First Look at Green by Ted Dekker!

Finally, we have a glimpse into the final volume of the Circle novels! Here's a description we found:

At Last... The Circle Reborn

The story of how Thomas Hunter first entered the Black Forest and forever changed our history began at a time when armies were gathered for a final battle in the valley of Migdon. Green is a story of love, betrayal, and sweeping reversals set within the apocalypse. It is the beginning: the truth behind a saga that has captured the imagination of more than a million readers with the Books of History Chronicles.

But even more, Green brings full meaning to the Circle series as a whole, reading as both prequel to Black and sequel to White, completing a full circle. This is Book Zero, the Circle Reborn, both the beginning and the end. The preferred starting point for new readers... the perfect climax for the countless fans who've experienced Black, Red and White.

Read the first chapter of Green here (.pdf).

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

TitleTrakk co-founder's novel to be published by Tyndale!

TitleTrakk.com's very own C.J. Darlington will have her first novel, Thicker Than Blood, published by Tyndale House in late 2009 or early 2010 (official release date not yet confirmed).

The novel is the winner of the 2008 Operation First Novel contest sponsored by the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and Tyndale House publishers.

This is a novel C.J. started when she was fifteen-years-old. She was about to give up on it but decided to try submitting the novel to this contest.

Find out more of her story to publication by visiting C.J.'s blog.


(l-r: Karen Watson from Tyndale, C.J. Darlington & Jerry B. Jenkins. Photo by Cindi of Selah Studios.)


Working Summary of Thicker Than Blood:

Two sisters, estranged for 15 years. Their blood ties weren't enough. Only something stronger could bring them together again.

Christy Williams finally has her life on track. Her career as an antiquarian book buyer at the renowned used bookstore Dawson's Barn of Books is taking off. Hunter Dawson is teaching her the fine points of purchasing collectible books, and so far she's been able to keep her drinking problem from interfering. But when she discovers her ex-boyfriend, who also works at Dawsons, is stealing valuable books right off the store's shelves, she's unable to stop him for fear he'll expose the skeleton's in her closet.

Things begin to unravel when a stolen Hemingway first edition is found in her possession, framing her for a crime she didn't commit. With no one to turn to, she yearns for her estranged family, especially her younger sister May, who she abandoned in their childhood after their parents' untimely deaths. Now the owner of a failing cattle ranch, May couldn't possibly want a relationship with her, the big sister who didn't even say goodbye all those years ago. Could she?

Soon Christy's fleeing from her shattered dreams, her ex-boyfriend, and God. Could the Triple Cross ranch be the safe haven she's searching for, or will May's new-found faith give her sister even more reason to reject Christy? Will they realize before it's too late that each possesses what the other desperately needs?

Writing for the Soul photos by Cindi of Selah Studios

Take One by Karen Kingsbury book trailer

Read our interview with Karen.

Free download of Snow Angel by Jamie Carie!

This just in from our friend Rel at Relz Reviewz . . . now through February 25th you can download Jamie Carie's novel Snow Angel for free at B&H. Find out more from Relz Reviewz.

From Jamie's website about Snow Angel:

“Please . . . God . . . “

She whispered before collapsing.

When Noah Wesley hears the faint sound outside the door of his remote Alaskan cabin during a violent nighttime blizzard, it is no less than the voice of God that urges him to take a closer look, to discover there his snow angel.

Unconscious and more than half frozen to death, her name is Elizabeth, a beautiful young woman, fragile yet fierce, intent on discovering gold like so many others rushing headlong toward the Yukon.

But why Elizabeth is so drawn to the gold, and why she would chase it even through a pounding storm that no man would dare face, is a secret to be shared with no one, not even at the invitation of Noah’s deep-blue, trusting eyes.

Jamie Carie has penned a can’t-up-down debut novel in Snow Angel, a masterfully romantic story wherein cold and lonely hearts risk everything to be forever warmed.

Swope's Ridge by Ace Collins - coming in August!

Coming in August from Zondervan is Ace Collins' second novel, Swope's Ridge. According to his website, the novel is a sequel to his first, Farraday Road.

Says Ace:

This is the second in the Lige Evans' Mystery Series. If you are wanting to know more about Lije, Janie and the rest of the people who survived Farraday Road, this book has the answers. As it solves the first novel's mystery, this book takes readers far beyound Swope's Ridge to Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Berlin and Washington D.C. The mystery unravels to reveal not only who killed Kaitlyn Evans, but to also uncover a terrorist plot meant to crippled the U.S. government. Filled with dramatic plot twists, the book has more adventure and thrills than Farraday Road and provides deep development of the men and women who are such a vital part of this book series.

Read our review of Farraday Road.
Read our interview with Ace.

The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher Wins Christianity Today Award of Merit

Christianity Today has announced The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher by Rob Stennet has been given an "Award of Merit" in its 2009 Book Awards. Read more about the winners here.

Read our review of the novel here.

Summary:

Meet Ryan Fisher. He’s young, energetic, and needs an edge in the real estate market. He’s found the perfect niche: Christians. His business doubles when he advertises in the Christian business directory, and he begins to think he could really cash in by planting a church. But when the church takes off, Ryan is in over his head. Also features Z+ bonus materials; including, author interview, added content, fun facts, and more.

2009 Christian Book Award (Gold Medallion) Finalists Announced

The 2009 Finalists for the ECPA Christian Book Award (aka The Gold Medallion) have been announced. They are:

Category: Bibles

ESV Study Bible
Crossway Books & Bibles, 9781433502415

NKJV Study Bible Second Edition
Thomas Nelson, Inc., 9780718020811

NLT Study Bible
Tyndale House Publishers, 9780842355704

The Grandmother’s Bible
Doris Rikkers, Jeannette Taylor, Editors
Zondervan, 9780310938019

Zondervan NIV Study Bible Updated
Kenneth Barker, John Stek, Ronald Youngblood, Editors
Zondervan, 9780310938965


Category: Bible Reference & Study

A Visual History of the English Bible
Donald L. Brake
Baker Books/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780801013164

Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings,
Tremper Longman III, Peter Enns, Editors
InterVarsity Press, 9780830817832

New Testament Theology
Thomas R. Schreiner
Baker Academic/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780801026805

New International Biblical Commentary: Jeremiah, Lamentations
Tremper Longman II
Hendrickson Publishers, 9781565632240

Rose Guide to the Tabernacle
Rose Publishing, Inc., 9781596362765


Category: Children & Youth

For Young Men Only
Jeff Feldhahn and Eric Rice with Shaunti Feldhahn
WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, 9781601420206

Guys Like Girls Who…
Chad Eastham
Thomas Nelson, 9781400313006

Lies Young Women Believe
Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Dannah Gresh
Moody Publishers, 9780802472946

Mean
Hayley DiMarco
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800732219

Secrets Young Women Keep
Dr. Jill Hubbard
Thomas Nelson, 9780785228172

Starlight Animal Rescue #1: Runaway
Dandi Mackall
Tyndale House Publishers, 9781414312682


Category: Christian Life

Following God with All Your Heart
Elizabeth George
Harvest House Publishers, 9780736905046

Just Courage
Gary A. Haugen
InterVarsity Press, 9780830834945

Living Water
Brother Yun
Zondervan, 9780310285540

Multiple Blessings
Jon and Kate Gosselin
Zondervan, 9780310289029

Love as a Way of Life
Gary Chapman
WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, 9781400072583

Spectacular Sins
John Piper
Crossway Books & Bibles, 9781433502750


Category: Fiction


Home Another Way
Christa Parrish
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764205231

Less Than Dead
Tim Downs
Thomas Nelson, 9781595543073

Riven
Jerry B. Jenkins
Tyndale House Publishers, 9781414309040

The Outsider
Ann H. Gabhart
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800732394

The Shape of Mercy
Susan Meissner
WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, 9781400074563


Category: Inspiration & Gift


Holiness Day by Day
Jerry Bridges
NavPress, 9781600063961

Hope...the Best of Things
Joni Eareckson Tada
Crossway Books & Bibles, 9781433502194

My All in All
Robert J. Morgan
B&H Publishing, 9780805446630

Reflections of God's Holy Land
Eva Everson and Miriam Vamosh
Thomas Nelson, 9780849919565

The Daily Bible ® Devotional
F. LaGard Smith
Harvest House Publishers, 9780736922111

The Quotable Oswald Chambers
David McCasland, Editor
Discovery House Publishers, 9781572931947

Bug the Dead by Tim Downs coming this fall!

Coming in September from Thomas Nelson is Tim Downs' next "Bug Man" novel. We've snagged a summary to wet your appetite!

Summary:

Smuggled insects are at the root of the Bug Man's troubles in this latest suspense novel from award-winning author Tim Downs.

Dr. Nick Polchak is called to a farm community in eastern North Carolina to investigate a murder. The victim is the owner of a failing organic farm who had developed a drug problem, and the police suspect his murder was drug-related.

Nick finds the remains of a bale of marijuana scattered in the tomato fields--but the marijuana seems to be strangely infested with a common North Carolina insect: the tobacco hornworm. To further confound the mystery, the South American marijuana was infected with bugs from North Carolina that were infected with a fungus from Asia. The man wasn't killed because of the marijuana, but because of the insects it contained.

Nick discovers that a vicious agricultural scheme is underway to cripple the U.S.'s corn and ethanol production. But just how far will these terrorists go in their quest?

Read our interview with Tim Downs
Read our review of First The Dead
Read our review of Less Than Dead

Faces in the Fire by T.L. Hines

Coming in July from Thomas Nelson is T.L. Hines' next release.

Summary:

The stories of four individuals collide in trademark T.L. Hines style where supernatural thriller meets mystery.

Kurt Marlowe is a long-haul truck driver who is hearing strange things over his CB radio. When he goes to a truck stop to try to find a phone, he ends up having breakfast with a young woman with a stunning catfish tattoo on her arm. Inside the tattoo is a series of numbers that she didn't even realize were there . . . but that have great significance.

This collision with her life sets off an unstoppable series of interactions . . . each of which leaves the participants with the bizarre feeling that something fundamental has changed, and yet they have also, somehow, been freed.

Read our review of T.L.'s The Unseen.

Barbour to Cancel Heartsong Mysteries Book Club

According to the website The Edit Cafe which is led by several Barbour editors, they will be canceling their newly launched mystery book club. Says Becky:

"2008 was the season for the cozy mystery romance at Barbour. We spent 2 years planning for our new book club. We built a strong team of managing editor and authors who worked hard on both content and marketing of the books. Then we launched the club early 2008 based on strong initial membership drives.

All was going well until our early fall membership drive (traditionally a strong time for adding new members) hit at the same time as the news from Wall Street about the financial crisis. The membership drive had the worst response that we have ever experienced or even heard of in the industry. At that point, to save the club would have required major investment dollars. By the end of 2008, we knew that the national financial climate would not allow for a marketing gamble on something that was still new and unproven.

2008 was a pretty good year overall for Barbour, but with 2009 looking to be a hard one for retailers, we know we have to tighten our belt and keep our money where we are confident it can give us the most return. So, for that reason, we will be closing the Heartsong Presents Mystery Romance Club. We have a couple more shipments that will go out, then books we have contracted will be used in other ways. Most likely they will go into 3-in-1 collections like Cozy in Kansas and Alibis in Arkansas. These 2 books released in late fall 2008 and had very good sales showings over Christmas. We hope you cozy mystery lovers out there will look for these books and support your author friends by buying them."

Read the full piece here. Thanks to Chris Well for alerting us to this news item.