The Youngest Templar

Trail of Fate - Sneak Peek

2009-05-13T10:56:00.000-04:00

Sneak Peek! Would you like to know what happens to Tristan in the next Youngest Templar adventure? Read the super exclusive sneak peek to find out!

Awards Season!

2009-04-30T23:27:00.002-04:00

Hello Faithful Readers!

With sincere thanks and humble appreciation I'm very happy to report that THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR: Keeper of the Grail has been named to the state reading lists in Maine, Vermont and Alabama!

If you're a reader, educator or librarian in any of those states I thank you so much for your support.

Also, don't forget that THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR: Trail of Fate is on sale October 29, 2009 and is available for pre-ordering at your favorite bookseller.

Beausant!
Your authorness

The Trail of Fate cover art

2009-01-12T13:18:00.001-05:00

Hi Folks,

Just a quick note to say the final cover for book two in The Youngest Templar trilogy is now available. And here it is!

Best!

Your authorness

2008-12-02T13:51:00.001-05:00

Recently I attended the Kentucky Book Fair. I was very surprised and quite pleased to find my favorite President enjoying a copy of The Youngest Templar! Given the enormity of the situation I asked the President if I could interview him for my blog. At first, he wondered why he would choose to be interviewed in a swamp, but after explaining blogs to him, he readily agreed to answer a few of my questions.

Q. Mr. Lincoln, you were known as a tremendous reader, did you enjoy The Youngest Templar?
Lincoln: Honest, I did! It was very freeing.

Q. Mr. Lincoln, would you recommend The Youngest Templar to others?

Lincoln: I would recommend that everyone buy four score and seven copies of this book.

Q. That’s a lot of books. What did you enjoy most about the book?

Lincoln: Well, Tristan, the main character reminds me a lot of General U.S. Grant. He fights.

Q. Mr. President is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about The Youngest Templar?

Lincoln: Only that buying a copy today would be malice toward none and charity for all. Or at least the author.

Thank you Mr. President!

Family, Friends and Other People I Have Known

2008-12-02T13:49:00.000-05:00

I was an English minor in college. I concentrated in Modern Period American Literature. This is generally considered as the years between World War I and II. One of the richest periods of literature in any country in history. Think of the writers who were at their peaks during these years: Hemingway, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, Sinclair Lewis, Gertrude Stein, T.S. Eliot, Pearl Buck, and my personal favorite John Steinbeck.

For the class The Modern American Novel, I was required to read You Can’t Go Home Again by Thomas Wolfe. Like another one of my favorite novels, The Great Gatsby, Wolfe’s classic tells us that we can never go back. We can’t reclaim our past. Time moves on, things change and even something as ‘familiar’ as home is never quite the same. People might accept you, but once you leave, you can’t return.

I’m no Thomas Wolfe, but I think his reach may have exceeded his grasp in You Can’t Go Home Again. Because you can. And no matter where you go, what you achieve, or where you live, home is always home.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit my hometown for a book signing at the Public Library. I grew up in Homer, Michigan a small town straight out of Norman Rockwell. About 1500 residents, with the population remaining pretty constant for the last few decades. Every time I have a new book, the staff at the Homer Public Library invites me to come and sign books.

It’s hands down my favorite event. I get to reconnect with friends and family. Sandi and Trixie and the rest of the staff are so supportive and friendly and it serves to remind me of what’s important. The people who have helped you along in life. Several of my former teachers come each year. (I always joke that they show up because they heard that I’d written a book and have to see for themselves). My typing teacher Mrs. Acker always comes. For years; my sixth grade English teacher came until she sadly passed away well into her 90’s.

Then this past week, I had a chance to visit my nephew Scott’s school for a presentation. He’s in fourth grade and smart as a whip. Just like his older brother Brent. Seeing the happy smile on his face while I spoke to his classmates about writing and books and history was a truly great feeling.

And then, like most gifts, I realized those good feelings came to me not because of what I’ve done. But of what was done for me.

Some announcements:

SPY GODDESS: The Chase for the Chalice has been named to the American Library Association’s Popular Paperbacks list. Along with both Spy Goddess novels! Which are on for the second year in a row.

There is now a Facebook Fan page for The Youngest Templar! Become a fan here!
Peace out!
Your authorness

T-Minus +1…It’s Here!

2008-09-23T16:48:00.001-04:00

Okay, I was going to post last night. I was going to talk about all the stuff I had going on. But my publisher graciously threw me a launch party in Ann Arbor for the book, which was a fun and fabulous evening. So fabulous that when I got home I was too pooped to blog. I just couldn’t do it.

But it’s official. The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail is on sale everywhere! So make sure you rush out to the bookstore or click on your favorite online retailer and order your copy! Preferably this weekend. Everyone wants a first edition! Right?

We also got some more great reviews. The Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books said “the twelfth-century setting and the complex war wherein both sides believe they are fighting holy battles are carefully described from the viewpoint of the inexperienced protagonist, thus ensuring a complete picture that never feels like exposition or a history lesson. Tristan(s)…memorable narration will certainly please readers who like their squires as compelling as the knights they serve.”

And VOYA had this to say: “…readers are likely to be swept up by the realistic, yet not especially graphic battle scenes. The bantering antagonism between Robard Hode and maiden Maryam is meant to provide comic relief while hinting at a revision of the Robin Hood legend.”

Watch for the full reviews to be posted on the website soon!

So I’m feeling pretty good about things. Also, I mentioned in earlier posts but you can find interviews and guest blogs at these locations.

www.bookclubgirl.com

http://blog.chrismoore.com/

www.elizabethboyle.com

Thanks for your support and Happy Reading!

I’m just sayin!

Your authorness

T-Minus 1 Day and counting….

2008-09-18T12:13:00.003-04:00

Hello Faithful Readers!

Tomorrow it’s finally here! The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail is on sale everywhere books are sold! I’m so excited. And I just can’t hide it. I’m about to lose control and I think I like it.

This is what my day was like.

7:32 Get up

7:33 Check Amazon rankings for The Youngest Templar. Rejoice that it is #17 on their list of the top 100 Medieval Books for Children. Does that make me a best-seller? I need a ruling.

7:34 Check rankings on other websites.

7:38 Check Amazon rankings.

7:45-10:11 Refresh Amazon page continuously.

11:00-3pm Lunch

3:01 Check Amazon rankings.

3:02-3:04 Work on revisions of Book 2

3:05-7:58 Check Amazon rankings.

As you can see I have had a very hectic day

I’ve been busily guest blogging and being interviewed on a variety of websites today. So here are some links: Chris Moore & Mike Spradlin

Go to www.chrismoore.com and click on his blog to see a hilarious interview that the world’s funniest author guy did with me.

Tomorrow visit www.elizabethboyle.com for an interview about The Youngest Templar. You can also win a signed first edition of SPY GODDESS: Live and Let Shop.

Visit www.bookclubgirl.com for a guest blog I wrote on why boys need book club love too! You can also win a signed first edition of SPY GODDESS: Live and Let Shop.

So that’s it for now. See you in the bookstores!

Your authorness

Kids Do The Darndest Things and T-Minus Three Days and Counting…

2008-09-18T12:13:00.002-04:00

My children surprise me every day. My son and daughter are both bright, loving and wonderful kids. I’m sure every parent would say the same thing. Yet each day they say or do something which leaves me shaking my head in wonderment at how I got so lucky. I will say right now, most it has to do with my wife. She is the best mother in the entire history of mothers. I’m not discounting the role of fathers. Don’t misunderstand me. I’ve rocked my kids to sleep and changed their diapers and kissed their boo boos and helped them with their science fair projects and all the many things good parents do. I’m no different than anyone else. But for many years my job required me to travel a great deal and the burden of primary caregiver fell to my wife. Lucky for them she was an expert at it. And I’ve got two wonderful children to show for all of her hard work.

So I’ve known how lucky I am kidswise, but then my birthday rolls around and both my kids just rock me.

First, my son and I attended San Diego Comic-Con together this summer. We had a blast. We found our people. We bought stupid t-shirts. We saw stuff you won’t see anywhere else. It was special for me because my son is an adult now, living on his own in another state. Time together is rare, and the fact we were together doing something we both love just made the weekend that much better.

So he sends me my birthday gift and I open it up and what do I find? That he’s taken hours and hours of his time and put together a Comic Con scrapbook. All of the giveaways, the bumper-stickers and other paraphernalia put together in a memory book for me. I’m not ashamed to say I cried. It was one of the best birthday gifts he’s ever given me.

Then my sixteen year old daughter cooks up a scheme. She takes a cover image of my newest book The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail. (On sale September 18, wherever books are sold, I’m just sayin’) and has about 15 t-shirts made up. She gives them out to all of her friends and they will all be wearing them to school on Thursday, the official on sale day. What a kid. They all show up at my house wearing the t-shirts to pose for pictures. Only my daughter could pull this off. That’s all I could really say over and over. When I wasn’t busy crying buckets. What a kid. Only she could pull this off.

(in the photo above on the right you can see the gang, back row left to right, Lesia, Bristol, Ana, Gabe, Kayla, my daughter, and Jackie. I believe the children are our future).

Whenever I mention to my wife how our kids are always surprising me with something like this, she just smiles and says: “apple meet tree”. Wise woman.

More Templar news…

The countdown continues. Don’t forget that I’ll be guest blogging at www.bookclubgirl.com tomorrow. New York Times Best-selling Author Elizabeth Boyle will post an interview with me at her site on Thursday September 18th www.elizabethboyle.com

Also my local paper, The Flint Journal will run an interview in the Wednesday September 17, 2008 edition but it’s already posted on their website so you can read it here.

Now back to trying to breathe normally.

Your authorness.

T-minus 4 Days And Counting…

2008-09-18T12:13:00.001-04:00

Hello readers!

I’m on pins and needles. Thursday, September 18th THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR: Keeper of the Grail will finally go on sale! I’ll be doing a lot in the next couple of weeks to publicize and promote it. However, if you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ve probably already ordered your copies. So right now, all you need do is order more copies for friends and family, settle in with a warm cup of joe, and read THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR. After that, I’m sure you’re next move will be to log onto all the Internet book review sites and give it five star reviews!

I’m just sayin’

Speaking of reviews, one of my favorite websites www.templarhistory.com is run by author Stephen Dafoe who wrote many of the books I used in researching THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR. He is currently reading my novel, and he’s going to post a full review soon, but in the meantime he had this to say to me in an email about what he’d read so far: THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR is “better written than most Templar fiction and more accurate than most Templar nonfiction.” Needless to say I was thrilled! If you’re interested in anything having to do with the Knights Templar I would definitely check out his website and his newest beautiful book, NOBLY BORN: An Illustrated History of the Knights Templar.

Keep checking back to this space for updates this week. On Wednesday, September 17th I’ll be guest blogging at www.bookclubgirl.com and on September 18th, my friend and fellow author Christopher Moore will be posting his hilarious interview of me at www.chrismoore.com or if you’re a myspace user, www.myspace.com/theauthorguy. Also, if you haven’t visited www.theyoungesttemplar.com for more exciting details about the book, what are you waiting for?

I’ve also added a whole slew of new events to the events page!

Hope to see you somewhere out there! And thanks again for your continued support.

My best,

Your authorness.

We Are Officially Counting Down…

2008-09-05T14:48:00.000-04:00

Only 12 days to go.

I find myself pacing. Sitting on my hands. Trying to write, trying to focus on anything but the calendar. 12 days until The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail goes on sale.

Reviews are coming in. Booklist praises it for “deadly action” and “uncompromising descriptions” and says “the stirring saga ends with a true cliff-hanger, priming fans for the next installment.” So yay! I’ll have the full review posted on the site soon.

Also, if you haven’t yet, please visit The Youngest Templar website at www.theyoungesttemplar.com and check out all the reviews and praise and keep an eye on the countdown clock.

September 18th. It’s almost here.

Back to pacing. (Um…unless my agent and editor are reading this post in which case I meant to say back to writing!)

Ciao!

Your authorness

Why is September the perfect month?

2008-08-27T14:46:00.000-04:00

What is so special about September 18th you ask? Well if you are a regular reader of this blog then you know that is the date that The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail goes on sale. Yes, on September 18th our long national nightmare will at last be over.

As with all of the books I’ve written, I’ve found the last few weeks before it goes on sale to be the most nerve wracking. You wait for the reviews to come in. The days seem to drag. You obsessively check your rankings at the online booksellers (hey, I just jumped 342 spots! Whoo hoo!) Sometimes you even begin to wonder if it’s all worth it. But when you have the finished book in your hand, you know that it was and is. All the effort and time and sweat and revision was worth it.

So I’m counting down the days! I come up with all kinds of thing to keep me distracted until the 18th arrives. Reading about all the new fall TV shows. Drafting my fantasy football teams. Checking my rankings at the online booksellers. Oops. Said that already!

Anyway, I’ve always loved September. It’s the start of autumn, my favorite season. Football starts. I have my birthday. There’s the Labor Day weekend. I was married in September to my wife of 26 years. And now I have a book going on sale.

Yep. Pretty much the perfect month!

I’m just sayin’

Your authorness

News and Notes

2008-08-10T23:27:00.003-04:00

Reviews for The Youngest Templar are starting to come in from the blogosphere. Here is a link to one you might find of interest.

The audio book version of The Youngest Templar is in production and the reader is Paul Boehmer. Who is Paul Boehmer you say? Well just so you know, he's been on both Star Trek: Enterprise AND Star Trek: Deep Space Nine! How cool is that?

Comic Con International, 2008

2008-07-29T22:27:00.000-04:00

Bookseller Review

2008-07-29T22:21:00.000-04:00

In Michael P. Spradlin's kick-ass new young adult adventure novel, "The Youngest Templar Book 1: Keeper of the Grail," Tristan, an orphan with a mysterious past who's been raised at a Cistercian monastery, joins the Knights Templar as a squire during the Crusades. Spradlin's impeccable pacing keeps the action furious and kinetic as Tristan helps his master battle Saracens and flees the beseiged city of Acre carrying the most precious of treasures--the Holy Grail. Along the way, he teams up with a Saracen assassin and a young Robin Hood. Rich in historical detail and a thrilling read. Bring on Book 2!

Frazer Dobson
Park Road Books
Charlotte, North Carolina

More Raves for the Youngest Templar

2008-07-28T12:18:00.000-04:00

THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR: Keeper of the Grail got another rave quote from New York Times Bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker. I’m completely in awe, because Jeff is one of my all time favorite writers. (If you’ve never read him, pick up a copy of Silent Joe and you’ll instantly want to read every word the man has written). So when one of my personal heroes gives me a great quote, well, it’s a little humbling. You can read what he had to say on the Templar page.

Also, I’m learning a little more about the manga world everyday and if you follow this link, you’ll see that some has created a really cool Spy Goddess shrine on anime.com. Wow.

And don’t forget, on Tuesday July 22, my newest Picture Book DANIEL BOONE’S GREAT ESCAPE goes on sale. Wherever books are sold.

I’m just sayin’

James Rollins and I have something in common!

2008-06-30T16:12:00.000-04:00

New York Times best-selling author James Rollins has just released his newest novel The Last Oracle. I’m sure it it going to rocket right to the top of all the bestseller lists around the country. I love Jim’s books. They’re full of action, adventure, a dash of science usually coupled with some ancient mystery and they definitely meet my “stuff must blow up” criteria.

What I’ve learned about Jim over the years is that he suffers for his art. He scuba dives. He spelunks. He personally does a lot of stuff his characters experience in his books. That’s probably why you get that real ‘you are there’ sense from reading them. In fact, a certain Hollywood producer was so smitten by Jim’s work, that he hired him to write the novelization of his latest big screen epic. You might have heard of it. It was a little film called Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Knowing that we share an interest in action, adventure, zombies and explosions, what else do you think that I, your humble authorness, have in common with James Rollins?

Give up?

We both love my new book THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR: Keeper of the Grail!

Here is what Jim had to say about it:

“A masterful blend of whimsical fantasy, spellbinding suspense, and historical mystery, read it before a crackling fire and allow it to sweep you away into another world and time. A classic adventure in the making, not to be missed!”

That’s right! James Rollins my peeps! Feeling The Youngest Templar love!

Achtung Baby!

2008-06-20T23:41:00.000-04:00

One of the coolest things about writing and publishing THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR: Keeper of the Grail (on sale September 18th and now available for pre-order at most online booksellers I’m just sayin’) has been the sales to foreign publishers. When I was in Bologna a few months ago, I got to meet several of the editors and publishers from each of the companies and it was a thrill to hear about their enthusiasm for my work. I never had any idea when I wrote THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR: Keeper of the Grail (on sale September 18th and now available for pre-order at most online booksellers I’m just sayin’) that I would sell it in even one foreign country, let alone seven so far. Not to mention audio rights to Random House!

Still, as a veteran of the publishing industry it’s interesting to me to see how much alike and different publishing abroad is compared to publishing here in the United States. I’ve been so impressed with each companies approach and enthusiasm. But in particular my German publisher Klopp has been amazing. They’ve designed a beautiful cover, they’ve had me do a video interview and they’ve created a super cool book trailer! Which you can watch! Right here! On this blog! Isn’t the Internet amazing? Thanks Al Gore!

German trailer for The Youngest Templar

2008-06-20T23:34:00.000-04:00