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Friday, October 24, 2008

Two Cool!

What was supposed to be just one announcement has turned into two. My publishers just let me know that Isle of Swords Won the 2008 Silver Moonbeam Award. This is a mighty cool award to win because winning books are those that most inspire young people to read. As a reading teacher and an author, I am very grateful that my books are getting kids to read.

And now, for the big announcement...

Do you recognize the two rogues dueling in these two pictures?


If you said, well, that's you, Mr. Batson, dueling with author Christopher Hopper, you'd be 100% correct. And in spite of the way it must seem in these two photos, we are actually very good friends. So much so that two years ago, we began traveling to Scranton to write together. We found that our styles are very similar and our interests as well. We even joked that it might be cool to someday write a book together.

God tells us to trust in Him, and He will give us the desires of our heart. And well, to my complete joy, He has. Christopher Hopper and I have just contracted with Thomas Nelson to write not one, but two books together. It will be a Fantasy Series (surprise, surprise) and will quite literally turn the "Portal Fantasy" cliche on its head. More on the books as soon as we are at liberty to reveal. But for now, I thank God because writing with Christopher is an honor and a great, great bit of fun. We're about 20,000 words in, and all I can say is, you're going to LOVE this!


21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sweetness! Can't wait!
I have yet to read Hopper so this will be my first (if I don't read his books before then). Pretty exciting huh?

Shane Deal said...

Alright! I thought I heard one of you guys, I think it might have been Christopher mention this on the tour in one of the question and answer sessions... I guess I heard correctly! Yeah!

Can't wait!

(It's not just an excuse to go to The Banshee more often is it?)

-Shane

everlastingscribe said...

:-D 'bout time.

Anonymous said...

One question Mr. Batson. In the pictures I can't tell. Are you right handed or Left handed?

I can't wait to read those books ya'll are going to write.

Jonathan Maiocco said...

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brock Eastman said...

Coool.....

Ian said...

Oh, I can't WAIT to read this! Two of the awesomest authors ever are writing a book together? SWEET!

Congratulations on the award! Your book certainly deserved to be a competitor!

:)Ian(:

Anonymous said...

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! I remember one of you saying that from the interview with the news during the tour. I SOOOOO CANNOT WAIT!

Christopher Hopper said...

Hey Sword Brother!

MAJOR congrats on the award! WOW! You stud muffin, you!

Love those pictures you posted of us! It really looks like we know what we're doing!

So honored and blessed to have this privileged.

Never alone. Swords up!

CH

~Just*Flinn~ said...

AWESOME!!! YAHOO!!! HUZZAH!!! ETC!!! LOL

Araken said...

A reversal of portal fantasy...So someone from another world comes to Earth? Sweet! Even if I'm wrong, I can't wait to read it!

Rebecca LuElla Miller said...

Wayne, congratulations on the award! That is fantastic. And yes, as a reading teacher, that has to be especially gratifying.

And your contract announcement—really great news. You guys will have a blast. What a treat that will be for fans of both you talented artists.

Becky

Lexi said...

Wow! I cannot wait to read those!!! I also need to read Christopher Hopper's books, they sound great. By the way, did you name Hopper in Isle of Fire after Christopher Hopper?

Anonymous said...

YAAAYYY!!!!! :D i CAN'T wait to read these books!!!! i haven't read Christopher Hopper's books yet, but they're on my to read list so i hope to do that soon!
btw, congrats on the award!!!! the book REALLY deserved it!!!! :)

May God Guide Your Words,

~ElizabethOfMena~

Violinist4Christ said...

That's great about the award for the Isle of Fire! And I'm really really excited about the books! I'm sure they'll be a lot of fun to read. :-)

Arysta Henry said...

Congratulations Mr. Batson!

~Prism~ said...

Awesomeful! Congratulations, Mr. Batson! It certainly deserves that award!

I can't wait for it!

Anonymous said...

YAYS!!!!

I thought I heard something about y'all writing together on one of the fiction tour videos...I'm so excited! I pray that you will write well, and write quickly! LOL

Nice pics!

Anonymous said...

I've read Rise of the Dibor, and The Lion Vrie is high on my reading list. Christopher Hopper and Wayne Batson are my two favorite fantasy authors, so far!! A book written by them both?!! Wow! Can't WAAAAIT!

Congratulations on the award, Mr. Batson! How exciting! (And how fitting!)

And Tel Maethanru: he's left-handed. I went to one of his book signing events and watched him sign with his left hand. :) (Which I thought was pretty cool.)

Anonymous said...

Woops! I misspelled my name, haha, I meant "writer", but left out the "r". Lo siento.

baddogmooney said...

Congrats to the both of you! I can't wait to see what you two put together. Oh, wait. I guess I have to. Doh!