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.