Matt Bronleewe leaves Thomas Nelson and to Give Away His Next Novel The Deadly Hours for FREE

Matt Bronleewe recently made the decision to leave Thomas Nelson (they published his first novels, Illuminated and House of Wolves). That left his 3rd novel, The Deadly Hours, without a home.

Here's the scoop from Matt in his latest newsletter:

Earlier this year, while putting the finishing touches on August Adams’ latest adventure—THE DEADLY HOURS—I made the difficult decision to leave Thomas Nelson Publishing. I’m extremely grateful for the time I spent with them, but like a restless cowboy in search of the wild wild west, it was simply time for me to move on. The inevitable result was putting THE DEADLY HOURS in limbo, something I didn’t want to do. To all of you who have inquired, I apologize for your inability to get your hands on August Adams’ most dangerous journey—

But all that’s about to change....To read the first chapter of The Deadly Hours now, click here.

Believe it or not, Matt's actually giving away digital copies of The Deadly Hours for FREE, if you buy his first two novels for $19.95, that is. Check out all the details at his website.

Read our interview with Matt.
Read our review of Illuminated.
Read our review of House of Wolves.

New John Aubrey Anderson novel coming this summer!

Coming in July 2010 from Fidelis Books (B&H).

Summary:

In 1970, Bill Mann, a pilot who sought to make aerial combat his guiding star, is already lost whether he knows it or not. Although he's at the top of his Air Force class and marries a beautiful girl, his life is centered on drinking and partying-perhaps a way to escape the haunting memory of having to kill two white men who beat his black mother to death when he was ten years old.Upon leaving to spend a year in Vietnam flying combat missions aboard his aircraft, The Cool Woman, Bill remains confident and considers himself "the envied of the envied." But soon enough his wife is leaving him, and a downward spiral of Mann's heart, soul, and survival odds has begun.

The much anticipated sequel to By Darkness Hid coming Spring 2010 from Marcher Lord Press

Just in from Jeff Gerke at Marcher Lord Press....

The first book from list 4 (coming Spring 2010) is the eagerly awaited sequel to By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson.

To Darkness Fled, Book 2 of The Blood of Kings, picks up right where the previous book left off. As you may recall, By Darkness Hid ends with characters entering the mysterious darkness that shrouds the land of Er'Rets. To Darkness Fled begins with these words: "What do you mean she's gone?"

By Darkness Hid is Marcher Lord Press's bestselling novel by a wide margin and readers have been clamoring to know what happens after the cliffhanger ending of that book. That Book 2 is releasing soon is cause for rejoicing. And it's a monster too: 664 pages in its unedited form.

Christy Awards Call For Entries

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Submissions are now being accepted for the 2010
Christy Awards. The awards honor excellence in fiction written from a Christian worldview. Entries are due by December 10, 2009.
Submission guidelines and entry form are available at:

www.christyawards.com

The Christy Awards, named in honor of Catherine Marshall’s novel and her contribution to the popularity of Christian fiction, were established in 1999 to encourage, recognize, and promote excellence in Christian fiction.

Media Inquiries:
Jeane Wynn
Wynn-Wynn Media, LLC
P: 918-283-1834
jeane@wynnwynnmedia.com

Erin Healy's standalone novel Never Let You Go coming April 2010

Coming in April 2010 from Thomas Nelson is Erin Healy's first stand-alone novel Never Let You Go (she's co-written Burn and Kiss with Ted Dekker). Sounds intriguing!

The Price of Holding on to Her Past Will Cost Her Daughter's Future

Lexi lives in the shadow of choices her husband made. Especially Grant’s choice to leave seven years ago, without a word. Her relationship with their daughter Molly is the most important thing in her world now.

When Grant shows up out of the blue declaring his intent to re-enter their daughter’s life, Lexi hardly knows what to do. And on the same day, a drug dealer named Warden arrives on Lexi’s doorstep, demanding she repay Grant’s longstanding debts.

Staggering and supernatural events coincide with the arrival of these two men, and Lexi begins to feel she’s losing it. A dangerous shift is taking place. Forces greater than she’s ever known vye for control. What’s at stake? Lexi’s life as she knows it—and the life of her innocent little girl.

Read our interview with Erin.

Travis Thrasher's Broken coming May 2010

Coming May 2010 from Faithwords is Travis Thrasher's next novel Broken.

We've snagged a summary from Mr.Thrasher himself:

Laila had it all--love, family, wealth, and faith. But when her faith crumbles, her world falls apart and Laila finds herself living an empty, dangerous life as a call girl in Chicago.

When she is threatened, Laila shoots and kills a client in self-defense, sending herself into a spiral of guilt and emptiness. Six months later, she is trying to move on, but she's haunted by the past. She hasn't told anyone about the man she killed, and she's still estranged from her family.

When she is approached by a stranger who says he knows what she did, Laila has no choice but to run. But the stranger stays close behind, and Laila begins having visions of the man she killed. Little does she know she's being hounded by something not of this world, something that knows her deepest, darkest secret.

Scared and wandering, will Laila regain her trust in God to protect her from these demons? Or will her plea for salvation come too late?

The author of eleven works of fiction, TRAVIS THRASHER creates flawed characters and takes them on harrowing journeys of redemption. He and his wife, Sharon, live with their daughter in Chicago, IL. For more information about Travis, visit www.travisthrasher.com.

Bethany House Summer 2010 Suspense novels

Some great new stuff coming from Bethany House in the summer of 2010, including these four suspense/intrigue titles (one even looks like a fantasy). Which one intrigues you the most?

Nightmare
by Robin Parrish

According to Robin in a recent interview, Nightmare "deals with an aspect of the supernatural that no Christian novel has ever approached. It may be the most suspenseful and intense thing I've ever written, and it's going to be a really wild ride. Definitely going to raise some eyebrows, methinks."


Heartless
by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Is that a dragon eye? The lettering of the title hints at fantasy, don't you think? One description we found says about the book: When a king informs his daughter that a prince from a mysterious land seeks her hand in marriage, the princess sets her heart against him because of his unromantic name, Aethelbald, but as other suitors, dragons, and a cunning jester seek her love or loyalty, her heart is stolen.

Tomorrow We Die
Shawn Grady

In an interview with Relz Reviewz, Shawn says this book is "About a Reno paramedic who feels like he’s chasing the Angel of Death."











Back on Murder
J. Mark Bertrand

Mark says about this book, "It introduces Roland March, the detective who will star in the three-book series, at a time when his once-promising career hangs in the balance."

Marcher Lord Press and American Idol?

Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction, today announces the debut of a revolution in fiction acquisitions.

"Marcher Lord Select is American Idol meets book acquisitions," says publisher Jeff Gerke. "We're presenting upwards of 40 completed manuscripts and letting 'the people' decide which one should be published."

The contest will proceed in phases, Gerke explains, in each subsequent round of which the voters will receive larger glimpses of the competing manuscripts.

The first phase will consist of no more than the book's title, genre, length, a 20-word premise, and a 100-word back cover copy teaser blurb. Voters will cut the entries from 40 to 20 based on these items alone.

"We want to show authors that getting published involves more than simply writing a great novel," Gerke says. "There are marketing skills to be developed--and you've got to hook the reader with a good premise."

Following rounds will provide voters with a 1-page synopsis, the first 500 words of the book, the first 30 pages of the book, and, in the final round, the first 60 pages of the book.

The manuscript receiving the most votes in the final round will be published by Marcher Lord Press in its Spring 2010 release list.

No portion of any contestant's mss. will be posted online, as MLP works to preserve the non-publication status of all contestants and entries.

Participating entrants have been contacted personally by Marcher Lord Press and are included in Marcher Lord Select by invitation only.

"We're also running a secondary contest," Gerke says. "The 'premise contest' is for those authors who have completed a Christian speculative fiction manuscript that fits within MLP guidelines and who have submitted their proposals to me through the Marcher Lord Press acquisitions portal before October 29, 2009."

The premise contest will allow voters to select the books that sound the best based on a 20-word premise, a 100-word back cover copy teaser blurb, and (possibly) the first 500 words of the book.

The premise contest entrants receiving the top three vote totals will receive priority acquisitions reading by MLP publisher Jeff Gerke.

"It's a way for virtually everyone to play, even those folks who didn't receive an invitation to compete in the primary Marcher Lord Select contest."

The premise contest is open to anyone with a completed Christian speculative fiction manuscript that meets MLP guidelines for length, content, genre, worldview, audience, etc. To enter, authors must complete the acquisitions form found at the Marcher Lord Press site and supply all the components listed below on or before October 29, 2009.

Marcher Lord Select officially begins on November 1, 2009, and runs until completion in January or February 2010. All voting and discussions and Marcher Lord Select activities will take place at The Anomaly forums in the Marcher Lord Select subforum. Free registration is required.

"In order for this to work as we're envisioning," Gerke says, "we need lots and lots of voters. So even if you're not a fan of Christian science fiction or fantasy, I'm sure you love letting your voice be heard about what constitutes good Christian fiction. So come on out and join the fun!"

Marcher Lord Press is a Colorado Springs-based independent publisher producing Christian speculative fiction exclusively. MLP was launched in fall of 2008 and is privately owned. Contact: Jeff Gerke; www.marcherlordpress.com.

Melanie Wells I Told Two Friends Campaign

A special message from author Melanie Wells (When the Day of Evil Comes, Soul Hunter, My Soul to Keep) about her ambitious I Told Two Friends campaign:

Hi. It’s me, Melanie.

Someone asked me recently – why literacy? Why would anyone give away $100,000 (100% of my profits from sales of My Soul to Keep) to teach illiterate adults how to read? (Okay – fair question. I admit it sounds a little crazy. It’s not like I’m dripping with cash).

Two words: compassion fatigue

Here’s the deal. I support several causes vigorously and regularly (and so should you!) In fact, if you’ll notice, each of my books centers around a cause. When the Day of Evil Comes concerns family violence and suicide. The Soul Hunter references violence against women and lost teens. And My Soul to Keep is about child abduction. I don’t write about these things because they’re morbid. I write about them because they’re IMPORTANT.

But the truth is, I sometimes feel exhausted and overwhelmed by the number of problems out there. Don’t you?

Illiteracy, it turns out, is linked to just about every evil under the sun. Child abuse, poverty, disease, hunger, violent crime, violence against women, HIV/AIDS… . You name it. In fact, illiteracy is one of the FEW things in this world you can actually do something about! A little money goes a LOOOOONG way. And the ripple effects are exponential.

Did you know 33 million adults in the United States can’t read at an 8th grade level? Do the math, folks. That’s 10% of our population. Wow.

17 million American adults can’t read well enough to earn a living wage.

62% of prison inmates are illiterate. Imagine getting out of jail and trying to make a new life for yourself when you can’t even fill out a job application. Do you want that guy back on the street with no job and no skills? Or do you want him to have every opportunity to become a productive member of society?

774 million adults worldwide are illiterate. 2/3 of them are women.

If a mother can’t read, chances are her children won’t be readers either.

It all adds up to one simple thing. A literate population is a healthier, safer, and more productive population.

If you’re reading this, I guarantee you that you take the ability to read this sentence for granted. Millions of other Americans can’t read it. They can’t read the aspirin bottle either. Or the street signs. Or a note from their kid’s teacher.

Most of us are completely unaware of this shadow population. How is it possible that millions of adults in the richest country in the world can’t read? (Click on Rosetta’s story. She’ll tell you all about it.)

The I Told Two Friends campaign was designed to give you a simple, painless, fun way to share the gift of literacy with millions of Americans. All you have to do is buy a couple of books, give them to two friends, and ask them to do the same (and so on, and so on, and so on…).

25 bucks and two friends can change the world. YOU can change the world.

Join us and be part of the solution!

Melanie

Visit the I Told Two Friends website to learn more!

Cover for Deceit by Brandilyn Collins revealed

Today, Brandilyn Collins revealed the cover of her next Zondervan suspense novel (summer 2010) over at her blog. Click it to enlarge. What do you think?

Read our previous interview with Brandilyn.
Read our review of Exposure.

Debut novel from Novel Journey founder Gina Holmes coming soon!

Novel Journey founder Gina Holmes will be releasing her debut novel with Tyndale House in May 2010, and she's recently unveiled the cover!

According to Gina, this work of contemporary fiction and tells the story of a dying young mother who must return home to face the ghosts of her past, and transition her daughter into the arms of a father who didn't even know she existed.

Read more about Gina at her website.

New Dragon series coming from Bryan Davis

A new dragon series is coming from Zondervan in March 2010 from the author who brought us the Dragons In Our Midst and Oracles of Fire series. However, this series is not related to any of the author's other works.

Summary

Jason Masters has heard his older brother Adrian’s tales about dragons kidnapping humans. Supposedly, almost one hundred years ago, a dragon stole away several humans and enslaved them on its own planet. These Lost Ones, as Adrian called them, live terrible lives as cattle. Yet, the Underground Gateway, the portal to the dragon planet, still exists somewhere, and a secret society of the same name has long tried to find it so they can rescue the Lost Ones.

When Adrian leaves to find the portal, Jason takes his place as the Governor’s bodyguard. Although the government has tried to cover up the evidence, he learns that the legends are true, and after being accused of murder and learning that Adrian’s life is in danger, he has to conduct his own search for the portal, a journey filled with danger and intrigue.

Aided by a gifted young lady named Elyssa and an eccentric escapee from the dungeon named Tibalt, Jason ventures into the wilderness to locate Adrian and the Lost Ones. Yet, what he finds on the dragon planet proves to the biggest surprise of all. Koren, a lonely slave girl, is a powerful being called a Starlighter, the slaves' only hope for survival and rescue, though most refuse to believe that their ancestors ever came from another planet.

Francine Rivers' New Novel, Her Mother's Hope, Releasing March 16, 2010

Anticipation is rising for the release of Francine Rivers’s Her Mother’s Hope, the first full-length novel the internationally best-selling author has written since 2003. Tyndale House Publishers will introduce the book with a national marketing campaign surrounding a March 16, 2010, “street date” launch.

Her Mother’s Hope is the first of two historical novels in the Marta’s Legacy series, a saga inspired by strong women from Francine Rivers’s own family ancestry. The oft-unspoken, sacrificial love of a mother for her daughter is a crucial component to this story of four generations of women. Francine Rivers drew her inspiration from the biblical Parable of the Sower and the Seed for this series, while exploring how feeling loved and actually being loved can be perceived very differently. Breaking hurtful generational cycles is a foundational theme in the series.

Near the turn of the twentieth century, fiery Marta Schneider leaves Switzerland and a difficult childhood behind, determined to find life on her own terms. She’s driven by her father’s belief that she’ll never amount to anything more than a servant and her mother’s encouragement to chase her dreams. But nothing has prepared her for the journey ahead and the sacrifices she must make as she travels through Europe and Canada, and finally to the dusty Central Valley of California to raise her family.

Marta’s hope is to give her children a better life, but experience has taught her that only the strong survive. Her tough love is often mistaken for disdain, especially by her oldest daughter, Hildemara Rose, who craves her mother’s acceptance. As Hildie pursues her calling as a nurse, she falls in love and starts a family of her own amidst the turmoil of World War II. But when tragedy threatens the independence she’s worked so hard to build, both mother and daughter must face their own shortcomings and the ever-widening chasm that threatens to separate them forever.

With her hallmark touches of brilliant prose and gripping characterizations, Francine Rivers pens a rich, moving epic about faith and dreams, heartache and disappointment, and ultimately the resilience and tenacity of love.

“Francine Rivers has meticulously crafted a compelling story with an important message for every generation of women,” said Babette Rea, Marketing Manager, Tyndale House. “Tyndale House is privileged to publish Her Mother’s Hope, the first book in an inspiring and significant series about reconciliation and the restoration of life’s most important relationships.”

Francine Rivers has published several best-selling novellas and novels, including the Lineage of Grace series, The Mark of the Lion trilogy, and Redeeming Love. She has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her books have been translated into more than 20 different languages. Her novels have been awarded or nominated for numerous honors, including the RITA Award, the Christy Award, the ECPA Gold Medallion, and the Holt Medallion in Honor of Outstanding Literary Talent. In 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for inspirational fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame. She and her husband, Rick, live in northern California.

Cool Contest

Authors Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper have a great contest going on to promote their new book, Curse of the Spider King. Follow this link and check it out!

More info:

Fantasy. Mystery. Action. Humor. Parents, teachers, and librarians will no longer have to push kids to read—The Berinfell Prophesies will engage intermediate readers and leave them clamoring for more.

The Seven succeeding Elven Lords of Allyra were dead, lost in the Siege of Berinfell as babes. At least that’s what everyone thought until tremors from a distant world known as Earth, revealed strange signs that Elven blood lived among its peoples. With a glimmer of hope in their hearts, sentinels are sent to see if the signs are true. But theirs is not a lone errand. The ruling warlord of Allyra, the Spider King, has sent his own scouts to hunt down the Seven and finish the job they failed to complete many ages ago.

Now 13-year-olds on the brink of the Age of Reckoning when their Elven gifts will be manifest, discover the unthinkable truth that their adoptive families are not their only kin. With mysterious Sentinels revealing breathtaking secrets of the past, and dark strangers haunting their every move, will the young Elf Lords find the way back to the home of their birth? Worlds and races collide as the forces of good and evil battle. Will anyone escape the Curse of the Spider King?

Valley of Bones by Eric Wilson

Coming in April 2010 is Eric Wilson's final book in the Jerusalem's Undead series.

Summary:

In the final installment of the Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy, readers will witness an epic showdown of a battle between good and evil that started when Judas was hung.

The suicide of Judas Iscariot in 30 A.D. left his blood seeping into the soil of the Field of Blood, in Aramaic: the Akeldama. When this same field is disturbed by work crews outside Jerusalem in 1989, a clan of supernatural Collectors is released from the ancient burial chambers. Infused with Judas's enmity, they seek to corrupt and destroy by using blood to infect and exploit a host's weaknesses.

Gina Lazarescu's life has been on a collision course with the Akeldama Collectors. Everyone she knows and loves is threatened by their ever-increasing efforts. Gina knows she can't defeat them on her own, though, and that it will take the combined efforts of all Those Who Resist for this living evil to be stopped.

Wayne Thomas Batson update

This just in from Wayne Thomas Batson:

I've been busy working on not one, not two, but three new books. In this newsletter, I'm going to tell you about the first of these three: Curse of the Spider King (CotSK).

CotSK is the first book of a new fantasy series I'm coauthoring with Christopher Hopper (White Lion Chronicles, Tsaba House 2006). The series is called The Berinfell Prophecies.

CotSK: Fantasy. Mystery. Action. Humor. Parents, teachers, and librarians will no longer have to push kids to read-The Berinfell Prophecies will engage readers and leave them clamoring for more.

The Seven succeeding Elven Lords of Allyra were dead, lost in the Siege of Berinfell as babes. At least that's what everyone thought until tremors from a distant world known as Earth, revealed strange signs that Elven blood lived among its peoples. With a glimmer of hope in their hearts, sentinels are sent to see ifthe signs are true. But theirs is not a lone errand. The ruling warlord of Allyra, the Spider King, has sent his own scouts to hunt down the Seven and finish the job they failed to complete many ages ago.

Now 13-year-olds on the brink of the Age of Reckoning when their Elven gifts will be manifest, discover the unthinkable truth that their adoptive families are not their only kin. With mysterious Sentinels revealing breathtaking secrets of the past, and dark strangers haunting their every move, will the young Elf Lords find the way back to the home of their birth? Worlds and races collide as the forces of good and evil battle. Will anyone escape the Curse of the Spider King?

If you'd like to order Curse of the Spider King, click HERE!

Marcher Lord Press 3rd Release List Going Sci-fi!

This just in from Jeff Gerke, publisher at Marcher Lord Press:

Marcher Lord Press has been kidnapped. Alas, it's true. Strange beings from outer space have apprehended MLP leadership while the authorities slept.

The fiends knew exactly how to hurt us. First, they disabled our defenses. Knocked the silly cat right out. Then they overhwelmed our proximity alarms with vastly advanced weaponry that MLP scientists are only now beginning to study. Finally, they attacked MLP leadership in the first wave. Without command instructions from the top, the loyal MLP defenders were paralyzed. It was classic shock and awe.

The morning after the attack dawned on a Marcher Lord Press materially different from what had been. Witnesses emerged from the rubble of their homes to behold three otherworldly vehicles cooling on the landscape.

The first was a futuristic-looking craft that appeared to be constructed half of terrestrial composites and half of strange metallic alloys. From this vehicle popped a superhuman warrior who told a tale of cyborgs, massacres, and autonomous battle tanks. In his world, a miracle anti-aging elixer has been developed--but something terrible has gone wrong, and the powers that be will do anything to keep the populace from finding out.

This cybernetically augmented human told us that his name was Kirk Outerbridge and that his ship was called The Miracle Cure. Though apparently ship names in his galaxy are subject to change.

No sooner had Outerbridge concluded his tale than a bald cyberpunk exited the second vehicle and began to speak. This vessel was even more advanced than the first. It was seemingly capable of deep-space--perhaps even interstellar--flight. The bald man spun a yarn of a future Earth in which Islam has conquered all, and privately owned debuggers, like him, must do the work that keeps this Imam-ordered civilization running smoothly.

Unfortunately, one of the bots has malfunctioned. On this ship's maiden voyage to a star curiously singing (which is, he said, also the name of his vessel), something happened to the main servbot on the crew. It seemed to go crazy and tear itself apart limb from limb. Our man has been called in to find out what happend. The debugger, who calls himself Kerry Nietz, says his tale is something akin to I, Robot meets Muhammed--in space.

The third vessel is the most advanced of the three. It sits confidentaly atop monstrous landing struts, towering over the battlefield. A young man leaps from an open portal and lands on the ruined street. He carries an odd white box at his hip. His ship is capable of many leaps between stars and has seen galaxies the other two could not begin to guess at.

In his world, the Act of Religious Tolerance has outlawed all but the state religion, and the holy books from all belief systems are banned. The galaxy is held in uneasy alliance and all the colonized worlds are at peace--or so goes the official story. The truth is that the secret military is about to stage a coup, a powerful warrior family is about to be shredded, and the forbidden item in the young man's white box can tear the empire apart. Or save it.

Our youth offers his name, Steve Rzasa, and utters an enigmatic whisper: The Word Reclaimed.

Whether or not these three vessels of war and their mysterious captains mean us further harm is yet to be determined. Possibly they pose no further danger and the destruction they wrought was merely the result of their interdimensional rifting into our dimension. Perhaps their stories are something we must and shall hear.

All we can say with any assurance is that the future--that future beginning October 2009--has been claimed by men from the future and their tales of wonder, woe, and awe.

Read our interview with Jeff.

Win Set of Adirondack Chairs from B&H Fiction

Enter here for the chance to win a set of two Adirondack chairs similar to those on the cover of Sweet Waters, the new novel by award-winning author Julie Carobini. Simply snap a picture of where you'd put these chairs (in your office, at the beach, by a tree, etc.), then e-mail the image along with your name to SweetWaters@BHPublishingGroup.com.

Deadline to submit entries is August 30. Winner will be notified by e-mail. Chairs will be shipped directly to winner. Entry into this contest grants B&H Publishing Group permission to add you to its Book & Bible Update and Fiction News e-newsletters (unsubscribing is easy). B&H respects your privacy and will never share your e-mail address with other companies. Retail value of this prize is $250.

Official Rules...

"The perfect combination of playfulness, charm and enrichment. Julie Carobini has a winner on her hands." -- RelzReviewz

"Reading Sweet Waters is like taking a beach vacation from the comfort of your own living room . . . a beautiful story of fresh starts, painful secrets, and the depth of a family's love."
-- Kathryn Cushman, author of A Promise to Remember

"A truly engaging story . . . fascinating." --DancingWord.net

"The romantic tension is both powerful and convincing" --TCM Reviews

One entry per customer. Your entry grants B&H permission to subscribe you to its "Book & Bible Update" and "Fiction Club" e-newsletters. Prize winner will be notified by e-mail. B&H respects your privacy and will never share your e-mail address with other companies. Official Rules...

T.L. Hines Free Book Download for Uploading Photo

New social media photomosaic from author TL Hines lets readers win free digital downloads of his latest book Faces in the Fire for one week only: July 27-August 2. The most interesting tattoo photos—as well as the most interesting photos overall—will win unique action figures (Crazy Cat Lady, Bigfoot, Librarian, and more).

(Billings, Mont.) [PRWEB] Novelist TL Hines and publisher Thomas Nelson announces a new social media project to support the release of Hines's latest novel, FACES IN THE FIRE. The project, dubbed "Be a Face in the Fire," invites fans to submit images to become part of an online mosaic at http://www.tlhines.com. Every person who submits an image during the first week— July 27-August 2—will receive a free digital download of the novel which can be read on the user’s personal computer or digital reader device. Images submitted after the first week will still be eligible to win unique action figures given away at the end of the summer.

“Part of the fun of a new book for me," Hines says, "is finding interesting new ways to interact with readers. I've been a big fan of social media since launching my fiction career. So with a book named FACES IN THE FIRE, I thought, why not create a giant mosaic and invite people to submit their own faces?" Hines thinks the game prizes will convince social media fanatics to put their faces in the fire. "The free download, courtesy of my publisher, Thomas Nelson, is a great giveaway for social media users; these are the people who are reading books on Kindles and iPhones. Plus, 20 people will win the unique action figures."

The action figures, from quirky retailer Archie Mcphee, include a choice of an Obsessive Compulsive Action Figure, a Bigfoot Action Figure, a Jane Austen Action Figure, a Librarian Action Figure, a Moses Action Figure, or a Crazy Cat Lady Action Figure. Which begs the question: Why? "It's just fun" Hines says. "I don't want to do the same old giveaways everyone else does. And because I write strange stories, the Mcphee action figures are an ideal fit."

Five photos judged most interesting or unique will win, and in a special category, the five most interesting tattoo photos. "One of the main stories in the book is about a tattoo artist, so I'm especially interested in photos of tattoos," Hines says. Five winners will also be drawn at random from all photos submitted, as well as five winners from people who share the project through Facebook, Twitter, Delicious or other social media services.

Hines's new novel is a collection of four interconnected novellas, with the lives of the main characters crossing paths as they face strange circumstances. Ghosts trapped in the clothing of the dead. Miraculous cancer cures appearing in spam emails. Tattoos that come to life, revealing scenes of the future. And a mafia hit man whose touch can literally kill. Such quirky stories and characters have earned Hines comparisons to authors such as Dean Koontz—and readers who are surprised to find out Hines is published by Christian publisher Thomas Nelson. "Are my books Christian books?" Hines asks. "Sure; I think my worldview comes across. But Christian books aren’t all alike, and that's okay. There's room on the shelves for traditional genres such as Christian romance, Christian thrillers, Christian historical novels—and strange stuff like mine. It shows the Christian book market is growing and expanding, and that's good for all of us."

"Be a Face in the Fire" isn't Hines's first out-of-the-box effort to connect with fiction readers. Last year, he disassembled one complete copy of his novel THE UNSEEN and more than a hundred volunteers hid pages to be discovered in locations across the U.S. and Canada. To launch his first book in 2005, he invited people to sign up as Volunteer Book Publicists, and shared 10% of his first royalty statement with the 100 most active participants. For his second book, readers completing an online puzzle received a song written and recorded for the book by the band Pivitplex. Hines also names a character in each book after readers who sign up on his web site or Facebook fan page.

Such unique marketing tactics have earned coverage in trade publications such as Publishers Weekly and several online media outlets. "I do it because I'm trying to sell a few books, of course," he says. "But more than that, I do it because it's fun—I get to meet new people, discover new things. And that's what social media is all about."

ABOUT TL HINES
TL Hines writes "Noir Bizarre" stories, mixing mysteries with oddities in books such as WAKING LAZURUS, THE DEAD WHISPER ON, THE UNSEEN, and FACES IN THE FIRE. His work has won recognitions ranging from the Maryland Writers Association novel contest to Library Journal's "25 Best Genre Fiction Books of the Year" award.
Facebook: tlhines.com/facebook
Twitter: twitter.com/TLHines
Photomosaic: www.tlhines.com/fitf
Press materials for "Be a Face in the Fire": tlhines.com/faces

Read our review of Faces in the Fire.

Brandilyn Collins sells movie option for Dark Pursuit

This just in from Brandilyn Collins' blog:

I'm pleased to announce that a contract has been signed for the movie option of Dark Pursuit, my stand-alone novel released in the fall of 2008.

Maggie Field of Maggie Field Literary Consulting discovered Dark Pursuit while searching for new novels with film potential. She alerted producer Harry Gittes, who liked the book very much. Gittes has teamed up with screenwriter Chuck Pogue to purchase the option.

Before the contract was negotiated, Gittes and Pogue spent about an hour on the phone with me and my agent, Lee Hough of Alive Communications, talking about their vision for the film. It was a good conversation, and I appreciated the time they took to fill me in on their thoughts. After that conversation, all parties decided to proceed with negotiations.

If you're unfamiliar with the term "movie option," think of it as a rental of film rights for a book. For the specified time of the option, the purchasers tie up the film rights while they create a screenplay and see if they can gain interest in funding the film. If they do, the film rights are then bought outright. If not, when the option runs out the rights revert to the author, who can then option or sell the film rights to someone else.

Read our 1st review of Dark Pursuit
Read our 2nd review of Dark Pursuit
Read our interview with Brandilyn

Burn by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy coming Jan. 2010

Coming in January 2010 from Thomas Nelson is the second novel in the Dekker/Healy collaboration! They started with Kiss, and now they're bringing us Burn.

Here's a summary:

The past Janeal thought had burned away is rising from the ashes.

Years ago, the Gypsy Kumpania where Janeal Mikkado lived was attacked by outsiders. With her best friend about to be consumed by a fire, Janeal had two options: try to save her friend--at serious risk to her own life--or disappear with the million dollars that she had just discovered...

But the past is quickly come back to haunt her. Both her best friend and the boyfriend that she was sure were dead have reappeared in her life, as has someone who knows about the money. There's a debt to be paid for the money she found, but there's an even greated debt she must face--and if the chaff isn't burned from her own heart, it will consume her.

Read our interview with Erin Healy.
Read our interview with Ted Dekker.
Read our review of Kiss.

2009 Christy Award Winners!

Thanks to the wonderful work of Jeanne and Tyson Wynn of Wynn-Wynn Media, the Christy Awards were announced live last night in Denver during a special Live Blog event. You can read the full transcript with lots of photos here.

Click here to read a list of the nominees.

The following are the proud recipients of the 2009 Christ Awards!


Contemporary Romance

Beyond The Night
by Marlo Schalesky
Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing

Read our interview with Marlo.









Contemporary Series

You Had Me At Goodbye
by Tracey Bateman
FaithWords

Read our review.
Read our 1st interview with Tracey.
Read our 2nd interview with Tracey.







Contemporary Standalone

Dogwood
by Chris Fabry
Tyndale House











First Novel

Blue Hole Back Home
by Joy Jordan-Lake
David C. Cook











Historical

Until We Reach Home
by Lynn Austin
Bethany House

Read our review.









Historical Romance

From A Distance
by Tamera Alexander
Bethany House

Read our review.









Suspense

The Rook
by Steven James
Revell

Read our review.








Visionary

Vanish
by Tom Pawlik
Tyndale House










Young Adult

I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires
by Cathy Gohlke
Moody Publishers

Christy Award winners announced tonight!

Tonight the Christy Award winners will be announced! Our friends at Wynn-Wynn Media are covering it live via blogging. To catch all the fun tonight at 7:00 MDT, click here.

To read the list of nominees, check out our blog post here. Who are you rooting for?

The Christy Awards are all about honoring Christian novels and the novelists who write them. To learn more about the history of the awards, visit their website.

Coming in 2010 from B&H Fiction

Some great stuff coming from B&H next spring!

Rooms
by James L. Rubart

On a rainy spring day in Seattle, young software tycoon Micah Taylor receives a cryptic, twenty-five-year-old letter from a great uncle he never knew. It claims a home awaits him on the Oregon coast that will turn his world inside out. Suspecting a prank, Micah arrives at Cannon Beach to discover a stunning brand new nine-thousand square foot house. And after meeting Sarah Sabin at a nearby ice cream shop, he has two reasons to visit the beach every weekend.

When bizarre things start happening in the rooms of the home, Micah suspects they have some connection to his enigmatic new friend, Rick, the town mechanic. But Rick will only say the house is spiritual. This unnerves Micah because his faith slipped away like the tide years ago, and he wants to keep it that way. But as he slowly discovers, the home isn’t just spiritual, it’s a physical manifestation of his soul, which God uses to heal Micah’s darkest wounds and lead him into an astonishing new destiny.

Enemies Among Us
by Bob Hamer

Matt Hogan loves being an undercover FBI agent almost as much as he loves his wife, Caitlin. But when the daring—some would say reckless—G-Man totals two vehicles in his Beverly Hills pursuit of a fleeing Arab drug runner, he incurs the wrath of the Bureau’s hierarchy. To avoid almost-certain suspension, he accepts a new assignment to track terrorist cell groups while posing as a volunteer at World Angel Clinic, a Christian ministry reaching out to injured Third World children. What Matt doesn’t know is that the ripples of danger from this case will threaten not only his and Caitlin’s life and happiness, but also the safety and security of the entire nation.


Angel's Den
by Jamie Carie

In 1808, when Emma meets and marries Eric Montclaire (the famed “most handsome man west of the Appalachians”), this young daughter of prominent St. Louis citizens believes a fairy tale has just begun. Instead, her husband’s angelic looks quickly prove only to mask a monstrous soul all too capable of possessive emotions and physical abuse. Praying for mercy, she is devastated when Eric insists on her joining his yearlong group expedition to the Pacific Ocean, following the trail Lewis and Clark blazed just a few years earlier. By the time cartographer Luke Bowen realizes Emma’s plight, it’s too late to easily untangle what has become an epic web of lies, theft, murder, courtroom drama, and a deep longing for love. Only God can show them the way out.

Deliver us From Evil
by Robin Carroll

A beautiful yet tough woman working in a beautiful yet tough setting, Brannon Callahan is a search and rescue helicopter pilot for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Strong faith and a decorated history of service have kept her one step ahead of on-the-job dangers, but there’s no precedent for what’s about to happen. After a blizzard takes down a small plane carrying U.S. Marshal Roark Holland (already haunted by a recent tragedy), Brannon must save him in more ways than one and safeguard the donor heart he’s transporting to a government witness on the edge of death. Otherwise the largest child trafficking ring in history—with shocking links from Thailand to Tennessee—will slip further away into darkness along the Appalachian Trail.

B&H Publishing Signs Tosca Lee

Nashville, Tenn., July 8, 2009 - Award-winning author Tosca Lee will release her highly-anticipated third novel in 2011 under the B&H Fiction Pure Enjoyment line. Written from the point of view of the most reviled man in Christendom--Judas--Tosca will again give readers a powerful and enlightening glimpse into the spiritual realm.

"We are thrilled to have Tosca writing for us," said Karen Ball, executive editor for fiction at B&H Publishing Group. "She's a true craftsman. Combine that with her remarkable ability to see inside those we most despise--a demon, Eve, and now Judas--and you get powerful stories of truth and grace that intrigue and challenge readers."

Her two previous books, Demon: A Memoir and Havah: The Story of Eve, created quite a stir in Christian fiction. Demon: A Memoir was a 2008 Christy Award Finalist, 2008 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Silver Award Winner and 2008 ACFW Book of the Year, Speculative, Second Place. It earned rave reviews across the faith spectrum, including the distinction of, "The most creative, mind-twisting novel of this summer," from Infuzemag.com.

Havah, her sophomore novel, let readers inside the heart and mind of the world's first woman from her creation to Adam's death. Havah is a 2009 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Bronze Award Winner and ChristianFictionReviews.com Top Pick for 2008. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called it, "Passionate and riveting... Lee's superior storytelling will have readers weeping for all that Havah forfeited by a single damning choice." Historical Novels Review called it, "...a fascinating novel about human relationships at the dawn of time."
Lee-- Mrs. Nebraska-America 1996, Mrs. Nebraska-United States 1998 and first runner-up to Mrs. United States--has a deep passion for story. "I was a serious pianist from a young age, and used to practice an hour and a half every day. But when I was in the midst of a great book, I'd sneak it into the piano room and read a page between playing each piece-or as much as I could until my mom said, 'I'm not hearing any music!'"

Lee started writing after obtaining her degree in English and Literature from Smith College in Massachusetts. For more information regarding Tosca Lee, please visit www.toscalee.com. For more on upcoming titles in the B&H Fiction Pure Enjoyment line, log-on to www.pureenjoyment.com. Tosca's current titles are available at booksellers everywhere and on-line.

Read our interview with Tosca Lee.

The Love Dare continues to receive awards

The Love Dare—the book that began as a plot device in the number-one 2008 indie theatrical film Fireproof, sold more than 2 million copies and, after 32 weeks remains atop the New York Times bestseller list—received the Platinum Award (more than 1 million sold) from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (EPCA) at its Executive Leadership Summit in late April 2009.

Printed and distributed by B&H Publishing, The Love Dare sells in both paperback and leather-like (much as it appears in the movie Fireproof) “Legacy” editions—and in English and Spanish versions. Churches, groups, and individuals nationwide buy the books in bulk and now order accompanying workbooks.

Since Rick Warren’s release of The Purpose Driven Life, no Christian “advice” book has captured wide public interest like this small series of 40 daily challenges to learn and practice unconditional love for one’s spouse.

“We knew Fireproof would spur book sales but no one could have anticipated all this,” said B&H Marketing Vice President John Thompson. “The EPCA award underscores that the book and movie have long graduated from ‘products’ to a marriage movement. Lives are changing—and that’s why we’re all here.”

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization of nearly 250 member companies worldwide involved in publishing and distributing Christian literature.

The Love Dare was written by Stephen and Alex Kendrick, the brother team that also co-wrote (and produced and directed) Fireproof. A Provident Films production, Fireproof was 2008’s number one independent film at the box office—produced for $500,000 and grossing $33 million. In the movie, after he and his wife have agreed to divorce, firefighter Caleb Holt’s father gives him a handwritten book, a 40-day challenge to love his wife. Audiences left the popular movie asking, “How can I get that book?”

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.

Read our review of the Love Dare.
Read our interview with Stephen Kendrick.

Sneak Peak of upcoming Marcher Lord Press novel!

Are you ready to receive the awesome sneak peek at the sequel to Hero, Second Class by Mitchell Bonds?

It's available Monday, June 8.

This 10,500-word excerpt,
"The Istaka Passage,"
was originally part of Hero, Second Class but had to be cut because the book was running too long. So it's a deleted scene--a deleted subplot, actually.

Sir Reginald encounters a tribe of wolf-humanoids and a wimpy male Istaka who longs to win the heart and hand of his beloved. It's a great side story for our hero's mentor.

But now Mitchell Bonds has reworked it to fit in his yet-to-be-announced sequel, the second book in The Hero Complex. So it's also a first look at an upcoming Marcher Lord Press release.

And all you have to do to get your free copy of "The Istaka Passage" is purchase any Marcher Lord Press product on Monday, June 8, 2009.

You can buy a book or a T-shirt, a Kindle version of MLP novels or a craft book on how to write your own novel, an e-book or a virtual art gallery or a short history of marcher lords.

Purchase any Marcher Lord Press product--from the MLP store or from Amazon--and you'll get a link to download "The Istaka Passage" for free. (It's a Word file.)

[Note that if you purchase from the Marcher Lord Press store you don't have to do anything else to receive your free download. MLP staff will see your order and send your link. However, if you purchase from Amazon, you'll need to forward your Amazon receipt e-mail (having removed any credit card information) to Marcher Lord Press so we can see that you bought the item(s) on June 8.]

Mark your calendar!
The fun happens Monday.

Get in Trouble with Susan May Warren!

The fun kicks off today with a SUGAR BOMB. Susan is encouraging everyone to purchase a copy (and maybe a few for friends) of Nothing But Trouble anytime during the day on May 15th. Every one who purchases a copy of the book will be entered into the contest to win a Sugar Spa Basket. All you need to do is purchase a book at Amazon or CBD (or anywhere else) and then come back here (contest page at www.susanmaywarren.com) and leave Susan a message letting her know where you bought your book. Easy. And for every additional copies you buy, you'll gain an additional ten entries into the contest. So just let her know how many copies you bought. Join the fun by putting this button on your own site! (Email Amy at amy@litfusegroup.com and let me know you added the button to your site and be entered to win $25 to Amazon.com, twitter and facebook it and get additional 5 entries! Include your twitter/facebook id in the email too!)

Paste this code into your blog sidebar:

<a width="125" height="140" alt="Get in Trouble with PJ Sugar on May 15 - come join the fun with author Susan May Warren" title="Get in Trouble with PJ Sugar on May 15">

The party will continue all month with a blog tour and chances to win copies of Nothing But Trouble from the blog tourists! View the Schedule here.

The Sugar party will conclude in a day of celebration on Friday June 19th with a day long ONLINE Sugar Bookclub Party. Susan will be giving away prizes, answering questions, hosting a live chat, and generally getting herself into some "Trouble".