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.