Davis Bunn's Blog, page 4
February 10, 2016
Reviewers of ‘The Fragment': Political intrigue and spiritual quest in a great read — 5 Stars
On February 19, 2016, my new historical novel, The Fragment, releases. Here are three early reviews of the book, from Sherry Arni, Dave Milbrandt, and Anne Rightler.
Sherry Arni, on Goodreads:
Against the backdrop of post-World War I Europe and the crumbling Ottoman Empire, Davis Bunn weaves a story of elegance, intrigue, strength, and faith as 23-year-old Muriel Ross embarks on a quest she only gradually comes to understand, along with U. S. Senator Thomas Bryan and mysterious French diplomat Charles Fouchet, a young man deeply wounded by the war and its aftermath.
A reliquary containing a fragment of the True Cross and deepening crisis in the Ottoman Empire pull these characters from Paris to Constantinople in a dangerous journey.
Davis Bunn’s characters, as always, are well-drawn, believable, and real. The story pulls the reader in and doesn’t let go until the last page. The Fragment, which ties in to the story of the Empress Helena in The Pilgrim, is a great read. 5 Stars
Dave Milbrandt, on Goodreads
Bunn’s previous book, The Pilgrim, provides an interpretation of Helena’s discovery of the True Cross of Christ. In The Fragment, we travel to Europe in 1923, where American researcher Muriel Ross is pulled into risky, yet spiritually rewarding search for a piece of this most auspicious of relics.
Having both taught history and written my own tale about a piece of the True Cross, I can tell you first hand that Bunn’s attention to historical accuracy is spot-on. But, where others might have fun taking a more mystical approach, Bunn travels the higher road and focuses on characters being changed from the inside.
Bunn’s writing is always poetic and never pretentious, leaving me enchanted and, to be honest, a shade envious. His details about life in 1920s Paris and Constantinople both ring true and, at times, make the reader crack a smile.
The book is a quick read, and well worth the investment of your time. In The Fragment, it’s clear Davis Bunn has mastered the art of weaving history and story together in a seamless fashion. 5 Stars
Anne Rightler, on Goodreads
The Fragment, by Davis Bunn, is a marvelous post-WWI novel that will delight readers of historical fiction.
Bunn gives a splendid glimpse of Paris and Constantinople from the perspective of Smithsonian researcher and photographer, Muriel Ross. She has been chosen by a family friend who is a U.S. Senator to accompany him to Europe to photograph a piece of the True Cross.
While in Paris, she meets Charles, a young man from the French embassy and realizes all may not be as it was originally told to her.
Can she trust the Senator?
Can she trust Charles?
Just why was she chosen for this project?
Where does her faith in Christ fit into all that is happening around her?
Bunn details the history of this post-WWI era in an interesting and intriguing manner. As he notes regarding Constantinople–the names were spiced by centuries of tales. The characters are beguiling, believable, and likable.
Despite the ordeals, threats, and disappointments, Muriel knows there is a promise of hope. The Fragment, a thrilling tale of a piece of the Cross and its impact on those seeking it. Don’t miss this newest book by Davis Bunn. 5 Stars
THE FRAGMENT, Davis Bunn’s new historical suspense, gets 5-star reviews
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February 5, 2016
Two weeks until âThe Fragmentâ releases
Let the countdown commence!
Only two weeks to go before the February 19, 2016 release of The Fragment, a historical suspense that takes place in 1923 Europe.
Here’s a quote from the book to pique your interest.
The novel is available for pre-order from your favorite bookseller.
I’m ordering THE FRAGMENT, Davis Bunn’s new historical suspense
Click To Tweet
Two weeks until ‘The Fragment’ releases
Let the countdown commence!
Only two weeks to go before the February 19, 2016 release of The Fragment, a historical suspense that takes place in 1923 Europe.
Here’s a quote from the book to pique your interest.
The novel is available for pre-order from your favorite bookseller.
I’m ordering THE FRAGMENT, Davis Bunn’s new historical suspense
Click To Tweet
January 28, 2016
Super sale on Acts of Faith trilogy co-authored with Janette Oke
Here’s a great deal on the ebook version of a series I co-authored with Janette Oke.
The Acts of Faith historical series is steeply discounted at many online booksellers, from February 1 through March 31, 2016. I’ve done some price shopping, and these are the prices, as of the day I published this blog post:
The Centurion’s Wife – FREE at all three outlets!
The Hidden Flame – $6.99 or less
Amazon Kindle – $4.99
Barnes & Noble – $6.99
Christianbook.com – $5.59
The Damascus Way – $6.99 or less
Amazon – $4.99
Barnes & Noble – $6.99
Christianbook.com – $5.59
Super sale prices on Acts of Faith series by Davis Bunn & Janette Oke
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January 5, 2016
You Could Win Both Books in the Legends of the Realm Fantasy Series!
Merchant of Alyss, book 2 in my Legends of the Realm epic fantasy series, is releasing today, January 5. What an exciting way to kick off 2016!
This series is published under my pen name, Thomas Locke. (Here’s ).
I’m giving away copies of BOTH BOOKS in the series throughout January. My first giveaway is today and tomorrow on my @TLockeBooks Facebook page. Here’s the direct link to the contest: http://on.fb.me/1Rd5hkD
How to enter:
Go to http://on.fb.me/1Rd5hkD (it’ll be the first post on my page) and like the picture. Get a bonus entry by leaving a comment. That’s it!
I’ll announce 5 winners – who will each get a 2-pack of books – on my @TLockeBooks Facebook page Wednesday, January 6 after 6PM PST. Be sure to stop by the page that evening to see if you won.
Here is a link to the Official Rules: http://statictab.com/jbsttgr
Would you help me promote the giveaway?
Here’s a tweet-length update I’d love for you to share Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan 5 and 6):
You could win EMISSARY and MERCHANT OF ALYSS. Enter at http://on.fb.me/1Rd5hkD by 1/6 at 6PM PST.
Reviewers are Saying…
Early reviews of Merchant of Alyss are pouring in. Here are excerpts from several reader-reviewers (click their name to read their full review):
Redd Becker:
“What fun to share in an honorable quest with characters I’d like to know; as real and vibrant as friends. Dragons, witches, elves, ancient spells and lore entwine in an adventure that spun me into their space and time. A test of endurance, the purity of love and loyalty meshed in an Ursula Le Guin-type adventure.” 5 Stars
Sue Stevens:
“What does it mean to love, to be loyal, to be a true friend, to seek one’s purpose in life? Through a complex but spellbinding plot, Locke explores these truly real and human concepts in the realm of fantasy. So while there is plenty of action and fantastical scenes that unfold almost cinematographically in your mind, there is depth here too.”
Judith Barnes:
“Locke’s writing captivates the reader. The landscape descriptions are vivid, and the action scenes move the story along with clarity. I particularly enjoyed the storyline involving the dragons.” 5 Stars
Natalie Walters:
“… My genre of choice is not fantasy but as of late I’ve found myself drawn into the world created by authors who captivate my imagination like no other. Thomas Locke is one of those authors. I was pulled in by Hyam’s struggle to overcome his new handicap (no spoilers here!) and the challenge to save not only his wife but his home from the threat of potential war. Mr. Locke pours enough detail into Hyam’s companions that they are no mere secondary sidekicks but rather characters who leap from the page begging me to ask, “What’s their story?” Thankfully, Mr. Locke provides.”
December 31, 2015
Free Download: Complete List of Books by Davis Bunn
Readers frequently ask if I have a complete list of all the books I’ve written. Ask and you shall receive! This list is updated for 2016, and it even includes a few titles that will be coming in 2017.
To get your downloadable PDF, click the button below and fill out the form. You’ll receive an email from me that’ll include a link to open the file. Be sure to save it to your hard drive and print it so you can reference it throughout the year.
I’d love to hear in the Comments how many you’ve read… or what’s next on your list. And if you enjoy the list, I hope you’ll click the “Tweet It” link below to share with your friends.
Thanks for being a faithful reader, and best wishes for a bookish 2016!
I’d love a free PDF of Davis Bunn’s books!
Tweet It!
Get a free PDF of Davis Bunn’s complete list of published books!
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December 15, 2015
âThe Warningâ $2.99 eBook Deal on Amazon
In 2001, my novel, The Warning, was the #1-selling fiction title for Thomas Nelson.
Strangely enough, Amazon is offering the Kindle version for only $2.99, as part of their Monthly eBook Deal until January 4, 2016.
The book is being featured by Amazon on the Kindle home page, featured in an eBlast to Kindle customers, and promoted via Kindle social media.
I’m amazed that a book published 15 years ago is being so heavily promoted. Mostly, I’m grateful!
‘The Warning’ $2.99 eBook Deal on Amazon
In 2001, my novel, The Warning, was the #1-selling fiction title for Thomas Nelson.
Strangely enough, Amazon is offering the Kindle version for only $2.99, as part of their Monthly eBook Deal until January 4, 2016.
The book is being featured by Amazon on the Kindle home page, featured in an eBlast to Kindle customers, and promoted via Kindle social media.
I’m amazed that a book published 15 years ago is being so heavily promoted. Mostly, I’m grateful!
December 4, 2015
How to Use âThe Pilgrimâ as a Teaching Tool
In her review of The Pilgrim, Cindy Anderson — a self-described older adult, avid reader, and former homeschooling parent — examines the novel from a variety of perspectives. I particularly like Cindy’s tips for how teachers can create a unit study of The Pilgrim that covers the Bible, geography, history, and language arts. Well done, Cindy!
Cindy Anderson, on her blog:
The Pilgrim, by Davis Bunn, is a thought provoking narrative that deals with acceptance, forgiveness, and faith. While the book is a work of fiction, and therefore should not be viewed with a mind toward theological debates, these three aforementioned aspects of life are some that we all, in our own way, battle with daily. Sometimes the battle goes on for years depending on the extent of the damage done and our ability to overcome circumstances beyond our control.
As an older adult, I can relate well with the characters and several of their plights. Being able to empathize with a character allows the reader to better identify with the subject matter, and therefore determine whether or not they themselves need to deal with similar issues in their own life.
The author does a very good job of helping the reader realize that knowing one ought to forgive someone and being able to do so do not always go hand in hand, at least not immediately. Even though the main characters in The Pilgrim are Christians, they are shown to not be perfect and to struggle with the events in their lives that have hurt them deeply and permanently changed their futures.
While true Christians are told to forgive, they must realize that forgetting can be much more difficult, and often seems impossible. Reliving over and over again the event(s) that caused the pain is what tends to make forgiving so difficult.
The characters in this book were not immune to the consequences of rehashing events that could not be changed but which must be dealt with and endured. Remorse, self-doubt, self-pity, and the persistent “what if” question is shown to do nothing to further the characters healing process or their spiritual growth.
Each character in this book, beginning with Helena, works through the process of accepting his or her new set of circumstances, with coming to terms with their need to forgive those who were seen to have caused them pain, including God in Anthony’s case, and has their faith tested to the nth degree.
While only those with a very good knowledge of history would be able to discern whether or not the events and geographical descriptions are accurate, almost anyone who reads this book will be able to understand the turmoil that the actions of others, or life occurrences, can cause in one’s life making the storyline much more believable because of the reader’s ability to identify with one or more of the characters within its pages.
As an avid reader, I enjoyed The Pilgrim and was personally challenged to follow the examples of its characters, a task that’s almost always easier said, or in this case written about, than done.
How to use The Pilgrim as a teaching tool
As a former homeschooling parent, I can easily see this book being used as a unit study covering Bible, geography, history, and language arts.
Advanced students could also use it to study sociology and some areas of psychology. The student can research the various historical events mentioned, trace the journey and learn about the different cities and cultures of the area, not to mention the cuisine for those who enjoy learning and executing that subject matter, and look into the lives of the different characters mentioned such as Constantine and his mother Helena to determine how much of what they’ve read in this book is true and how much has been added by the author. That exercise alone would be an excellent way to learn “the rest of the story” as Paul Harvey would say.
To end their unit study, the student would write a book report and/or essay(s) based on their research of the subject matter. There is enough material here to structure into either a one semester study or a full year study as determined by the parent/teacher.
Whatever your reason for reading The Pilgrim, I have no doubt that you will find it to be not only an interesting and enjoyable read but also one that will challenge and enlighten you. It will help you to deal with your own need to forgive and move on or possibly better understand someone you know who is having a difficult time forgiving and accepting their new normal.
In the event that the latter is the case, this book would be an excellent gift choice for that friend or acquaintance and may lead to fruitful discussions whereby you can help and encourage them to move forward and past their circumstances.
Coming Next:
The Fragment
This followup to The Pilgrim releases February 19, 2016. Here’s a preview:
It’s 1923, and a resilient Paris is starting to recover from the ravages of World War I and the Spanish Flu epidemic.
Enter Muriel Ross, an amateur photographer tasked with documenting the antiques that her employer, U.S. Senator Tom Bryan, has traveled to France to acquire.
Although she’s exhilarated to have escaped her parents and the confines of their stifling Virginia home, Muriel has lingering questions about why the senator has chosen her for this grand adventure. Nevertheless, she blossoms in her new surroundings, soaking up Parisian culture and capturing the sights and sounds of Paris on her camera.
But events take a dangerous turn when she discovers that the senator is on a mission far more momentous—and potentially deadly—than a mere shopping trip.
At the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Senator Bryan asks Muriel to photograph an astonishing artifact: a piece of the True Cross, discovered by Empress Helena—a historical figure familiar to readers of The Pilgrim.
When rumors surface that another fragment has been unearthed, Muriel becomes enmeshed in a covert international alliance dedicated to authenticating the fragment—and protecting it from those who will stop at nothing to steal and discredit it.
Click here to pre-order The Fragment from your favorite online bookseller.
How to Use ‘The Pilgrim’ as a Teaching Tool
In her review of The Pilgrim, Cindy Anderson — a self-described older adult, avid reader, and former homeschooling parent — examines the novel from a variety of perspectives. I particularly like Cindy’s tips for how teachers can create a unit study of The Pilgrim that covers the Bible, geography, history, and language arts. Well done, Cindy!
Cindy Anderson, on her blog:
The Pilgrim, by Davis Bunn, is a thought provoking narrative that deals with acceptance, forgiveness, and faith. While the book is a work of fiction, and therefore should not be viewed with a mind toward theological debates, these three aforementioned aspects of life are some that we all, in our own way, battle with daily. Sometimes the battle goes on for years depending on the extent of the damage done and our ability to overcome circumstances beyond our control.
As an older adult, I can relate well with the characters and several of their plights. Being able to empathize with a character allows the reader to better identify with the subject matter, and therefore determine whether or not they themselves need to deal with similar issues in their own life.
The author does a very good job of helping the reader realize that knowing one ought to forgive someone and being able to do so do not always go hand in hand, at least not immediately. Even though the main characters in The Pilgrim are Christians, they are shown to not be perfect and to struggle with the events in their lives that have hurt them deeply and permanently changed their futures.
While true Christians are told to forgive, they must realize that forgetting can be much more difficult, and often seems impossible. Reliving over and over again the event(s) that caused the pain is what tends to make forgiving so difficult.
The characters in this book were not immune to the consequences of rehashing events that could not be changed but which must be dealt with and endured. Remorse, self-doubt, self-pity, and the persistent “what if” question is shown to do nothing to further the characters healing process or their spiritual growth.
Each character in this book, beginning with Helena, works through the process of accepting his or her new set of circumstances, with coming to terms with their need to forgive those who were seen to have caused them pain, including God in Anthony’s case, and has their faith tested to the nth degree.
While only those with a very good knowledge of history would be able to discern whether or not the events and geographical descriptions are accurate, almost anyone who reads this book will be able to understand the turmoil that the actions of others, or life occurrences, can cause in one’s life making the storyline much more believable because of the reader’s ability to identify with one or more of the characters within its pages.
As an avid reader, I enjoyed The Pilgrim and was personally challenged to follow the examples of its characters, a task that’s almost always easier said, or in this case written about, than done.
How to use The Pilgrim as a teaching tool
As a former homeschooling parent, I can easily see this book being used as a unit study covering Bible, geography, history, and language arts.
Advanced students could also use it to study sociology and some areas of psychology. The student can research the various historical events mentioned, trace the journey and learn about the different cities and cultures of the area, not to mention the cuisine for those who enjoy learning and executing that subject matter, and look into the lives of the different characters mentioned such as Constantine and his mother Helena to determine how much of what they’ve read in this book is true and how much has been added by the author. That exercise alone would be an excellent way to learn “the rest of the story” as Paul Harvey would say.
To end their unit study, the student would write a book report and/or essay(s) based on their research of the subject matter. There is enough material here to structure into either a one semester study or a full year study as determined by the parent/teacher.
Whatever your reason for reading The Pilgrim, I have no doubt that you will find it to be not only an interesting and enjoyable read but also one that will challenge and enlighten you. It will help you to deal with your own need to forgive and move on or possibly better understand someone you know who is having a difficult time forgiving and accepting their new normal.
In the event that the latter is the case, this book would be an excellent gift choice for that friend or acquaintance and may lead to fruitful discussions whereby you can help and encourage them to move forward and past their circumstances.
Coming Next:
The Fragment
This followup to The Pilgrim releases February 19, 2016. Here’s a preview:
It’s 1923, and a resilient Paris is starting to recover from the ravages of World War I and the Spanish Flu epidemic.
Enter Muriel Ross, an amateur photographer tasked with documenting the antiques that her employer, U.S. Senator Tom Bryan, has traveled to France to acquire.
Although she’s exhilarated to have escaped her parents and the confines of their stifling Virginia home, Muriel has lingering questions about why the senator has chosen her for this grand adventure. Nevertheless, she blossoms in her new surroundings, soaking up Parisian culture and capturing the sights and sounds of Paris on her camera.
But events take a dangerous turn when she discovers that the senator is on a mission far more momentous—and potentially deadly—than a mere shopping trip.
At the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Senator Bryan asks Muriel to photograph an astonishing artifact: a piece of the True Cross, discovered by Empress Helena—a historical figure familiar to readers of The Pilgrim.
When rumors surface that another fragment has been unearthed, Muriel becomes enmeshed in a covert international alliance dedicated to authenticating the fragment—and protecting it from those who will stop at nothing to steal and discredit it.
Click here to pre-order The Fragment from your favorite online bookseller.
