Zachary Bartels

Stay on the Narrow Way . . .for wide is the path that leads to destruction. With more than 200 million copies sold, The Pilgrim's Progress is one of the bestselling books of all time. But at nearly 350 years old, this beloved allegory of the Christian life can feel antiquated and worn, despite scenes of great beauty and turmoil. A modern reader might stumble at the conventions of the seventeenth century prose and never even get to Christian's battles with giants, dragons, and devils, to say nothing of the soaring palaces, impassable swamps, majestic mountains, cursed valleys, and the glorious Celestial City itself. Now from the mind of critically acclaimed novelist Zachary Bartels comes this dynamic adaptation of The Pilgrim's Progress that is both true to John Bunyan's original work and utterly original. With a cinematic sensibility, Bartels fleshes out scenes, characters, and concepts Bunyan merely hinted at. The result? An impossible-to-put-down retelling of this classic tale that is destined to become the definitive version of our time. Contains over 150 illustrations from a variety of artists, spanning more than 150 years]

Superheroes aren't real. But before the summer ends, Trent's going to wish they were. For Trenton Marsh, life is getting complicated. Ever since his police chief dad went back to school, the two of rarely see each other. And while Trent has managed to somehow catch the interest of Zoe, the intriguing new girl in town, he is quickly realizing just how out of his league she really is. Meanwhile, the formerly harmless quirks of his best friend, Judith, are becoming cause for concern as she becomes ever more determined to transform herself into a real-life superhero. Just when Trenton starts getting Judith back on the road to sanity, a string of bizarre break-ins disrupts the quiet town of Clinch Rock. Nothing is missing, but it's clear that someone is looking for something. And when Trent discovers a secret room and a dusty journal in the basement of his house-which once belonged to a 19th century lumber baron-he finds himself inadvertently feeding Judith's new obsession with solving crimes and dispensing justice. But it soon becomes frighteningly clear that the would-be thieves will stop at nothing to get their hands on the lumber baron's substantial riches, propelling Trent and Judith into a frantic race against time and a shadowy group of treasure hunters to solve a century-old mystery before it's too late.

It's easy to publish a book these days. It's also easy to do it really, really badly. Sure you can go for broke and just learn from your mistakes. But wouldn't rather learn from someone else's? Ted Kluck and Zach Bartels have seen it all. They've published with Traditional publishers large and small, started their own Indie micro press, had great success, and watched projects crash and burn. With the wisdom of grizzled old sages and the snark of jaded Gen Xers, they cut through the BS and show you how to -navigate the world of publishing gatekeepers -choose when to go Traditional or Indie -work well with editors, cover designers, and PR wonks -position your books for success -learn from failure and rejection -and much more Witty, honest, and practical, The Gut Check Guide to Publishing isn't your ticket to instant fame and fortune. It's the reality check you have to have before you decide to take the trip at all. It's what's going to keep you from looking like an amateur out there. It's your white knight. Because if you think writing is hard work, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Yesterday, Parker Saint’s only concern was his swiftly rising star power. Today, he’s just trying to stay alive. Parker Saint is living the dream. A cushy job at a thriving megachurch has him on the verge of becoming a bestselling author and broadcast celebrity—until life takes an abrupt turn that lands him on the wrong side of the law. To avoid a public scandal, he agrees to consult with the police on a series of brutal murders linked by strange religious symbols scrawled on each victim. Parker tries to play the expert, but he is clearly in over his head. Drawn ever deeper into a web of intrigue involving a demanding detective, a trio of secretive Vatican operatives, and a centuries-old conspiracy to conceal a mysterious relic, he realizes for the first time that the battle between good and evil is all too real—and that the killer is coming back . . . this time for him.“A thought-provoking exploration into the power of faith and the reality of evil. Filled with memorable characters and tight writing, Playing Saint is an impressive debut from an author to watch.” —Steven James, bestselling author of Placebo and The Queen

THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA WERE THERE WHEN JERUSALEM FELL, THEY WERE THERE WHEN THE TEMPLARS DISINTEGRATED, AND THEY’RE THERE NOW . . . WAITING IN DETROIT FOR A BORN-AGAIN CON MAN TRYING TO SAVE HIS FAMILY. Former con man Fletcher Doyle is finally home after six years in the pen. He’s working a menial job, regaining his bearings in the world, and trying to revive his relationships with his wife and twelve-year-old daughter. No easy feat. But when Fletcher and his family go on a mission trip to Detroit—in the company of the condescending church leader who also happens to be his landlord—Fletcher finds his old life waiting for him. Within hours of arriving in the city, he’s been blackmailed into doing a job for a mysterious criminal who calls himself The Alchemist. A series of relics hidden by the Knights of Malta, as ancient as they are priceless, are in the sights of The Alchemist. What he needs is a gifted grifter with a background in ecclesiastical history . . . what he needs is Fletcher Doyle. Between hiding his reawakened criminal life from his wife and trying to hide her from their relentless landlord, Fletcher is ready to give up. But when his family is drawn into the dangerous world he can’t shake, Fletcher is forced to rely on his years in the game to save the only people who mean more to him than the biggest con in history.