Where are my own books?

With the release of my latest collaborative book a couple of days away, people ask me, "Hey Mark, when are you going to write another of your own books?" by which they mean, a book where my name doesn't come after the word "with". It is a fair question, one I've asked myself many times over the past year. The problem I run into is basically this: I don't have any good ideas that should grow into books. That doesn't mean I don't have any possible books floating around in my head. I have this one about a dachshund who takes over the world, or at least the US of A, and when you hear the story you will say to yourself, yep, that's plausible. Maybe I'll write that someday. Maybe not. Perhaps I'll save it and tell it to my grandkids someday in the distant future since I'm not sure it has any real potential to grow into anything larger.

Yet when it comes to ideas burning inside me that I simply must write, the well is dry. Honestly, I don't see it as a big deal. Out of my 12 solo titles, three are what I refer to as life message books. (That is, books that I HAD to write.) Of those three, two are actually the same book. That leaves just two books as my core books, the books for which I became a writer, books that I pray stay in print for a very long time, books that I want everyone I can reach to read. Anyone who knows me can name the titles. They are "How Can A Good God Let Bad Things Happen?" (aka, Out of the Whirlwind), and "Living with Less, the upside of downsizing your life." God gave me the ministry of writing for these two books.

Perhaps God will give me another life message book at some point in the future. I don't know. Until then, I find collaborative writing to be a natural extension of both my calling as a writer and the pastoral gifts God gave me. The collab books with which I work are not the basic celebrity tell alls. Instead, I primarily write books that tell of finding great hope in the midst of tragedy, of seeing God at work when it appears He has forgotten us. From Clay and Renee Crosse's book, "I Surrender All," to "Mistaken Identity" and on to the book on which I will start this week, "The Sacred Acre, the Ed Thomas Story," I find myself working on this theme time and time again. One of my favorites, and I believe one of the most powerful stories I have yet told, is Jerry Yang's "All In," which comes out next July. It weaves together the theme of God's faithfulness in suffering along with the idea that true success in life is measured by the lives we touch.

For the eight or nine people who have read both "How Can a Good God..." and "Living with Less" you should now see a connection. As a collaborative writer, most of the stories I have the privilege of telling echo the themes found in my two life message books. I don't see this as a coincidence. When will I write another of my own books? people ask. The way I see it, I never stopped.

My new books have arrived

Yesterday afternoon the UPS guy delivered a box of 20 copies of "One Step at a Time." I love opening my new books for the first time. After so much time of staring at the words on my computer screen, they take on a whole new quality when I see them in book form. Josh appeared on Fox and Friends today (Sept. 10) to talk about the book. He did a great job. Check out the video below.

Count down to my newest release

Seeing a new book's cover for the first time is a little like seeing a new baby on a sonogram or ultrasound. Triumph Books, the publisher for my book with Josh Bleill, just released the cover. The book itself comes out next month. When I step back I am more than a little blown away by this timetable. Josh and I sat down to work on the book for the first time on June 3. Forty-five days later we had a final manuscript. For those outside the world of collaborative writers, that's really, really fast. I love the cover. The story is incredible. I can't wait for the book to come out. By the way, you can order the book at http://www.triumphbooks.com/products/one_step_at_a_time/1572436184.php?page_id=340

Next Book

I have the honor of telling the story of coach Ed Thomas. Watch these clips and you will understand why I am so excited about telling this incredible story of faith, perseverance, and forgiveness.

Counting down the day

My next book, One Step at a Time: A Young Marine's Story of Courage, Hope and a New Life in the NFL, comes out on September 19. That may not strike you as significant, but it does the other writers out there. Most publishers prefer a one year turn around between the time I turn in a manuscript and its release. To put this in perspective, I wrote two books last year, both of which will not come out until 2011. I hope I get a chance to enjoy the release of "One Step at a Time," because I am also counting down the days until I can formally announce my next project. All I can say at this time is it is unbelievable. Many of you have already watched a preview of the project without even knowing it. Check back here in a day or two. I should have a huge announcement.

The really fast post

The deadline for my book with Josh Bleill is bearing down, so what do I do? I post something here. That's pretty much normal behavior during deadlines, especially as I retool my brain to move from chapter 11 which I just finished, to chapter 12 which I hope to knock out in three hours or less. That would be a record, by the way. I am very excited about this book, even more so knowing it comes out in two months. That's crazy fast. You can order the book now at Amazon.com (One Step at a Time: A Young Marine's Story of Courage, Hope and a New Life in the NFL). I'm thinking about ordering a copy so I can find out how it ends. In the meantime, I appreciate your prayers as I finish this mad dash toward an insanely tight deadline. Pray that the book will glorify God above all else. I think it could be a life changer for readers. That's my goal for all my books.

More on my next book

Here's more video that gives some of the background on my next book. The book, "One Step at a Time" is available for pre-order through Amazon.com.

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