Press Release:

Barbour Publishing Affirms Commitment to Fiction

Signs Exclusive, Multi-Book Contracts with Five Authors

 Uhrichsville, OH—Demonstrating its continuing commitment to fiction, Barbour Publishing has signed five authors to exclusive, multi-book contracts. Current authors Mary Connealy, M.L. Tyndall, Christine Lynxwiler, and Kelly Eileen Hake, and new author Marcia Gruver, will write a combined 30 books for Barbour over the next few years. 

 “Barbour has long been known for doing inspirational romance well, and we have plans to continue to grow that strength with the launch of our cozy mystery series in January 2008 and with more full-length fiction novels on each new list,” said Rebecca Germany, fiction editor for Barbour.

 Mary Connealy, whose first two books Petticoat Ranch and Golden Days released in February, is known for bringing humor to historical settings. Connealy has agreed to write nine books for release over the next three years, beginning with Calico Canyon in August 2008 and Gingham Mountain in spring 2009. Following that series, she will write a series of humorous romances set in Montana. Her next book, Of Mice…and Murder, releases in early 2008 in the Heartsong Presents Mysteries book club.

 M.L. Tyndall, who earned a 2007 Christy Award nomination for her book, The Redemption, has agreed to writing six books over the next three years. Tyndall, who has written three inspirational pirate romance novels set in the Caribbean, will release The Falcon and the Sparrow in August 2008, a stand-alone novel set in England during the Napoleon Wars, followed by a trilogy about three sisters set in Charleston, SC, prior to the American Revolution.

 Award-winning author Christine Lynxwiler is set to release six books, starting in spring 2009. Lynxwiler, who won a book of the year award from American Christian Fiction Writers, writes lighthearted contemporary fiction. Barbour reports strong sales for her latest release, Forever Christmas, and her Arkansas story collection has become a Barbour bestseller. Her next book, Along Came a Cowboy, is due out in fall 2008.

 Kelly Eileen Hake, the daughter of bestselling author Cathy Marie Hake, has become a reader favorite as part of Barbour’s Heartsongs Presents program, where she has released several books. Beginning in the fall 2008, Barbour plans to release a three-book historical brides series set in Nebraska. At the same time, Kelly Hake also plans to pursue a master’s in fiction writing.

 Joining the Barbour family will be first-time author Marcia Gruver, who has agreed to a three book series. Gruver, who lives in Texas, found out about her contract when Germany made the annual surprise announcement at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference in September. The first book in Gruver’s historical Texas Fortunes trilogy, Diamond Duo, is scheduled for a fall 2008 release.