces her ex-boyfriend to take her dog for a few months … but discovers that his brother is the irate engineer whose car she rammed a few weeks earlier.

Charles Bretton has enough problems. His mama has just shown up on his doorstep all the way from Louisiana, and his brother has to move in with him after being kicked out of his apartment—with a dog in tow. And guess who the dog’s owner is?

His brother’s slovenliness, Mama’s diabetic bouts with low blood sugar, and the dog’s bad behavior are all distracting Charles from his wedding plans with a woman whose family connections will help Charles in his career. But he can’t help being attracted to the dog trainer whose sunny smile masks her bitterness at hypocritical Christians, and he starts to wonder about his own professed faith.

Will Tessa’s disjointed family and Charles’s disruptive home prevent both of them from discovering what’s really important?

What's next for author Tim Downs?

This just in...

Tim Downs' next Bugman novel is going to be called Bug The Dead. It releases in the summer of 2009. Word has it that the character Alena (from Less Than Dead) makes a comeback ... as does Kathryn Guilford, the main female lead from Tim's first novel Shoofly Pie.

Should make for interesting reading!

Read our review of Less Than Dead here.
Read our review of First the Dead here.

Read a YA fantasy novel for FREE!

You know how it is these days. Money's tight. You love to read, but you're less likely to take a chance on a new book unless you know for sure you're going to love it.

The Miller Brothers understand your feelings, and they've made it easy for you to test drive for free the entire text of their YA fantasy/adventure novel Hunter Brown and the Secret of the Shadow. Too good to be true? Not this time.

Check out their cool website, Codebearers.com to learn more about Book #1 in the series, and test drive it. Chances are, you'll want to own a hard copy of the novel after you've gotten going. You can purchase the books online there, too.

There are also tons of videos and other goodies you'll want to watch and learn from.

ABOUT THE MILLER BROTHERS:

The Codebearers Series was developed by the creative brother team of Christopher & Allan Miller. The Miller brothers have had the distinct privilege of growing up in a CBA Bookstore. As children they learned first hand the value of faith-based stories while helping their parents operate several Christian bookstores and book clubs for 30 years. As a result, they founded Lumination Studios, a creative house that is geared toward developing stories of faith and fantasy for families everywhere. Their focus is to create properties that boys will especially love to read and watch.

In addition to being authors, the Miller Brothers are both formally trained with a degree in Computer Animation and Multimedia Design. They have worked as animators for the popular CBA kids video series, Juniors Giants, and have recently written and illustrated a childrens picture book series entitled "Heroes of Promise" (Warner Press Kids).

The dynamic duo's unique artistic style lends itself well to both print and video publication and is sure to be a hit with families seeking values-based entertainment products. Lumination's product line, which includes the newly released Heroes of Promise product line, and the Codebearer's series will comprise of: Books Graphic Novels Musical CD Products Web-based Products Animated Films Games & Toys.

Check out their website today!

Nancy Moser's new hobby... Doodle Canes!

We knew authors were creative with words, but Nancy Moser proves authors can be just as creative with other mediums! Recently she found herself using a cane to help her walk better. But she didn't want to just use any old cane. It needed to have some life, some sparkle! So she "doodled" her own, and folks started asking where they too could buy one.





The rest is, as they say, history! Nancy's very own hand-painted Doodle canes are available for purchase. Click here to learn more. At $135.00 you could own an original piece of art by one of your favorite authors!

Eric Wilson's Fireproof Hits NY Times Bestseller List

This just in from Eric:

"I just got the news from my publisher: FIREPROOF, the novel, is at #34 on the NY Times trade paperback bestseller list. Of course, the movie has done much better than the Hollywood insiders expected. It's a powerful story. I've received emails from firemen and firemen's wives telling how this has touched them on a deep level."

Read our review of Fireproof the novel.

Tosca Lee Book Giveaway

Our friend Tosca Lee is giving away copies of her brand new book Havah over at her blog! If you've ever wondered what Eve could've experienced in the garden of Eden, then this is the novel for you.

Check out the contest here.

Summary of Havah:

What was it like to be the first woman on earth, to wake to a brand-new creation---and Adam? Why did she become so beguiled by the serpent? In this lyrical retelling of the biblical narrative, Lee brings Eden to life, revealing the dawn of mankind from Eve's viewpoint.

Read our interview with Tosca.

Trailer for On A Someday by Roxanne Henke

Yesterday's Embers by Deborah Raney

Another novel coming in March 2009 is Deborah Raney's Yesterday's Embers, the third and last novel in her Clayburn series. But never fear. She's recently signed on with Howard Books for another series, so fans can look forward to more from her in the future.

Summary:

Tragedy has left Doug DeVore with five children to raise alone. When Mickey Valdez, the children’s daycare teacher, lends a helping hand, sparks flicker between them and quickly ignite. But romance and real life are two very different things, and too late, Doug and Mickey realize they've said "I do" to something neither of them bargained for. Now they must find a way to untangle their knot of hasty choices without breaking the hearts of five precious children—or their own—in the process.

Read our interview with Deborah.

Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills

Coming in March 2009 from DiAnn Mills and Tyndale House is an interesting new book. No full descriptions are available as yet, but we believe the series is about women CIA operatives in various parts of the world.

Read the 1st chapter of James Scott Bell's upcoming Try Fear

James Scott Bell's next Ty Buchanan novel, Try Fear, is hitting shelves in July 2009. But Jim has the first chapter posted on his website available for your reading pleasure. Click here. Sounds like Ty's getting himself into more trouble!

Read our interview with James Scott Bell.
Read review of Try Dying.
Read review of Try Darkness.

Rayne Tour series by Brandilyn & Amberly Collins covers released!

Today at her blog, Brandilyn has revealed the covers of her upcoming YA series written with daughter Amberly. Titled Always Watching and Last Breath respectively, the novels feature Shaley O'Connor, daughter of rock star Rayne O'Connor.











Shaley seems to have it all--a life of limos, backstage passes, and fancy hotels--until murder shakes her world. Both release next spring.

Marcher Lord Press launches October 1st!

It's almost time for the launch of Jeff Gerke's Marcher Lord Press, fast becoming the premier Christian speculative fiction publisher.

Be sure to visit the site now so you can enter to win some cool prizes -- deadline is October 1st.

And you also might want to read our interview with Jeff to find out all that's gone into this press, their launch list novels, and much more!

Unseen Pages Project

T.L. Hines has announced a cool new project to help promote his upcoming novel The Unseen. And the great part is, it sounds like a lot of fun! Here's what T.L. says about the project on his website:

Right now, people all across the United States and Canada are helping me disassemble and hide one complete copy of my latest book, The Unseen, in dozens of locations. You can see who those people are and sign up to join them if you want; we'll start hiding pages the first of October or so. That's 192 individual pages (383 pages, actually--but each individual page has a front and a back), hiding in unseen spaces--much like Lucas, the main character in The Unseen.

Why? Well, a multitude of reasons, but foremost among them is: to have fun. Maybe sell a few books, maybe meet a few new people, maybe get a few unexpected surprises...but for me, that all comes under the category of having fun. Of course, I want to make it fun for you, too. So here's what I'm doing. If you've found one of the Unseen Pages, just click on the appropriate page and tell me a little bit about where you found it, how you found it, or whatever. I'm hoping you might come up with something creative inspired by the page you found (a haiku, a photo, an origami...use your imagination), because the most creative comments/entries will win free tee shirts. But just a simple comment is really all you need to do; it's all good, and I certainly appreciate you just dropping by and participating.

Then--and this is key for a couple of reasons--put the page where someone else can find it and do the same. I don't care where you put it, as long as it's publicly-accessible; heck, you can even mail it to other friends in different cities, if you want. Sorta like a chain letter, yes, but without those negative "You'll die in five days if you don't send this to someone!" overtones. And you don't really have to send the page to anyone else; just leave it in public for someone else to find. Just by participating, you could win some free stuff.

How? The individual page that gets passed around most--that is, the page that gets the most comments or entries right here on this very site--will win a prize for each and every person who found that page: free signed copies of my first two books, Waking Lazarus and The Dead Whisper On. So, if you find a page and pass it on, you could win free signed books, perfect for reading, gift-giving or fire-starting.

And hey, the free schwag doesn't end there. The first 50 people who find a page and leave an entry in the Unseen Pages project will get a free iTunes download. Plus, as I said before, the most creative entries will win snazzy The Unseen tee shirts. And, if you want to find out more about The Unseen, you can also win a cool Urban Explorer Kit, complete with a GPS unit, a digital camera, and more. And once again, it's all in fun. So I hope you'll join me. I'm hoping this whole project leads to fun new adventures that are still (ahem) unseen.

Check out more and sign up at T.L.'s website.

ECPA Book Cover Award Finalists Announced

Bibles

• The Literary Study Bible, Crossway Bibles, Leland Ryken and Philip Graham Ryken, 9781581348088


• Urban Devotional Bible, Crossway Bibles, Dr. Michael Reynolds, Sr. General Editor, 9781433502828


• The Voice of Hebrews, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Greg Garrett and David Capes, Creators, 9780529123534

Category 1: “Best Cover from a Small-Sized Publisher” (From publishers with 1-100 titles annually)

• Francis Schaeffer: An Authentic Life, Crossway Books, Colin Duriez, 9781581348576


• Preaching as Art, Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, Darius L. Salter, 9780834123595


• Red Letters, David C. Cook, Tom Davis, 9780781445351


• Zora and Nicky, David C. Cook, Claudia Mair Burney, 9780781445504

Category 2: “Best Cover from a Mid-Sized Publisher” (From publishers with 101-250 titles annually)

• Faith to Faith, Harvest House Publishers, Dan Scott, 9780736923507


• O2, Harvest House Publishers, Richard Dahlstrom, 9780736922142


• On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, Andrew Peterson, 9781400073849

Category 3: “Best Covers from a Large Publisher” (From publishers with 251+ titles published annually)

• Adam, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Ted Dekker, 9781595540072


• The Domino Effect: Falling Forward into the Story of Good and Evil, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Wayfarer Ministries, 9781418533403


• unChristian, Baker Publishing Group, David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, 9780801013003

Trailer for Hometown Favorite by Bill Barton & Henry O. Arnold

Trailer for the Trophy Chase trilogy by George Bryan Polivka

Review of The Legend of the Firefish here.
Review of The Hand that Bears the Sword here.
Review of The Battle for Vast Dominion here.

Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent (Operation First Novel 2007 winner)

Coming in January 2009 from Tyndale is Jennifer Erin Valent's debut novel, which won the 2007 Operation First Novel contest sponsored by the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

Back Cover Copy:

“The summer I turned thirteen, I thought I killed a man.”

So begins the story of Jessilyn Lassiter, a young girl whose world is torn apart the summer of 1932. When Jessilyn’s best friend, Gemma, loses her parents in a tragic fire, Jessilyn’s father vows to care for her as his own, despite the fact that Gemma is black and prejudice is prevalent in their southern Virginia town.

It doesn’t take long for the Lassiters to attract the attention of a local band of Ku Klux Klan members, who make increasingly violent threats on Jessilyn and her family.

As she struggles to navigate a complex world of first crushes, loyalties, and betrayals, Jessilyn ultimately discovers what it takes to be a bright light in a dark world.

Trailer for The Unseen by T.L. Hines

The Love Dare Book

Weeks before the movie Fireproof opens in theaters, The Love Dare, a book that began as a plot device in the film, has sold 300,000 copies into bookstores and is in its third printing.

“It’s a plot device, it’s a book, it’s a marriage saver, it’s a movement,” says John Thompson, vice president of marketing for the book’s publisher, B&H Publishing Group. “This is the fastest-selling book we’ve ever handled.”

“In America, the average book sells about 5,000 copies,” Thompson said. “The Love Dare, at $14.99 a copy in paperback, could be the top-selling Christian book of 2008.” The paperback version hits stores in time for the movie’s theatrical premiere this month. The keepsake edition coincides with the DVD release in spring 2009.

The Fireproof plot turns on a handwritten book, a 40-day challenge to learn and practice unconditional love. In movie pre-screenings, audiences left asking, “How can I get that book?” “We shut out the world and wrote for several weeks,” said Stephen Kendrick who, with his brother Alex had also written the movie. “We weren’t expecting such demand so early. Meanwhile, it’s a scary thing to realize the love God calls us to, and the love He’s ready to give through us. Our wives are watching to see if writing the book has taught us anything!”

Both brothers are associate pastors at Sherwood Church in Albany GA, which produced the movie.

Sony Pictures opens Fireproof in some 750 theaters this Sept. 26. In the movie, firefighter Caleb Holt receives a handwritten book from his father, a 40-day challenge to love his wife after

they’ve agreed to divorce. Caleb resents loving in the face of indifference but goes through the motions to respect his father: Day One: Love is Patient; Day Two: Love is Kind; Day Three: Love is Thoughtful. While Caleb learns to bite his tongue, set out coffee, and realign his priorities, his wife, Catherine, completely ignores each gesture. By day 20 he breaks; he can’t do it. That’s when the real love story begins.

This powerful story of a spouse transformed as he read The Love Dare is making people want that 40-day challenge for themselves. Churches want it for their marriage classes, and marriage and family counselors want it for couples. In time for the movie’s release, churches, groups, and classes are ordering by the bulk to extend the conversation the movie starts.

The Love Dare and Fireproof come from the creators of Facing the Giants, the 2006 movie that surprised the film industry by showing in 1,010 theaters and earning $10.1 million at the box office using an all-volunteer cast from Sherwood Baptist Church where the Kendricks are associate pastors. To date, the Facing the Giants DVD has sold 1.5 million copies in 14 languages in 58 countries (on every continent!). Fireproof and Facing the Giants are marketed and distributed by Provident Films and Sony Pictures.

B&H Publishing Group, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources, produces some of today’s most sought-after books, Bibles, church supplies, and multimedia products. From its original core of Bibles, textbooks, and reference titles, B&H has developed into a major publisher of Christian living, fiction, youth, history, academic, reference, and electronic products. B&H is home to bestselling authors Beth Moore, Henry Blackaby, Gary Chapman, Oliver North, Chuck Norris, Vicki Courtney, Dan Miller and Thom S. Rainer.

Learn more at www.LoveDareBook.com

Read our interview with Stephen Kendrick here.

Tim Downs' Less Than Dead Ugly Dog Contest!

To celebrate the upcoming release of his next "Bugman" novel, Tim Downs is hosting an Ugly Dog contest at his website. Yes, you read that right. :)

Says Tim in his newsletter... "email us a photo of your favorite glamour-impaired pooch and qualify to win a copy of Less than Dead autographed by the author. We'll post the contributors' photos on the contest page each week as we receive them, so check back to keep track of the competition. Contest ends Nov 1, so hurry!"

Think your pooch is ugly? Maybe his/her will win you a free book! Click here to visit the contest page on Tim's site.

Read our interview with Tim here.
Read our review of First the Dead here.

Ghostwriter by Travis Thrasher

Coming in 2009 from Travis Thrasher and FaithWords.

Keep up-to-date at Travis' blog here.

No summary available yet.

Blaggard's Moon by George Bryan Polivka

Coming in March 2009 from Harvest House is Legend of the Firefish author George Bryan Polivka's next novel. He continues his tradition of swashbuckling action in this next tale.

Summary:

From the author of highly praised Trophy Chase Trilogy comes this exciting swashbuckling tale of a pirate sentenced to die for the crime of mutiny.

As he awaits his fate, this pirate (none other than the delightful Smith Delaney from the Trophy Chase Trilogy) ponders his life and the events that have brought him to this fate.

In the process of remembering, and in grappling with mercy and justice as they have been played out in his life, a tale is spun, a tale of true hearts wronged, noble love gone awry, dark deeds done for the sake of gold, and sacrifices made for love. In the end, our pirate will come face–to–face with himself, with his own death, and with a God who promises grace where none is deserved.

Readers of Christian fantasy will once again be swept away by Bryan Polivka’s compelling storytelling abilities. As Publisher’s Weekly said of the author’s first book, “readers will be flipping pages eagerly.”

Read our review of The Legend of the Firefish here.
Read our review of The Hand that Bears the Sword here.
Read our review of The Battle for Vast Dominion here.

Lynn Spears video about Through the Storm

Watch Lynn Spears talk about her new book Through the Storm, coming on September 16th by Thomas Nelson. She talks about growing up, her greatest regret, what she thinks of the moniker "stage mom", fame, her motivations for the book, and more.

Fantasy Fiction Tour promo video

Sharon Hinck on the Harvest Show!

Nothing But Trouble by Susan May Warren

Coming early next year from Tyndale is Susan May Warren's next book. Here's how she describes it in an interview with Annette M. Irby.

I’m so excited about my new series – I’m calling it the misadventures of PJ Sugar, PI-wannabe. It’s the story of a bad-girl gone good who returns to her hometown ten years after being run out of town for a crime she didn’t commit. She returns home hoping to start fresh, and ends up right back where she started – getting caught up in a murder, and eventually landing back in the county jail, again for a crime she didn’t commit. Can PJ Sugar ever escape trouble, or is she destined to be known as Nothing But Trouble. (And that’s the name of the book). I’m working on a fun website now, and will have it up with previews, etc, in a few weeks. It’s the first in what I’m calling the “PJ Sugar- Trouble” series. And it’s got all my favorite elements – romance, suspense, a strong spiritual thread and lots of good humor. It hits the shelves in February.

Exposure by Brandilyn Collins

Coming in May 2009 from Zondervan is Brandilyn Collins' novel Exposure.

Here's the back cover copy:

When Your Worst Fear Comes True

Someone is watching Kaycee Raye. But who will believe her? Everybody knows she’s a little crazy. Kaycee’s nationally syndicated newspaper column pokes fun at her own paranoia and multiple fears. The police in her small town are well aware she makes money off her experiences. Worse yet, she has no proof. Everything she “sees” disappears.

Maybe she is going over the edge.

Then real danger strikes someone close to Kaycee. And her own disturbing incidences escalate. Are the two related? Is she responsible for it all? Kaycee’s world is about to explode.

High action and psychological suspense collide in this story of terror, twists, and desperate faith. The startling questions surrounding Kaycee pile high. But her descent to answers may prove more than she can survive.

Read our interview with Brandilyn here.

Daniel's Den by Brandt Dodson

Coming in February 2009 from Brandt Dodson is Daniel's Den (Harvest House).

Summary:

In this fast–paced thriller by popular author Brandt Dodson, a young government accountant learns to trust God when his life begins to fall apart and unseen enemies pursue him with relentless zeal.

Daniel Borden is a thirty–year–old government accountant who lives a quiet life and plays by the rules. But when events transpire that shatter his orderly world and a team of assassins mark him for death, Daniel must flee for his life.

While on the run, Daniel encounters Laura Sky. Carefree and easygoing, Laura is everything that Daniel isn’t. But when the killers assigned to eliminate Daniel find him at Laura’s bed–and–breakfast, gunfire erupts and the two set out on the run once again.

As they try to unravel the mystery that confronts them, they discover how tenuous life can be and how their very existence depends on the God who will never abandon them.

Read our interview with Brandt here.

Double Minds by Terri Blackstock

Coming in February 2009 from Zondervan is Terri Blackstock's stand alone title Double Minds.

Summary:

As talented singer/songwriter Parker James struggles to make her mark on the Nashville music scene, she finds the competition can be fierce – even deadly.

When a young woman is murdered at the recording studio where Parker works, Parker is drawn into a mystery where nothing is as it seems.

Unraveling the truth puts her own life at risk when she uncovers high-level industry corruption and is terrorized by a menacing stalker. As the danger escalates, Parker begins to question her dreams, her future, and even her faith. Does stardom even matter anymore?

Trailer for House of Wolves by Matt Bronleewe

Read our review of House of Wolves here.

Marcher Lord Press Preview #3, Summa Elvetica

Jeff Gerke has unveiled the second book in his three-book launch list over at Marcher Lord Press. It's called Summa Elvetica by Theodore Beale.

Summary of the novel:

In Summa Elvetica Beale brings us a delightfully speculative what-if scenario: what if the Catholic Church (or something very like it) existed in a fantasy world in which dwelt non-human intelligent races like orcs, trolls, and elves?

At some point in such a world the leading ecclesiastics would have to wrestle with the question of whether or not these demi-humans have souls and therefore ought to be the subject of evangelization by the Church.

Summa Elvetica is the story of the young priest whom the Church assigns to investigate the matter. Along the way toward his conclusion, he falls in love with an Elven princess and finds himself in the middle of a racially motivated war.

More than the curiosities of high clerics hang in the balance as he comes to declare what he discovers to be God's will about whether or not elves have souls.

About the Author:

Theodore Beale is an American living in Europe. He has published decidedly Christian speculative fiction with decidedly secular publishers: Pocket Books and Simon & Schuster.

He works primarily in the computer game industry, where he has launched and guided a small business into a successful career. He is an entrepreneur and a musician, and, if you do a little digging, you'll find he's interesting in other ways, too.

Read an interview with Theodore here.
Read the first chapter of Summa Elvetica here.

Enoch by Alton Gansky

Coming this fall is Alton Gansky's follow-up to his novel Angel (Realms). It's called Enoch.

Summary:

Around the world a message sounds: "Look for the one I am sending you." Some say that the man who never died is living in Texas. Meanwhile cult leader Mary-Martha Celestine claims that she's the "sent one"---but suddenly finds herself controlled by a demon! Will evil destroy Enoch before he can deliver his message?

Read our review of Angel here.

Kiss by Ted Dekker

Coming in December from Ted Dekker is the first novel he's co-written with Erin Healy. Here's the summary:

After a car accident puts Shauna McAllister in a coma and wipes out six months of her memory, she returns to her childhood home to recover, but her arrival is fraught with confusion. Her estranged father, a senator bidding on the White House, and her abusive stepmother blame Shauna for the tragedy, which has left her beloved brother severely brain damaged.

Leaning on Wayne Spade, a forgotten but hopeful lover who stays by her side, Shauna tries to sort out what happened that night by jarring her memory to life. Instead, she acquires a mysterious mental ability that will either lead her to truth or get her killed by the people trying to hide it. In this blind game of cat and mouse that states even the darkest memories in the face, Shauna is sure of only one thing: if she remembers, she dies.

Read our first interview with Ted here.
Read our second interview with Ted here.