Nashville, TN—April 5, 2010—Howard Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, announced today that it will publish a new novel by New York Times bestselling author Frank Peretti in late 2011. Becky Nesbitt, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief for Howard Books, who acquired world rights for the title said, “Frank Peretti is a natural storyteller and we’re pleased to collaborate with him on delivering this next title to his waiting audience. We believe the book will captivate readers in much the same way as his New York Times bestselling titles This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness.”

With more than 12 million books in print, Peretti has been hailed by Time, Newsweek, Entertainment Weekly and multiple other sources as a publishing phenomenon. Known for edge-of-your seat thrillers tinged with the supernatural, Peretti says working on his new novel—his first in five years—is a joy. “Writing is my passion and being surrounded by a team as motivated as I am is very exciting,” said Peretti. “I’m very pleased to have the Howard Books and Simon and Schuster team partner with me on my next novel.”

This will be the first Peretti novel since the release in 2006 of the bestseller House, co-written with Ted Dekker, and the first title written solely by Peretti since the New York Times bestselling Monster (2005).  Peretti began his fiction career in 1998 with the blockbuster This Present Darkness which appeared on Bookstore Journal’s bestseller list every month for more than eight years.

The deal was negotiated with Chaz Corzine at the MWS Group.  A major advertising and publicity campaign will support the release.

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Howard Publishing, a pioneer in the CBA industry, was founded in 1969 by author and composer Alton Howard, and took the name Howard Books after it became part of Simon & Schuster in 2006.  Howard has enjoyed successes with popular titles including the  #1 New York Times bestseller Mistaken Identity and Rick Warren’s The Purpose of Christmas.