BOOKPLATES!Signed bookplates (stickers that go on the backside of the covers) and bookmarks are now available for House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods, the first two books in Robert Liparulo's new series for young adults.
5/13/08
My email system was down from April 18 to May 13. I know some of your emails got lost in the void of cyberspace. It's up and running again, so feel free to send me a note!
—Robert Liparulo
NOW AVAILABLE!House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods the first two books in Robert Liparulo's new series for young adults (and everyone who enjoys wild adventures), called Dreamhouse Kings.
ANNOUNCING THE "DREAM THE SCENE" CONTEST
WIN AN IPOD NANO AND APPEAR IN THE NEXT DREAMHOUSE KINGS ADVENTURE
Xander and David have already battled a gladiator in the Roman Colosseum and fended off tigers in a dense jungle. Now their mother has been taken somewhere in time, and the kids are determined to find her. Where do you think they should look? An Aztec temple at the height of the Spanish conquest? London during the German Blitz of World War II? The Civil War? What do they find there? What clues to Mom's location? Who helps them? Who tries to stop them? Does Toria tag along? Does Dad?
Here's your chance to launch the Kings into an adventure of a lifetime.
Author Robert Liparulo wants to know where you think the Kings should go and what they find when they arrive. If he chooses your idea, he'll write it into a future Dreamhouse Kings book, making it a part of their story forever. The creator of each winning idea will be acknowledged in the novel that features the adventure, and also receive a new iPod Nano. You have four chances to win, so find out all the rules and how to enter at:
www.dreamhousekings.com
From a recent press release:
ANNOUNCING DREAMHOUSE KINGS, A NEW SIX-BOOK YOUNG ADULT SERIES FROM ACCLAIMED AUTHOR ROBERT LIPARULO
In this stunning YA adventure series from acclaimed author Robert Liparulo, a house that is more than meets the eye will change the lives of the King family forever.
When the Kings move to a new home in a new town, the house seems odd at first; but things get really strange when they realize that some rooms are portals to other worlds.
House of Dark Shadows—The Kings face terrifying dangers within the rooms of their home, but it still seems like an adventure until people start coming out of the rooms and into the house. When one of the intruders kidnaps their mother, they must find a way to rescue her-but who would believe such a fantastical story?
Watcher in the Woods—The King Family begins their search, quickly realizing that they must learn more about the worlds in order to find their mother. But they also must pretend that all is well at home. When a stranger appears and tries to force them to sell the house, their desperation reaches new heights.
The four books that follow reveal that there is much more going on—and at stake—than we first realize. The first two books release simultaneously.
DEADFALL MOST DISCUSSED BOOK
According to Technorati, an Internet-tracking organization, on November 7, Deadfall was the most talked about book on the Internet (Germ and Comes A Horseman came in 2nd & 3rd).
DEADFALL AVAILABLE IN UNABRIDGED AUDIO
Brilliance Audio has released the unabridged audio recording of Deadfall (on CDs, cassettes, or MP3). Buy it here.
DEADFALL RELEASES!
It's out—as a hardcover from Nelson Fiction and an unabridged audio recording from Brilliance Audio. Find out about it on the Deadfall page.
In coming weeks, we'll post video of Robert's visit to Brilliance Audio and the talented Phil Gigante's performance of Deadfall for the audio recording. Also, we'll show you the evolution of Deadfall's cover—interesting stuff.
Find out where Robert's heading on his book tour: EVENTS
From a recent press release:
THRILLER AUTHOR PARTNERS WITH DIRECTOR ANDREW DAVIS ON UNIQUE SCREEN/PUBLISHING PROJECT
HOLLYWOOD—In a unique twist on the film option process, Nelson Fiction has announced that their leading thriller author Robert Liparulo (COMES A HORSEMAN, GERM, DEADFALL) is partnering with director Andrew Davis (THE GUARDIAN, THE FUGITIVE, HOLES) on a new thriller to be developed into both a movie and a novel. Mike Medavoy's Phoenix Pictures (ZODIAC, STEALTH, THE SIXTH DAY) has optioned the movie rights for the yet-to-be-titled project, which Thomas Nelson will publish.
"Robert Liparulo and Andrew Davis is a match made in storytelling heaven," says Liparulo's publisher Allen Arnold. "Liparulo writes extraordinarily exciting suspense and action stories and few filmmakers have done better in that genre than Davis."
Liparulo and Davis will co-write the screenplay, which Liparulo will solely pen into a novel. The plot centers on a military construction project in Illinois where evidence of the oldest known settlement in the Western Hemisphere is uncovered. Soon after, the lead archeologist makes an even more startling discovery: the remains of a recent murder victim. Fearing that an investigation will jeopardize the archeological treasures of the site, he and his team—accustomed to piecing together clues to solve mysteries—decide to investigate on their own. What they uncover is a conspiracy bigger than they could have ever possibly guessed, one that threatens thousands of lives and the U.S. government itself.
FILM RIGHTS TO UNFINISHED FOURTH NOVEL SOLD TO PHOENIX PICTURES
Phoenix Pictures, headed by mega-producer Mike Medavoy (All the King's Men, Stealth, Holes) has pre-purchased the film rights to Robert Liparulo's yet-to-be written fourth novel. The novel will be a political thriller and is slated for release July 2008. Says Liparulo: "Apparently, Mr. Medavoy liked my published novels, my writing style. He asked what other stories I was planning. He was especially interested in my developing a political thriller. We kicked around a few ideas and this new one clicked. It's an exciting project."
GERM MOVIE SALE
Red Eagle Entertainment has purchased the movie rights to GERM. Check back soon for more information.
GERM BECOMES SECOND MOST TALKED ABOUT BOOK ON THE WEB
On February 1, Technorati, which monitors millions of blogs, reported that GERM was the second most talked about book on the Web (second to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows).
FIRST WINNERS OF COMES A HORSEMAN AUTOGRAPH COPIES
Many thanks to all of you who have signed up to receive my e-newsletter. With everything that's been going on (such as trips to Los Angeles on "movie business," an extended book tour, and finishing the next book, Germ, I was remiss in selecting winners of an autographed copy as regularly as I had intended. So, at the end of December, a good friend actually printed my mailing list, clipped out each name, put them in a box, and drew out five winners:
Wei Hsie of Northboro, MA
Lisa Vance of Morgantown, WV
Ellen T. Servino of Wilmington, DE
Renee Gray-Wilburn of Cololorado Springs, CO
David Skeers of Burbank, CA
Don't worry: If you didn't win this time, there will be plenty of chances to remedy that situation. I'll be drawing winners throughout the year. If you'd like to sign up to win, click here. (If you're already signed up, no need to do it again.)
AMAZON REVIEWERS GIVE THE BOOK FIVE STARS
Readers posting reviews on Amazon.com have given Comes A Horseman a five-star rating. Among the comments:
"My new favorite novel" —John Preston
"An exciting romp and we are treated to a literate travelogue through Rome and Jerusalem, learning many things. It is action filled and the reader is on a non-stop roller coaster ride." —Shelly Waxman for Bookpleasures.com
"Tightly written and powerfully executed, with twists and turns that keep you guessing." —John C. Fornof
"A great read!" —Mark Nelson
"Definitely a book to rival the writing of Dan Brown." —Ronna
"You have GOT to read this book!" —Detra Fitch
"Do I recommend this book? Absolutely! One of the best novels I've ever read. I added it to my top ten list." —Gina L. Holmes
"At once both compelling and exciting." —Voronwe
"This book speeds ahead of our expectations and provides a photo-finish with the other top thrillers of 2005." —Eric Wilson
COMES A HORSEMAN MAKES IT TO #33 ON AMAZON'S BESTSELLING THRILLERS LIST
On November 8, Comes A Horseman broke into the Top 100 Thrillers on Amazon.com, nestled among novels by David Baldacci, Lee Child, and Dean Koontz. By January 10, it had reached #33. The real trick will be staying there. Maybe someday. Thank you for your support!
JANUARY ISSUE OF "IN THE LIBRARY REVIEWS" RECOMMENDS COMES A HORSEMAN
Read this book with all the lights on! Gory and ghastly, yet with a gripping plot, these pages will literally tremble in the hands of readers!
Someone is brutally killing people. At first glance, there didn't seem to be a pattern to the murders, but a closer inspection revealed an unusual common denominator. As FBI agents, Brady Moore and Alicia Wagner get closer to the truth, they become entangled in a plot that spans the globe in power and prestige. As each page turns, the magnitude of the enemy is slowly unveiled, until both the characters and the readers come face to face with their worst nightmares.
This book brings new meaning to the phrase, "page-turner." The suspense escalates with a masterful touch, as it gradually plunges the reader into a complex and compelling plot. The spiritual aspect of the story skillfully combines history, prophecy and an appropriate dash of fiction. Each character performs an important role and moves the novel along with a steady acceleration.
Although the murders were described with a violent vividness, this served to further highlight the depravity of the killer. Readers will know from the early pages that this story fearlessly portrays an evil that has the potential to step out of fiction and into the modern world. It's this contemporary feel that will cause shudders and sleepless nights.
As the book crosses the globe with varied and interesting settings, there remains a personal touch to the story. In an amazing twist, the enormity of this novel will leave readers wondering about their own vulnerability. It takes a talented author to write a novel this complex, and yet still able to touch individuals with a cold and clammy finger of suspense.
Comes a Horseman is a chilling ride into a horrifying possibility!
—Joyce Handzo
PEOPLE ARE TALKING!
According to Technorati.com, a site that monitors 22 million blogs, on November 30, Comes A Horseman was the #1 most popular book topic.
COMES A HORSEMAN MOVIE RIGHTS SOLD!
Hollywood has come calling! As a lifelong movie buff and screenwriter, I'm thrilled that Comes A Horseman caught the eye of a very accomplished filmmaker. Of course, in Hollywood the road from written word to silver screen is fraught with dangers, but the chances for Horseman actually look pretty good. From the press release:
The movie rights to Robert Liparulo's upcoming novel Comes a Horseman have been optioned to Mace Neufeld, a producer with an extraordinary record of turning novels into hit movies. Neufeld orchestrated such blockbuster book-to-film adaptations as Tom Clancy's The Sum of All Fears, Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games, and Hunt for Red October; Nelson DeMille's The General's Daughter; Clive Cussler's Sahara; and Stephen Coonts' Flight of the Intruder. He also produced Lost in Space, The Saint, No Way Out, and The Omen movies. All told, his films have grossed over $1 billion. Said one Hollywood insider, "When it comes to thrillers, no one does it better than Mace Neufeld."
Buzz over Comes a Horseman—which bestselling author David H. Dun calls "a riveting thriller that spins effortlessly off great writing"—has been building since Advance Reader's Copies started circulating around Hollywood. "The interest was enormous," says agent Joel Gotler, who reps Liparulo. "Everybody was scrambling for copies, and everyone who read it loved it. They couldn't put it down. I knew it would sell quickly, and it did."
For more about Mace Neufeld, click here.
January 2006 Update: Robert Liparulo has just returned from Hollywood. He reports that the production of Comes A Horseman is moving along at a brisk clip, with the hiring of a top screenwriter.
HANGING OUT IN NEW YORK
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| Hanging out at The Algonquin Hotel: John Lescroart, Lee Child, J.A. Konrath, David Morrell, yours truly, & Jim Rollins. Photo by David Sylvian. |
New York is a wild and exciting city—especially when you're among friends. In June, I attended the annual Book Expo America, where publishers, authors and readers gather to share news and find out what's shaping up for the book industry. I stayed at the Algonquin Hotel, renowned as a literary hangout for the likes of H.L. Mencken, Simone de Beauvoir, Eudora Welty, and William Faulkner. And that's where the International Thriller Writers held its inaugural banquet. I got to mingle with authors I've read and admired for years—Peter Straub, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Stuart Woods, David Palmer, F. Paul Wilson, and the guys in this photo. What a great time, and a dream-come-true for this lifelong reader of suspense fiction!
