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An Added Bonus...
Thursday, May 14, 2009
As I mentioned in the previous post, The Last Oracle will be released in paperback in about 10 days (Tuesday, May 26th). But what I forgot to mention is that there is an unusual and groundbreaking bonus in this edition. At the back of the book will be a sneak peek at Steve Berry's winter book, The Paris Vendetta.
Why is this groundbreaking? Some of you may know that Steve and I are good friends (and currently share the co-presidency of the International Thriller Writers organization)...but we don't share the same publisher. We first became acquainted after I happened to give Steve a blurb for his debut novel, The Amber Room. We started an ongoing e-mail dialogue, then met for the first time face-to-face at Bouchercon in Chicago. Since then, we've ended up traveling the world together. Here's a picture taken by Steve's wife of the two of us in New Zealand.
For those not familiar with Steve Berry's work, his stories are globe-hopping adventures steeped in adventure, intrigue, and mystery. Much like my own books. But that said, we're somewhat mirror images of each other. Steve's stories are more heavily steeped in historical mysteries (often with ties to bits of scientific intrigue), where my books deal more with scientific intrigue (with roots tied to historical mysteries). In other words, I'm more science; he's more history.
As friends, over the years we've made some sly references to each other's characters in our respective books. So this time around, we thought why don't we do something bolder. Why not tease each other's books with chapter inserts? Such a thing has never been done before, where one publisher advertises and promotes a competing publishing house's book. It goes against the marketing grain. It seems so counter-intuitive, almost nonsensical. But we went ahead anyway and proposed it to our two publishing houses. And surprisingly they agreed to it!
So in the paperback edition of The Last Oracle, you'll find a sneak of Steve's book--and come this fall, there will be a sneak peek of my winter book (The Altar of Eden) in the paperback release of Steve's The Charlegmagne Pursuit (which is a great book, by the way...but don't tell Steve I said that).
Jim
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Comments
Name: Paul Date: 2009-05-19
Hi James, Can't wait for The Last Oracle in paperback. I've just finished The Judas Strain which was great as usual. My favorite book so far is Map of Bones. I've read the whole Sigma series and I hope there will be many more stories to come. I consider reading The Paris Vendetta as well. The title is appealing somehow since I live in Paris. Great idea to sponsor your friend's book. Paul
Name: Cherei Date: 2009-05-22
What an unique, groundbreaking idea! But!! Look at who the authors are.. and it makes perfect sense!! lol Write ON!
Name: David Date: 2009-05-26
Why can't you do a book tour in utah. I have read all of your books and you are not even coming close to here.
Name: Jim M. Gau Date: 2009-05-29
A picture of two towering monuments of authorship together, James Rollins & Steve Berry...!! Almost as good as The Green Hornet & Kato!! And just as much action. Any chance the pair of you will ever author a book together? If it works for Lincoln Child & Douglas Preston, can a team-up novel from James Rollins & Steve Berry be very far away?! (Sounds kinda like "Fantasy Football", only with authors!). Keep up the great work, guys....the household bills will have to wait: I've got some Rollins & Berry novels to buy!! Piles 'o' smiles, Jim M. Gau Hancock, MI jimq35@charter.net
Name: Pat West Date: 2009-06-07
Looking forward to reading the The Last Oracle tonight; I have read everything and I have not been disappointed. introduced you to some of my friends and you have some new fans. Of course as someone that works at Special Operations HQ; I like sigma the best. Of course I look at my DARPA counterparts with new eyes. I think your books would be great movies; any chance of seeing them on the big screen?
Name: calleyx Date: 2009-06-10
..haha...cool...
Name: Dean Date: 2009-06-17
I'm a huge fan of both you and Steve Berry, of both the Sigma series and Berry's Cotton Malone books. So I absolutely loved that subtle reference, in "Black Order," to an American Attorney from Georgia who owned a bookstore in Copenhagen. Most definitely a great "shout-out" to Berry's work.
Name: Ed Date: 2009-06-17
YES! I knew it long before this post. The very subtle references to each others characters in some of your books. James Rollins mentioning an antique book dealer in Copenhagen and Steve Berry mentioning Sigma Force, just to name a couple. You do indeed complement each other and you're right about the history / science and science / history emphasis. I first discovered Rollins with a paperback edition of Map of Bones, loved it and wanted more. Since then I have read only the Sigma's (out of order naturally) and look forward to the upcoming two this year. I've read all of Steve Berry's. My favorites are Templar and Romanov. He seems to be hit or miss, quite honestly. I seem to like his books (especially Amber and Secret) right up to the end and then ugh, he loses me. In Amber he forces everything to work out nicely at the end, when it could have stopped about twenty pages earlier, left us hanging and been a great story.
Name: sara daniel Date: 2010-12-05
when is the nest sigma novel coming out. i feel like ive been waiting for eons! i love the series and have every book so far accept "The Voynich Project, Nephilim Rising". i have not seen this in bookstores. is there any way a loyal reader could ask for a sneak peek of the next novel?
