Introducing Brandilyn Collins video

Brandilyn has recently signed a three book contract with B&H Fiction.

B&H Thriller Book Tour Starts Friday!

This week on Friday, the B&H Thriller Tour launches. The four B&H authors taking part in this tour are Brandilyn Collins, Tosca Lee, Robin Caroll, and Jim Rubart. It will start in St. Louis, go to Philadelphia and Baltimore, and end up in New York. Note: additional New York area venues are being booked. Here's the schedule so far:

Friday, June 25: St. Louis area

2:00 – 4:00: Parable Bookstore
1716 Missouri State Road
Arnold, MO 63010
636-287-1231

6:00 – 8:00: Family Christian Store
167 Mid Rivers Mall Dr
St Peters, MO 63376-4309
636-278-2895

Saturday, June 26th

12:00 – 2:00 PM: Mainstreet Books
307 South Main Street
St. Charles, MO 63301
636-949-0105

4:00 – 6:00 PM: Lifeway Christian Store
11977 Saint Charles Rock Road
Bridgeton, MO 63044
314-344-0014

Sunday, June 27th
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Barnes & Noble
721 Gravois Road
Fenton, MO 63026
636-326-2148

Thursday, July 1: Philadelphia area and Baltimore
11:00 – 1:00--Lifeway Christian Store
2320 Industrial Highway
York, PA 17402
717-757-5311

4:00 – 6:00 PM--Lifeway Christian Store
White Marsh Plaza Shopping Center
7900 Honeygo Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21236
410-931-8038

Friday, July 9th: New Jersey
7:00-9:00 PM: Borders
290 Commons Way
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 231-0111

Saturday, July 10: New York area
1:00 – 3:00: Barnes & Noble
290 Baychester Ave.
Bronx, NY 10475
718-862-3945

NOTE: Brandilyn will be signing posters that look like this too (click to enlarge). Very cool:

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.

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

Brandilyn & Amberly Collins Live Like A Rock Star Contest!

Know any teens age 13-18? Tell them about the “Live Like a Rock Star” sweepstakes, sponsored by Zondervan to promote Always Watching, my young adult suspense novel co-written with my daughter, Amberly. Entry into the sweepstakes is easy. And each entrant can enter up to ten times, resulting in a greater chance to win.

Grand Prize: $850 night out on the town, including dinner for six at a restaurant of winner’s choice, and limo service for the evening. The first 200 entrants will receive a free copy of Always Watching.

*TO ENTER SWEEPSTAKES, go here.

Join The Rayne Tour Series Fan Club at Facebook.

Watch the book trailer.


Always Watching—Rayne Tour Series book #1
Seatbelt Suspense® for young adults.
This daughter of a rock star has it all—until murder crashes her world.

During a concert, sixteen-year-old Shaley O’Connor stumbles upon the body of a friend backstage. Is Tom Hutchens' death connected to her?

Frightening messages arrive. Paparazzi stalk Shaley. Her private nightmare is displayed for all to see. Where is God at times like this?

As the clock runs out, Shaley must find Tom's killer—before he strikes again.

“Mother and daughter team Brandilyn and Amberly Collins have stormed onto the YA scene in exhilarating style with this great new series. Always Watching is a fast paced whodunit set against the intriguing backdrop of rock star celebrity .... Shaley’s struggle to balance her public status with her true identity is one of the most interesting aspects of this story. [Brandilyn Collins’] adult fans will find much to rave about here, while new teen readers will love the youthful voice and perspective that Amberly Collins brings to the table. Underlying the tension and dread is a strong spiritual message about trusting in the God who is always watching over us.”

—Jake Chism, The Christian Manifesto

Book Trailer for Always Watching by Brandilyn & Amberly Collins

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?

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.

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.

Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins cover unveiled

Cover unveiled for Brandilyn Collins' next novel, Dark Pursuit! (Click on cover to enlarge.)

Summary:

Novelist Darell Brooke lived for his title as King of Suspense—until an auto accident left him unable to concentrate. Two years later, recluse and bitter, he wants one thing: to plot a new novel and regain his reputation.

Kaitlan Sering, his twenty-two-year-old granddaughter, once lived for drugs. After she stole from Darell, he cut her off. Now she is rebuilding her life.

In Kaitlan’s town two women have been murdered. She is about to discover the third. The only possible culprit? Her boyfriend, Craig, son of the town’s police chief.

Desperate, Kaitlan flees to her estranged grandfather. For over forty years, Darell Brooke has lived suspense. Surely he’ll devise a plan to trap the cunning Craig.

But can Darell’s muddled mind do it? And—if he tries—with what motivation? For Kaitlan’s plight may be the stunning answer to the illusive plot he seeks …

Read our review of Amber Morn here.

Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins

Dark Pursuit (cover not yet available) is a stand-alone “Seatbelt Suspense™” from bestselling author Brandilyn Collins. Releasing from Zondervan in December.

Description:

Novelist Darell Brooke lived for his title as King of Suspense—until an auto accident left him unable to concentrate. Two years later, recluse and bitter, he wants one thing: to plot a new novel and regain his reputation.

Kaitlan Sering, his twenty-two-year-old granddaughter, once lived for drugs. After she stole from Darell, he cut her off. Now she is rebuilding her life.

In Kaitlan’s town two women have been murdered. She is about to discover the third. The only possible culprit? Her boyfriend, Craig, son of the town’s police chief.

Desperate, Kaitlan flees to her estranged grandfather. For over forty years, Darell Brooke has lived suspense. Surely he’ll devise a plan to trap the cunning Craig.

But can Darell’s muddled mind do it? And—if he tries—with what motivation? For Kaitlan’s plight may be the stunning answer to the illusive plot he seeks …

Read our interview with Brandilyn here.
Read our review of Crimson Eve here.

Brandilyn Collins' next stand-alone novel

In a recent audio interview conducted by Christianbook.com, Brandilyn Collins reveals the title of her next stand-alone piece (after Amber Morn releasing in Spring 2008).

It's title is to be Vain Empires, based on a John Milton quote in Paradise Lost. Brandilyn also revealed she will be writing stand-alones exclusively for a bit. No word on the plot, but it's sure to be interesting!

Read our interview with Brandilyn here.
Read our review of Crimson Eve here.

New YA series coming from the Collins mother/daughter team

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

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

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

Amber Morn by Brandilyn Collins cover

Brandilyn Collins has unveiled the cover to her 4th and last Kanner Lake mystery (not due out until next year).

Read what it's like for an author to finish a book (and a series) over at Brandilyn's Forensics and Faith blog here.

Read my review of Book #1 Violet Dawn here.

Read my friend Darcie Gudger's review of Book #2 Coral Moon here.

Read an interview I did with Brandilyn here.

Brandilyn Collins' 4th Kanner Lake title

Brandilyn Collins' 4th and final Kanner Lake series book to be titled Amber Morn. It releases April '08.

The second novel in the series, Coral Moon, has just hit shelves. Be looking for the 3rd title in the series, Crimson Eve, this September.

Read our review of Coral Moon here.
Read our review of Book #1 in the series, Violet Dawn, here.
And check out our interview with Brandilyn here.