Tyndale Acquires Bestselling Author of Shadowmancer

'Move Over Harry Potter!' - G.P. Taylor to Pen New Juvenile Series of
'Illustronovellas'

CAROL STREAM, Ill., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- G.P. Taylor, the bestselling
author of Shadowmancer, a fantasy novel widely referred to in the mainstream
press as "the Christian Harry Potter," has signed a multiple-book deal with
Tyndale House Publishers to publish The Dopple Ganger Chronicles, a new series
of "illustronovellas." Best defined as illustrated novels blending the genres
of fiction and graphic novels, the illustronovellas are part of a worldwide
campaign to connect a young, visually-oriented generation with the joy and
satisfaction of reading good books. Targeting a youthful audience, the series
will feature at least six books, with the first book scheduled for Fall 2008
release. Markosia, Ltd., a leading UK-based graphic novel publisher, will
provide illustrations for the series.
Taylor's new Dopple Ganger Chronicles will feature three children:
mischievous identical twins Sadie and Saskia Dopple, who live in an orphanage,
and Erik Morrissey Ganger, a boy who works in the orphanage. In the first
book, The First Escape, the twins are separated when Saskia is adopted by Muzz
Elliot, a wealthy woman who is at the center of a murderous plot, and
long-lost family treasure. Sadie and Erik run away from the orphanage on a
quest to find Saskia, who has discovered the murder plot and is trying to stop
it.
A former rock band "roadie" turned Anglican minister in Cloughton, North
Yorkshire, Taylor has been hailed as "hotter than Potter" and "the new C.S.
Lewis" in the UK. After initially self-publishing, his success brought him a
multi-million dollar contract for Shadowmancer and six additional novels.
Shadowmancer reached the top spot on the New York Times' bestsellers list in
2004 and was eventually translated into 48 different languages and optioned
for a movie. Wormwood, a subsequent novel in the series, was nominated for a
Quill book award. Other novels in the series included Tersias and The Curse of
Salamander Street. Worldwide sales for Taylor now total more than 3 million
copies.
"Our team is energized by GP Taylor's vision to introduce an image-driven
generation to the benefits of reading," says Doug Knox, VP and Publisher. "The
themes of faith Taylor builds into his stories are central to our publishing
mission and the illustronovella format, reminiscent of Dickens, is a perfect
vehicle for today. The Dopple Ganger Chronicles will release in the UK and
USA, building on GP Taylor's media popularity and great success as a guest
speaker in schools."
By integrating an exciting story line with vivid manga-style graphics in
the Dopple Ganger Chronicles, Taylor hopes to make it easier for a
visually-oriented generation to engage with visually-inviting text and to
discover the pleasures of books. The first book has been tested on selected
schools in the UK with great results. "I have been amazed at how the book has
got children into reading," Taylor says. "This is my desire, to see more
children read with no one left behind."
Tyndale House Publishers was founded in 1962 by Dr. Kenneth N. Taylor as a
means of publishing The Living Bible. Now one of the premier publishing houses
in the industry, it has published numerous New York Times bestsellers,
including the popular Left Behind series, and currently, Quiet Strength, a
memoir by Indianapolis Colts' head coach Tony Dungy. Tyndale publishes the New
Living Translation Bible, and many popular children's products, including the
Wormling Series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry, Chronicles of Narnia
radio theatre, the Friends and Heroes DVDs, and Adventures in Odyssey audio
products
SOURCE Tyndale House Publishers

Todd Starowitz of Tyndale House Publishers, +1-630-784-5397,
toddstarowitz@tyndale.com