Okay, this is a shameless appeal, but more than that, this is an edifying shameless appeal, containing three parts all told. This concerns Nate’s writing career, and I believe I can speak here with a freedom I would not have if I were talking, say, about my own books. First, this is because Scripture says to keep your piehole shut about your own accomplishments (Prov. 27:2), and secondly, this is particularly the case if those accomplishments in question are non-existent (Ex. 20:16).
So here are the three parts. First, I wanted to give a fun report on how Nate’s books have been doing. Secondly, I wanted to mention a particular Christmas opportunity involving The Dragon’s Tooth. And third, I wanted to urge all of you who care about the sorts of things promoted here at this blog to think more strategically.
Leepike Ridge, Nate’s first novel, has done around 100,000 units, which is quite respectable, and will have no occasion to hang its head at our upcoming Thanksgiving Day bash. The 100 Cupboards books are now in something like 30 countries, and in the US alone will easily crest the 500,000 unit mark this year. As we say around our house, that’s cool beans.
That’s the quantity, but there is also the recognized quality. Over his first four novels, the only one to receive a starred review in any of the trade journals was Leepike Ridge, and it received only one. This means that The Dragon’s Tooth (Ashtown Burials 1), just released, is what they call “critically acclaimed.” To date, The Dragon’s Tooth has now received three starred reviews –incredible for a title considered to be commercial out in the marketplace.
Booklist: “a gem”
Publisher’s Weekly: “wildly imaginative”
School Library Journal: “masterful storytelling”
So second, here is the Christmas deal, the shameless appeal part. On The Dragon’s Tooth, you can link to Amazon for the cheapest price, but order from Canon Press if you want a signed copy. Through the Christmas season, Nate will be signing all the copies that go out from Canon.
And so now, thirdmost, here is the strategtic exhortation. As you have read here many times, our culture desperately needs healthy stories, grounded (as all of them necessarily are) on the Story. I am often asked, after a particular kind of talk or sermon, the kind where my beard is on fire, something like this — “but what can we do?” The gate-keepers of our secular publishing citadels have successfully shut us out, or so the complaint goes. “We must rest content,” it may be thought, “with selling one another lurid fiction about the final ashlockolypse.”
But comes now a collection of glorious stories for all ages, in print, acclaimed by the critics, published by a major house, available at a bookstore near you, and written by someone steeped in biblical view of the world. What can we do? Do? We can buy some Christmas presents!
Postscript: Let me say a little something about all my shameless appeals, this one most certainly included. The kingdom of God does not run on air, but rather on material provision. When the apostle Paul seeks that provision, he knows two things about it. He knows that he has the right and responsibility to seek it (1 Cor. 9:7-8). He also knows how easy it would be for his words to appear self-serving (Phil. 4:17). Although we are not talking about the tithe, something analogous is going on here. Am I asking people to strike a blow against the devil and all his works by purchasing a copy of my son’s book? Well, yes, I guess you could put it that way. Is it self-serving? Not a bit of it. These are shameless appeals, not embarrassed appeals.