Davis Bunn's Blog, page 25

‘Unlimited’ Movie Trailer (Video)

Thought you’d enjoy the brand new book trailer for the upcoming film, UNLIMITED:

Click here to view the embedded video.

5 Book Banter Participants Win ‘Rare Earth’

Congratulations to the following people, who participated in the Book Banter (live Facebook chat) with me at Bethany House Publishers Facebook page last Thursday evening. Each of you has won a copy of my book, Rare Earth. Congratulations!

Brenda Stokley
Heather Louise Navarro
Nan Rinella
Leslie Reid Brasher
Lilly Maytree

To receive your copy, please email your mailing address to my social media manager, Laura Christianson: laura@bloggingbistro.com.

Book Review by Elaine Dalton: ‘The Damascus Way’

By Elaine Dalton

Guest Reviewer

Synopsis

Julia, the only daughter of wealthy merchant Jamal, has everything in life that money can buy. A wonderful palace to call home, fine clothes, plenty of food, servants to wait on her – yet she and her mother Helen live a very lonely existence between her father’s visits.

When Julia learns the secret why they are shunned, her world is thrown into chaos and only her new-found faith remains steady. A new depth and peace fills her as she embarks on a journey that will change her life in more ways than one.

Meanwhile, Jacob, now a young man ready to take his place in the world, escorts an ill Alban to Jerusalem and leaves him in the care of the few remaining believers there.

Taking charge of a secret commission for Jamal, Jacob searches for God’s will in his life and hovers in indecision. Jamal, grateful to him and impressed by him, promotes Jacob and gives him another dangerous mission to fulfill.

Unknown to Jamal, the believers also entrust Jacob with a secret mission, causing him to become a courier for the persecuted Christians scattered aboard — a dangerous task.

With Saul’s persecution of the church increasing, the believers flee from Jerusalem while they still can. One of the last to flee, Abigail and her young daughter, Dorcas, leave with Alban and a caravan of other believers. Escorting them for the majority of their journey is Linux, once a Roman officer and now a strong faithful brother in the faith.

Newly returned from a visit to his homeland, Linux sees the recent changes in the country and wonders with the others what will happen next. He is assigned command of the garrison near the village where Abigail takes up residence and quietly goes about making a change in the hearts of those he comes into contact with.

Review

With several character stories all growing, intertwining and reaching toward the final epic climax, this book will hold your interest to the final page. Beautifully written and populated with wonderful characters, some new and some old friends, this is a classic.

It was well organized and flowed well between each character shift in viewpoint. I was quite satisfied with the conclusion to Linux’s interesting life story, told over the span of the three books in this trilogy.

I would have liked at least one more chapter or even just a paragraph on what happened to Jacob and Julia but with my imagination, it’s fairly easy to figure out. All in all, I highly enjoyed this book!

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level. Highly recommended to all audiences!

Dear Elaine, 

Thank you so much for the awesome blog review. It was great to revisit the story through your words. You’ve done a marvelous job of encapsulating the tale, and of highlighting crucial elements that formed the basis for why Janette Oke and I wrote the story in the first place. 

Facing Crucial Junctures in Writing and Film Production

Dear All,

I have been thinking about this note for quite a while now, wishing I could take the time to write and catch up. And this morning is perfect. I have started setting aside a couple of days each week when I don’t write, even in the middle of a new first draft, which in the past I have pushed through with an almost grim determination. But my creative energy tends to flag, and my output becomes a struggle.

So even when I am facing a crucial juncture and don’t know what to do, like today, I force myself to take a day away and work on other things like taxes, administrivia, and this blog. To my amazement, my overall output has actually risen, and I can occasionally glimpse the bottom of my in-box. A first.

We returned to the US on June 24 and had less than a week at home before I left to speak at the largest mainstream writers’ conference in the world, ThrillerFest. Three thousand authors and agents and publishers and LA types. It starts with CraftFest, for would-be writers, which I taught at, then the main event. Seven extremely busy days ended on the Sunday, and I flew straight down that morning to begin the Christian Bookseller Convention’s annual gathering, the first we have attended in six years.

Isabella drove over and joined me. We had so many meetings scheduled that we had morning coffee together, and then would meet up again only for conferences which were so important we felt both of us had to attend. Otherwise we split up, it was the only way to get everything accomplished. We met again for corporate business dinners on Sun and Tues, the other nights we kept to this split-apart tactic.

We drove home, had less than a week here, then left for Chicago. Isabella attended the ABA leadership conference, then the full ABA annual meeting. I spent the first day in a Chicago suburb meeting with a publisher. The other days I wandered, researched, wrote, fielded conference calls resulting from the convention, and attended evening functions with Isabella as the designated ‘spouse’. Which I have to tell you was a lot of fun.

We have been back home now for ten days, long enough to get used to waking up in our new bed. We only had five weeks in our new Florida condo before leaving for the UK in early May, and this really has been special. We are so loving this place.

There have been moments when we miss the view out our back windows of the ocean – we are across the street from the Atlantic now – but today the first feeder bands (trailing-edge storms) have arrived from Hurricane Irene, and all of a sudden the logic that pushed us away from oceanfront living comes back to the fore. As does a very deep appreciation for the triple-pane semi-bulletproof windows and doors, guaranteed against winds up to 180mph, and the solid poured-concrete steel-reinforced construction. This place is really special.

As for California and the film side, here is how things stand. All hype aside, which is something we are taking as our theme in dealing with possible new projects. There is a lot — a whole lot — of possible activity. But there are also a number of hoops that have to be jumped through between initial conversations and seeing something on the screen.

So let me begin by saying everything I’m going to talk about here is small budget, and intended for the inspirational market. This is the growing section where we have been approached and invited to possibly participate. With one possible exception, all the projects belong to this new and growing arena.

We finished filming my first screen project, Unlimited, in May. As you may recall, I co-wrote the screenplay last year. The final cut with soundtrack and voice balancing should be done by early September. We have seen a rough cut and really liked it. The trailer should be available next week, and I’ll post it on my blog as soon as it is released.

I have finished writing the novel, and we are working on putting together a distribution deal and marketing budget. This second tranche of investment capital, called P&A, is proving intensely difficult. We have some really good initial indications, including the following:

Sony Provident has indicated they are interested in negotiating for US rights; Lifeway Films (the Southern Baptist Convention) has indicated they want to help promote; Fox’s new Spanish language arm has indicated they are willing to negotiate for the those rights; the group that backed the Veggie Tales has signed on to help with marketing. But none of these deals are signed, and we are still hunting for that marketing budget.

There is one bit of news that really does need to be shared now. We have completed work on a new mission video, which is intended to clearly state the Unlimited film’s underlying message. Once the final polish is completed in early September, this will go out to church leaders around the nation.

You are among the first people to see this anywhere. Go to the Dropbox website over the couple of days, and click on THE TOP RIGHT PHOTOGRAPH. The ministry video is seven minutes long. It is, in my opinion, the finest of its kind that I have ever seen. I hope you enjoy it. The website is:  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jm1xip53q44gfci/mF12QZQqpv#/

Your prayers would certainly be appreciated.

Very warmest regards to all,

Davis

Join Me on Facebook for a Book Banter

You are cordially invited to join me Thursday, August 30 from 8-10 p.m. EST at Bethany House Publishers’ Facebook page. I’ll be on hand to chat with you about writing and about my new novel, Rare Earth.

We’ll be giving away 5 copies of Rare Earth to people who attend the Book Banter; the winners will be announced on my blog Monday, September 3.

Here is a link to the Event invitation – I urge you to share this link with your Facebook friends and fans. To share it, just click the “Share” button in the upper righthand corner of the invitation:

https://www.facebook.com/events/257502744368162/

To participate in the Book Banter, go directly to Bethany House Publishers’ Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/bethanyhousepublishers

Mark your calendar right now!

Thursday, Aug 30, 2012

8-10 p.m. EST
7-9 p.m. CST
5-7 p.m. PST

‘Rare Earth’ Hits Top 20 on CBA Best Seller List

Friends,

I’ve just learned some exciting news. My new novel, Rare Earth, made the CBA (Christian Booksellers Association) Best Seller list for September 2012.

I am so grateful to you, who have bought the book, blogged about it, reviewed it on Amazon and other online booksellers, donated copies to your church library, shared it with your reading group… and the list goes on and on.

Here’s a recap of the top 20 best sellers. Which ones have you read?

1 Coming Home Karen Kingsbury, Zondervan, p, 9780310266242

2 The Harbinger Jonathan Cahn, Frontline (Strang), p, 9781616386108

3 Struggle Wanda Brunstetter, Barbour, p, 9781616260897

4  Tidewater Inn Colleen Coble, Thomas Nelson, p, 9781595547811

5  Loving Karen Kingsbury, Zondervan, p, 9780310276357

6 Redeeming Love Francine Rivers, Multnomah (WaterBrook), p, 9781590525135

7 The Fiddler Beverly Lewis, Bethany House (Baker), p, 9780764209772

8 Submerged Dani Pettrey, Bethany House (Baker), p, 9780764209826

9 Lethal Legacy Irene Hannon, Revell (Baker), p, 9780800734589

10 Choice Robert Whitlow, Thomas Nelson, p, 9781401685614

11 Mortal Ted Dekker & Tosca Lee, Center Street (Hachette), c, 9781599953588

12 Illusion Frank Peretti, Howard (Simon & Schuster), c, 9781439192672

13 The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club Wanda Brunstetter, Barbour, p, 9781602608115

14 Forbidden Ted Dekker & Tosca Lee, FaithWords (Hachette), p, 9781599953533

15 Touching the Sky Tracie Peterson, Bethany House (Baker), p, 9780764206160

16 When Hope Blossoms Kim Sawyer, Bethany House (Baker), p, 9780764207877

17 Haven Suzanne Fisher, Revell (Baker), p, 9780800719883

18 Rare Earth Davis Bunn, Bethany House (Baker), p, 9780764209062

19 Short-Straw Bride Karen Witemeyer, Bethany House (Baker), p, 9780764209659

20 A Lineage of Grace Francine Rivers, Tyndale, p, 9780842356329

Click here to download a PDF of the September CBA best sellers list:  http://www.cbaonline.org/nm/documents/BSLs/Fiction_Inspirational.pdf

If you would like to purchase Rare Earth, Amazon is running a special discount on the Kindle Edition through August 2012 – it’s only $2.99.  Click here for details and a link to the sale page.

Amazon Special Offer: ‘Rare Earth’ for Kindle, only $2.99

During August, Amazon.com is offering the Kindle editions of Lion of Babylon and Rare Earth at a huge discount.

Lion of Babylon (book 1 in the Marc Royce adventures) is $5.38.

Rare Earth (book 2 in the series) is $2.99.

Here’s what readers are saying about Rare Earth this week on their blogs:

(Please click the link below each excerpt to read their full reviews)

“It played out like a summer blockbuster movie and I could practically hear the inspiring soundtrack rolling in the background.”

-Karen Barnett, Cannot Be Shaken

“Full of mystery, intense suspense, espionage, corruption, and even romance, this book hooked me right from the very start… If you’re a fan of his books like I am, then I have no doubt that you will want to read this one. There’s action, adventure, exotic settings, and he weaves in a wonderful message of faith.”

-Michelle Vasquez, Life in Review

‘Hidden in Dreams’ Giveaway: New Contest

I have a new giveaway contest to share with you today, as well as five new reviews of Hidden in Dreams.

Click here to enter the giveaway at Linda Clare’s Writer’s Tips through Sunday, August 26, 2012.

By Linda Clare

Davis Bunn’s new release, Hidden in Dreams (Howard Books) is exciting in several ways–not the least of which is an intriguing theme woven into the blanket of psychological suspense. I was drawn by the excellent writing, the compelling subject of pharmaceuticals and their side effects and the brisk pace. I had to learn the story’s outcome in this maze of manipulation and deception.

As the parent of twins as well as the parent of adult children who’ve struggled with different types of mental illness and the ubiquitous medications that so often accompany a diagnosis, I felt connected to the story from the start. That a world-wide scandal such as the one in the story might happen in real life was not a stretch for me. Since World War I, biologicals have been tried as a means of world domination by deranged dictators and governments.

Global finance is a fact of life in the twenty-first century, so corruption on that level seems frighteningly plausible. But should some maniac try to implement a similar plot, let’s hope that the faith portrayed in Hidden in Dreams prevails.

Hidden in Dreams is pure Davis Bunn!

By Deb Haggerty, Positive Grace

A really likable character with an interesting dilemma, some really disreputable villains, and the knight in white armor to save the day.

Dr. Elena Burroughs has written a book on dream interpretation that is being attacked by other experts including one who demolished her during a debate. Her sister, Rachel, comes to her for help – a rare if ever occurrence, telling her of subjects in a clinical trial that are all having the same dream – she is skeptical at the least – patients who all have the same dream?

And then she begins to have that dream – and the consequences could spell the end of economies around the globe. Elena, Rachel, her nemesis, Dr. Jacob Rawlings, and her boss, Reed Thompson begin a journey through doubt, danger, and double-cross. I couldn’t put it down!

Davis takes current conditions and puts a conspiracy spin on them while enthralling and entangling us in his web of words. Hidden in Dreams is 4.5 stars out of five in my book and a must read if you like a fantastic mystery with lots of twists and turns and hairpin curves.

Hidden in Dreams pulled me in from the very first page

By Lynn McMonigal, Lynn’s Corner 

Just when I thought I had figured out what was happening and where the dreams were coming from, the author threw in another twist. I loved not being able to guess what was coming next!

Though Davis Bunn and many of his characters are Christians, the book itself was not “overly religious.” I liked how non-believing characters were encouraged to consider their might be a “higher power” at work in the universe.

The Christian element was there, but the suspense, the story itself, was the main focus. In fact, I think many Christian today could learn a lot about how to live from Elena. She made no secrets of or apologies for her faith in Christ. But never once did she force her beliefs on others or think less of someone just because he or she didn’t hold the same beliefs.

How much better would this world be if more Christians walked in faith like that, rather than just talking about their faith.

Dreams: Commonplace, yet mysterious

By Sherry Bibb, My Tea and Poetry

Dreams. They have been a fascination throughout the history of mankind. They are common place and yet mysterious. We wonder at their origin and their purpose. Biblical accounts tell us of divine warnings to mitigate future disaster.

Disney tells us, “a dream is a wish your heart makes.”

Dickens tells us dreams are the result of a bit of moldy bread or an underdone turnip.

In Hidden in Dreams,  a brand new possibility is presented.

Book 2 of the Elena Burroughs series, Hidden in Dreams  stands alone and is a quick-paced story of intrigue and impending world-wide financial collapse forewarned by a series of dreams. Are these dreams a divine warning or is something more sinister afoot?  Dr. Burroughs and some unlikely allies unexpectedly find themselves in the position to unravel the mystery.

Hidden in Dreams is a good read. It brings together engaging characters, a believable plot set amidst contemporary themes and a refreshing perspective. It made for lighter reading than other titles of similar genre (mystery/psychological fiction). I give this title a 4-star rating.

I have a dream

By Marliss Bombardier, Steadfast

I have a dream, the same dream, which I have dreamed for many years. The setting may be different, but the terror is the same. I am in the dark, and I cannot turn on the light.

Imagine my trepidation when I began reading Hidden in Dreams, by Davis Bunn. In this book, the same series of dreams is dreamt by several dreamers. They are dreams of financial ruin, personally and internationally. Hopefully, my dream is not prophetic, but these dreams seem to be, as events occur in the world.

The question is the source. Are they from God? Is there a rational, scientific explanation? Must those who place their trust in science give credence to the fact that some things just cannot be explained without reference to spirituality and faith?

This book is a sequel to The Book of Dreams. Though it can be read without reading The Book of Dreams first, you will want to read The Book of Dreams also. Elena Burroughs, the protagonist in both books, is a fascinating character with a strong Christian faith which she depends on for direction even when God is silent.

Elena is only one of the rich characters in the book. She is drawn into the dreams mystery by Rachel Lamprey, the antagonistic sister of Elena’s dearest and oldest friend, Miriam, who figured in The Book of Dreams, giving the book of dreams to Elena before she died. Rachel repudiates everything Miriam stood for, but is really not so different from her after all.

Jacob Rawlings, a behaviorist who has in the past brutally flayed Elena in a debate is drawn unwillingly into the dreams controversy when a patient of his shares the dreams. He wants a relationship with Elena, but there is one crucial thing missing.

The president of Elena’s college, Reed Thompson, and his daughter, Stacy, are both stronger, more compassionate, and more faithful people because of the death of a wife and mother years ago. Even the chaotic weather in Florida during hurricane season becomes part of the cast of characters, lending its ominous beat to the march of events.

The setting of impending worldwide financial collapse, torn from today’s headlines, coupled with a recent re-reading of Larry Burkett’s The Coming Economic Earthquake, made it difficult to read this book. However, Davis Bunn is one of my favorite authors and I have read most of what has come from his pen. And in true, Davis Bunn style, there is a totally-unexpected twist.

The prophetic dreams shared by fifteen people who live all over the world, some with great financial or political influence, powerful financial organizations and business corporations, murders, conspiracies, and the threat of global financial collapse, not to mention romance, all make Hidden in Dreams a compelling and exciting read. I give it five stars.

Marliss Bombardier is a writer, editor, web designer. Love living in the great Pacific Northwest, the Paleo/low-carb lifestyle, homeschooling, gardening, family, friends, and most of all, our great God and King who gave His life for us that we might live.

Enthusiastic Reader ‘Can’t pick a favorite!’

 

Jenifer writes:

I’m a new fan of yours and happened to stumble across The Lion of Babylon when I began searching for e-books at the Wake County Public Library.  Your writing is fantastic, and I got immediately hooked on your work to the point that I’m reading Gold of Kings right now and have All Through the Night as well.  You have now become one of the authors I wish to emulate, along with David Baldacci, Vince Flynn, and DiAnn Mills.  I actually do have a novel, Exiled Heart, due to come out in November in the inspirational market.

It’s also neat to see that you’re a North Carolina native and an adventurer, much like myself.  Thank you too, in your profile, for sharing exactly how long it took for you to get published.  It gave me great comfort since my time frame has been similar.

Again, I just wanted to introduce myself and thank you so much for writing so well. 

Dear Jenifer,

It is rare that I continue to receive such a regular flow of fan mail nine months after a book’s release, but Lion really seems to have struck a chord with many readers. Yours was especially moving, as you are finding inspiration here for your own creative efforts.  I wish you every success as you look beyond the horizon and see the world of missions and faith as a living entity. I wish you every success in your endeavors, and thank you for writing.  

 

Amanda writes:

The Hidden Flame and The Damascus Way turned up on the book table at our local library. I am not sure whether The Centurion’s Wife is available. If not, can one start at book 2, or will that be an unsatisfactory read? 

Dear Amanda,

Thanks so much for your note.  As far as most readers are concerned, it appears that the books can be read as stand-alones, which is the industry term for books that do not need to be read in sequence. That is certainly how they were intended. There are some key characters who progress through the novels, but the stories themselves are independent of one another.  

 

Susan writes:

Oh, I only want to say you are an amazing word crafter.  I have a notebook where I write sentences from your books . . . just because they are so evocative and beautifully written, especially from the Storm Syrrell and the Marcus Glenwood books.  But then there are The Lazarus Trap, Imposter, Drummer in the Dark . . . how can one pick a favorite?  I am not a writer, rather an artis . . . one who appreciates the gift you have.

Dear Susan,

What a delightful email. Thank you so much for writing. I do consider writing to be a form of artistic creation, and love the idea of painting emotional pictures for my readers with these words. I feel this has again been accomplished in my latest works, Lion of Babylon and its sequel, Rare Earth. I hope you agree, if you have a chance to read them.

What Sets Marc Royce Apart from the Typical Action Hero? (Plus Book Giveaway)

Today I have two new reviews of Rare Earth to share with you — and one of the reviewers is hosting a giveaway contest! Be sure to click over to his blog to enter the contest.

By Tim Busbey, Tim’s World

Enter Tim’s giveaway contest by Friday, August 17, 2012 at http://timbusbey.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/book-review-rare-earth-by-davis-bunn/

In last year’s Lion of Babylon, Davis Bunn introduced readers to Marc Royce, a Jack Ryan-type hero for the Christian thriller genre.

What sets him apart from the typical thriller/action hero? He’s got a heart.

In Rare Earth, Royce is sent undercover to Kenya to investigate a refugee camp birthed by a volcano’s eruption. But that is not his real mission. In reality, Royce is there to discover why whole tribes have gone missing.

His investigation leads him to the trail of an international conspiracy involving rare earth minerals — once-obscure minerals which have now been found in abundance in Africa’s Rift Valley. High-tech industries have become reliant on these rare earth minerals, leading “claim jumpers” to forcibly remove whole tribes of people to secure access to these minerals. Once he realizes the true nature of  the tragedy, Royce sets out to restore the people to their land.

Before Bunn became an author, he spent years traveling the globe as a businessman, including time spent in Africa. Those experiences certainly bear fruit in Rare Earth as Bunn makes the reader really feel as if they are in Africa as he describes the breath-taking landscape and the proud Kenyan refuges.

I loved how Bunn took a real-world issue and incorporated it into his thriller, giving him the opportunity to educate the readers about this tragedy taking place right now.

Although Rare Earth is the second in a series, it truly is a standalone story that any reader can pick up and enjoy. The characters are realistic, full of depth and very well written. I loved the international intrigue and the twist and turns Bunn put Royce through.

Rare Earth is an intense, realistic novel that would make a great movie. Bunn’s fast-paced action and thought-provoking subject matter will pull you into the book and take your mind on a wild adventure.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I give Rare Earth a 4.

………………………………….

‘Every detail was meticulously researched’

By Katherine Wacker, Katherine’s Chronicle

In Davis Bunn’s Rare Earth, Marc Royce has been sent to a country and a people who desperately need help. The continent of Africa, which has already been ravaged by war, famine, political upheaval, and poverty, now experiences a volcanic eruption forcing many Kenyans from their homes into refugee camps.

It is to one such camp that Royce arrives under a cloud of ash and suspicion, and must bring order out of chaos and corruption. When he starts investigating a money trail, a missing aid worker, and the confiscation of land held for centuries by the African people, the answers lead him from the Kenyan wilderness to the Israeli desert and back again.

But will he stay alive long enough to find the answers and save the land from those who want to destroy it and, with it, the hopes of a people he has grown to love?

I have never been to Africa, but thanks to Davis Bunn’s vivid descriptions, I feel like I have seen the drought-stricken landscape and the ash-spitting volcano, smelled the fermented milk and tasted the coffee drawn right from the bean, and felt the sun’s heat as it beats down on everything below. Every detail was meticulously researched and every page suspenseful.

The story is well-written. I wasn’t ready for it to end, and I am looking forward to the next in the series. My rating for Rare Earth is an enthusiastic four stars. For those interested, Rare Earth is Book Two in the Marc Royce Series; Lion of Babylon is the first. Each is a stand-alone novel.