J. G. Sandom ~ Author

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  • THE PLAGUE - Obama Order Sped Up Wave of Cyberattacks Against Iran
  • Reader Reviews -- THE WAVE
  • What's New In May, 2012
  • What's New In April, 2012
  • THE PLAGUE - Lanier on Digital Maoism
  • THE PLAGUE - Blackouts!
  • THE PLAGUE - Post-Traumatic Stress's Surprisingly Positive Flip Side
  • THE PLAGUE - U.S. Relaxes Limits on Use of Data in Terror Analysis
  • THE PLAGUE - Bobcat vs. Lynx
  • What's New In March, 2012

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    What's New In May, 2012

    You've probably heard about KickStarter, the website where folks who want to launch a new project (from creating new software games to new books) can seek funding from ordinary folks vs. "angels" and VC firms.

    Well, what you may not know is that one of my projects is now live @ KickStarter — a children's book series about a young vegetable detective named Jacques Couteau, written under pen name Holland Dayze with my partner Sylvana Joseph. We're experimenting with KickStarter to see if we can raise money (without going through a traditional publisher) to help illustrate the first of the series called A is for Asparagus.  It's already available on Amazon, but it doesn't currently feature illustrations, which we would love to have.

    For more on this project, click on the video below.  And, please, give generously!  If you do, you could receive a bunch of great stuff like: autographed copies of books; original illustrations from forthcoming titles; we might name a character after you or someone you love; or, if you dig really deep, we'll even dedicate the book to you or your child! (And yeah, it sure does sound like Christopher Walken, doesn't it?)

    For a longer and darker version of this video, click here.


    Also, for those of you who didn't notice, I've launched a new section on this website/blog called, On My Desk, which features posts and links about my current projects: The Plague, sequel to The Wave — A John Decker Thriller; and an ultra-secret new cookbook I'm co-writing with . . . but that would be telling.

    This way you can get an unprecedented, inside look into my writing process, and see what I'm reading/looking at online and elsewhere as I work on these titles.

    This follows the paradigm I've noticed at sites such as Cornucopia-Press.com, where the editors there are constantly adding new stories about the self-publishing phenomenom in the "What's New!" BLOG.

    So, check it out.  See what I'm looking at, perusing, reading, studying et al . . . before it ends up, premasticated, in one of my novels.


    LOOKING FOR SOME SPINE-TINGLING NEW THRILLERS?

      ON SALE FOR JUST 99¢

     TWO AWARD-WINNING NOVELS OF HORROR!

     

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

     BEFORE THERE WAS 9/11 . . . THERE WAS 6/15

    On June 15, 1904, the General Slocum steamship burned and sank in the East River, killing over a thousand innocent New Yorkers.  It was the greatest disaster and loss of life in New York City history . . . until 9/11.  In KISS ME, I'M DEAD, this forgotten piece of history serves as the backdrop of an extraordinary story of loss, redemption, justice, and a love that not even death could extinguish.

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry, and strange things happen when Mallory gets angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

    Twilight meets Titanic
    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, Kiss me, I'm Dead was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of Kiss me, I'm Dead!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction."KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher. 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in
    Two Teen Terrors — A Cornucopia Press Collection FOR JUST $1.49!

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors!

     

    And for FREE!

     

    Check out this short story, After the Great Muskie Hunt, dedicated to my father, Zane, who always found time to take me fishing, and whose memory it honors. Please take a moment to download and read it and — if you like it — tell your friends. It's only around 4,000 words, or 15 manuscript pages. We live the lives of locusts, gone in a summer's day. Zane, I miss you!
     

     

    "After the Great Muskie Hunt"

    After the Great Muskie Hunt ~ Final eBook Cover

    When his father loses his job, a young painter from New York offers to take him fishing for muskie — a barracuda-like freshwater fish — at Big Eagle Lake, in Ontario, Canada.

     

    "Haunting and beautiful."

    MainSail Reviews

     


    STILL LOOKING FOR THAT PERFECT TITLE?

     

    Meantime, THE WAVE, my indie title from Cornucopia Press, continues to outsell all of my Big Six books.  Go figure!

     

    AND IT'S BEEN REDUCED FROM $7.99 TO ONLY $2.99!  SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  PICK UP A COPY TODAY.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    For an excerpt from The Wave, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.

    I'd like to take this moment to thank all my fans for your fabulous support of The Wave these last few months.  As you know, I've been setting aside 10% of all profits from the sale of this book to Japanese tsunami relief efforts. Your generosity has helped thousands of victims, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    While The Wave may be a work of fiction, I know from my extensie research how devastating tsunamis and — as seen in my book — mega-tsunamis can be. The recent events of March and December in Japan remind us just how fragile and fickle our environment is, and how we must do whatever we can to protect it.

     

    Meanwhile, The God Machine, from Random House (Bantam) continues to reach new theo-thriller fanatics. . . especially as an eBook.

    7) THE GOD MACHINE Cover Art

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) said, "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."  BookPage said, "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end." And the Historical Novels Review said, "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret.

    Revealed.

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.
     
    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets . . . and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling . . . and infinitely more deadly.
      
    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.
     
    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.

    For an excerpt from The God Machine, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The God Machine, click here.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked The God Machine, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    What's New In April, 2012

    For those of you who didn't notice, I've launched a brand new section on this website/blog called, On My Desk, which features posts and links about my current projects: The Plague, sequel to The Wave - A John Decker Thriller; and an ultra-secret new cookbook I'm co-writing with . . . but that would be telling.

    This way you can get an unprecedented, inside look into my writing process, and see what I'm reading/looking at online and elsewhere as I work on these titles.

    This follows the paradigm I've noticed at sites such as Cornucopia-Press.com, where the editors there are constantly adding new stories about the self-publishing phenomenom in the "What's New!" BLOG.

    So, check it out.  See what I'm looking at, perusing, reading, studying et al . . . before it ends up, premasticated, in one of my novels.


    LOOKING FOR SOME SPINE-TINGLING NEW THRILLERS?

      ON SALE FOR JUST 99¢

     TWO AWARD-WINNING NOVELS OF HORROR!

     

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

     BEFORE THERE WAS 9/11 . . . THERE WAS 6/15

    On June 15, 1904, the General Slocum steamship burned and sank in the East River, killing over a thousand innocent New Yorkers.  It was the greatest disaster and loss of life in New York City history . . . until 9/11.  In KISS ME, I'M DEAD, this forgotten piece of history serves as the backdrop of an extraordinary story of loss, redemption, justice, and a love that not even death could extinguish.

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry, and strange things happen when Mallory gets angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

    Twilight meets Titanic
    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, Kiss me, I'm Dead was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of Kiss me, I'm Dead!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction."KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher. 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in
    Two Teen Terrors — A Cornucopia Press Collection FOR JUST $1.49!

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors!

     

    And for FREE!

     

    Check out this short story, After the Great Muskie Hunt, dedicated to my father, Zane, who always found time to take me fishing, and whose memory it honors. Please take a moment to download and read it and — if you like it — tell your friends. It's only around 4,000 words, or 15 manuscript pages. We live the lives of locusts, gone in a summer's day. Zane, I miss you!
     

     

    "After the Great Muskie Hunt"

    After the Great Muskie Hunt ~ Final eBook Cover

    When his father loses his job, a young painter from New York offers to take him fishing for muskie — a barracuda-like freshwater fish — at Big Eagle Lake, in Ontario, Canada.

     

    "Haunting and beautiful."

    MainSail Reviews

     


    STILL LOOKING FOR THAT PERFECT TITLE?

     

    Meantime, THE WAVE, my indie title from Cornucopia Press, continues to outsell all of my Big Six books.  Go figure!

     

    AND IT'S BEEN REDUCED FROM $7.99 TO ONLY $2.99!  SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  PICK UP A COPY TODAY.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    For an excerpt from The Wave, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.

    I'd like to take this moment to thank all my fans for your fabulous support of The Wave these last few months.  As you know, I've been setting aside 10% of all profits from the sale of this book to Japanese tsunami relief efforts. Your generosity has helped thousands of victims, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    While The Wave may be a work of fiction, I know from my extensie research how devastating tsunamis and — as seen in my book — mega-tsunamis can be. The recent events of March and December in Japan remind us just how fragile and fickle our environment is, and how we must do whatever we can to protect it.

     

    Meanwhile, The God Machine, from Random House (Bantam) continues to reach new theo-thriller fanatics. . . especially as an eBook.

    7) THE GOD MACHINE Cover Art

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) said, "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage." BookPage said, "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end." And the Historical Novels Review said, "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret.

    Revealed.

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.
     
    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets . . . and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling . . . and infinitely more deadly.
      
    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.
     
    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.

    For an excerpt from The God Machine, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The God Machine, click here.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked The God Machine, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    What's New In March, 2012

    On the anniversary of last year's earthquake and tsunami in Japan, let us take a moment to remember all who passed away or who were injured during the disaster.

    A memorial in Koriyama, Japan, on Saturday (March 10, 2012) was one of many to mark the March 11, 2011, quake and tsunami.

    If you are still interested in helping out, there are a number of groups involved in relief efforts. If you purchased a copy of THE WAVE since the disaster a year ago, some of the profits associated with that sale went to Mercy Corps. Here's one of the many things they're doing with your contribution:

    Mercycorps_japan_salmonhatchery

    You may also have noticed (Who am I kidding? No one reads this crap!) that I've launched a brand new section for this website/blog. Called, On My Desk, the section features posts and links about my current projects: The Plague, sequel to The Wave - A John Decker Thriller; and an ultra-secret new cookbook I'm co-writing with . . . but that would be telling. This way you can get an unprecedented, inside look into my writing process (as if you care), and see what I'm reading/looking at online and elsewhere as I work on these titles.

    This follows the paradigm I've noticed at sites such as Cornucopia-Press.com, where the editors there are constantly adding new stories about the self-publishing phenomenom in the "What's New!" BLOG.

    So, check it out.  See what I'm looking at, perusing, reading, studying et al . . . before it ends up, premasticated, in one of my novels.

    LOOKING FOR SOME SPINE-TINGLING NEW THRILLERS?

      ON SALE FOR JUST 99¢

     TWO AWARD-WINNING NOVELS OF HORROR!

     

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

     BEFORE THERE WAS 9/11 . . . THERE WAS 6/15

    On June 15, 1904, the General Slocum steamship burned and sank in the East River, killing over a thousand innocent New Yorkers.  It was the greatest disaster and loss of life in New York City history . . . until 9/11.  In KISS ME, I'M DEAD, this forgotten piece of history serves as the backdrop of an extraordinary story of loss, redemption, justice, and a love that not even death could extinguish.

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry, and strange things happen when Mallory gets angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

    Twilight meets Titanic
    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, Kiss me, I'm Dead was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of Kiss me, I'm Dead!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction."KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher. 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in
    Two Teen Terrors — A Cornucopia Press Collection FOR JUST $1.49!

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors!

     

    And for FREE!

     

    Check out this short story, After the Great Muskie Hunt, dedicated to my father, Zane, who always found time to take me fishing, and whose memory it honors. Please take a moment to download and read it and — if you like it — tell your friends. It's only around 4,000 words, or 15 manuscript pages. We live the lives of locusts, gone in a summer's day. Zane, I miss you!

     

    "After the Great Muskie Hunt"

    After the Great Muskie Hunt ~ Final eBook Cover

    When his father loses his job, a young painter from New York offers to take him fishing for muskie — a barracuda-like freshwater fish — at Big Eagle Lake, in Ontario, Canada.

     

    "Haunting and beautiful."

    MainSail Reviews


     


    STILL LOOKING FOR THAT PERFECT TITLE?

     

    Meantime, THE WAVE, my indie title from Cornucopia Press, continues to outsell all of my Big Six books.  Go figure!

     

    AND IT'S BEEN REDUCED FROM $7.99 TO ONLY $2.99!  SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  PICK UP A COPY TODAY.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    For an excerpt from The Wave, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.

    I'd like to take this moment to thank all my fans for your fabulous support of The Wave these last few months.  As you know, I've been setting aside 10% of all profits from the sale of this book to Japanese tsunami relief efforts. Your generosity has helped thousands of victims, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    While The Wave may be a work of fiction, I know from my extensie research how devastating tsunamis and — as seen in my book — mega-tsunamis can be. The recent events of March and December in Japan remind us just how fragile and fickle our environment is, and how we must do whatever we can to protect it.

     

    Meanwhile, The God Machine, from Random House (Bantam) continues to reach new theo-thriller fanatics. . . especially as an eBook.

    7) THE GOD MACHINE Cover Art

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) said, "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read.  It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."  BookPage said, "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."  And the Historical Novels Review said, "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret.

    Revealed.

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.
     
    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets . . . and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling . . . and infinitely more deadly.
      
    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.
     
    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.

    For an excerpt from The God Machine, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The God Machine, click here.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked The God Machine, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    What's New In February, 2012

    Don't know if you've signed up for Pintarest yet but I've created some new bulletin boards for my books. Check them out by clicking immediately below (or in the margin, at left):

    Follow Me on Pinterest

    If you are aleady signed up, I invite you to re-pin some of the images in these boards, one for each of the following novels:  THE WAVE; THE GOD MACHINE; GOSPEL TRUTHS; KISS ME, I'M DEAD; and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    LOOKING FOR SOME SPINE-TINGLING THRILLERS FOR THAT NEW KINDLE OR IPAD YOU JUST GOT OVER THE HOLIDAYS?

      ON SALE FOR JUST 99¢

     TWO AWARD-WINNING NOVELS OF HORROR!

     

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

     BEFORE THERE WAS 9/11 . . . THERE WAS 6/15

    On June 15, 1904, the General Slocum steamship burned and sank in the East River, killing over a thousand innocent New Yorkers.  It was the greatest disaster and loss of life in New York City history . . . until 9/11.  In KISS ME, I'M DEAD, this forgotten piece of history serves as the backdrop of an extraordinary story of loss, redemption, justice, and a love that not even death could extinguish.

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry, and strange things happen when Mallory gets angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

    Twilight meets Titanic
    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, Kiss me, I'm Dead was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of Kiss me, I'm Dead!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction."KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher. 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in
    Two Teen Terrors — A Cornucopia Press Collection FOR JUST $1.49!

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors!

     

    And for FREE!

     

    Check out this short story, After the Great Muskie Hunt, dedicated to my father, Zane, who always found time to take me fishing, and whose memory it honors. Please take a moment to download and read it and — if you like it — tell your friends. It's only around 4,000 words, or 15 manuscript pages. We live the lives of locusts, gone in a summer's day. Zane, I miss you!

     

    "After the Great Muskie Hunt"

    After the Great Muskie Hunt ~ Final eBook Cover

    When his father loses his job, a young painter from New York offers to take him fishing for muskie — a barracuda-like freshwater fish — at Big Eagle Lake, in Ontario, Canada.

     

    "Haunting and beautiful."

    MainSail Reviews


     


    STILL LOOKING FOR THAT PERFECT TITLE FOR YOUR NEW KINDLE OR IPAD?

     

    Meantime, THE WAVE, my indie title from Cornucopia Press, continues to outsell all of my Big Six books.  Go figure!

     

    AND IT'S BEEN REDUCED FROM $7.99 TO ONLY $2.99!  SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  PICK UP A COPY TODAY.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    For an excerpt from The Wave, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.

    I'd like to take this moment to thank all my fans for your fabulous support of The Wave these last few months.  As you know, I've been setting aside 10% of all profits from the sale of this book to Japanese tsunami relief efforts. Your generosity has helped thousands of victims, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    While The Wave may be a work of fiction, I know from my extensie research how devastating tsunamis and — as seen in my book — mega-tsunamis can be. The recent events of March and December in Japan remind us just how fragile and fickle our environment is, and how we must do whatever we can to protect it.

     

    Meanwhile, The God Machine, from Random House (Bantam) continues to reach new theo-thriller fanatics. . . especially as an eBook.

    7) THE GOD MACHINE Cover Art

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) said, "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read.  It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."  BookPage said, "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."  And the Historical Novels Review said, "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret.

    Revealed.

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.
     
    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets . . . and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling . . . and infinitely more deadly.
      
    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.
     
    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.

    For an excerpt from The God Machine, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The God Machine, click here.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked The God Machine, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    What's New In January, 2012

    LOOKING FOR SOME SPINE-TINGLING THRILLERS

    FOR THAT NEW KINDLE OR IPAD YOU JUST GOT OVER THE HOLIDAYS?

      ON SALE FOR JUST 99¢

     TWO AWARD-WINNING NOVELS OF HORROR!

     

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

     BEFORE THERE WAS 9/11 . . . THERE WAS 6/15

    On June 15, 1904, the General Slocum steamship burned and sank in the East River, killing over a thousand innocent New Yorkers.  It was the greatest disaster and loss of life in New York City history . . . until 9/11.  In KISS ME, I'M DEAD, this forgotten piece of history serves as the backdrop of an extraordinary story of loss, redemption, justice, and a love that not even death could extinguish.

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry, and strange things happen when Mallory gets angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

    Twilight meets Titanic
    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, Kiss me, I'm Dead was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of Kiss me, I'm Dead!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction."KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher. 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in
    Two Teen Terrors — A Cornucopia Press Collection FOR JUST $1.49!

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors!

     

      ALSO ON SALE FOR JUST 99¢

     

     J.G. Sandom's award-winning short story:

     

    "after the great muskie hunt"

     

    After the Great Muskie Hunt ~ Final eBook Cover

    When his father loses his job, a young painter from New York offers to take him fishing for muskie — a barracuda-like freshwater fish — at Big Eagle Lake, in Ontario, Canada.

     

    "Haunting and beautiful."

    MainSail Reviews


     

    A PERFECT GIFT FOR FATHERS AND SONS
    (or daughters)
    WHO LOVE FISHING TOGETHER!

     


    STILL LOOKING FOR THAT PERFECT TITLE FOR YOUR NEW KINDLE OR IPAD?

     

    Meantime, THE WAVE, my indie title from Cornucopia Press, continues to outsell all of my Big Six books.  Go figure!

     

    AND IT'S BEEN REDUCED FROM $7.99 TO ONLY $2.99!  SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  PICK UP A COPY TODAY.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    For an excerpt from The Wave, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.

    I'd like to take this moment to thank all my fans for your fabulous support of The Wave these last few months.  As you know, I've been setting aside 10% of all profits from the sale of this book to Japanese tsunami relief efforts. Your generosity has helped thousands of victims, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    While The Wave may be a work of fiction, I know from my extensie research how devastating tsunamis and — as seen in my book — mega-tsunamis can be. The recent events of March and December in Japan remind us just how fragile and fickle our environment is, and how we must do whatever we can to protect it.

     

    Meanwhile, The God Machine, from Random House (Bantam) continues to reach new theo-thriller fanatics. . . especially as an eBook.

    7) THE GOD MACHINE Cover Art

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) said, "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read.  It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."  BookPage said, "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."  And the Historical Novels Review said, "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret.

    Revealed.

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.
     
    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets . . . and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling . . . and infinitely more deadly.
      
    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.
     
    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.

    For an excerpt from The God Machine, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The God Machine, click here.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked The God Machine, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    What's New In December, 2011 - Special Announcement re Japanese Tsunami

     

    SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

    Once again, my heart goes out to the people of Japan who are suffering through the aftermath of yet another tsunami. Please note that I have been donating 10% of all profits from the sale of my novel THE WAVE to the tsunami relief effort in Japan since the devastating earthquake back in March, and I will continue to do so now that this new event has transpired. Please take a moment this Christmas and give to our brothers and sisters in Japan. Remember Katrina!

     

     

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    CHECK IT OUT.  ON SALE FOR JUST 99¢!

    JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

     


     J.G. Sandom's award-winning short story:

     

    "after the great muskie hunt"

     

    After the Great Muskie Hunt ~ Final eBook Cover

    When his father loses his job, a young painter from New York offers to take him fishing for muskie — a barracuda-like freshwater fish — at Big Eagle Lake, in Ontario, Canada.

     

    "Haunting and beautiful."


     

    A PERFECT GIFT FOR FATHERS AND SONS
    (or daughters)
    WHO LOVE FISHING TOGETHER!

     

    And


    THE PUBLICIST BY Veronica C. Wright,

     

    "A splendidly written and powerful black comedy," says J.G. Sandom

     

    THE PUBLICIST Cover Art ~ Veronica Wright - Front Cover 

     

    "Take a 21st century version of Paddy Chayefsky's Network, add a dash of Barry Levinson's Wag the Dog, plus a jigger of Graham Greene's Our Man in Havana, and you have The Publicist, a tightly paced coming-of-age story - for both Nicki and her father - that eerily anticipated the Arab Spring, and delivers an absurdist look at how today's top news stories are packaged for consumption.  The Publicist, by 18-year-old breakthrough novelist Veronica C. Wright, is a splendidly written and powerful black comedy that dramatizes the impact of today's new social media on politics and contemporary culture."
    J.G. Sandom

     

    STILL LOOKING FOR THAT PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT?
    CONSIDER ONE OF THESE TITLES THIS CHRISTMAS.

     

     

     

     

    THE WAVE, my indie title, continues to outsell all of my books.

     

    AND IT'S BEEN REDUCED FROM $7.99 TO ONLY $2.99 . . . JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!  SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  PICK UP A COPY TODAY.


     

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."


    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

     

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to The Wave called The Plague.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from The Wave, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.

     

     

    Meanwhile, The God Machine continues to reach new theo-thriller fanatics. . . especially as an eBook.



    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) said, "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read.  It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."  BookPage said, "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."  And the Historical Novels Review said, "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret.

    Revealed.

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.
     
    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets . . . and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling . . . and infinitely more deadly.
      
    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.
     
    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.

     

    For an excerpt from The God Machine, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The God Machine, click here.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked The God Machine, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.


    Last but not least, let's not forget my YA novels, now in paperback for the first time.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry, and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, Kiss me, I'm Dead was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of Kiss me, I'm Dead!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .


    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher. 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in Two Teen Terrors — A Cornucopia Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors!

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    What's New In November, 2011

     

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    CHECK IT OUT.  ON SALE NOW FOR JUST 99¢!

     

    JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

     

    J.G. Sandom's award-winning short story:

     

    "after the great muskie hunt"

     

    After the Great Muskie Hunt ~ Final eBook Cover
     

     

    When his father loses his job, a young painter from New York offers to take him fishing for muskie — a barracuda-like freshwater fish — at Big Eagle Lake, in Ontario, Canada.

     

    "Haunting and beautiful."


     

    A PERFECT GIFT FOR FATHERS AND SONS
    WHO LOVE FISHING TOGETHER!

     

    And


    THE PUBLICIST BY Veronica C. Wright,

     

    "A beautifully written and powerful black comedy," says J.G. Sandom

     

    THE PUBLICIST Cover Art ~ Veronica Wright - Front Cover 

     

    "Take a 21st century version of Paddy Chayefsky's Network, add a dash of Barry Levinson's Wag the Dog, plus a jigger of Graham Greene's Our Man in Havana, and you have The Publicist, a tightly paced coming-of-age story - for both Nicki and her father - that eerily anticipated the Arab Spring, and delivers an absurdist look at how today's top news stories are packaged for consumption.  The Publicist, by 18-year-old breakthrough novelist Veronica C. Wright, is a beautifully written and powerful black comedy which dramatizes the impact of today's new social media on politics and contemporary culture."
    J.G. Sandom

     


     

     

     

    THE WAVE, my indie title, continues to outsell all of my books.


     

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."


    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson— believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

     

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to The Wave called The Plague.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from The Wave, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.

     

     

    Meanwhile, The God Machine continues to reach new theo-thriller fanatics. . . especially as an eBook.



    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) said, "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read.  It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."  BookPage said, "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."  And the Historical Novels Review said, "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret.

    Revealed.

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.
     
    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets . . . and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling . . . and infinitely more deadly.
      
    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.
     
    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.

     

    For an excerpt from The God Machine, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The God Machine, click here.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked The God Machine, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.


    Last but not least, let's not forget my YA novels, now in paperback for the first time.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry, and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, Kiss me, I'm Dead was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of Kiss me, I'm Dead!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .


    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher. 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in Two Teen Terrors — A Cornucopia Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors!

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    What's New In October, 2011

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    CHECK IT OUT!  JUST 99¢ FOR

    THE PUBLICIST BY VERONICA C. WRIGHT,
    "A beautifully written and powerful black comedy!" says J.G. Sandom

     

    THE PUBLICIST Cover Art ~ Veronica Wright - Front Cover 

    "Take a 21st century version of Paddy Chayefsky's Network, add a dash of Barry Levinson's Wag the Dog, plus a jigger of Graham Greene's Our Man in Havana, and you have The Publicist, a tightly paced coming-of-age story - for both Nicki and her father - that eerily anticipated the Arab Spring, and delivers an absurdist look at how today's top news stories are packaged for consumption.  The Publicist, by 18-year-old breakthrough novelist Veronica C. Wright, is a beautifully written and powerful black comedy which dramatizes the impact of today's new social media on politics and contemporary culture."
    J.G. Sandom

     


     

     

     

    THE WAVE, my indie title, continues to outsell all of my books, including The God Machine, published by Big Six publisher Bantam/Random House. Oh, how the mighty are falling.


    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson— believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to The Wave called The Plague.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from The Wave, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.

     

    Meanwhile, The God Machine continues to reach new theo-thriller aficionados . . . especially as an eBook.


    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) said, "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read.  It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."  BookPage said, "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."  And the Historical Novels Review said, "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret.

    Revealed.

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.
     
    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets . . . and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling . . . and infinitely more deadly.
      
    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.
     
    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.

    For an excerpt from The God Machine, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The God Machine, click here.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked The God Machine, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.


    Last but not least, let's not forget my YA novels, now in paperback for the first time.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry, and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, Kiss me, I'm Dead was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of Kiss me, I'm Dead!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher. 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in Two Teen Terrors — A Cornucopia Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors!

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    In Memoriam — Ten Years Later

     

    BEFORE THERE WAS 9/11 . . . THERE WAS 6/15

     

    On June 15, 1904, the General Slocum steamship burned and sank in the East River, killing over a thousand innocent New Yorkers.  It was the greatest disaster and loss of life in New York City history . . . until 9/11.  In KISS ME, I'M DEAD, this forgotten piece of history serves as the backdrop of an extraordinary story of loss, redemption, justice, and a love that not even death could extinguish.

     

    Cover Art for KISS ME, I'M DEAD

     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry, and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, Kiss me, I'm Dead was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."


    SUMMER SALE!

    Exciting Cornucopia Press titles including J.G. Sandom's The Wave; Kiss Me, I'm Dead; and Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher; plus Veronica C. Wright's The Publicist and A is for Asparagus (a Jacques Couteau Mystery) by Holland Dayze — All for just 99¢!

     

    (September 11, 2011 ) New York, NY -- While some are commemorating the tenth anniversary of 9/11 with rituals and remembrance, to many New Yorkers, the memory is still simply too painful. They would rather not think about it at all, in an act of “institutional amnesia,” says author J.G. Sandom, a former New Yorker and author of the award-winning book KISS ME, I'M DEAD. “Before there was 9/11, there was 6/15,” Sandom says, “and yet few New Yorkers today remember what that means. History is replete with examples of institutional amnesia – about the Holocaust, the pogroms of Stalin, even slavery. Who knows how we’ll view 9/11 as a culture in fifty or one hundred years. Will we even remember it?”

    On June 15, 1904, the General Slocum steamship burned and sank in the East River, killing over a thousand innocent New Yorkers. It was the greatest disaster and loss of life in New York City history . . . until 9/11. In KISS ME, I'M DEAD, this forgotten piece of history serves as the backdrop of an extraordinary story of loss, redemption, justice, and a love that not even death could extinguish.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, KISS ME, I'M DEAD was named a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "KISS ME, I'M DEAD tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "KISS ME, I'M DEAD is a book you shouldn't pass up." And Bookslut.com said, "KISS ME, I'M DEAD scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    “I was living in the Village on 9/11,” Sandom adds. “I saw what happened to the city. And I wondered: Has this ever happened before, and how did we cope as New Yorkers? That’s when I discovered the story of the General Slocum. Some people remember the Triangle Shirt Factory fire, which killed relatively few people, but we collectively forgot the General Slocum. The tragedy occurred just before World War I, and the victims of the steamship disaster were mostly poor German immigrants. No one wanted to remember the loss of a thousand Germans after we entered the Great War. At the time, we preferred to forget them. It’s important to remember that sometimes cultures intentionally forget. Sometimes – like those who’d rather not think about 9/11 on this tenth anniversary – we intentionally and collectively misremember.”

    J.G. Sandom is the author of nine thrillers and mysteries, including GOSPEL TRUTHS, THE GOD MACHINE, THE WALL STREET MURDER CLUB, and THE WAVE – A JOHN DECKER THRILLER, as well as several Young Adult novels including KISS ME, I’M DEAD, and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

    For more information, visit the author at www.jgsandom.com. KISS ME, I'M DEAD is currently on sale for 99¢ from Cornucopia Press.

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    What's New in September, 2011

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    SUMMER SALE EXTENDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER!


    ALL OF MY E-BOOKS ARE ON SALE FOR JUST 99¢!

     

    THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER


    KISS ME, I'M DEAD


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER

     

     

    JUST 99¢ EACH DURING THIS SUMMER "BEACH READING" SALE.

     

    AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, CHECK OUT
    THE PUBLICIST BY VERONICA C. WRIGHT,
    ALSO FOR JUST 99¢!

     

    THE PUBLICIST Cover Art ~ Veronica Wright - Front Cover 

    "Take a 21st century version of Paddy Chayefsky's Network, add a dash of Barry Levinson's Wag the Dog, plus a jigger of Graham Greene's Our Man in Havana, and you have The Publicist, a tightly paced coming-of-age story - for both Nicki and her father - that eerily anticipated the Arab Spring, and delivers an absurdist look at how today's top news stories are packaged for consumption.  The Publicist, by 18-year-old breakthrough novelist Veronica C. Wright, is a beautifully written and powerful black comedy which dramatizes the impact of today's new social media on politics and contemporary culture."
    J.G. Sandom

     

    PLUS TWO TEEN TERRORS (featuring both Kiss me, I'm Dead and Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher) IS AVAILABLE FOR JUST $1.49.

     

     

    SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

    POWER UP YOUR KINDLE AND DOWNLOAD THESE e-BOOKS

    BEFORE YOU HEAD TO THE BEACH!


     



    In the meantime . . .

     

    First, Japan was struck by their earthquake and tsunami.  [Please note that I am donating 10% of all book sales of THE WAVE through the end of this year (2011) to Japanese relief efforts.] Then, we had our own earthquake right here on the East Coast!  And now Hurricane Irene.

     

    Is it global warming at work here? If so, you might consider what we're experiencing intentional eco-terrorism (like in THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller) . . . precipitated by corporate greed and our addiction to fossil fuels.

     

    Many New Yorkers are saying that official warnings about Irene were overblown; the city escaped with relatively little significant damage (compared to Vermont, for example). I, for one, am glad that everyone made such a fuss about it beforehand, and that the damage proved not to be too terrible. It very well could have gone the other way, and then others would have complained that not enough was made of it. Count your blessings, each and every day.


    If you want to see what would have happened if the storm had really pounded New York, pick up a copy of The Wave (now only 99¢ during the summer sale) and read about a mega-tsunami slamming into Manhattan. Now that's scary! 

     


    Get your Kindle copy of The Wave on sale for only 99¢,
    and help the Japanese tsunami relief effort! 


    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson— believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to The Wave called The Plague.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from The Wave, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.

     

    Meanwhile, The God Machine continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.


    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) said, "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read.  It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."  BookPage said, "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."  And the Historical Novels Review said, "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret.

    Revealed.

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.
     
    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets . . . and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling . . . and infinitely more deadly.
      
    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.
     
    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.

    For an excerpt from The God Machine, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The God Machine, click here.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked The God Machine, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.


    Last but not least, let's not forget my YA novels, now in paperback for the first time.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry, and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, Kiss me, I'm Dead was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of Kiss me, I'm Dead!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher. 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in Two Teen Terrors — A Cornucopia Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors!


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    What's New in August, 2011

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    JUST IN TIME FOR THE SUMMER.


    ALL OF MY E-BOOKS ARE ON SALE FOR JUST 99¢!

     

    THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER


    KISS ME, I'M DEAD


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER

     

     

    JUST 99¢ EACH DURING THIS SUMMER "BEACH READING" SALE.

     

    AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, CHECK OUT
    THE PUBLICIST BY VERONICA C. WRIGHT,
    ALSO FOR JUST 99¢!

     

    THE PUBLICIST Cover Art ~ Veronica Wright - Front Cover

     

    PLUS TWO TEEN TERRORS (featuring both Kiss me, I'm Dead and Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher) IS AVAILABLE FOR JUST $1.49.

     

     

    SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

    POWER UP YOUR KINDLE AND DOWNLOAD THESE e-BOOKS

    BEFORE YOU HEAD TO THE BEACH!


     

    Once again this month, my heart goes out to all the victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan.

     

    Given the mega-tsunami featured in THE WAVE, I know all too well the kind of damage these freaks of nature can cause.

     

    Please note that I am donating 10% of all book sales of THE WAVE through the end of this year (2011) to Japanese relief efforts.

     

    Get your Kindle copy of The Wave on sale for only 99¢,
    and help the Japanese tsunami relief effort! 


     

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To order your copy of The Wave — A John Decker Thriller, click here.

     


    And now for something completely different . . . I'm happy to announce that The Gramma Sutra has been syndicated!  That's right. The GrammaSutra can now be viewed at www.vibrantnation.com.

     

    Reaching more than 100,000 monthly visitors, VibrantNation.com is the leading online community for Baby Boomer women — the place where they connect and support each other on issues unique to life after 50, including fashion, beauty, family, relationships, work, money, and sex.

    Or, go right to the source at TheGrammaSutra.com where you can check out our growing portfolio of Gramma Sutra Sex Positions — contemporary "Kama Sutra" poses for women of a certain age.

    The Gramma Sutra Channel at YouTube continues to generate thousands of views.  Check out our most recent presentation at the First International Conference on Aging and Architecture @ UPENN.  The Channel features numerous clips of my writing partner (Sylvana Joseph) and I as we discuss sex and women of a certain age in front of a group of architects from around the world.  Click here to see all the clips, or immediately below for the 5-Minute highlights reel.

     

     

    Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, The Gramma Sutra delivers humorous infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women of a certain age.

    The website of the same name serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on sensitive topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy.  [NOTE:  We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]

    Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!

     

    Post a Comment and share your wisdom on

    The Gramma Sutra Sun Porch! 

     

    Check us out on Facebook & become a fan.

     

    Or, follow us on Twitter today!

     


    Want a good laugh?  Visit SAYINGS OF SUBSTANCE . . . abuse.  This hilarious site features pithy sayings from your favorite celebrity junkies and drunkards — the quotes they can no longer remember, and would probably rather forget.  Like Charlie Sheen.  They even invite you to send out an SOS (Sayings Of Substance) to them by finding a funny quote from your favorite celebrity junky or drunk.  Click here to be entertained.


    Meanwhile, The God Machine continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked The God Machine, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller."

     


    Last but not least, let's not forget my YA novels, now in paperback for the first time.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, Kiss me, I'm Dead was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of Kiss me, I'm Dead!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher. 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in Two Teen Terrors — A Cornucopia Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors!

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE WAVE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It'll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of Gospel Truths, click here.

     

    THE WAVE — Latest Reader Reviews

    sandi @ amazon.com
    "Worth reading.  Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. It moves pretty fast. Now I'm reading other books by this Author. Enjoy!"

    Squirrel @ amazon.com
    "The Wave by J.G. Sandom is a relentless and breathless thriller about FBI code breaker John Decker trying to prevent a Jihadist eco-terrorist named El Aqrab from setting off a mega-tsunami aimed at destroying the Eastern Seaboard. Couldn't be more timely given what's been happening in Japan. Except this book deals with a mega-tsunami, more than ten times taller and more powerful than the tsunamis we've been watching on the news from T'hoku, Japan. Incredible. Great characters and relentless action. I don't understand some of these other reviewers. What's with the two stars? Maybe they just didn't get it. I loved this book."

    DT @ amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It had action and suspense and more action.
    I'll admit at first I didn't think I'd like it. What the heck is a cryptanalyst anyway! I was wrong. Decker's a great character and the environmental terrorism angle was exciting and right on the money given the news and current events. I loved Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Wave was a lot like that book. Fast read, great characters and really exciting. I can't wait for a sequel."

    Melissa P. Gray "bookbabe" @ amazon.com
    "The wave is fantastic; a roller coaster of a book.
    John Decker and Emily Swensen deal with terrorists both religious and environmental and a slew of governmental obstacles trying to avert a major disaster. If you want a great thriller with well-written characters and a disturbingly plausible plot, then this is the book for you. Move over Crichton, Sandom is here."

    Michael Weis @ amazon.com
    "You always learn a lot from Sandom's books. I had to do some fact checking on mega tsunamis before I bought the premise, but Sandom checks his facts and then "arranges" them to create a truly scary threat. And, he knows how to keep the action moving, and usually on several fronts. I also learned a fair amount about Islam which is in stark contrast to the mindless, oversimplified shouting going on in the media and much of the public. I'm looking forward to other John Decker thrillers."

    John T. Richardson @ amazon.com
    "I first read this book around the time it was originally published. I greatly enjoy fast-paced thrillers and The Wave certainly delivers for me. John Decker is a very strong, likeable character, more than capable of sustaining a detailed and suspenseful book like this. Decker and Emily Swenson bring to mind Dirk Pitt and Eva Rojas as well as Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. But author JG Sandom is able to bring life to his characters with the added benefit of a current topic - terrorism (eco and/or otherwise) . . . After a recent re-read, I find that the book certainly still holds up! It is even more relevant today. The author's experiences gathered while living and traveling around the world, are quite apparent and beneficial to both the story line and color of The Wave. Weave in Mossad, Al'qaeda and . . . hell, I just love this book. It is a lot of fun. Do yourself a favor - read it."

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    Jeffrey Einstein @ amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom breathes real heart and soul into this utterly plausible cast of flawed but irresistible characters. John Decker is a wonderfully reluctant hero, and even the villains in this story are unmistakably human in the depths of their pain, vengeance and sheer calculation. This book is the real McCoy, right up there with the best modern thrillers; Sandom's eye for intrigue, suspense and drama is apparent in his attention to detail and nuance. Can't wait to get my hands on "Gospel Truths", one of Sandom's earlier novels. If it's only half as good as "The Wave" I'll expect another two or three sleepless nights — and chalk them up once again as time well spent."

    Gracie412 @ amazon.com
    "All I can say is WOW . . . I love thrillers, and this John Decker story is a great one. The concept of environmental terrorism is all the more frightening because of the reality of global warming and cooling political alliances. John Decker is one of the great flawed heroes. Like Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan, John Decker is smart, dedicated, resolved and has a personal life that would make Dante weep. As a puzzle lover I was psyched to see a hero who also loves to piece things together and is addicted to codes and such. A demented killer in the middle east, a package of uranium large enough to make a nuclear bomb, an Israeli police officer, a gorgeous oceanographer and a volcano in the canary islands are pieces of this puzzle that Decker and Swenson (the love interest who actually is more than a pretty face, thank you J.G. Sandom!) have to put together before a catastrophe destroys millions of people. I LOVED this book. It's a thrill ride of a read and if you liked The Bourne Series or any of Tom Clancy's or James Patterson's stuff, you'll love The Wave. I recommend it highly."

    To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Reader Reviews

    mietzemiau @ Amazon.com
    "I came across this book the last night of my stay in a vacation rental. As I had an early flight to catch the next morning I figured I'd just read myself into a good nights sleep. WRONG! The plot is captivating and every chapter leaves you wanting to devour the next without hesitation. By 4am I forced myself to put the book down. The next day I downloaded The God Machine to my kindle and enjoyed yet another night of great adventure and little sleep. J.G. Sandom has written a thrilling book packed with rich characters. I loved the weaving of historical figures with modern day characters. This book is so enjoyable that I am baffled as to why it has not yet been made into a movie."

    M. Lambert @ Amazon.com
    "Great read! I loved how the author built in all the history elements into the book. Looking forward to his next novel."

    Elaine Townsend @ Reading Addict
    "This book ties the great minds of the Masons like Franklin and daVinci into a thrilling race to create a portal to Heaven . . . I like the way the author used short chapters to hop between past and present story lines. It was an easy plot to follow even though the stories were told in a fragmented way. There were two big ideas that struck me and stuck with me. First, a lot of the hub-bub surrounding this portal to Heaven was because it gave a way to reunite with our loved ones who had passed on. Ben Franklin (as told by the story) spent his entire life trying to build this machine to be with his deceased son Franky. But after a lifetime of failing, Franklin realized he had lived his entire life focused on the past and never truly living. He had poured all of his energy into his experiments and thus created no relationships with anyone. He realized, like so many do who suffer great loss, there is not value in living in the past. The second point was regarding this idea of a portal to Heaven and thus a direct path to God. In the end, the hero of the story realizes that what God has been trying to tell us since the beginning of time is that we don't need a portal to Him because he is always with us. All we have to do is pray/talk to Him, and we are with Him. I think sometimes it is easy to forget that just because He doesn't always answer our prayers the way we want that He isn't listening."  [You are so right, Elaine.  Thanks! JGS]

    John Murphy @ Goodreads.com
    "I was introduced to J. Sandom and his early work, Gospel Truths, by chance. Intrigued by Mr. Sandom I decided to read the Gospel Truths but did so with some intrepidation. As a Jesuit-educated history student I was concerned that the historical, theological underpinnings of Mr. Sandom's novel would lack the academic rigor I would expect even for a fictional writing. Not only did Gospel Truths exceeed my intellectual expectations, but I was impressed with the seamlessness with which Mr. Sandom chases history in the context a compelling love story.  When it came to The God Machine, my trepidation returned. Why test fate? What if this sequel was not as good? I took a leap of faith and was not disappointed. Mr. Sandom confirmed his ability to interwine the continuing spiritual and emotional tribulations of Joseph Koster in a very granular and enticing examination of history, religion and morality. It is clear that Mr. Sandom has his own opinion and I congratulate him for having the courage to state it. But whether you agree or not with his point of view, your appreciation for the interplay between American history and American morality will be greatly enriched. He brings Ben Franklin to life. I found myself rooting for Ben on his odyssey and had to remind myself Mr. Franklin's story has already been told. That is because Mr. Sandom's Ben Franklin is not the well-known figure of American antiquity but, rather, a complex human being driven by love and desire for things large and small, who in the process made great history. It suggests that all of us could make great history and should. I highly recommend this God Machine."

    Michael Weis @ Amazon.com
    "I had read Gospel Truths and enjoyed it, so was looking forward to The God Machine and wasn't disappointed. Intricate and mysterious - Sandom is some kind of polymath - so much, about so many things, crammed into a good page-turner, from chips to church. I've heard that Sandom and Dan Brown both went to Amherst at the same time. It makes me wonder whether Brown might have been inspired by Sandom, since Sandom's was published first. But Sandom's works are much more intricate and complex. And, those 1 star reviews. What's with that? Maybe they're Church people or wish they were. Anyway, buy it."

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    To purchase your copy of The God Machine, here.

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Reader Reviews

    Linda "katknit" @ Amazon.com
    "Gospel Truths is an intelligent, complex, and competently written thriller. No bells or whistles here, just a few laptops, along with some dedicated and dangerous individuals determined to get their hands on Q, for various reasons of their own. And no neatly wrapped up ends in the final chapters. But there are some interesting passages descriptive of different locations, such as Chartres and the Rodin Museum in Paris . . . Masonic secrets, corrupt church officials, and money laundering schemes - all well before Da Vinci Code, imagine that!"

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (Gospel Truths) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapter.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD — Latest Reader Reviews

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2

    Elvis57 @ Amazon
    "Kiss Me, I'm Dead will delight students of history and lovers of mystery . . . Fans of J.G. Sandom will be thrilled that he has written a thoughtful and thought-provoking novel for young adults. The cast of characters in Kiss Me I'm Dead is varied and fully developed. Readers will root for the heroes, boo the villains, and gain insight to the motivations of all. This novel would make an excellent book club selection for young adult and adult readers. In addition to the historical aspects of the novel, character development and writer's craft would both be rich seeds for discussion."

    Whisper1 @ librarything
    "The Washington Post rated this one of the top ten Young Adult books. In addition, (the novel has been given) many other awards, included Horn Book’s list of recommended American historical fiction. It is also one of the few books selected by the American Library Association as a best book for young adults. Highly recommended, I can certainly understand the accolades "

    Dana Greenleaf @ BRHS Book Reviews
    "The suspense of the novel kept me reading . . . (Kiss Me, I'm Dead) got very intense, especially at the questioning of finding out who set the fire on the boat."

    To purchase your copy of Kiss Me, I'm Dead, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here  . . . just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about The God Machine, The Wave, Kiss Me, I'm Dead or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    7) THE GOD MACHINE Cover Art

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) said, "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read.  It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."  BookPage said, "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."  And the Historical Novels Review said, "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret.

    Revealed.

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.
     
    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets . . . and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling . . . and infinitely more deadly.
      
     Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.
     
    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.

    For an excerpt from The God Machine, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The God Machine, click here.


    4) GOSPEL TRUTHS 2007 Cover Art

    Did you enjoy The God Machine?  Read the prequel:  Gospel Truths . . . now available as an eBook!

    Years before the News of the World phone hacking scandal implicated the venerable Scotland Yard, another cover-up took place . . . when the head of one of the largest private banks in Italy was found hanged under Blackfriars Bridge.

    At the time, it was ruled a suicide.  But was it?

    BASED ON A REAL INCIDENT!

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    Booklist called Gospel Truths, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    The character of the Archibishop in Gospel Truths is modeled on my cousin, Paul Marcinkus, Archbishop, former head of the Vatican Bank (IOR), and once Mayor of the Vatican City.

    For an excerpt from Gospel Truths, click here.

    I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview during which I speak about Gospel Truths.

    To challenge yourself with a Gospel Truths puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of Gospel Truths, click here.

     

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller ~ Front Cover

    The Wave - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked Gospel Truths or The Wall Street Murder Club, if you enjoyed Kiss Me, I'm Dead or Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, if you loved The God Machine, check out The Wave — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from The Wave, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to The Wave called The Plague.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from The Wave, click here.

    To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.

     

    Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher Paperback Front Cover 

    Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as Resurrection Men under pen name T.K. Welsh.  Now is your time to buys this thrilling horror story, for the first time available as a paperback and eBook.

    Here's the thing about bodysnatching.  You just can't think about what you're doing.  You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister.  You can't feel bad.  In fact, you can't feel anything.  That's the key.  Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over.  You’re dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead.  It’s no way to live, but for some, it’s the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.  Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . J.G. Sandom is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    For a sample chapter of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, click here.

    To purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, click here.

     

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2 

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as The Unresolved under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Cornucopia Press.

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. Kiss Me, I'm Dead was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, " Kiss Me, I'm Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, " Kiss Me, I'm Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called the novel, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I'm Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of Kiss Me, I'm Dead, click here.

    To purchase your copy of Kiss Me, I'm Dead, click here.

     

    And if that isn’t enough, both Kiss Me, I'm Dead and Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher are both available in Two Teen Terrors — A Cornucopia Press Collection.

    Two Teen Terrors Front Cover 

    To purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors, click here.

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    What's New in July, 2011

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    JUST IN TIME FOR THE SUMMER.

    ALL OF MY E-BOOKS ARE ON SALE THIS JULY AND AUGUST

    FOR JUST .99 CENTS!

     

    THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER


    KISS ME, I'M DEAD


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER

     

     

    JUST .99 CENTS EACH DURING THIS SUMMER "BEACH READING" SALE.

     

    AND TWO TEEN TERRORS -- featuring both Kiss Me, I'm Dead and Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher -- IS AVAILABLE FOR JUST $1.49!

     

    SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

    POWER UP YOUR KINDLE AND DOWNLOAD THESE e-BOOKS

    BEFORE YOU HEAD TO THE BEACH!


     

    Once again this month, my heart goes out to all the victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan.

     

    Given the mega-tsunami featured in THE WAVE, I know all too well the kind of damage these freaks of nature can cause.

     

    Please note that I am donating 10% of all book sales of THE WAVE through the end of this year to Japanese relief efforts.


     

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To order your trade paperback copy of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller, click here.  To order your eBook, click here.

     


    And now for something completely different . . . I'm happy to announce that The Gramma Sutra has been syndicated!  That's right. The GrammaSutra can now be viewed at www.vibrantnation.com.

     

    Reaching more than 100,000 monthly visitors, VibrantNation.com is the leading online community for Baby Boomer women — the place where they connect and support each other on issues unique to life after 50, including fashion, beauty, family, relationships, work, money, and sex.

    Or, go right to the source at TheGrammaSutra.com where you can check out our growing portfolio of Gramma Sutra Sex Positions — contemporary "Kama Sutra" poses for women of a certain age.

    The Gramma Sutra Channel at YouTube continues to generate thousands of views.  Check out our most recent presentation at the First International Conference on Aging and Architecture @ UPENN.  The Channel features numerous clips of my writing partner (Sylvana Joseph) and I as we discuss sex and women of a certain age in front of a group of architects from around the world.  Click here to see all the clips, or immediately below for the 5-Minute highlights reel.

     

     

    Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, THE GRAMMA SUTRA delivers humorous infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women of a certain age.

    The website of the same name serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on sensitive topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy.  [NOTE:  We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]

    Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!

     

    Post a Comment and share your wisdom on

    The Gramma Sutra Sun Porch! 

     

    Check us out on Facebook & become a fan.

     

    Or, follow us on Twitter today!

     


    Want a good laugh?  Visit SAYINGS OF SUBSTANCE . . . abuse.  This hilarious site features pithy sayings from your favorite celebrity junkies and drunkards — the quotes they can no longer remember, and would probably rather forget.  Like Charlie Sheen.  They even invite you to send out an SOS (Sayings Of Substance) to them by finding a funny quote from your favorite celebrity junky or drunk.  Click here to be entertained.


     

    Meanwhile, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller."

     


    Last but not least, let's not forget my YA novels, now in paperback for the first time.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, KISS ME, I’M DEAD was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of KISS ME, I’M DEAD!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in TWO TEEN TERRORS — A Fangless Fables Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS!

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE WAVE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It'll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE — Latest Reader Reviews

    Squirrel @ amazon.com
    "The Wave by J.G. Sandom is a relentless and breathless thriller about FBI code breaker John Decker trying to prevent a Jihadist eco-terrorist named El Aqrab from setting off a mega-tsunami aimed at destroying the Eastern Seaboard. Couldn't be more timely given what's been happening in Japan. Except this book deals with a mega-tsunami, more than ten times taller and more powerful than the tsunamis we've been watching on the news from T'hoku, Japan. Incredible. Great characters and relentless action. I don't understand some of these other reviewers. What's with the two stars? Maybe they just didn't get it. I loved this book."

    DT @ amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It had action and suspense and more action.
    I'll admit at first I didn't think I'd like it. What the heck is a cryptanalyst anyway! I was wrong. Decker's a great character and the environmental terrorism angle was exciting and right on the money given the news and current events. I loved Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Wave was a lot like that book. Fast read, great characters and really exciting. I can't wait for a sequel."

    Melissa P. Gray "bookbabe" @ amazon.com
    "The wave is fantastic; a roller coaster of a book.
    John Decker and Emily Swensen deal with terrorists both religious and environmental and a slew of governmental obstacles trying to avert a major disaster. If you want a great thriller with well-written characters and a disturbingly plausible plot, then this is the book for you. Move over Crichton, Sandom is here."

    Michael Weis @ amazon.com
    "You always learn a lot from Sandom's books. I had to do some fact checking on mega tsunamis before I bought the premise, but Sandom checks his facts and then "arranges" them to create a truly scary threat. And, he knows how to keep the action moving, and usually on several fronts. I also learned a fair amount about Islam which is in stark contrast to the mindless, oversimplified shouting going on in the media and much of the public. I'm looking forward to other John Decker thrillers."

    John T. Richardson @ amazon.com
    "I first read this book around the time it was originally published. I greatly enjoy fast-paced thrillers and The Wave certainly delivers for me. John Decker is a very strong, likeable character, more than capable of sustaining a detailed and suspenseful book like this. Decker and Emily Swenson bring to mind Dirk Pitt and Eva Rojas as well as Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. But author JG Sandom is able to bring life to his characters with the added benefit of a current topic - terrorism (eco and/or otherwise) . . . After a recent re-read, I find that the book certainly still holds up! It is even more relevant today. The author's experiences gathered while living and traveling around the world, are quite apparent and beneficial to both the story line and color of The Wave. Weave in Mossad, Al'qaeda and . . . hell, I just love this book. It is a lot of fun. Do yourself a favor - read it."

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    Jeffrey Einstein @ amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom breathes real heart and soul into this utterly plausible cast of flawed but irresistible characters. John Decker is a wonderfully reluctant hero, and even the villains in this story are unmistakably human in the depths of their pain, vengeance and sheer calculation. This book is the real McCoy, right up there with the best modern thrillers; Sandom's eye for intrigue, suspense and drama is apparent in his attention to detail and nuance. Can't wait to get my hands on "Gospel Truths", one of Sandom's earlier novels. If it's only half as good as "The Wave" I'll expect another two or three sleepless nights — and chalk them up once again as time well spent."

    Gracie412 @ amazon.com
    "All I can say is WOW . . . I love thrillers, and this John Decker story is a great one. The concept of environmental terrorism is all the more frightening because of the reality of global warming and cooling political alliances. John Decker is one of the great flawed heroes. Like Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan, John Decker is smart, dedicated, resolved and has a personal life that would make Dante weep. As a puzzle lover I was psyched to see a hero who also loves to piece things together and is addicted to codes and such. A demented killer in the middle east, a package of uranium large enough to make a nuclear bomb, an Israeli police officer, a gorgeous oceanographer and a volcano in the canary islands are pieces of this puzzle that Decker and Swenson (the love interest who actually is more than a pretty face, thank you J.G. Sandom!) have to put together before a catastrophe destroys millions of people. I LOVED this book. It's a thrill ride of a read and if you liked The Bourne Series or any of Tom Clancy's or James Patterson's stuff, you'll love The Wave. I recommend it highly."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Reader Reviews

    mietzemiau @ Amazon.com
    "I came across this book the last night of my stay in a vacation rental. As I had an early flight to catch the next morning I figured I'd just read myself into a good nights sleep. WRONG! The plot is captivating and every chapter leaves you wanting to devour the next without hesitation. By 4am I forced myself to put the book down. The next day I downloaded The God Machine to my kindle and enjoyed yet another night of great adventure and little sleep. J.G. Sandom has written a thrilling book packed with rich characters. I loved the weaving of historical figures with modern day characters. This book is so enjoyable that I am baffled as to why it has not yet been made into a movie."

    M. Lambert @ Amazon.com
    "Great read! I loved how the author built in all the history elements into the book. Looking forward to his next novel."

    Elaine Townsend @ Reading Addict
    "This book ties the great minds of the Masons like Franklin and daVinci into a thrilling race to create a portal to Heaven . . . I like the way the author used short chapters to hop between past and present story lines. It was an easy plot to follow even though the stories were told in a fragmented way. There were two big ideas that struck me and stuck with me. First, a lot of the hub-bub surrounding this portal to Heaven was because it gave a way to reunite with our loved ones who had passed on. Ben Franklin (as told by the story) spent his entire life trying to build this machine to be with his deceased son Franky. But after a lifetime of failing, Franklin realized he had lived his entire life focused on the past and never truly living. He had poured all of his energy into his experiments and thus created no relationships with anyone. He realized, like so many do who suffer great loss, there is not value in living in the past. The second point was regarding this idea of a portal to Heaven and thus a direct path to God. In the end, the hero of the story realizes that what God has been trying to tell us since the beginning of time is that we don't need a portal to Him because he is always with us. All we have to do is pray/talk to Him, and we are with Him. I think sometimes it is easy to forget that just because He doesn't always answer our prayers the way we want that He isn't listening."  [You are so right, Elaine.  Thanks! JGS]

    John Murphy @ Goodreads.com
    "I was introduced to J. Sandom and his early work, Gospel Truths, by chance. Intrigued by Mr. Sandom I decided to read the Gospel Truths but did so with some intrepidation. As a Jesuit-educated history student I was concerned that the historical, theological underpinnings of Mr. Sandom's novel would lack the academic rigor I would expect even for a fictional writing. Not only did Gospel Truths exceeed my intellectual expectations, but I was impressed with the seamlessness with which Mr. Sandom chases history in the context a compelling love story.  When it came to The God Machine, my trepidation returned. Why test fate? What if this sequel was not as good? I took a leap of faith and was not disappointed. Mr. Sandom confirmed his ability to interwine the continuing spiritual and emotional tribulations of Joseph Koster in a very granular and enticing examination of history, religion and morality. It is clear that Mr. Sandom has his own opinion and I congratulate him for having the courage to state it. But whether you agree or not with his point of view, your appreciation for the interplay between American history and American morality will be greatly enriched. He brings Ben Franklin to life. I found myself rooting for Ben on his odyssey and had to remind myself Mr. Franklin's story has already been told. That is because Mr. Sandom's Ben Franklin is not the well-known figure of American antiquity but, rather, a complex human being driven by love and desire for things large and small, who in the process made great history. It suggests that all of us could make great history and should. I highly recommend this God Machine."

    Michael Weis @ Amazon.com
    "I had read Gospel Truths and enjoyed it, so was looking forward to The God Machine and wasn't disappointed. Intricate and mysterious - Sandom is some kind of polymath - so much, about so many things, crammed into a good page-turner, from chips to church. I've heard that Sandom and Dan Brown both went to Amherst at the same time. It makes me wonder whether Brown might have been inspired by Sandom, since Sandom's was published first. But Sandom's works are much more intricate and complex. And, those 1 star reviews. What's with that? Maybe they're Church people or wish they were. Anyway, buy it."

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Reader Reviews

    Linda "katknit" @ Amazon.com
    "Gospel Truths is an intelligent, complex, and competently written thriller. No bells or whistles here, just a few laptops, along with some dedicated and dangerous individuals determined to get their hands on Q, for various reasons of their own. And no neatly wrapped up ends in the final chapters. But there are some interesting passages descriptive of different locations, such as Chartres and the Rodin Museum in Paris . . . Masonic secrets, corrupt church officials, and money laundering schemes - all well before Da Vinci Code, imagine that!"

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapter.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD — Latest Reader Reviews

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2

    Elvis57 @ Amazon
    "Kiss Me, I'm Dead will delight students of history and lovers of mystery . . . Fans of J.G. Sandom will be thrilled that he has written a thoughtful and thought-provoking novel for young adults. The cast of characters in Kiss Me I'm Dead is varied and fully developed. Readers will root for the heroes, boo the villains, and gain insight to the motivations of all. This novel would make an excellent book club selection for young adult and adult readers. In addition to the historical aspects of the novel, character development and writer's craft would both be rich seeds for discussion."

    Whisper1 @ librarything
    "The Washington Post rated this one of the top ten Young Adult books. In addition, (the novel has been given) many other awards, included Horn Book’s list of recommended American historical fiction. It is also one of the few books selected by the American Library Association as a best book for young adults. Highly recommended, I can certainly understand the accolades "

    Dana Greenleaf @ BRHS Book Reviews
    "The suspense of the novel kept me reading . . . (KISS ME, I'M DEAD) got very intense, especially at the questioning of finding out who set the fire on the boat."

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here  . . . just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, KISS ME, I'M DEAD or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    4) GOSPEL TRUTHS 2007 Cover Art

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller ~ Front Cover

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed KISS ME, I'M DEAD or CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher Paperback Front Cover 

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as Resurrection Men under pen name T.K. Welsh.  Now is your time to buys this thrilling horror story, for the first time available as a paperback and eBook.

    Here's the thing about bodysnatching.  You just can't think about what you're doing.  You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister.  You can't feel bad.  In fact, you can't feel anything.  That's the key.  Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over.  You’re dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead.  It’s no way to live, but for some, it’s the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.  CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . (J.G. Sandom) is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    For a sample chapter of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

    To purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

     

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2 

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as The Unresolved under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Fangless Fables Press, where their motto is, "The real evil is us."

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. KISS ME, I’M DEAD was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called the novel, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "KISS ME, I’M DEAD scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of KISS ME, I’M DEAD, click here.

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    And if that isn’t enough, both KISS ME, I’M DEAD and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER are both available in TWO TEEN TERRORS.

    Two Teen Terrors Front Cover 

    To purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS, click here.

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    What's New in June, 2011

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    Once again this month, my heart goes out to all the victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan.

     

    Given the mega-tsunami featured in THE WAVE, I know all too well the kind of damage these freaks of nature can cause.

     

    Please note that I am donating 10% of all book sales of THE WAVE through the end of this year to Japanese relief efforts.


     

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To order your trade paperback copy of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller, click here.  To order your eBook, click here.

     


    And now for something completely different . . . I'm happy to announce that The Gramma Sutra has been syndicated!  That's right. The GrammaSutra can now be viewed at www.vibrantnation.com.

     

    Reaching more than 100,000 monthly visitors, VibrantNation.com is the leading online community for Baby Boomer women — the place where they connect and support each other on issues unique to life after 50, including fashion, beauty, family, relationships, work, money, and sex.

    Or, go right to the source at TheGrammaSutra.com where you can check out our growing portfolio of Gramma Sutra Sex Positions — contemporary "Kama Sutra" poses for women of a certain age.

    The Gramma Sutra Channel at YouTube continues to generate thousands of views.  Check out our most recent presentation at the First International Conference on Aging and Architecture @ UPENN.  The Channel features numerous clips of my writing partner (Sylvana Joseph) and I as we discuss sex and women of a certain age in front of a group of architects from around the world.  Click here to see all the clips, or immediately below for the 5-Minute highlights reel.

     

     

    Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, THE GRAMMA SUTRA delivers humorous infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women of a certain age.

    The website of the same name serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on sensitive topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy.  [NOTE:  We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]

    Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!

     

    Post a Comment and share your wisdom on

    The Gramma Sutra Sun Porch! 

     

    Check us out on Facebook & become a fan.

     

    Or, follow us on Twitter today!

     


    Want a good laugh?  Visit SAYINGS OF SUBSTANCE . . . abuse.  This hilarious site features pithy sayings from your favorite celebrity junkies and drunkards — the quotes they can no longer remember, and would probably rather forget.  Like Charlie Sheen.  They even invite you to send out an SOS (Sayings Of Substance) to them by finding a funny quote from your favorite celebrity junky or drunk.  Click here to be entertained.


     

    Meanwhile, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller."

     


    Last but not least, let's not forget my YA novels, now in paperback for the first time.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, KISS ME, I’M DEAD was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of KISS ME, I’M DEAD!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in TWO TEEN TERRORS — A Fangless Fables Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS!

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE WAVE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It'll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE — Latest Reader Reviews

    Squirrel @ amazon.com
    "The Wave by J.G. Sandom is a relentless and breathless thriller about FBI code breaker John Decker trying to prevent a Jihadist eco-terrorist named El Aqrab from setting off a mega-tsunami aimed at destroying the Eastern Seaboard. Couldn't be more timely given what's been happening in Japan. Except this book deals with a mega-tsunami, more than ten times taller and more powerful than the tsunamis we've been watching on the news from T'hoku, Japan. Incredible. Great characters and relentless action. I don't understand some of these other reviewers. What's with the two stars? Maybe they just didn't get it. I loved this book."

    DT @ amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It had action and suspense and more action.
    I'll admit at first I didn't think I'd like it. What the heck is a cryptanalyst anyway! I was wrong. Decker's a great character and the environmental terrorism angle was exciting and right on the money given the news and current events. I loved Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Wave was a lot like that book. Fast read, great characters and really exciting. I can't wait for a sequel."

    Melissa P. Gray "bookbabe" @ amazon.com
    "The wave is fantastic; a roller coaster of a book.
    John Decker and Emily Swensen deal with terrorists both religious and environmental and a slew of governmental obstacles trying to avert a major disaster. If you want a great thriller with well-written characters and a disturbingly plausible plot, then this is the book for you. Move over Crichton, Sandom is here."

    Michael Weis @ amazon.com
    "You always learn a lot from Sandom's books. I had to do some fact checking on mega tsunamis before I bought the premise, but Sandom checks his facts and then "arranges" them to create a truly scary threat. And, he knows how to keep the action moving, and usually on several fronts. I also learned a fair amount about Islam which is in stark contrast to the mindless, oversimplified shouting going on in the media and much of the public. I'm looking forward to other John Decker thrillers."

    John T. Richardson @ amazon.com
    "I first read this book around the time it was originally published. I greatly enjoy fast-paced thrillers and The Wave certainly delivers for me. John Decker is a very strong, likeable character, more than capable of sustaining a detailed and suspenseful book like this. Decker and Emily Swenson bring to mind Dirk Pitt and Eva Rojas as well as Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. But author JG Sandom is able to bring life to his characters with the added benefit of a current topic - terrorism (eco and/or otherwise) . . . After a recent re-read, I find that the book certainly still holds up! It is even more relevant today. The author's experiences gathered while living and traveling around the world, are quite apparent and beneficial to both the story line and color of The Wave. Weave in Mossad, Al'qaeda and . . . hell, I just love this book. It is a lot of fun. Do yourself a favor - read it."

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    Jeffrey Einstein @ amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom breathes real heart and soul into this utterly plausible cast of flawed but irresistible characters. John Decker is a wonderfully reluctant hero, and even the villains in this story are unmistakably human in the depths of their pain, vengeance and sheer calculation. This book is the real McCoy, right up there with the best modern thrillers; Sandom's eye for intrigue, suspense and drama is apparent in his attention to detail and nuance. Can't wait to get my hands on "Gospel Truths", one of Sandom's earlier novels. If it's only half as good as "The Wave" I'll expect another two or three sleepless nights — and chalk them up once again as time well spent."

    Gracie412 @ amazon.com
    "All I can say is WOW . . . I love thrillers, and this John Decker story is a great one. The concept of environmental terrorism is all the more frightening because of the reality of global warming and cooling political alliances. John Decker is one of the great flawed heroes. Like Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan, John Decker is smart, dedicated, resolved and has a personal life that would make Dante weep. As a puzzle lover I was psyched to see a hero who also loves to piece things together and is addicted to codes and such. A demented killer in the middle east, a package of uranium large enough to make a nuclear bomb, an Israeli police officer, a gorgeous oceanographer and a volcano in the canary islands are pieces of this puzzle that Decker and Swenson (the love interest who actually is more than a pretty face, thank you J.G. Sandom!) have to put together before a catastrophe destroys millions of people. I LOVED this book. It's a thrill ride of a read and if you liked The Bourne Series or any of Tom Clancy's or James Patterson's stuff, you'll love The Wave. I recommend it highly."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Reader Reviews

    mietzemiau @ Amazon.com
    "I came across this book the last night of my stay in a vacation rental. As I had an early flight to catch the next morning I figured I'd just read myself into a good nights sleep. WRONG! The plot is captivating and every chapter leaves you wanting to devour the next without hesitation. By 4am I forced myself to put the book down. The next day I downloaded The God Machine to my kindle and enjoyed yet another night of great adventure and little sleep. J.G. Sandom has written a thrilling book packed with rich characters. I loved the weaving of historical figures with modern day characters. This book is so enjoyable that I am baffled as to why it has not yet been made into a movie."

    M. Lambert @ Amazon.com
    "Great read! I loved how the author built in all the history elements into the book. Looking forward to his next novel."

    Elaine Townsend @ Reading Addict
    "This book ties the great minds of the Masons like Franklin and daVinci into a thrilling race to create a portal to Heaven . . . I like the way the author used short chapters to hop between past and present story lines. It was an easy plot to follow even though the stories were told in a fragmented way. There were two big ideas that struck me and stuck with me. First, a lot of the hub-bub surrounding this portal to Heaven was because it gave a way to reunite with our loved ones who had passed on. Ben Franklin (as told by the story) spent his entire life trying to build this machine to be with his deceased son Franky. But after a lifetime of failing, Franklin realized he had lived his entire life focused on the past and never truly living. He had poured all of his energy into his experiments and thus created no relationships with anyone. He realized, like so many do who suffer great loss, there is not value in living in the past. The second point was regarding this idea of a portal to Heaven and thus a direct path to God. In the end, the hero of the story realizes that what God has been trying to tell us since the beginning of time is that we don't need a portal to Him because he is always with us. All we have to do is pray/talk to Him, and we are with Him. I think sometimes it is easy to forget that just because He doesn't always answer our prayers the way we want that He isn't listening."  [You are so right, Elaine.  Thanks! JGS]

    John Murphy @ Goodreads.com
    "I was introduced to J. Sandom and his early work, Gospel Truths, by chance. Intrigued by Mr. Sandom I decided to read the Gospel Truths but did so with some intrepidation. As a Jesuit-educated history student I was concerned that the historical, theological underpinnings of Mr. Sandom's novel would lack the academic rigor I would expect even for a fictional writing. Not only did Gospel Truths exceeed my intellectual expectations, but I was impressed with the seamlessness with which Mr. Sandom chases history in the context a compelling love story.  When it came to The God Machine, my trepidation returned. Why test fate? What if this sequel was not as good? I took a leap of faith and was not disappointed. Mr. Sandom confirmed his ability to interwine the continuing spiritual and emotional tribulations of Joseph Koster in a very granular and enticing examination of history, religion and morality. It is clear that Mr. Sandom has his own opinion and I congratulate him for having the courage to state it. But whether you agree or not with his point of view, your appreciation for the interplay between American history and American morality will be greatly enriched. He brings Ben Franklin to life. I found myself rooting for Ben on his odyssey and had to remind myself Mr. Franklin's story has already been told. That is because Mr. Sandom's Ben Franklin is not the well-known figure of American antiquity but, rather, a complex human being driven by love and desire for things large and small, who in the process made great history. It suggests that all of us could make great history and should. I highly recommend this God Machine."

    Michael Weis @ Amazon.com
    "I had read Gospel Truths and enjoyed it, so was looking forward to The God Machine and wasn't disappointed. Intricate and mysterious - Sandom is some kind of polymath - so much, about so many things, crammed into a good page-turner, from chips to church. I've heard that Sandom and Dan Brown both went to Amherst at the same time. It makes me wonder whether Brown might have been inspired by Sandom, since Sandom's was published first. But Sandom's works are much more intricate and complex. And, those 1 star reviews. What's with that? Maybe they're Church people or wish they were. Anyway, buy it."

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Reader Reviews

    Linda "katknit" @ Amazon.com
    "Gospel Truths is an intelligent, complex, and competently written thriller. No bells or whistles here, just a few laptops, along with some dedicated and dangerous individuals determined to get their hands on Q, for various reasons of their own. And no neatly wrapped up ends in the final chapters. But there are some interesting passages descriptive of different locations, such as Chartres and the Rodin Museum in Paris . . . Masonic secrets, corrupt church officials, and money laundering schemes - all well before Da Vinci Code, imagine that!"

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapter.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD — Latest Reader Reviews

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2

    Whisper1 @ librarything
    "The Washington Post rated this one of the top ten Young Adult books. In addition, (the novel has been given) many other awards, included Horn Book’s list of recommended American historical fiction. It is also one of the few books selected by the American Library Association as a best book for young adults. Highly recommended, I can certainly understand the accolades "

    Dana Greenleaf @ BRHS Book Reviews
    "The suspense of the novel kept me reading . . . (KISS ME, I'M DEAD) got very intense, especially at the questioning of finding out who set the fire on the boat."

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here  . . . just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, KISS ME, I'M DEAD or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    4) GOSPEL TRUTHS 2007 Cover Art

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller ~ Front Cover

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed KISS ME, I'M DEAD or CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher Paperback Front Cover 

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as Resurrection Men under pen name T.K. Welsh.  Now is your time to buys this thrilling horror story, for the first time available as a paperback and eBook.

    Here's the thing about bodysnatching.  You just can't think about what you're doing.  You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister.  You can't feel bad.  In fact, you can't feel anything.  That's the key.  Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over.  You’re dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead.  It’s no way to live, but for some, it’s the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.  CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . (J.G. Sandom) is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    For a sample chapter of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

    To purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

     

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2 

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as The Unresolved under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Fangless Fables Press, where their motto is, "The real evil is us."

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. KISS ME, I’M DEAD was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called the novel, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "KISS ME, I’M DEAD scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of KISS ME, I’M DEAD, click here.

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    And if that isn’t enough, both KISS ME, I’M DEAD and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER are both available in TWO TEEN TERRORS.

    Two Teen Terrors Front Cover 

    To purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS, click here.

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    What's New in May 2011

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    Once again this month, my heart goes out to all the victims of the recent tsunami and earthquake in Japan.  As the author of THE WAVE, I know all too well the damage that can be done by tsunamis.

     

    TEPCO has released new photos of the tsunami hitting the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on March 11.

     

    The first depics the wave overcoming the sea wall.

    100457-tepco-releases-tsunami-water-photos-of-its-plant

     

    This shot shows the wave overwhelming the plant.

    100460-tepco-releases-tsunami-water-photos-of-its-plant

    Ironically, sales of THE WAVE have exploded . . . perhaps because of renewed interest in tsunamis.  Please note that I am donating 10% of all book sales of THE WAVE through the end of this year to Japanese relief efforts.


     

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To order your trade paperback copy of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller, click here.  To order your eBook, click here.

     


    And now for something completely different . . . I'm happy to announce that The Gramma Sutra has been syndicated!  That's right. The GrammaSutra can now be viewed at www.vibrantnation.com.

     

    Reaching more than 100,000 monthly visitors, VibrantNation.com is the leading online community for Baby Boomer women — the place where they connect and support each other on issues unique to life after 50, including fashion, beauty, family, relationships, work, money, and sex.

    Or, go right to the source at TheGrammaSutra.com where you can check out our growing portfolio of Gramma Sutra Sex Positions — contemporary "Kama Sutra" poses for women of a certain age.

    The Gramma Sutra Channel at YouTube continues to generate thousands of views.  Check out our most recent presentation at the First International Conference on Aging and Architecture @ UPENN.  The Channel features numerous clips of my writing partner (Sylvana Joseph) and I as we discuss sex and women of a certain age in front of a group of architects from around the world.  Click here to see all the clips, or immediately below for the 5-Minute highlights reel.

     

     

    Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, THE GRAMMA SUTRA delivers humorous infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women of a certain age.

    The website of the same name serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on sensitive topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy.  [NOTE:  We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]

    Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!

     

    Post a Comment and share your wisdom on

    The Gramma Sutra Sun Porch! 

     

    Check us out on Facebook & become a fan.

     

    Or, follow us on Twitter today!

     


    Want a good laugh?  Visit SAYINGS OF SUBSTANCE . . . abuse.  This hilarious site features pithy sayings from your favorite celebrity junkies and drunkards — the quotes they can no longer remember, and would probably rather forget.  Like Charlie Sheen.  They even invite you to send out an SOS (Sayings Of Substance) to them by finding a funny quote from your favorite celebrity junky or drunk.  Click here to be entertained.


     

    Meanwhile, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller."

     


    Last but not least, let's not forget my YA novels, now in paperback for the first time.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, KISS ME, I’M DEAD was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of KISS ME, I’M DEAD!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in TWO TEEN TERRORS — A Fangless Fables Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS!

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE WAVE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It'll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE — Latest Reader Reviews

    Squirrel @ amazon.com
    "The Wave by J.G. Sandom is a relentless and breathless thriller about FBI code breaker John Decker trying to prevent a Jihadist eco-terrorist named El Aqrab from setting off a mega-tsunami aimed at destroying the Eastern Seaboard. Couldn't be more timely given what's been happening in Japan. Except this book deals with a mega-tsunami, more than ten times taller and more powerful than the tsunamis we've been watching on the news from T'hoku, Japan. Incredible. Great characters and relentless action. I don't understand some of these other reviewers. What's with the two stars? Maybe they just didn't get it. I loved this book."

    DT @ amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It had action and suspense and more action.
    I'll admit at first I didn't think I'd like it. What the heck is a cryptanalyst anyway! I was wrong. Decker's a great character and the environmental terrorism angle was exciting and right on the money given the news and current events. I loved Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Wave was a lot like that book. Fast read, great characters and really exciting. I can't wait for a sequel."

    Melissa P. Gray "bookbabe" @ amazon.com
    "The wave is fantastic; a roller coaster of a book.
    John Decker and Emily Swensen deal with terrorists both religious and environmental and a slew of governmental obstacles trying to avert a major disaster. If you want a great thriller with well-written characters and a disturbingly plausible plot, then this is the book for you. Move over Crichton, Sandom is here."

    Michael Weis @ amazon.com
    "You always learn a lot from Sandom's books. I had to do some fact checking on mega tsunamis before I bought the premise, but Sandom checks his facts and then "arranges" them to create a truly scary threat. And, he knows how to keep the action moving, and usually on several fronts. I also learned a fair amount about Islam which is in stark contrast to the mindless, oversimplified shouting going on in the media and much of the public. I'm looking forward to other John Decker thrillers."

    John T. Richardson @ amazon.com
    "I first read this book around the time it was originally published. I greatly enjoy fast-paced thrillers and The Wave certainly delivers for me. John Decker is a very strong, likeable character, more than capable of sustaining a detailed and suspenseful book like this. Decker and Emily Swenson bring to mind Dirk Pitt and Eva Rojas as well as Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. But author JG Sandom is able to bring life to his characters with the added benefit of a current topic - terrorism (eco and/or otherwise) . . . After a recent re-read, I find that the book certainly still holds up! It is even more relevant today. The author's experiences gathered while living and traveling around the world, are quite apparent and beneficial to both the story line and color of The Wave. Weave in Mossad, Al'qaeda and . . . hell, I just love this book. It is a lot of fun. Do yourself a favor - read it."

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    Jeffrey Einstein @ amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom breathes real heart and soul into this utterly plausible cast of flawed but irresistible characters. John Decker is a wonderfully reluctant hero, and even the villains in this story are unmistakably human in the depths of their pain, vengeance and sheer calculation. This book is the real McCoy, right up there with the best modern thrillers; Sandom's eye for intrigue, suspense and drama is apparent in his attention to detail and nuance. Can't wait to get my hands on "Gospel Truths", one of Sandom's earlier novels. If it's only half as good as "The Wave" I'll expect another two or three sleepless nights — and chalk them up once again as time well spent."

    Gracie412 @ amazon.com
    "All I can say is WOW . . . I love thrillers, and this John Decker story is a great one. The concept of environmental terrorism is all the more frightening because of the reality of global warming and cooling political alliances. John Decker is one of the great flawed heroes. Like Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan, John Decker is smart, dedicated, resolved and has a personal life that would make Dante weep. As a puzzle lover I was psyched to see a hero who also loves to piece things together and is addicted to codes and such. A demented killer in the middle east, a package of uranium large enough to make a nuclear bomb, an Israeli police officer, a gorgeous oceanographer and a volcano in the canary islands are pieces of this puzzle that Decker and Swenson (the love interest who actually is more than a pretty face, thank you J.G. Sandom!) have to put together before a catastrophe destroys millions of people. I LOVED this book. It's a thrill ride of a read and if you liked The Bourne Series or any of Tom Clancy's or James Patterson's stuff, you'll love The Wave. I recommend it highly."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Reader Reviews

    M. Lambert @ Amazon.com
    "Great read! I loved how the author built in all the history elements into the book. Looking forward to his next novel."

    Elaine Townsend @ Reading Addict
    "This book ties the great minds of the Masons like Franklin and daVinci into a thrilling race to create a portal to Heaven . . . I like the way the author used short chapters to hop between past and present story lines. It was an easy plot to follow even though the stories were told in a fragmented way. There were two big ideas that struck me and stuck with me. First, a lot of the hub-bub surrounding this portal to Heaven was because it gave a way to reunite with our loved ones who had passed on. Ben Franklin (as told by the story) spent his entire life trying to build this machine to be with his deceased son Franky. But after a lifetime of failing, Franklin realized he had lived his entire life focused on the past and never truly living. He had poured all of his energy into his experiments and thus created no relationships with anyone. He realized, like so many do who suffer great loss, there is not value in living in the past. The second point was regarding this idea of a portal to Heaven and thus a direct path to God. In the end, the hero of the story realizes that what God has been trying to tell us since the beginning of time is that we don't need a portal to Him because he is always with us. All we have to do is pray/talk to Him, and we are with Him. I think sometimes it is easy to forget that just because He doesn't always answer our prayers the way we want that He isn't listening."  [You are so right, Elaine.  Thanks! JGS]

    John Murphy @ Goodreads.com
    "I was introduced to J. Sandom and his early work, Gospel Truths, by chance. Intrigued by Mr. Sandom I decided to read the Gospel Truths but did so with some intrepidation. As a Jesuit-educated history student I was concerned that the historical, theological underpinnings of Mr. Sandom's novel would lack the academic rigor I would expect even for a fictional writing. Not only did Gospel Truths exceeed my intellectual expectations, but I was impressed with the seamlessness with which Mr. Sandom chases history in the context a compelling love story.  When it came to The God Machine, my trepidation returned. Why test fate? What if this sequel was not as good? I took a leap of faith and was not disappointed. Mr. Sandom confirmed his ability to interwine the continuing spiritual and emotional tribulations of Joseph Koster in a very granular and enticing examination of history, religion and morality. It is clear that Mr. Sandom has his own opinion and I congratulate him for having the courage to state it. But whether you agree or not with his point of view, your appreciation for the interplay between American history and American morality will be greatly enriched. He brings Ben Franklin to life. I found myself rooting for Ben on his odyssey and had to remind myself Mr. Franklin's story has already been told. That is because Mr. Sandom's Ben Franklin is not the well-known figure of American antiquity but, rather, a complex human being driven by love and desire for things large and small, who in the process made great history. It suggests that all of us could make great history and should. I highly recommend this God Machine."

    Michael Weis @ Amazon.com
    "I had read Gospel Truths and enjoyed it, so was looking forward to The God Machine and wasn't disappointed. Intricate and mysterious - Sandom is some kind of polymath - so much, about so many things, crammed into a good page-turner, from chips to church. I've heard that Sandom and Dan Brown both went to Amherst at the same time. It makes me wonder whether Brown might have been inspired by Sandom, since Sandom's was published first. But Sandom's works are much more intricate and complex. And, those 1 star reviews. What's with that? Maybe they're Church people or wish they were. Anyway, buy it."

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Reader Reviews

    Linda "katknit" @ Amazon.com
    "Gospel Truths is an intelligent, complex, and competently written thriller. No bells or whistles here, just a few laptops, along with some dedicated and dangerous individuals determined to get their hands on Q, for various reasons of their own. And no neatly wrapped up ends in the final chapters. But there are some interesting passages descriptive of different locations, such as Chartres and the Rodin Museum in Paris . . . Masonic secrets, corrupt church officials, and money laundering schemes - all well before Da Vinci Code, imagine that!"

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapter.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD — Latest Reader Reviews

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2

    Whisper1 @ librarything
    "The Washington Post rated this one of the top ten Young Adult books. In addition, (the novel has been given) many other awards, included Horn Book’s list of recommended American historical fiction. It is also one of the few books selected by the American Library Association as a best book for young adults. Highly recommended, I can certainly understand the accolades "

    Dana Greenleaf @ BRHS Book Reviews
    "The suspense of the novel kept me reading . . . (KISS ME, I'M DEAD) got very intense, especially at the questioning of finding out who set the fire on the boat."

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here  . . . just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, KISS ME, I'M DEAD or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    4) GOSPEL TRUTHS 2007 Cover Art

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller ~ Front Cover

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed KISS ME, I'M DEAD or CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher Paperback Front Cover 

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as Resurrection Men under pen name T.K. Welsh.  Now is your time to buys this thrilling horror story, for the first time available as a paperback and eBook.

    Here's the thing about bodysnatching.  You just can't think about what you're doing.  You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister.  You can't feel bad.  In fact, you can't feel anything.  That's the key.  Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over.  You’re dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead.  It’s no way to live, but for some, it’s the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.  CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . (J.G. Sandom) is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    For a sample chapter of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

    To purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

     

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2 

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as The Unresolved under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Fangless Fables Press, where their motto is, "The real evil is us."

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. KISS ME, I’M DEAD was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called the novel, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "KISS ME, I’M DEAD scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of KISS ME, I’M DEAD, click here.

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    And if that isn’t enough, both KISS ME, I’M DEAD and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER are both available in TWO TEEN TERRORS.

    Two Teen Terrors Front Cover 

    To purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS, click here.

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    What's New for April 2011

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    Once again this month, my heart goes out to all the victims of the recent tsunami and earthquake in Japan.  As the author of THE WAVE, I know all too well the damage that can be done by tsunamis.

     

    Ironically, sales of THE WAVE exploded in April . . . perhaps because of renewed interest in tsunamis.  Please note that I am donating 10% of all book sales of THE WAVE over the next six months to Japanese relief efforts.


     

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To order your trade paperback copy of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller, click here.  To order your eBook, click here.

     


    And now for something completely different . . . I invite you to visit TheGrammaSutra.com where you can check out our growing portfolio of Gramma Sutra Sex Positions — contemporary "Kama Sutra" poses for women of a certain age.

     

    Soon to be available as a poster, on greeting cards and playing cards.  (That's right.  Bridge night will never be the same!)

     

    The Gramma Sutra Channel at YouTube continues to generate thousands of views.  Check out our most recent presentation at the First International Conference on Aging and Architecture @ UPENN.  The Channel features numerous clips of my writing partner (Sylvana Joseph) and I as we discuss sex and women of a certain age in front of a group of architects from around the world.  Click here to see all the clips, or immediately below for the 5-Minute highlights reel.

     

     

    Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, THE GRAMMA SUTRA delivers humorous infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women of a certain age.

    The website of the same name serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on sensitive topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy.  [NOTE:  We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]

    Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!

     

    Post a Comment and share your wisdom on

    The Gramma Sutra Sun Porch! 

     

    Check us out on Facebook & become a fan.

     

    Or, follow us on Twitter today!

     


    Want a good laugh?  Visit SAYINGS OF SUBSTANCE . . . abuse.  This hilarious site features pithy sayings from your favorite celebrity junkies and drunkards — the quotes they can no longer remember, and would probably rather forget.  Like Charlie Sheen.  They even invite you to send out an SOS (Sayings Of Substance) to them by finding a funny quote from your favorite celebrity junky or drunk.  Click here to be entertained.


     

    Meanwhile, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller."

     


    Last but not least, let's not forget my YA novels, now in paperback for the first time.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, KISS ME, I’M DEAD was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of KISS ME, I’M DEAD!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in TWO TEEN TERRORS — A Fangless Fables Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS!

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE WAVE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It'll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE — Latest Reader Reviews

    Squirrel @ amazon.com
    "The Wave by J.G. Sandom is a relentless and breathless thriller about FBI code breaker John Decker trying to prevent a Jihadist eco-terrorist named El Aqrab from setting off a mega-tsunami aimed at destroying the Eastern Seaboard. Couldn't be more timely given what's been happening in Japan. Except this book deals with a mega-tsunami, more than ten times taller and more powerful than the tsunamis we've been watching on the news from T'hoku, Japan. Incredible. Great characters and relentless action. I don't understand some of these other reviewers. What's with the two stars? Maybe they just didn't get it. I loved this book."

    DT @ amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It had action and suspense and more action.
    I'll admit at first I didn't think I'd like it. What the heck is a cryptanalyst anyway! I was wrong. Decker's a great character and the environmental terrorism angle was exciting and right on the money given the news and current events. I loved Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Wave was a lot like that book. Fast read, great characters and really exciting. I can't wait for a sequel."

    Melissa P. Gray "bookbabe" @ amazon.com
    "The wave is fantastic; a roller coaster of a book.
    John Decker and Emily Swensen deal with terrorists both religious and environmental and a slew of governmental obstacles trying to avert a major disaster. If you want a great thriller with well-written characters and a disturbingly plausible plot, then this is the book for you. Move over Crichton, Sandom is here."

    Michael Weis @ amazon.com
    "You always learn a lot from Sandom's books. I had to do some fact checking on mega tsunamis before I bought the premise, but Sandom checks his facts and then "arranges" them to create a truly scary threat. And, he knows how to keep the action moving, and usually on several fronts. I also learned a fair amount about Islam which is in stark contrast to the mindless, oversimplified shouting going on in the media and much of the public. I'm looking forward to other John Decker thrillers."

    John T. Richardson @ amazon.com
    "I first read this book around the time it was originally published. I greatly enjoy fast-paced thrillers and The Wave certainly delivers for me. John Decker is a very strong, likeable character, more than capable of sustaining a detailed and suspenseful book like this. Decker and Emily Swenson bring to mind Dirk Pitt and Eva Rojas as well as Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. But author JG Sandom is able to bring life to his characters with the added benefit of a current topic - terrorism (eco and/or otherwise) . . . After a recent re-read, I find that the book certainly still holds up! It is even more relevant today. The author's experiences gathered while living and traveling around the world, are quite apparent and beneficial to both the story line and color of The Wave. Weave in Mossad, Al'qaeda and . . . hell, I just love this book. It is a lot of fun. Do yourself a favor - read it."

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    Jeffrey Einstein @ amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom breathes real heart and soul into this utterly plausible cast of flawed but irresistible characters. John Decker is a wonderfully reluctant hero, and even the villains in this story are unmistakably human in the depths of their pain, vengeance and sheer calculation. This book is the real McCoy, right up there with the best modern thrillers; Sandom's eye for intrigue, suspense and drama is apparent in his attention to detail and nuance. Can't wait to get my hands on "Gospel Truths", one of Sandom's earlier novels. If it's only half as good as "The Wave" I'll expect another two or three sleepless nights — and chalk them up once again as time well spent."

    Gracie412 @ amazon.com
    "All I can say is WOW . . . I love thrillers, and this John Decker story is a great one. The concept of environmental terrorism is all the more frightening because of the reality of global warming and cooling political alliances. John Decker is one of the great flawed heroes. Like Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan, John Decker is smart, dedicated, resolved and has a personal life that would make Dante weep. As a puzzle lover I was psyched to see a hero who also loves to piece things together and is addicted to codes and such. A demented killer in the middle east, a package of uranium large enough to make a nuclear bomb, an Israeli police officer, a gorgeous oceanographer and a volcano in the canary islands are pieces of this puzzle that Decker and Swenson (the love interest who actually is more than a pretty face, thank you J.G. Sandom!) have to put together before a catastrophe destroys millions of people. I LOVED this book. It's a thrill ride of a read and if you liked The Bourne Series or any of Tom Clancy's or James Patterson's stuff, you'll love The Wave. I recommend it highly."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Reader Reviews

    M. Lambert @ Amazon.com
    "Great read! I loved how the author built in all the history elements into the book. Looking forward to his next novel."

    Elaine Townsend @ Reading Addict
    "This book ties the great minds of the Masons like Franklin and daVinci into a thrilling race to create a portal to Heaven . . . I like the way the author used short chapters to hop between past and present story lines. It was an easy plot to follow even though the stories were told in a fragmented way. There were two big ideas that struck me and stuck with me. First, a lot of the hub-bub surrounding this portal to Heaven was because it gave a way to reunite with our loved ones who had passed on. Ben Franklin (as told by the story) spent his entire life trying to build this machine to be with his deceased son Franky. But after a lifetime of failing, Franklin realized he had lived his entire life focused on the past and never truly living. He had poured all of his energy into his experiments and thus created no relationships with anyone. He realized, like so many do who suffer great loss, there is not value in living in the past. The second point was regarding this idea of a portal to Heaven and thus a direct path to God. In the end, the hero of the story realizes that what God has been trying to tell us since the beginning of time is that we don't need a portal to Him because he is always with us. All we have to do is pray/talk to Him, and we are with Him. I think sometimes it is easy to forget that just because He doesn't always answer our prayers the way we want that He isn't listening."  [You are so right, Elaine.  Thanks! JGS]

    John Murphy @ Goodreads.com
    "I was introduced to J. Sandom and his early work, Gospel Truths, by chance. Intrigued by Mr. Sandom I decided to read the Gospel Truths but did so with some intrepidation. As a Jesuit-educated history student I was concerned that the historical, theological underpinnings of Mr. Sandom's novel would lack the academic rigor I would expect even for a fictional writing. Not only did Gospel Truths exceeed my intellectual expectations, but I was impressed with the seamlessness with which Mr. Sandom chases history in the context a compelling love story.  When it came to The God Machine, my trepidation returned. Why test fate? What if this sequel was not as good? I took a leap of faith and was not disappointed. Mr. Sandom confirmed his ability to interwine the continuing spiritual and emotional tribulations of Joseph Koster in a very granular and enticing examination of history, religion and morality. It is clear that Mr. Sandom has his own opinion and I congratulate him for having the courage to state it. But whether you agree or not with his point of view, your appreciation for the interplay between American history and American morality will be greatly enriched. He brings Ben Franklin to life. I found myself rooting for Ben on his odyssey and had to remind myself Mr. Franklin's story has already been told. That is because Mr. Sandom's Ben Franklin is not the well-known figure of American antiquity but, rather, a complex human being driven by love and desire for things large and small, who in the process made great history. It suggests that all of us could make great history and should. I highly recommend this God Machine."

    Michael Weis @ Amazon.com
    "I had read Gospel Truths and enjoyed it, so was looking forward to The God Machine and wasn't disappointed. Intricate and mysterious - Sandom is some kind of polymath - so much, about so many things, crammed into a good page-turner, from chips to church. I've heard that Sandom and Dan Brown both went to Amherst at the same time. It makes me wonder whether Brown might have been inspired by Sandom, since Sandom's was published first. But Sandom's works are much more intricate and complex. And, those 1 star reviews. What's with that? Maybe they're Church people or wish they were. Anyway, buy it."

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Reader Reviews

    Linda "katknit" @ Amazon.com
    "Gospel Truths is an intelligent, complex, and competently written thriller. No bells or whistles here, just a few laptops, along with some dedicated and dangerous individuals determined to get their hands on Q, for various reasons of their own. And no neatly wrapped up ends in the final chapters. But there are some interesting passages descriptive of different locations, such as Chartres and the Rodin Museum in Paris . . . Masonic secrets, corrupt church officials, and money laundering schemes - all well before Da Vinci Code, imagine that!"

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapter.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD — Latest Reader Reviews

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2

    Whisper1 @ librarything
    "The Washington Post rated this one of the top ten Young Adult books. In addition, (the novel has been given) many other awards, included Horn Book’s list of recommended American historical fiction. It is also one of the few books selected by the American Library Association as a best book for young adults. Highly recommended, I can certainly understand the accolades "

    Dana Greenleaf @ BRHS Book Reviews
    "The suspense of the novel kept me reading . . . (KISS ME, I'M DEAD) got very intense, especially at the questioning of finding out who set the fire on the boat."

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here  . . . just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, KISS ME, I'M DEAD or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    4) GOSPEL TRUTHS 2007 Cover Art

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller ~ Front Cover

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed KISS ME, I'M DEAD or CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher Paperback Front Cover 

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as Resurrection Men under pen name T.K. Welsh.  Now is your time to buys this thrilling horror story, for the first time available as a paperback and eBook.

    Here's the thing about bodysnatching.  You just can't think about what you're doing.  You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister.  You can't feel bad.  In fact, you can't feel anything.  That's the key.  Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over.  You’re dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead.  It’s no way to live, but for some, it’s the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.  CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . (J.G. Sandom) is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    For a sample chapter of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

    To purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

     

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2 

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as The Unresolved under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Fangless Fables Press, where their motto is, "The real evil is us."

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. KISS ME, I’M DEAD was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called the novel, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "KISS ME, I’M DEAD scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of KISS ME, I’M DEAD, click here.

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    And if that isn’t enough, both KISS ME, I’M DEAD and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER are both available in TWO TEEN TERRORS.

    Two Teen Terrors Front Cover 

    To purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS, click here.

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    What's New for March 2011

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    This month, my heart goes out to all the victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan.  As the author of THE WAVE, I know all too well the damage that can be done by tsunamis.

     

    In the video below, the wave you're seeing is 1-2 stories high.  Mega-tsunamis — like the one which appears in my novel, THE WAVE — can be as much as 20 stories high . . . ten times as large as the one pictured here.

      

     

    Or, if you''re on Facebook, check out this video here.  Chilling!


     

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To order your trade paperback copy of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller, click here.  To order your eBook, click here.

     

    And now for something completely different . . . I invite you to visit TheGrammaSutra.com where you can check out our growing portfolio of Gramma Sutra Sex Positions — contemporary "Kama Sutra" poses for women of a certain age.

     

    Soon to be available as a poster, on greeting cards and playing cards.  (That's right.  Bridge night will never be the same!)

     

    This month's featured position is perfect for those of you who are suffering from hot flashes due to menopause.  Yes, it's the coldest place in the house . . . and the hottest.  We call it, The Frigi-Dare.




    The Frigi-Dare position (Final) 
     

    The Gramma Sutra Channel at YouTube continues to generate thousands of views.  Check out our most recent presentation at the First International Conference on Aging and Architecture @ UPENN.  The Channel features numerous clips of my writing partner (Sylvana Joseph) and I as we discuss sex and women of a certain age in front of a group of architects from around the world.  Click here to see all the clips, or immediately below for the 5-Minute highlights reel.

     

     

    Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, THE GRAMMA SUTRA delivers humorous infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women of a certain age.

    The website of the same name serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on sensitive topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy.  [NOTE:  We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]

    Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!

     

    Post a Comment and share your wisdom on

    The Gramma Sutra Sun Porch! 

     

    Check us out on Facebook & become a fan.

     

    Or, follow us on Twitter today!

     

    Want a good laugh?  Visit SAYINGS OF SUBSTANCE . . . abuse.  This hilarious site features pithy sayings from your favorite celebrity junkies and drunkards — the quotes they can no longer remember, and would probably rather forget.  Like Charlie Sheen.  They even invite you to send out an SOS (Sayings Of Substance) to them by finding a funny quote from your favorite celebrity junky or drunk.  Click here to be entertained.

     

    Meanwhile, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) and in Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller."

     


     

    Last but not least, let's not forget my YA novels, now in paperback for the first time.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, KISS ME, I’M DEAD was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of KISS ME, I’M DEAD!


    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER 

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in TWO TEEN TERRORS — A Fangless Fables Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS!

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE WAVE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It'll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE — Latest Reader Reviews

    DT @ amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It had action and suspense and more action.
    I'll admit at first I didn't think I'd like it. What the heck is a cryptanalyst anyway! I was wrong. Decker's a great character and the environmental terrorism angle was exciting and right on the money given the news and current events. I loved Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Wave was a lot like that book. Fast read, great characters and really exciting. I can't wait for a sequel."

    Melissa P. Gray "bookbabe" @ amazon.com
    "The wave is fantastic; a roller coaster of a book.
    John Decker and Emily Swensen deal with terrorists both religious and environmental and a slew of governmental obstacles trying to avert a major disaster. If you want a great thriller with well-written characters and a disturbingly plausible plot, then this is the book for you. Move over Crichton, Sandom is here."

    Michael Weis @ amazon.com
    "You always learn a lot from Sandom's books. I had to do some fact checking on mega tsunamis before I bought the premise, but Sandom checks his facts and then "arranges" them to create a truly scary threat. And, he knows how to keep the action moving, and usually on several fronts. I also learned a fair amount about Islam which is in stark contrast to the mindless, oversimplified shouting going on in the media and much of the public. I'm looking forward to other John Decker thrillers."

    John T. Richardson @ amazon.com
    "I first read this book around the time it was originally published. I greatly enjoy fast-paced thrillers and The Wave certainly delivers for me. John Decker is a very strong, likeable character, more than capable of sustaining a detailed and suspenseful book like this. Decker and Emily Swenson bring to mind Dirk Pitt and Eva Rojas as well as Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. But author JG Sandom is able to bring life to his characters with the added benefit of a current topic - terrorism (eco and/or otherwise) . . . After a recent re-read, I find that the book certainly still holds up! It is even more relevant today. The author's experiences gathered while living and traveling around the world, are quite apparent and beneficial to both the story line and color of The Wave. Weave in Mossad, Al'qaeda and . . . hell, I just love this book. It is a lot of fun. Do yourself a favor - read it."

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    Jeffrey Einstein @ amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom breathes real heart and soul into this utterly plausible cast of flawed but irresistible characters. John Decker is a wonderfully reluctant hero, and even the villains in this story are unmistakably human in the depths of their pain, vengeance and sheer calculation. This book is the real McCoy, right up there with the best modern thrillers; Sandom's eye for intrigue, suspense and drama is apparent in his attention to detail and nuance. Can't wait to get my hands on "Gospel Truths", one of Sandom's earlier novels. If it's only half as good as "The Wave" I'll expect another two or three sleepless nights — and chalk them up once again as time well spent."

    Gracie412 @ amazon.com
    "All I can say is WOW . . . I love thrillers, and this John Decker story is a great one. The concept of environmental terrorism is all the more frightening because of the reality of global warming and cooling political alliances. John Decker is one of the great flawed heroes. Like Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan, John Decker is smart, dedicated, resolved and has a personal life that would make Dante weep. As a puzzle lover I was psyched to see a hero who also loves to piece things together and is addicted to codes and such. A demented killer in the middle east, a package of uranium large enough to make a nuclear bomb, an Israeli police officer, a gorgeous oceanographer and a volcano in the canary islands are pieces of this puzzle that Decker and Swenson (the love interest who actually is more than a pretty face, thank you J.G. Sandom!) have to put together before a catastrophe destroys millions of people. I LOVED this book. It's a thrill ride of a read and if you liked The Bourne Series or any of Tom Clancy's or James Patterson's stuff, you'll love The Wave. I recommend it highly."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Reader Reviews

    John Murphy @ Goodreads.com
    "I was introduced to J. Sandom and his early work, Gospel Truths, by chance. Intrigued by Mr. Sandom I decided to read the Gospel Truths but did so with some intrepidation. As a Jesuit-educated history student I was concerned that the historical, theological underpinnings of Mr. Sandom's novel would lack the academic rigor I would expect even for a fictional writing. Not only did Gospel Truths exceeed my intellectual expectations, but I was impressed with the seamlessness with which Mr. Sandom chases history in the context a compelling love story.  When it came to The God Machine, my trepidation returned. Why test fate? What if this sequel was not as good? I took a leap of faith and was not disappointed. Mr. Sandom confirmed his ability to interwine the continuing spiritual and emotional tribulations of Joseph Koster in a very granular and enticing examination of history, religion and morality. It is clear that Mr. Sandom has his own opinion and I congratulate him for having the courage to state it. But whether you agree or not with his point of view, your appreciation for the interplay between American history and American morality will be greatly enriched. He brings Ben Franklin to life. I found myself rooting for Ben on his odyssey and had to remind myself Mr. Franklin's story has already been told. That is because Mr. Sandom's Ben Franklin is not the well-known figure of American antiquity but, rather, a complex human being driven by love and desire for things large and small, who in the process made great history. It suggests that all of us could make great history and should. I highly recommend this God Machine."

    Michael Weis @ Amazon.com
    "I had read Gospel Truths and enjoyed it, so was looking forward to The God Machine and wasn't disappointed. Intricate and mysterious - Sandom is some kind of polymath - so much, about so many things, crammed into a good page-turner, from chips to church. I've heard that Sandom and Dan Brown both went to Amherst at the same time. It makes me wonder whether Brown might have been inspired by Sandom, since Sandom's was published first. But Sandom's works are much more intricate and complex. And, those 1 star reviews. What's with that? Maybe they're Church people or wish they were. Anyway, buy it."

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Reader Reviews

    Linda "katknit" @ Amazon.com
    "Gospel Truths is an intelligent, complex, and competently written thriller. No bells or whistles here, just a few laptops, along with some dedicated and dangerous individuals determined to get their hands on Q, for various reasons of their own. And no neatly wrapped up ends in the final chapters. But there are some interesting passages descriptive of different locations, such as Chartres and the Rodin Museum in Paris . . . Masonic secrets, corrupt church officials, and money laundering schemes - all well before Da Vinci Code, imagine that!"

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapter.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD — Latest Reader Reviews

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2

    Whisper1 @ librarything
    "The Washington Post rated this one of the top ten Young Adult books. In addition, (the novel has been given) many other awards, included Horn Book’s list of recommended American historical fiction. It is also one of the few books selected by the American Library Association as a best book for young adults. Highly recommended, I can certainly understand the accolades "

    Dana Greenleaf @ BRHS Book Reviews
    "The suspense of the novel kept me reading . . . (KISS ME, I'M DEAD) got very intense, especially at the questioning of finding out who set the fire on the boat."

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here  . . . just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, KISS ME, I'M DEAD or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    4) GOSPEL TRUTHS 2007 Cover Art

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller ~ Front Cover

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed KISS ME, I'M DEAD or CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher Paperback Front Cover 

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as Resurrection Men under pen name T.K. Welsh.  Now is your time to buys this thrilling horror story, for the first time available as a paperback and eBook.

    Here's the thing about bodysnatching.  You just can't think about what you're doing.  You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister.  You can't feel bad.  In fact, you can't feel anything.  That's the key.  Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over.  You’re dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead.  It’s no way to live, but for some, it’s the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.  CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . (J.G. Sandom) is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    For a sample chapter of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

    To purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

     

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2 

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as The Unresolved under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Fangless Fables Press, where their motto is, "The real evil is us."

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. KISS ME, I’M DEAD was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called the novel, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "KISS ME, I’M DEAD scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of KISS ME, I’M DEAD, click here.

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    And if that isn’t enough, both KISS ME, I’M DEAD and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER are both available in TWO TEEN TERRORS.

    Two Teen Terrors Front Cover 

    To purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS, click here.

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    February 2011

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    This month, I invite you to visit TheGrammaSutra.com where you can check out our growing portfolio of Gramma Sutra Sex Positions — contemporary "Kama Sutra" poses for women of a certain age.

     

    Soon to be available as a poster, on greeting cards and playing cards.  (That's right.  Bridge night will never be the same!)

     

    This month's featured position is the Crouching Walker, Hidden Teabag.02 - Gramma Sutra - FINAL

    Meanwhile, the Gramma Sutra Channel at YouTube has generated thousands of views this month.  Check out our most recent presentation at the First International Conference on Aging and Architecture @ UPENN.  The Channel features numerous clips of my writing partner (Sylvana Joseph) and I as we discuss sex and women of a certain age in front of a group of architects from around the world.  Click here to see all the clips, or immediately below for the 5-Minute highlights reel.

     

     

    Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, THE GRAMMA SUTRA delivers humorous infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women of a certain age.

    The website of the same name serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on sensitive topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy.  [NOTE:  We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]

    Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!

     

    Post a Comment and share your wisdom on

    The Gramma Sutra Sun Porch! 

     

    Check us out on Facebook & become a fan.

     

    Or, follow us on Twitter today!

       

    Meanwhile, the latest edition of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller is surpassing everyone's sales expectations as an eBook and trade paperback. 

       

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To order your trade paperback copy of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller, click here.  To order your eBook, click here.

    And THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) and in Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller."

    Last but not least, let's not forget my YA novels, now in paperback for the first time.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, KISS ME, I’M DEAD was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of KISS ME, I’M DEAD!

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER 

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in TWO TEEN TERRORS — A Fangless Fables Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS!

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE WAVE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It'll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

       

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE — Latest Reader Reviews

    DT @ amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It had action and suspense and more action.
    I'll admit at first I didn't think I'd like it. What the heck is a cryptanalyst anyway! I was wrong. Decker's a great character and the environmental terrorism angle was exciting and right on the money given the news and current events. I loved Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Wave was a lot like that book. Fast read, great characters and really exciting. I can't wait for a sequel."

    Melissa P. Gray "bookbabe" @ amazon.com
    "The wave is fantastic; a roller coaster of a book.
    John Decker and Emily Swensen deal with terrorists both religious and environmental and a slew of governmental obstacles trying to avert a major disaster. If you want a great thriller with well-written characters and a disturbingly plausible plot, then this is the book for you. Move over Crichton, Sandom is here."

    Michael Weis @ amazon.com
    "You always learn a lot from Sandom's books. I had to do some fact checking on mega tsunamis before I bought the premise, but Sandom checks his facts and then "arranges" them to create a truly scary threat. And, he knows how to keep the action moving, and usually on several fronts. I also learned a fair amount about Islam which is in stark contrast to the mindless, oversimplified shouting going on in the media and much of the public. I'm looking forward to other John Decker thrillers."

    John T. Richardson @ amazon.com
    "I first read this book around the time it was originally published. I greatly enjoy fast-paced thrillers and The Wave certainly delivers for me. John Decker is a very strong, likeable character, more than capable of sustaining a detailed and suspenseful book like this. Decker and Emily Swenson bring to mind Dirk Pitt and Eva Rojas as well as Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. But author JG Sandom is able to bring life to his characters with the added benefit of a current topic - terrorism (eco and/or otherwise) . . . After a recent re-read, I find that the book certainly still holds up! It is even more relevant today. The author's experiences gathered while living and traveling around the world, are quite apparent and beneficial to both the story line and color of The Wave. Weave in Mossad, Al'qaeda and . . . hell, I just love this book. It is a lot of fun. Do yourself a favor - read it."

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    Jeffrey Einstein @ amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom breathes real heart and soul into this utterly plausible cast of flawed but irresistible characters. John Decker is a wonderfully reluctant hero, and even the villains in this story are unmistakably human in the depths of their pain, vengeance and sheer calculation. This book is the real McCoy, right up there with the best modern thrillers; Sandom's eye for intrigue, suspense and drama is apparent in his attention to detail and nuance. Can't wait to get my hands on "Gospel Truths", one of Sandom's earlier novels. If it's only half as good as "The Wave" I'll expect another two or three sleepless nights — and chalk them up once again as time well spent."

    Gracie412 @ amazon.com
    "All I can say is WOW . . . I love thrillers, and this John Decker story is a great one. The concept of environmental terrorism is all the more frightening because of the reality of global warming and cooling political alliances. John Decker is one of the great flawed heroes. Like Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan, John Decker is smart, dedicated, resolved and has a personal life that would make Dante weep. As a puzzle lover I was psyched to see a hero who also loves to piece things together and is addicted to codes and such. A demented killer in the middle east, a package of uranium large enough to make a nuclear bomb, an Israeli police officer, a gorgeous oceanographer and a volcano in the canary islands are pieces of this puzzle that Decker and Swenson (the love interest who actually is more than a pretty face, thank you J.G. Sandom!) have to put together before a catastrophe destroys millions of people. I LOVED this book. It's a thrill ride of a read and if you liked The Bourne Series or any of Tom Clancy's or James Patterson's stuff, you'll love The Wave. I recommend it highly."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Reader Reviews

    John Murphy @ Goodreads.com
    "I was introduced to J. Sandom and his early work, Gospel Truths, by chance. Intrigued by Mr. Sandom I decided to read the Gospel Truths but did so with some intrepidation. As a Jesuit-educated history student I was concerned that the historical, theological underpinnings of Mr. Sandom's novel would lack the academic rigor I would expect even for a fictional writing. Not only did Gospel Truths exceeed my intellectual expectations, but I was impressed with the seamlessness with which Mr. Sandom chases history in the context a compelling love story.  When it came to The God Machine, my trepidation returned. Why test fate? What if this sequel was not as good? I took a leap of faith and was not disappointed. Mr. Sandom confirmed his ability to interwine the continuing spiritual and emotional tribulations of Joseph Koster in a very granular and enticing examination of history, religion and morality. It is clear that Mr. Sandom has his own opinion and I congratulate him for having the courage to state it. But whether you agree or not with his point of view, your appreciation for the interplay between American history and American morality will be greatly enriched. He brings Ben Franklin to life. I found myself rooting for Ben on his odyssey and had to remind myself Mr. Franklin's story has already been told. That is because Mr. Sandom's Ben Franklin is not the well-known figure of American antiquity but, rather, a complex human being driven by love and desire for things large and small, who in the process made great history. It suggests that all of us could make great history and should. I highly recommend this God Machine."

    Michael Weis @ Amazon.com
    "I had read Gospel Truths and enjoyed it, so was looking forward to The God Machine and wasn't disappointed. Intricate and mysterious - Sandom is some kind of polymath - so much, about so many things, crammed into a good page-turner, from chips to church. I've heard that Sandom and Dan Brown both went to Amherst at the same time. It makes me wonder whether Brown might have been inspired by Sandom, since Sandom's was published first. But Sandom's works are much more intricate and complex. And, those 1 star reviews. What's with that? Maybe they're Church people or wish they were. Anyway, buy it."

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

       

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Reader Reviews

    Linda "katknit" @ Amazon.com
    "Gospel Truths is an intelligent, complex, and competently written thriller. No bells or whistles here, just a few laptops, along with some dedicated and dangerous individuals determined to get their hands on Q, for various reasons of their own. And no neatly wrapped up ends in the final chapters. But there are some interesting passages descriptive of different locations, such as Chartres and the Rodin Museum in Paris . . . Masonic secrets, corrupt church officials, and money laundering schemes - all well before Da Vinci Code, imagine that!"

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapter.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD — Latest Reader Reviews

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2

    Dana Greenleaf @ BRHS Book Reviews
    "The suspense of the novel kept me reading . . . (KISS ME, I'M DEAD) got very intense, especially at the questioning of finding out who set the fire on the boat."

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here  . . . just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

       

    READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, KISS ME, I'M DEAD or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    4) GOSPEL TRUTHS 2007 Cover Art

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller ~ Front Cover

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed KISS ME, I'M DEAD or CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher Paperback Front Cover 

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as Resurrection Men under pen name T.K. Welsh.  Now is your time to buys this thrilling horror story, for the first time available as a paperback and eBook.

    Here's the thing about bodysnatching.  You just can't think about what you're doing.  You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister.  You can't feel bad.  In fact, you can't feel anything.  That's the key.  Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over.  You’re dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead.  It’s no way to live, but for some, it’s the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.  CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . (J.G. Sandom) is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    For a sample chapter of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

    To purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

     

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2 

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as The Unresolved under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Fangless Fables Press, where their motto is, "The real evil is us."

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. KISS ME, I’M DEAD was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called the novel, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "KISS ME, I’M DEAD scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of KISS ME, I’M DEAD, click here.

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    And if that isn’t enough, both KISS ME, I’M DEAD and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER are both available in TWO TEEN TERRORS.

    Two Teen Terrors Front Cover 

    To purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS, click here.

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    January 2011

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    Our latest presentation about THE GRAMMA SUTRA is finally available from fora.tv.  Here's your chance to check out my writing partner (Sylvana Joseph) and I as we discuss sex and women of a certain age in front of a group of architects from around the world at the recent New Aging and Architecture conference at UPENN.

    Special thanks to Matthias Hollwich, principal at HollwichKushner (HWKN), for inviting us to participate.  It was a blast!

     

     

     

    For more videos, visit The Gramma Sutra channel @ YouTube, or log on to The Definitive and Defiantly Funny Online Guide to Sex and discover your true sexuality @ TheGrammaSutra.com.

      

    110810_1530_November2011

     

    Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, THE GRAMMA SUTRA (See TheGrammaSutra.com) delivers infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women over fifty, and offers tips and humorous insights on:

    • Dressing for Sexcess;
    • Dating & Entertaining for the newly single;
    • Props & Playthings (Yes, those kinds of toys!);
    • Sexercise Routines;
    • Gramma Sutra Illustrations of sexual positions — mindful of the conditions that women are likely to experience as they age.

    The website also serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on sensitive topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy.  [NOTE:  We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]

    Founded by yours truly and Sylvana Joseph — lawyer, writer and public radio commentator.

    We are already in discussion with major advertisers about site sponsorship opportunities, and our agent is currently talking with publishers about a book deal.

    That's right.  A non-fiction title called . . . THE GRAMMA SUTRA — The Definitive and Defiantly Funny Guide to Sex for Women of a Certain Age.

    And you could be a part of it.  Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!

     

    Post a Comment and share your wisdom on

    The Gramma Sutra Sun Porch! 

     

    Check us out on Facebook & become a fan.

     

    Or, follow us on Twitter today!

       

    Meantime, thanks to all of you who picked up a copy of my new softcover titles in time for Halloween.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, KISS ME, I’M DEAD was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of KISS ME, I’M DEAD!

     

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER!

     

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in TWO TEEN TERRORS — A Fangless Fables Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS!

     

    Meanwhile, the latest edition of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller is surpassing everyone's sales expectations as an eBook and trade paperback.

     

       

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To order your trade paperback copy of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller, click here.  To order your eBook, click here.

     

    Last but not least, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) and in Turkish.  So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun! There is even interest now from publishers in Indonesia!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller."

       

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It'll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

       

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

       

    THE WAVE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Reader Reviews

    John Murphy @ Goodreads.com
    "I was introduced to J. Sandom and his early work, Gospel Truths, by chance. Intrigued by Mr. Sandom I decided to read the Gospel Truths but did so with some intrepidation. As a Jesuit-educated history student I was concerned that the historical, theological underpinnings of Mr. Sandom's novel would lack the academic rigor I would expect even for a fictional writing. Not only did Gospel Truths exceeed my intellectual expectations, but I was impressed with the seamlessness with which Mr. Sandom chases history in the context a compelling love story.  When it came to The God Machine, my trepidation returned. Why test fate? What if this sequel was not as good? I took a leap of faith and was not disappointed. Mr. Sandom confirmed his ability to interwine the continuing spiritual and emotional tribulations of Joseph Koster in a very granular and enticing examination of history, religion and morality. It is clear that Mr. Sandom has his own opinion and I congratulate him for having the courage to state it. But whether you agree or not with his point of view, your appreciation for the interplay between American history and American morality will be greatly enriched. He brings Ben Franklin to life. I found myself rooting for Ben on his odyssey and had to remind myself Mr. Franklin's story has already been told. That is because Mr. Sandom's Ben Franklin is not the well-known figure of American antiquity but, rather, a complex human being driven by love and desire for things large and small, who in the process made great history. It suggests that all of us could make great history and should. I highly recommend this God Machine."

    Michael Weis @ Amazon.com
    "I had read Gospel Truths and enjoyed it, so was looking forward to The God Machine and wasn't disappointed. Intricate and mysterious - Sandom is some kind of polymath - so much, about so many things, crammed into a good page-turner, from chips to church. I've heard that Sandom and Dan Brown both went to Amherst at the same time. It makes me wonder whether Brown might have been inspired by Sandom, since Sandom's was published first. But Sandom's works are much more intricate and complex. And, those 1 star reviews. What's with that? Maybe they're Church people or wish they were. Anyway, buy it."

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

       

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Reader Reviews

    Linda "katknit" @ Amazon.com
    "Gospel Truths is an intelligent, complex, and competently written thriller. No bells or whistles here, just a few laptops, along with some dedicated and dangerous individuals determined to get their hands on Q, for various reasons of their own. And no neatly wrapped up ends in the final chapters. But there are some interesting passages descriptive of different locations, such as Chartres and the Rodin Museum in Paris . . . Masonic secrets, corrupt church officials, and money laundering schemes - all well before Da Vinci Code, imagine that!"

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapter.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

       

    THE WAVE — Latest Reader Reviews

    Michael Weis @ amazon.com
    "You always learn a lot from Sandom's books. I had to do some fact checking on mega tsunamis before I bought the premise, but Sandom checks his facts and then "arranges" them to create a truly scary threat. And, he knows how to keep the action moving, and usually on several fronts. I also learned a fair amount about Islam which is in stark contrast to the mindless, oversimplified shouting going on in the media and much of the public. I'm looking forward to other John Decker thrillers."

    John T. Richardson @ amazon.com
    "I first read this book around the time it was originally published. I greatly enjoy fast-paced thrillers and The Wave certainly delivers for me. John Decker is a very strong, likeable character, more than capable of sustaining a detailed and suspenseful book like this. Decker and Emily Swenson bring to mind Dirk Pitt and Eva Rojas as well as Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. But author JG Sandom is able to bring life to his characters with the added benefit of a current topic - terrorism (eco and/or otherwise) . . . After a recent re-read, I find that the book certainly still holds up! It is even more relevant today. The author's experiences gathered while living and traveling around the world, are quite apparent and beneficial to both the story line and color of The Wave. Weave in Mossad, Al'qaeda and . . . hell, I just love this book. It is a lot of fun. Do yourself a favor - read it."

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    Jeffrey Einstein @ amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom breathes real heart and soul into this utterly plausible cast of flawed but irresistible characters. John Decker is a wonderfully reluctant hero, and even the villains in this story are unmistakably human in the depths of their pain, vengeance and sheer calculation. This book is the real McCoy, right up there with the best modern thrillers; Sandom's eye for intrigue, suspense and drama is apparent in his attention to detail and nuance. Can't wait to get my hands on "Gospel Truths", one of Sandom's earlier novels. If it's only half as good as "The Wave" I'll expect another two or three sleepless nights — and chalk them up once again as time well spent."

    Gracie412 @ amazon.com
    "All I can say is WOW . . . I love thrillers, and this John Decker story is a great one. The concept of environmental terrorism is all the more frightening because of the reality of global warming and cooling political alliances. John Decker is one of the great flawed heroes. Like Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan, John Decker is smart, dedicated, resolved and has a personal life that would make Dante weep. As a puzzle lover I was psyched to see a hero who also loves to piece things together and is addicted to codes and such. A demented killer in the middle east, a package of uranium large enough to make a nuclear bomb, an Israeli police officer, a gorgeous oceanographer and a volcano in the canary islands are pieces of this puzzle that Decker and Swenson (the love interest who actually is more than a pretty face, thank you J.G. Sandom!) have to put together before a catastrophe destroys millions of people. I LOVED this book. It's a thrill ride of a read and if you liked The Bourne Series or any of Tom Clancy's or James Patterson's stuff, you'll love The Wave. I recommend it highly."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

       

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here  . . . just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

       

    READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, KISS ME, I'M DEAD or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    4) GOSPEL TRUTHS 2007 Cover Art

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller ~ Front Cover

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed KISS ME, I'M DEAD or CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher Paperback Front Cover 

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as Resurrection Men under pen name T.K. Welsh.  Now is your time to buys this thrilling horror story, for the first time available as a paperback and eBook.

    Here's the thing about bodysnatching.  You just can't think about what you're doing.  You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister.  You can't feel bad.  In fact, you can't feel anything.  That's the key.  Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over.  You’re dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead.  It’s no way to live, but for some, it’s the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.  CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . (J.G. Sandom) is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    For a sample chapter of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

    To purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

     

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2 

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as The Unresolved under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Fangless Fables Press, where their motto is, "The real evil is us."

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. KISS ME, I’M DEAD was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called the novel, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "KISS ME, I’M DEAD scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of KISS ME, I’M DEAD, click here.

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    And if that isn’t enough, both KISS ME, I’M DEAD and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER are both available in TWO TEEN TERRORS.

    Two Teen Terrors Front Cover 

    To purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS, click here.

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    December 2010

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY 

    Happy Holidays and a Joyous New Year!

    I want to take this moment to thank all of my fans for the support you've given me this past year.

    Just in time for the festive season, log on to The Definitive and Defiantly Funny Online Guide to Sex and discover your true sexuality on TheGrammaSutra.com.

    Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, THE GRAMMA SUTRA (See TheGrammaSutra.com) delivers infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women over fifty, and offers tips and humorous insights on:

    • Dressing for Sexcess;
    • Dating & Entertaining for the newly single;
    • Props & Playthings (Yes, those kinds of toys!);
    • Sexercise Routines;
    • Gramma Sutra Illustrations of sexual positions — mindful of the conditions that women are likely to experience as they age.

    The website also serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on sensitive topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy.  [NOTE:  We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]

    Founded by yours truly and Sylvana Joseph — lawyer, writer and public radio commentator.

    We are already in discussion with major advertisers about site sponsorship opportunities, and our agent is currently talking with publishers about a book deal.

    That's right.  A non-fiction title called . . . THE GRAMMA SUTRA — The Definitive and Defiantly Funny Guide to Sex for Women of a Certain Age.

    And you could be a part of it.  Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!

     

    Post a Comment and share your wisdom on

    The Gramma Sutra Sun Porch! 

     

    Check us out on Facebook & become a fan.

     

    Or, follow us on Twitter today!

       

    Meantime, thanks to all of you who picked up a copy of my new softcover titles in time for Halloween.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, KISS ME, I’M DEAD was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of KISS ME, I’M DEAD!

     

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER!

     

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in TWO TEEN TERRORS — A Fangless Fables Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS!

     

    Meanwhile, the latest edition of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller is surpassing everyone's sales expectations as an eBook and trade paperback.

     

       

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To order your trade paperback copy of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller, click here.  To order your eBook, click here.

     

    Last but not least, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America), in Polish, and even in Turkish.  So — Gracias, Dziękuję and Çok Sagolun! There is even interest now from publishers in Indonesia!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller."

       

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It'll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

       

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

       

    THE WAVE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Reader Reviews

    John Murphy @ Goodreads.com
    "I was introduced to J. Sandom and his early work, Gospel Truths, by chance. Intrigued by Mr. Sandom I decided to read the Gospel Truths but did so with some intrepidation. As a Jesuit-educated history student I was concerned that the historical, theological underpinnings of Mr. Sandom's novel would lack the academic rigor I would expect even for a fictional writing. Not only did Gospel Truths exceeed my intellectual expectations, but I was impressed with the seamlessness with which Mr. Sandom chases history in the context a compelling love story.  When it came to The God Machine, my trepidation returned. Why test fate? What if this sequel was not as good? I took a leap of faith and was not disappointed. Mr. Sandom confirmed his ability to interwine the continuing spiritual and emotional tribulations of Joseph Koster in a very granular and enticing examination of history, religion and morality. It is clear that Mr. Sandom has his own opinion and I congratulate him for having the courage to state it. But whether you agree or not with his point of view, your appreciation for the interplay between American history and American morality will be greatly enriched. He brings Ben Franklin to life. I found myself rooting for Ben on his odyssey and had to remind myself Mr. Franklin's story has already been told. That is because Mr. Sandom's Ben Franklin is not the well-known figure of American antiquity but, rather, a complex human being driven by love and desire for things large and small, who in the process made great history. It suggests that all of us could make great history and should. I highly recommend this God Machine."

    Michael Weis @ Amazon.com
    "I had read Gospel Truths and enjoyed it, so was looking forward to The God Machine and wasn't disappointed. Intricate and mysterious - Sandom is some kind of polymath - so much, about so many things, crammed into a good page-turner, from chips to church. I've heard that Sandom and Dan Brown both went to Amherst at the same time. It makes me wonder whether Brown might have been inspired by Sandom, since Sandom's was published first. But Sandom's works are much more intricate and complex. And, those 1 star reviews. What's with that? Maybe they're Church people or wish they were. Anyway, buy it."

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

       

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Reader Reviews

    Linda "katknit" @ Amazon.com
    "Gospel Truths is an intelligent, complex, and competently written thriller. No bells or whistles here, just a few laptops, along with some dedicated and dangerous individuals determined to get their hands on Q, for various reasons of their own. And no neatly wrapped up ends in the final chapters. But there are some interesting passages descriptive of different locations, such as Chartres and the Rodin Museum in Paris . . . Masonic secrets, corrupt church officials, and money laundering schemes - all well before Da Vinci Code, imagine that!"

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapter.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

       

    THE WAVE — Latest Reader Reviews

    Michael Weis @ amazon.com
    "You always learn a lot from Sandom's books. I had to do some fact checking on mega tsunamis before I bought the premise, but Sandom checks his facts and then "arranges" them to create a truly scary threat. And, he knows how to keep the action moving, and usually on several fronts. I also learned a fair amount about Islam which is in stark contrast to the mindless, oversimplified shouting going on in the media and much of the public. I'm looking forward to other John Decker thrillers."

    John T. Richardson @ amazon.com
    "I first read this book around the time it was originally published. I greatly enjoy fast-paced thrillers and The Wave certainly delivers for me. John Decker is a very strong, likeable character, more than capable of sustaining a detailed and suspenseful book like this. Decker and Emily Swenson bring to mind Dirk Pitt and Eva Rojas as well as Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. But author JG Sandom is able to bring life to his characters with the added benefit of a current topic - terrorism (eco and/or otherwise) . . . After a recent re-read, I find that the book certainly still holds up! It is even more relevant today. The author's experiences gathered while living and traveling around the world, are quite apparent and beneficial to both the story line and color of The Wave. Weave in Mossad, Al'qaeda and . . . hell, I just love this book. It is a lot of fun. Do yourself a favor - read it."

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    Jeffrey Einstein @ amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom breathes real heart and soul into this utterly plausible cast of flawed but irresistible characters. John Decker is a wonderfully reluctant hero, and even the villains in this story are unmistakably human in the depths of their pain, vengeance and sheer calculation. This book is the real McCoy, right up there with the best modern thrillers; Sandom's eye for intrigue, suspense and drama is apparent in his attention to detail and nuance. Can't wait to get my hands on "Gospel Truths", one of Sandom's earlier novels. If it's only half as good as "The Wave" I'll expect another two or three sleepless nights — and chalk them up once again as time well spent."

    Gracie412 @ amazon.com
    "All I can say is WOW . . . I love thrillers, and this John Decker story is a great one. The concept of environmental terrorism is all the more frightening because of the reality of global warming and cooling political alliances. John Decker is one of the great flawed heroes. Like Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan, John Decker is smart, dedicated, resolved and has a personal life that would make Dante weep. As a puzzle lover I was psyched to see a hero who also loves to piece things together and is addicted to codes and such. A demented killer in the middle east, a package of uranium large enough to make a nuclear bomb, an Israeli police officer, a gorgeous oceanographer and a volcano in the canary islands are pieces of this puzzle that Decker and Swenson (the love interest who actually is more than a pretty face, thank you J.G. Sandom!) have to put together before a catastrophe destroys millions of people. I LOVED this book. It's a thrill ride of a read and if you liked The Bourne Series or any of Tom Clancy's or James Patterson's stuff, you'll love The Wave. I recommend it highly."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

       

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here  . . . just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

       

    READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, KISS ME, I'M DEAD or any of my other books?  Click hereto learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    4) GOSPEL TRUTHS 2007 Cover Art

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller ~ Front Cover

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed KISS ME, I'M DEAD or CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher Paperback Front Cover 

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as Resurrection Men under pen name T.K. Welsh.  Now is your time to buys this thrilling horror story, for the first time available as a paperback and eBook.

    Here's the thing about bodysnatching.  You just can't think about what you're doing.  You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister.  You can't feel bad.  In fact, you can't feel anything.  That's the key.  Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over.  You’re dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead.  It’s no way to live, but for some, it’s the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.  CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . (J.G. Sandom) is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    For a sample chapter of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

    To purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

     

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2 

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as The Unresolved under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Fangless Fables Press, where their motto is, "The real evil is us."

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. KISS ME, I’M DEAD was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called the novel, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "KISS ME, I’M DEAD scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of KISS ME, I’M DEAD, click here.

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    And if that isn’t enough, both KISS ME, I’M DEAD and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER are both available in TWO TEEN TERRORS.

    Two Teen Terrors Front Cover 

    To purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS, click here.

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    November 2010

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    Our latest presentation about THE GRAMMA SUTRA will soon be available from fora.tv.  Next month you'll have a chance to check out my writing partner (Sylvana Joseph) and I as we discuss sex and women of a certain age in front of a group of architects from around the world at the recent New Aging and Architecture conference at UPENN.

    Special thanks to Matthias Hollwich, principal at HollwichKushner (HWKN), for inviting us to participate.  It was a blast!

    Log on to The Definitive and Defiantly Funny Online Guide to Sex and discover your true sexuality on TheGrammaSutra.com.

    Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, THE GRAMMA SUTRA (See TheGrammaSutra.com) delivers infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women over fifty, and offers tips and humorous insights on:

    • Dressing for Sexcess;
    • Dating & Entertaining for the newly single;
    • Props & Playthings (Yes, those kinds of toys!);
    • Sexercise Routines;
    • Gramma Sutra Illustrations of sexual positions — mindful of the conditions that women are likely to experience as they age.

    The website also serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on sensitive topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy.  [NOTE:  We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]

    Founded by yours truly and Sylvana Joseph — lawyer, writer and public radio commentator.

    We are already in discussion with major advertisers about site sponsorship opportunities, and our agent is currently talking with publishers about a book deal.

    That's right.  A non-fiction title called . . . THE GRAMMA SUTRA — The Definitive and Defiantly Funny Guide to Sex for Women of a Certain Age.

    And you could be a part of it.  Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!

     

    Post a Comment and share your wisdom on

    The Gramma Sutra Sun Porch! 

     

    Check us out on Facebook & become a fan.

     

    Or, follow us on Twitter today!

       

    Meantime, thanks to all of you who picked up a copy of my new softcover titles in time for Halloween.  They are:

    KISS ME, I'M DEAD.

     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, KISS ME, I’M DEAD was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your copy of KISS ME, I’M DEAD!

     

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.

     

    Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER!

     

     

    And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in TWO TEEN TERRORS — A Fangless Fables Press Collection.

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS!

     

    Meanwhile, the latest edition of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller is surpassing everyone's sales expectations as an eBook and trade paperback.

     

       

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To order your trade paperback copy of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller, click here.  To order your eBook, click here.

     

    Last but not least, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America), in Polish, and even in Turkish.  So — Gracias, Dziękuję and Çok Sagolun! There is even interest now from publishers in Indonesia!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller."

       

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It'll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

       

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

       

    THE WAVE — Latest Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Reader Reviews

    Michael Weis @ Amazon.com
    "I had read Gospel Truths and enjoyed it, so was looking forward to The God Machine and wasn't disappointed. Intricate and mysterious - Sandom is some kind of polymath - so much, about so many things, crammed into a good page-turner, from chips to church. I've heard that Sandom and Dan Brown both went to Amherst at the same time. It makes me wonder whether Brown might have been inspired by Sandom, since Sandom's was published first. But Sandom's works are much more intricate and complex. And, those 1 star reviews. What's with that? Maybe they're Church people or wish they were. Anyway, buy it."

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

       

    GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Reader Reviews

    Linda "katknit" @ Amazon.com
    "Gospel Truths is an intelligent, complex, and competently written thriller. No bells or whistles here, just a few laptops, along with some dedicated and dangerous individuals determined to get their hands on Q, for various reasons of their own. And no neatly wrapped up ends in the final chapters. But there are some interesting passages descriptive of different locations, such as Chartres and the Rodin Museum in Paris . . . Masonic secrets, corrupt church officials, and money laundering schemes - all well before Da Vinci Code, imagine that!"

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapter.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

       

    THE WAVE — Latest Reader Reviews

    John T. Richardson @ amazon.com
    "I first read this book around the time it was originally published. I greatly enjoy fast-paced thrillers and The Wave certainly delivers for me. John Decker is a very strong, likeable character, more than capable of sustaining a detailed and suspenseful book like this. Decker and Emily Swenson bring to mind Dirk Pitt and Eva Rojas as well as Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. But author JG Sandom is able to bring life to his characters with the added benefit of a current topic - terrorism (eco and/or otherwise) . . . After a recent re-read, I find that the book certainly still holds up! It is even more relevant today. The author's experiences gathered while living and traveling around the world, are quite apparent and beneficial to both the story line and color of The Wave. Weave in Mossad, Al'qaeda and . . . hell, I just love this book. It is a lot of fun. Do yourself a favor - read it."

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    Jeffrey Einstein @ amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom breathes real heart and soul into this utterly plausible cast of flawed but irresistible characters. John Decker is a wonderfully reluctant hero, and even the villains in this story are unmistakably human in the depths of their pain, vengeance and sheer calculation. This book is the real McCoy, right up there with the best modern thrillers; Sandom's eye for intrigue, suspense and drama is apparent in his attention to detail and nuance. Can't wait to get my hands on "Gospel Truths", one of Sandom's earlier novels. If it's only half as good as "The Wave" I'll expect another two or three sleepless nights — and chalk them up once again as time well spent."

    Gracie412 @ amazon.com
    "All I can say is WOW . . . I love thrillers, and this John Decker story is a great one. The concept of environmental terrorism is all the more frightening because of the reality of global warming and cooling political alliances. John Decker is one of the great flawed heroes. Like Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan, John Decker is smart, dedicated, resolved and has a personal life that would make Dante weep. As a puzzle lover I was psyched to see a hero who also loves to piece things together and is addicted to codes and such. A demented killer in the middle east, a package of uranium large enough to make a nuclear bomb, an Israeli police officer, a gorgeous oceanographer and a volcano in the canary islands are pieces of this puzzle that Decker and Swenson (the love interest who actually is more than a pretty face, thank you J.G. Sandom!) have to put together before a catastrophe destroys millions of people. I LOVED this book. It's a thrill ride of a read and if you liked The Bourne Series or any of Tom Clancy's or James Patterson's stuff, you'll love The Wave. I recommend it highly."

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

       

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin.  This month we're featuring questions from the forthcoming Definitive and Defiantly Funny Guide to Sex for Women of a Certain Age — THE GRAMMA SUTRA.

    Here are the results of the October 2010 Readers' Poll, derived from the Introduction to THE GRAMMA SUTRA. The question was, "What percentage of affluent single women tourists visiting the coast of Kenya are coming there for . . . sex?"  All of you got his one right.  The correct answer was, "20%." 

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

       

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here  . . . just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

       

    READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, KISS ME, I'M DEAD or any of my other books?  Click hereto learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    4) GOSPEL TRUTHS 2007 Cover Art

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller ~ Front Cover

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed KISS ME, I'M DEAD or CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher Paperback Front Cover 

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as Resurrection Men under pen name T.K. Welsh.  Now is your time to buys this thrilling horror story, for the first time available as a paperback and eBook.

    Here's the thing about bodysnatching.  You just can't think about what you're doing.  You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister.  You can't feel bad.  In fact, you can't feel anything.  That's the key.  Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over.  You’re dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead.  It’s no way to live, but for some, it’s the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.  CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . (J.G. Sandom) is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    For a sample chapter of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

    To purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

     

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2 

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as The Unresolved under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Fangless Fables Press, where their motto is, "The real evil is us."

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. KISS ME, I’M DEAD was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called the novel, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "KISS ME, I’M DEAD scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of KISS ME, I’M DEAD, click here.

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD, click here.

     

    And if that isn’t enough, both KISS ME, I’M DEAD and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER are both available in TWO TEEN TERRORS.

    Two Teen Terrors Front Cover 

    To purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS, click here.

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    October 2010

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    Just in time for Halloween, I have three new titles available . . . if you dare.

    The first is Kiss Me, I’m Dead.

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase your copy of KISS ME, I'M DEAD
     

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry and strange things happen when Mallory is angry.  Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.

     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, Kiss Me, I’m Dead was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Click here to purchase your eBook, and here for your softcover copy of Kiss Me, I’m Dead!

     

    The second is Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher.

    Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher Paperback Front Cover 
     

    Here's the thing about body snatching.  You just can't think about what you're doing.  You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister.  You can't feel bad.  In fact, you can't feel anything.  That's the key.  Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over.  You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead.  It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

     

    Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Click here to purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher!

     

    And if that isn’t enough, BOTH titles are also available in Two Teen Terrors — A Fangless Fables Press Collection.

    Two Teen Terrors Front Cover 

    Click here to purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors!

     

    Meantime, in addition to working on THE PLAGUE — A John Decker Thriller, I’m developing The Gramma Sutra.

    Log on to The Definitive and Defiantly Funny Online Guide to Sex and discover your true sexuality on TheGrammaSutra.com, a new social networking site designed expressly for women of a certain age.

    TheGrammaSutraBookCover~WITH TITLE 
    Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, TheGrammaSutra.com delivers infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women over fifty, and offers tips and humorous insights on:

    • Dressing for Sexcess;
    • Dating & Entertaining for the newly single;
    • Props & Playthings (Yes, those kinds of toys!);
    • Sexercise Routines;
    • Gramma Sutra Illustrations of sexual positions — mindful of the conditions that women are likely to experience as they age.

    The site also serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on sensitive topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy.  [NOTE:  We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]

    Founded by yours truly and Sylvana Joseph — lawyer, writer and public radio commentator.

    We are already in discussion with major advertisers about site sponsorship opportunities, and our agent is talking with publishers about a book deal.

    That's right.  A non-fiction title called . . . The Gramma Sutra — The Definitive and Defiantly Funny Guide to Sex for Women of a Certain Age.

    And you could be a part of it.  Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!

     

    Post a Comment and share your wisdom on

    The Gramma Sutra Sun Porch!

     

    Check us out on Facebook & become a fan.

     

    Or, follow us on Twitter today!

     

    Meanwhile, the latest edition of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller is surpassing everyone's sales expectations as an eBook and trade paperback.

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller ~ Front Cover 
     

     

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To order your trade paperback copy of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller, click here.  To order your eBook, click here.

     

    Last but not least, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America), in Polish, and even in Turkish.  So — Gracias, Dziękuję and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

    THE GOD MACHINE Cover Art 

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller." 

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE_GOD_MACHINE_2009_Thumb_Nail 

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    R&B
    "A fast-paced thriller of a ride which kept this reader on her toes. Side by side search and chase more than two centuries apart, the pace and mystery do not waver. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this book, and into the hands of an author who knew what to do with it . . . Exhilarating, penetrating, even while switching between centuries as far back as A.D.33, does not lose its focus . . . I recommend this book to readers of action, historical fiction, historical religion, and fans of thrillers."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    Armchair Interviews
    "J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action . . . Original."

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend.  Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed.  When I finally finished the book, it was 2:34 in the morning, and I had to get up in 4 hours.  It was definitely worth the loss of sleep.  The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present . . . a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

     

    4) GOSPEL TRUTHS 2007 Cover Art

    GOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE_GOD_MACHINE_2009_Thumb_Nail 

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    James T. Glover @ Amazon.com
    "I bought this book and actually quit reading the book that I was presently reading at the time. Once I started I couldn't put it down. Excellent job keeping you interested and it never lets up. I don't remember a slow part in the whole book. Characters were great and the story was great. Kind of reminded me of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. Not that the plot was the same just there was a lot of stuff that was in both books. However, I found this book much better and better written. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves a historical thriller."

    Moni @ Amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom's first novel, Gospel Truths, was called "the thinking man's Da Vinci Code." Now, with the publication of The God Machine, Sandom has secured his position as the premier writer of theo-thrillers, outdoing even Dan Brown . . . I LOVED this book! It doesn't pander to readers, and, like with Gospel Truths, I learned all kinds of interesting things about the Gnostics, an early Christian sect labeled heretics by the Church, plus a host of real historical characters: from Da Vinci and Ben Franklin, to electrical geniuses Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison . . . I also loved the fact that the book features a smart and beautiful woman of color, Savita Sajan, Koster's partner. It's rare to read books where such characters are truly 3-dimensional, and not just thrown in as exotic love interests. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys religious thrillers and mysteries. It's fast-paced, well-written and fun. Plus, as with all of Sandom's books, you'll not only be entertained, but learn something new and interesting too."

    Thriller Crazy @ Amazon.com
    "A quick scan revealed that the book features a heroine named Savita Sajan. As a woman of Indian descent, it's rare to see such characters in popular fiction, and so I snapped it up.  I am so glad I did. I LOVED this book. It's a roller-coaster of a ride that flits back and forth in time, from the days of Benjamin Franklin (a central character in the book), to today . . . Too often in novels, when Indian women are depicted, they're either subservient bystanders or exotic sex kittens. But in The God Machine, Savita Sajan is actually the head of a very successful high-tech company in Silicon Valley. (I couldn't help thinking of Padmasree Warrior, the CTO of Cisco Systems.) Brilliant, often funny, deeply religious, passionate, and, yes, beautiful, Savita Sajan is someone all girls (Indian or not) can look up to. I also liked her male counterpart, the hero of the novel, Joseph Koster, who suffers from a mild form of Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism . . . While the book succeeds brilliantly as a thriller (I couldn't put it down), it's also chockfull of interesting tidbits about Biblical history, chip technology, the Knights of Malta, Freemasonry and, of course, the life of Ben Franklin. It also explores the connection between religion and science, things based on faith versus things based on reason. I loved that about it because it really made me think in new ways about science. I recommend this book to anyone who likes religious thrillers, historical thrillers (for the parts that take place in the 18th century) and for those readers who actually like to learn something while they're being entertained. It's kind of like Dan Brown meets Michael Crichton. Buy it. You won't be disappointed."

    Ed Lute @ Reading Experiences
    "A very good thriller . . . (with a) very well developed plot . . . (and) a strong Gnostic message . . . The book has made me curious again about Ben Franklin.  Recommended!"

    D.T. @ Amazon.com
    "I picked up this book when it was recommended by Amazon. I am so glad they did. It was really a fun read. I love religious thrillers and this was one of the best I've read. Just as good as any Dan Brown's written. In fact I liked it a lot more than The Lost Symbol. The story caught me right from the beginning. I thought the main character, Joseph Koster, was really interesting. He suffers from a mild form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome that makes him socially inept but also really good at certain mathematical problems, which is why he's a good code breaker. I also liked the heroine in the story, an Indian woman named Savita Sajan. She's smart and successful and beautiful, all at once! Plus, one of the villains is a nun who kills people (get this) with her rosary! As a former Catholic school girl, I could really identify. The pace of the book is like a roller coaster. And while you learn a lot about things like the freemasons and the founding fathers (Franklin plays a role in the book) the story is so interesting that it never gets in the way of the plot. I finished the book in two sittings! I've never read anything else by this author but I plan to now. It was that good."

    David Hall @ Amazon.com
    "For those of us that need to view American history from a different point, this reader was not disappointed. The writer's research and description of Ben Franklin and his time is more than commendable. It must be applauded. The locations of early America are accurate. For a reader who has not visited historical London or Paris, this is for you. For those of us who are familiar with present-day New York City, you will find comfort. I suggest that a reader read GOSPEL TRUTHS first. That novel will give a good foundation for THE GOD MACHINE . . . How the author keeps his history, location, personalities, and science in order is almost incomprehensible. The science alone will make a science buff scream with joy . . . Please give this well-written work a try. You will not have wasted your money."

    Traveler @ Amazon.com
    "I have loved Sandom's books in the past but, with this novel, he really hit it out of the ballpark. The history is rich, the characters real, and the clip irrestible. You won't want the story to end. Perhaps most memorable for me was Sandom's portrayal of Ben Franklin. I have long been fascinated with Franklin and I feel like Sandom personalized him for me in an unforgettable way. You will savor this book long after you finish. Enjoy!"

    abdoggett @ Up in the Air and BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It is a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie. I am looking forward to reading Gospel Truths. If you are a fan of historical thrillers such as The Lost Symbol, you should definitely read The God Machine. It is a fast-paced, page-turner that keeps you hooked right up until the last page. A GREAT read!"

    R.S. Beck @ BN.com
    "The God Machine is perfect for night-time reading. The characters are accessible and the thrilling plot moves fluidly. Even if you think you know what is going to happen at the end, you keep reading to find out the conclusion. What Dan Brown has on Mr. Sandom, I do not understand. This book should be made into a movie."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "This is the best religious thriller I've ever read
    ...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life . . . The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle . . . the book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity . . . As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller . . . (THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller . . . as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff . . . Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe . . . Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
    "Just finished reading another book The God Machine by J.G. Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."

    E.M.S. Cohen @ jgsandom.com
    "Just read you for the first time.  Thrilled!  Enjoyed it."

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep elements fresh.  If you like this type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths, published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers . . . In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written . . . Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable . . . A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin — in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment — all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book . . . fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page . . . If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown . . . Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read . . . Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written . . . I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while . . . Better than The Da Vinci Code . . . I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book — so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was impossible to put down . . . The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    4) GOSPEL TRUTHS 2007 Cover Art

    GOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Linda “katknit” @ Amazon.com
    “Gospel Truths is an intelligent, complex, and competently written thriller. No bells or whistles here, just a few laptops, along with some dedicated and dangerous individuals determined to get their hands on Q, for various reasons of their own. And no neatly wrapped up ends in the final chapters. But there are some interesting passages descriptive of different locations, such as Chartres and the Rodin Museum in Paris . . . Masonic secrets, corrupt church officials, and money laundering schemes - all well before DaVinci Code, imagine that!”

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "I chose this book and this author because I read an article comparing the author to Dan Brown and the book to The Da Vinci Code. Well, now that I finished it I can say that (it's)...a very good story...The ending is slightly different than that of other books which deal with the same subject...Usually, in other books, the characters decide to do nothing with the discovery (of a hertical gospel) -- as this would upset society. But, in this case, the author chooses a more open ending."

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapters.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    Lee Titus @ jgsandom.com
    "May God truly guide your wonderfully magnificent work!  Thank you from Lee!  P.S. I really look forward to reading The God Machine.
    "

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller ~ Front Cover 

    THE WAVE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Holly @ amazon.com
    "Gave this book to my husband for his birthday as we went to the book store and bought several books for myself, my children and nieces and nephews. Some we ordered from Amazon as well. It is a summer tradition to go and buy their summer reading book list and then have them share their thoughts as we all read along. Like a mini book club! My husband said this book was exceptionally good! Intense story line. He enjoyed it and joined in on our mini book club discussion!"

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL 

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin.  This month we're featuring questions from the forthcoming Definitive and Defiantly Funny Guide to Sex for Women of a Certain Age — THE GRAMMA SUTRA.

    Here are the results of the August 2010 Readers' Poll, derived from Chapter 3 — The Physiology of Sex of THE GRAMMA SUTRA. The question was, "What is a prolapsed uterus?"  All of you got his one right.  The correct answer was, "A uterus that has collapsed into the vaginal canal." 

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS

    WHO:  J.G. Sandom and Sylvana Joseph speaking about THE GRAMMA SUTRA

    WHAT:  The First International Conference on Aging and Architecture

    WHERE:  UPENN, Philadelphia

    WHEN:  October 2, 2010 @ 2:00 PM

    WHY:  With burgeoning older populations around the globe, architects worldwide are struggling to design cities, communities and buildings that accommodate the changing needs of seniors.  Today, due to improvements in lifestyle, advances in healthcare and medications like Viagra, seniors are having sex well into their nineties and beyond.  Sandom and Joseph, authors of The Gramma Sutra and co-founders of www.TheGrammaSutra.com deliver a fascinating and humorous reprise of their sex guide for women of a certain age.

     

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, KISS ME, I'M DEAD, CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    4) GOSPEL TRUTHS 2007 Cover Art

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller ~ Front Cover

    THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed KISS ME, I'M DEAD or CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher Paperback Front Cover 

    CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as Resurrection Men under pen name T.K. Welsh.  Now is your time to buys this thrilling horror story, for the first time available as a paperback and eBook.

    Here's the thing about bodysnatching.  You just can't think about what you're doing.  You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister.  You can't feel bad.  In fact, you can't feel anything.  That's the key.  Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over.  You’re dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead.  It’s no way to live, but for some, it’s the only way.

    Until they come for you . . .

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.  CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . (J.G. Sandom) is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    For a sample chapter of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here.

    To purchase your copy of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, click here!

     

    Kiss Me, I'm Dead Front Cover Art 2 

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as The Unresolved under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Fangless Fables Press, where their motto is, "The real evil is us."

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    KISS ME, I’M DEAD was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. KISS ME, I’M DEAD was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, " KISS ME, I’M DEAD is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called the novel, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "KISS ME, I’M DEAD scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of KISS ME, I’M DEAD, click here.

    To purchase your copy of KISS ME, I’M DEAD, click here!

     

    And if that isn’t enough, both KISS ME, I’M DEAD and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER are both available in TWO TEEN TERRORS.

    Two Teen Terrors Front Cover 

    Click here to purchase your copy of TWO TEEN TERRORS . . . just in time for Halloween!

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    September 2010

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    Ever wanted to be published?  Do you have the patience and desire to share your hard-earned sexual insights with the world?  Care to offer your advice?  Well, now you can!

    Log on to The Definitive and Defiantly Funny Online Guide to Sex and discover your true sexuality on TheGrammaSutra.com, a new social networking site designed expressly for women of a certain age.

    Links to TheGrammaSutra.com


    Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, TheGrammaSutra.com delivers infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women over fifty, and offers tips and humorous insights on:

    • Dressing for Sexcess;
    • Dating & Entertaining for the newly single;
    • Props & Playthings (Yes, those kinds of toys!);
    • Sexercise Routines;
    • Gramma Sutra Illustrations of sexual positions — mindful of the conditions that women are likely to experience as they age.

    The site also serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on sensitive topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy.  [NOTE:  We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]

    Founded by yours truly and Sylvana Joseph — lawyer, writer and public radio commentator.

    We are already in discussion with major advertisers about site sponsorship opportunities, and our agent is talking with publishers about a book deal.

    That's right.  A non-fiction title called . . . The Gramma Sutra — The Definitive and Defiantly Funny Guide to Sex for Women of a Certain Age.

    And you could be a part of it.  Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!

     

    Post a Comment and share your wisdom on

    The Gramma Sutra Sun Porch!

     

    Check us out on Facebook & become a fan.

    Or, follow us on Twitter today!

     

     

    Meantime, the latest edition of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller is surpassing everyone's sales expectations as an eBook and trade paperback.

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your trade paperback copy of the new edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller

     

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To order your trade paperback copy of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller, click here.  To order your eBook, click here.

     

     

    And, for the first time ever, THE UNRESOLVED is available as a paperback, and in eBook form. If you held off buying that expensive hardback, now's your chance to read the "author's cut" in paperback.  (Also, check out that cool merchandise at Fangless Fables Press.)

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED


    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens, nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, a Cybils literary award, and a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA).

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

     

     

    Last but not least, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America), in Polish, and even in Turkish.  So — Gracias, Dziękuję and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller."

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Links to Amazon.com where you can purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    R&B
    "A fast-paced thriller of a ride which kept this reader on her toes. Side by side search and chase more than two centuries apart, the pace and mystery do not waver. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this book, and into the hands of an author who knew what to do with it . . . Exhilarating, penetrating, even while switching between centuries as far back as A.D.33, does not lose its focus . . . I recommend this book to readers of action, historical fiction, historical religion, and fans of thrillers."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    Armchair Interviews
    "J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action . . . Original."

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend.  Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed.  When I finally finished the book, it was 2:34 in the morning, and I had to get up in 4 hours.  It was definitely worth the loss of sleep.  The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present . . . a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINETHE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "
    Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    James T. Glover @ Amazon.com
    "I bought this book and actually quit reading the book that I was presently reading at the time. Once I started I couldn't put it down. Excellent job keeping you interested and it never lets up. I don't remember a slow part in the whole book. Characters were great and the story was great. Kind of reminded me of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. Not that the plot was the same just there was a lot of stuff that was in both books. However, I found this book much better and better written. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves a historical thriller."

    Moni @ Amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom's first novel, Gospel Truths, was called "the thinking man's Da Vinci Code." Now, with the publication of The God Machine, Sandom has secured his position as the premier writer of theo-thrillers, outdoing even Dan Brown . . . I LOVED this book! It doesn't pander to readers, and, like with Gospel Truths, I learned all kinds of interesting things about the Gnostics, an early Christian sect labeled heretics by the Church, plus a host of real historical characters: from Da Vinci and Ben Franklin, to electrical geniuses Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison . . . I also loved the fact that the book features a smart and beautiful woman of color, Savita Sajan, Koster's partner. It's rare to read books where such characters are truly 3-dimensional, and not just thrown in as exotic love interests. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys religious thrillers and mysteries. It's fast-paced, well-written and fun. Plus, as with all of Sandom's books, you'll not only be entertained, but learn something new and interesting too."

    Thriller Crazy @ Amazon.com
    "A quick scan revealed that the book features a heroine named Savita Sajan. As a woman of Indian descent, it's rare to see such characters in popular fiction, and so I snapped it up. 
    I am so glad I did. I LOVED this book. It's a roller-coaster of a ride that flits back and forth in time, from the days of Benjamin Franklin (a central character in the book), to today . . . Too often in novels, when Indian women are depicted, they're either subservient bystanders or exotic sex kittens. But in The God Machine, Savita Sajan is actually the head of a very successful high-tech company in Silicon Valley. (I couldn't help thinking of Padmasree Warrior, the CTO of Cisco Systems.) Brilliant, often funny, deeply religious, passionate, and, yes, beautiful, Savita Sajan is someone all girls (Indian or not) can look up to. I also liked her male counterpart, the hero of the novel, Joseph Koster, who suffers from a mild form of Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism . . . While the book succeeds brilliantly as a thriller (I couldn't put it down), it's also chockfull of interesting tidbits about Biblical history, chip technology, the Knights of Malta, Freemasonry and, of course, the life of Ben Franklin. It also explores the connection between religion and science, things based on faith versus things based on reason. I loved that about it because it really made me think in new ways about science. I recommend this book to anyone who likes religious thrillers, historical thrillers (for the parts that take place in the 18th century) and for those readers who actually like to learn something while they're being entertained. It's kind of like Dan Brown meets Michael Crichton. Buy it. You won't be disappointed."

    Ed Lute @ Reading Experiences
    "A very good thriller . . . (with a) very well developed plot . . . (and) a strong Gnostic message . . . The book has made me curious again about Ben Franklin.  Recommended!"

    D.T. @ Amazon.com
    "I picked up this book when it was recommended by Amazon. I am so glad they did. It was really a fun read. I love religious thrillers and this was one of the best I've read. Just as good as any Dan Brown's written. In fact I liked it a lot more than The Lost Symbol. The story caught me right from the beginning. I thought the main character, Joseph Koster, was really interesting. He suffers from a mild form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome that makes him socially inept but also really good at certain mathematical problems, which is why he's a good code breaker. I also liked the heroine in the story, an Indian woman named Savita Sajan. She's smart and successful and beautiful, all at once! Plus, one of the villains is a nun who kills people (get this) with her rosary! As a former Catholic school girl, I could really identify. The pace of the book is like a roller coaster. And while you learn a lot about things like the freemasons and the founding fathers (Franklin plays a role in the book) the story is so interesting that it never gets in the way of the plot. I finished the book in two sittings! I've never read anything else by this author but I plan to now. It was that good."

    David Hall @ Amazon.com
    "For those of us that need to view American history from a different point, this reader was not disappointed. The writer's research and description of Ben Franklin and his time is more than commendable. It must be applauded. The locations of early America are accurate. For a reader who has not visited historical London or Paris, this is for you. For those of us who are familiar with present-day New York City, you will find comfort. I suggest that a reader read GOSPEL TRUTHS first. That novel will give a good foundation for THE GOD MACHINE . . . How the author keeps his history, location, personalities, and science in order is almost incomprehensible. The science alone will make a science buff scream with joy . . . Please give this well-written work a try. You will not have wasted your money."

    Traveler @ Amazon.com
    "I have loved Sandom's books in the past but, with this novel, he really hit it out of the ballpark. The history is rich, the characters real, and the clip irrestible. You won't want the story to end. Perhaps most memorable for me was Sandom's portrayal of Ben Franklin. I have long been fascinated with Franklin and I feel like Sandom personalized him for me in an unforgettable way. You will savor this book long after you finish. Enjoy!"

    abdoggett @ Up in the Air and BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It is a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie. I am looking forward to reading Gospel Truths. If you are a fan of historical thrillers such as The Lost Symbol, you should definitely read The God Machine. It is a fast-paced, page-turner that keeps you hooked right up until the last page. A GREAT read!"

    R.S. Beck @ BN.com
    "The God Machine is perfect for night-time reading. The characters are accessible and the thrilling plot moves fluidly. Even if you think you know what is going to happen at the end, you keep reading to find out the conclusion. What Dan Brown has on Mr. Sandom, I do not understand. This book should be made into a movie."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "
    This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life . . . The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle . . . the book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity . . . As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller . . . (THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller . . . as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff . . . Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe . . . Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
    "Just finished reading another book The God Machine by J.G. Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."

    E.M.S. Cohen @ jgsandom.com
    "Just read you for the first time.  Thrilled!  Enjoyed it."

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep elements fresh.  If you like this type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths, published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers . . . In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written . . . Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable . . . A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin — in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment — all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book . . . fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page . . . If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown . . . Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read . . . Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written . . . I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while . . . Better than The Da Vinci Code . . . I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book — so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was impossible to put down . . . The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "I chose this book and this author because I read an article comparing the author to Dan Brown and the book to The Da Vinci Code. Well, now that I finished it I can say that (it's)...a very good story...The ending is slightly different than that of other books which deal with the same subject...Usually, in other books, the characters decide to do nothing with the discovery (of a hertical gospel) -- as this would upset society. But, in this case, the author chooses a more open ending."

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapters.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    Lee Titus @ jgsandom.com
    "May God truly guide your wonderfully magnificent work!  Thank you from Lee!  P.S. I really look forward to reading The God Machine.
    "

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your trade paperback version of the new edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller THE WAVE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Holly @ amazon.com
    "Gave this book to my husband for his birthday as we went to the book store and bought several books for myself, my children and nieces and nephews. Some we ordered from Amazon as well. It is a summer tradition to go and buy their summer reading book list and then have them share their thoughts as we all read along. Like a mini book club! My husband said this book was exceptionally good! Intense story line. He enjoyed it and joined in on our mini book club discussion!"

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin.  This month we're featuring questions from the forthcoming Definitive and Defiantly Funny Guide to Sex for Women of a Certain Age — THE GRAMMA SUTRA.

    Here are the results of the August 2010 Readers' Poll, derived from Chapter 3 — The Physiology of Sex of THE GRAMMA SUTRA. The question was, "What is a prolapsed uterus?"  All of you got his one right.  The correct answer was, "A uterus that has collapsed into the vaginal canal." 

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS

    WHO:  J.G. Sandom and Sylvana Joseph speaking about THE GRAMMA SUTRA

    WHAT:  The First International Conference on Aging and Architecture

    WHERE:  UPENN, Philadelphia

    WHEN:  October 2, 2010 @ 2:00 PM

    WHY:  With burgeoning older populations around the globe, architects worldwide are struggling to design cities, communities and buildings that accommodate the changing needs of seniors.  Today, due to improvements in lifestyle, advances in healthcare and medications like Viagra, seniors are having sex well into their nineties and beyond.  Sandom and Joseph, authors of The Gramma Sutra and co-founders of www.TheGrammaSutra.com deliver a fascinating and humorous reprise of their sex guide for women of a certain age.

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, THE UNRESOLVED or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSDid you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your trade paperback copy of the new edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Link to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MENRESURRECTION MEN is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released under pen name T.K. Welsh.  If you're planning to buy a copy, hold tight:  It will be available in paperback and eBook form in only a few weeks.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear me speak about the pen name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . (J.G. Sandom) is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas — the yearly salary of a working man — Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    To purchase your copy of RESURRECTION MEN, click here!

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, the "author's cut".

    THE UNRESOLVED is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Fangless Fables Press, where their motto is, "The real evil is us."

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    THE UNRESOLVED was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

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    August 2010

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    Ever wanted to be published?  Think your sexploits should be immortalized in prose?  Do you have that overriding desire to rhapsodize about your most sensual life experiences, and to share your hard-earned sexual advice with the world . . . even if it's just anonymously?

    Well, now you can!

    Log on to The Definitive and Defiantly Funny Online Guide to Sex and discover your true sexuality on TheGrammaSutra.com, a new social networking website designed expressly for women ages 50+.

    Links to TheGrammaSutra.com


    Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, TheGrammaSutra.com delivers infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women over fifty, and offers tips and humorous insights on:

    • Dressing for Sexcess;
    • Dating & Entertaining for the newly single;
    • Props & Playthings (Yes, those kinds of toys!);
    • Sexercise Routines;
    • Gramma Sutra Illustrations of sexual positions — mindful of the conditions that women are likely to experience as they age.

    The site also serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy.  [NOTE:  We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]

    Founded by yours truly and Sylvana Joseph — lawyer, writer and public radio commentator.

    We are already in discussion with major advertisers about site sponsorship opportunities, and our agent is talking with publishers about a book deal.

    That's right.  A non-fiction title called . . . The Gramma Sutra — The Definitive and Defiantly Funny Guide to Sex for Women of a Certain Age.

    And you could be a part of it.  Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!

     

    Post a Comment and share your wisdom at TheGrammaSutra.com!

     

    Check us out on Facebook where you can become a fan, or follow us on Twitter today!

     

     

    Meantime, the latest edition of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller is surpassing everyone's sales expectations as an eBook and trade paperback.

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your trade paperback copy of the new edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller

     

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To order your trade paperback copy of THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller, click here.  To order your eBook, click here.

     

     

    And, for the first time ever, THE UNRESOLVED is available as a paperback, and in eBook form. If you held off buying that expensive hardback, now's your chance to read the "author's cut" in paperback.  (Also, check out that cool merchandise at Fangless Fables Press.)

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED


    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens, nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, a Cybils literary award, and a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA).

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

     

     

    Last but not least, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America), in Polish, and even in Turkish.  So — Gracias, Dziękuję and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller."

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Links to Amazon.com where you can purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    R&B
    "A fast-paced thriller of a ride which kept this reader on her toes. Side by side search and chase more than two centuries apart, the pace and mystery do not waver. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this book, and into the hands of an author who knew what to do with it . . . Exhilarating, penetrating, even while switching between centuries as far back as A.D.33, does not lose its focus . . . I recommend this book to readers of action, historical fiction, historical religion, and fans of thrillers."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    Armchair Interviews
    "J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action . . . Original."

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend.  Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed.  When I finally finished the book, it was 2:34 in the morning, and I had to get up in 4 hours.  It was definitely worth the loss of sleep.  The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present . . . a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINETHE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "
    Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    James T. Glover @ Amazon.com
    "I bought this book and actually quit reading the book that I was presently reading at the time. Once I started I couldn't put it down. Excellent job keeping you interested and it never lets up. I don't remember a slow part in the whole book. Characters were great and the story was great. Kind of reminded me of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. Not that the plot was the same just there was a lot of stuff that was in both books. However, I found this book much better and better written. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves a historical thriller."

    Moni @ Amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom's first novel, Gospel Truths, was called "the thinking man's Da Vinci Code." Now, with the publication of The God Machine, Sandom has secured his position as the premier writer of theo-thrillers, outdoing even Dan Brown . . . I LOVED this book! It doesn't pander to readers, and, like with Gospel Truths, I learned all kinds of interesting things about the Gnostics, an early Christian sect labeled heretics by the Church, plus a host of real historical characters: from Da Vinci and Ben Franklin, to electrical geniuses Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison . . . I also loved the fact that the book features a smart and beautiful woman of color, Savita Sajan, Koster's partner. It's rare to read books where such characters are truly 3-dimensional, and not just thrown in as exotic love interests. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys religious thrillers and mysteries. It's fast-paced, well-written and fun. Plus, as with all of Sandom's books, you'll not only be entertained, but learn something new and interesting too."

    Thriller Crazy @ Amazon.com
    "A quick scan revealed that the book features a heroine named Savita Sajan. As a woman of Indian descent, it's rare to see such characters in popular fiction, and so I snapped it up. 
    I am so glad I did. I LOVED this book. It's a roller-coaster of a ride that flits back and forth in time, from the days of Benjamin Franklin (a central character in the book), to today . . . Too often in novels, when Indian women are depicted, they're either subservient bystanders or exotic sex kittens. But in The God Machine, Savita Sajan is actually the head of a very successful high-tech company in Silicon Valley. (I couldn't help thinking of Padmasree Warrior, the CTO of Cisco Systems.) Brilliant, often funny, deeply religious, passionate, and, yes, beautiful, Savita Sajan is someone all girls (Indian or not) can look up to. I also liked her male counterpart, the hero of the novel, Joseph Koster, who suffers from a mild form of Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism . . . While the book succeeds brilliantly as a thriller (I couldn't put it down), it's also chockfull of interesting tidbits about Biblical history, chip technology, the Knights of Malta, Freemasonry and, of course, the life of Ben Franklin. It also explores the connection between religion and science, things based on faith versus things based on reason. I loved that about it because it really made me think in new ways about science. I recommend this book to anyone who likes religious thrillers, historical thrillers (for the parts that take place in the 18th century) and for those readers who actually like to learn something while they're being entertained. It's kind of like Dan Brown meets Michael Crichton. Buy it. You won't be disappointed."

    Ed Lute @ Reading Experiences
    "A very good thriller . . . (with a) very well developed plot . . . (and) a strong Gnostic message . . . The book has made me curious again about Ben Franklin.  Recommended!"

    D.T. @ Amazon.com
    "I picked up this book when it was recommended by Amazon. I am so glad they did. It was really a fun read. I love religious thrillers and this was one of the best I've read. Just as good as any Dan Brown's written. In fact I liked it a lot more than The Lost Symbol. The story caught me right from the beginning. I thought the main character, Joseph Koster, was really interesting. He suffers from a mild form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome that makes him socially inept but also really good at certain mathematical problems, which is why he's a good code breaker. I also liked the heroine in the story, an Indian woman named Savita Sajan. She's smart and successful and beautiful, all at once! Plus, one of the villains is a nun who kills people (get this) with her rosary! As a former Catholic school girl, I could really identify. The pace of the book is like a roller coaster. And while you learn a lot about things like the freemasons and the founding fathers (Franklin plays a role in the book) the story is so interesting that it never gets in the way of the plot. I finished the book in two sittings! I've never read anything else by this author but I plan to now. It was that good."

    David Hall @ Amazon.com
    "For those of us that need to view American history from a different point, this reader was not disappointed. The writer's research and description of Ben Franklin and his time is more than commendable. It must be applauded. The locations of early America are accurate. For a reader who has not visited historical London or Paris, this is for you. For those of us who are familiar with present-day New York City, you will find comfort. I suggest that a reader read GOSPEL TRUTHS first. That novel will give a good foundation for THE GOD MACHINE . . . How the author keeps his history, location, personalities, and science in order is almost incomprehensible. The science alone will make a science buff scream with joy . . . Please give this well-written work a try. You will not have wasted your money."

    Traveler @ Amazon.com
    "I have loved Sandom's books in the past but, with this novel, he really hit it out of the ballpark. The history is rich, the characters real, and the clip irrestible. You won't want the story to end. Perhaps most memorable for me was Sandom's portrayal of Ben Franklin. I have long been fascinated with Franklin and I feel like Sandom personalized him for me in an unforgettable way. You will savor this book long after you finish. Enjoy!"

    abdoggett @ Up in the Air and BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It is a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie. I am looking forward to reading Gospel Truths. If you are a fan of historical thrillers such as The Lost Symbol, you should definitely read The God Machine. It is a fast-paced, page-turner that keeps you hooked right up until the last page. A GREAT read!"

    R.S. Beck @ BN.com
    "The God Machine is perfect for night-time reading. The characters are accessible and the thrilling plot moves fluidly. Even if you think you know what is going to happen at the end, you keep reading to find out the conclusion. What Dan Brown has on Mr. Sandom, I do not understand. This book should be made into a movie."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "
    This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life . . . The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle . . . the book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity . . . As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller . . . (THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller . . . as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff . . . Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe . . . Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
    "Just finished reading another book The God Machine by J.G. Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."

    E.M.S. Cohen @ jgsandom.com
    "Just read you for the first time.  Thrilled!  Enjoyed it."

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep elements fresh.  If you like this type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths, published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers . . . In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written . . . Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable . . . A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin — in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment — all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book . . . fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page . . . If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown . . . Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read . . . Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written . . . I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while . . . Better than The Da Vinci Code . . . I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book — so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was impossible to put down . . . The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "I chose this book and this author because I read an article comparing the author to Dan Brown and the book to The Da Vinci Code. Well, now that I finished it I can say that (it's)...a very good story...The ending is slightly different than that of other books which deal with the same subject...Usually, in other books, the characters decide to do nothing with the discovery (of a hertical gospel) -- as this would upset society. But, in this case, the author chooses a more open ending."

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapters.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    Lee Titus @ jgsandom.com
    "May God truly guide your wonderfully magnificent work!  Thank you from Lee!  P.S. I really look forward to reading The God Machine.
    "

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your trade paperback version of the new edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller THE WAVE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Holly @ amazon.com
    "Gave this book to my husband for his birthday as we went to the book store and bought several books for myself, my children and nieces and nephews. Some we ordered from Amazon as well. It is a summer tradition to go and buy their summer reading book list and then have them share their thoughts as we all read along. Like a mini book club! My husband said this book was exceptionally good! Intense story line. He enjoyed it and joined in on our mini book club discussion!"

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin.  This month we're featuring questions from the forthcoming Definitive and Defiantly Funny Guide to Sex for Women of a Certain Age — The Gramma Sutra.

    Here are the results of the July 2010 Readers' Poll, derived from Chapter 15 of THE GOD MACHINE. The question was, "What did Sister Maria do to the Wilson family after she found Ben Franklin's journal hidden in their house?"  You all got this one right.  Way too easy this month!  The correct answer was, "She set them on fire." 

    For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS

    WHO:  J.G. Sandom and Sylvana Joseph speaking about THE GRAMMA SUTRA

    WHAT:  The First International Conference on Aging and Architecture

    WHERE:  UPENN, Philadelphia

    WHEN:  October 2, 2010 @ 2:00 PM

    WHY:  With burgeoning older populations around the globe, architects worldwide are struggling to design cities, communities and buildings that accommodate the changing needs of seniors.  Today, due to improvements in lifestyle, advances in healthcare and medications like Viagra, seniors are having sex well into their nineties and beyond.  Sandom and Joseph, authors of The Gramma Sutra and co-founders of www.TheGrammaSutra.com deliver a fascinating and humorous reprise of their sex guide for women of a certain age.

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, THE UNRESOLVED or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHS

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your trade paperback copy of the new edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Link to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MENRESURRECTION MEN is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released under pen name T.K. Welsh.  If you're planning to buy a copy, hold tight:  It will be available in paperback and eBook form in only a few weeks.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear me speak about the pen name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . (J.G. Sandom) is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas — the yearly salary of a working man — Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    To purchase your copy of RESURRECTION MEN, click here!

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, the "author's cut".

    THE UNRESOLVED is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Fangless Fables Press, where their motto is, "The real evil is us."

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    THE UNRESOLVED was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

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    July 2010

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    The latest edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller is finally available as an eBook and trade paperback.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."


     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your trade paperback copy of the new edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller

     

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated.  But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seabord.

     

    To order your eBook, click here.  To order your trade paperback of this brand new edition, click here.

     

     

     

    BLOOD, MOTHER . . . BLOOD!

     

    I HAVE TO CONFESS TO THE MURDER OF T.K. Welsh!

     

    Yes, after years of dutiful service, the pseudonym under which I've penned my YA books has been . . . well, let's just say "retired."  (But, if you look hard, you may be able to find his remains in that bathtub of lye in my basement.)  TKWELSH.COM is no more; my former YA site will henceforth link here.

     

    And, for the first time ever, THE UNRESOLVED is available as a paperback (from Fangless Fables Press), and in eBook form. If you held off buying that expensive hardback, now's your chance to read the "author's cut."

    Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED


    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens, nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, a Cybils literary award, and a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA).

     

    RESURRECTION MEN is also going to paperback and eBook soon.  Keep an eye out!

     

    In the meantime, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook. The novel will also soon appear in Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America), in Polish, and even in Turkish.  So — Gracias, Dziękuję and Çok Sagolun!

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.  (If you do, I'll feature you on this website!)  Then, email your friends and tell them about it.  Click here for THE GOD MACHINE postcards.

    Or, if you already own the book and you want your own GOD MACHINE Bookmark, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.

     

    Check out my recent author interview at the official International Thriller Writers official website, and see what prompted me to write THE GOD MACHINE and GOSPEL TRUTHS.

    For this month's excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Links to Amazon.com where you can purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    R&B
    "A fast-paced thriller of a ride which kept this reader on her toes. Side by side search and chase more than two centuries apart, the pace and mystery do not waver. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this book, and into the hands of an author who knew what to do with it . . . Exhilarating, penetrating, even while switching between centuries as far back as A.D.33, does not lose its focus . . . I recommend this book to readers of action, historical fiction, historical religion, and fans of thrillers."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    Armchair Interviews
    "J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action . . . Original."

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend.  Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed.  When I finally finished the book, it was 2:34 in the morning, and I had to get up in 4 hours.  It was definitely worth the loss of sleep.  The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present . . . a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINETHE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "
    Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    James T. Glover @ Amazon.com
    "I bought this book and actually quit reading the book that I was presently reading at the time. Once I started I couldn't put it down. Excellent job keeping you interested and it never lets up. I don't remember a slow part in the whole book. Characters were great and the story was great. Kind of reminded me of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. Not that the plot was the same just there was a lot of stuff that was in both books. However, I found this book much better and better written. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves a historical thriller."

    Moni @ Amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom's first novel, Gospel Truths, was called "the thinking man's Da Vinci Code." Now, with the publication of The God Machine, Sandom has secured his position as the premier writer of theo-thrillers, outdoing even Dan Brown . . . I LOVED this book! It doesn't pander to readers, and, like with Gospel Truths, I learned all kinds of interesting things about the Gnostics, an early Christian sect labeled heretics by the Church, plus a host of real historical characters: from Da Vinci and Ben Franklin, to electrical geniuses Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison . . . I also loved the fact that the book features a smart and beautiful woman of color, Savita Sajan, Koster's partner. It's rare to read books where such characters are truly 3-dimensional, and not just thrown in as exotic love interests. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys religious thrillers and mysteries. It's fast-paced, well-written and fun. Plus, as with all of Sandom's books, you'll not only be entertained, but learn something new and interesting too."

    Thriller Crazy @ Amazon.com
    "A quick scan revealed that the book features a heroine named Savita Sajan. As a woman of Indian descent, it's rare to see such characters in popular fiction, and so I snapped it up. 
    I am so glad I did. I LOVED this book. It's a roller-coaster of a ride that flits back and forth in time, from the days of Benjamin Franklin (a central character in the book), to today . . . Too often in novels, when Indian women are depicted, they're either subservient bystanders or exotic sex kittens. But in The God Machine, Savita Sajan is actually the head of a very successful high-tech company in Silicon Valley. (I couldn't help thinking of Padmasree Warrior, the CTO of Cisco Systems.) Brilliant, often funny, deeply religious, passionate, and, yes, beautiful, Savita Sajan is someone all girls (Indian or not) can look up to. I also liked her male counterpart, the hero of the novel, Joseph Koster, who suffers from a mild form of Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism . . . While the book succeeds brilliantly as a thriller (I couldn't put it down), it's also chockfull of interesting tidbits about Biblical history, chip technology, the Knights of Malta, Freemasonry and, of course, the life of Ben Franklin. It also explores the connection between religion and science, things based on faith versus things based on reason. I loved that about it because it really made me think in new ways about science. I recommend this book to anyone who likes religious thrillers, historical thrillers (for the parts that take place in the 18th century) and for those readers who actually like to learn something while they're being entertained. It's kind of like Dan Brown meets Michael Crichton. Buy it. You won't be disappointed."

    Ed Lute @ Reading Experiences
    "A very good thriller . . . (with a) very well developed plot . . . (and) a strong Gnostic message . . . The book has made me curious again about Ben Franklin.  Recommended!"

    D.T. @ Amazon.com
    "I picked up this book when it was recommended by Amazon. I am so glad they did. It was really a fun read. I love religious thrillers and this was one of the best I've read. Just as good as any Dan Brown's written. In fact I liked it a lot more than The Lost Symbol. The story caught me right from the beginning. I thought the main character, Joseph Koster, was really interesting. He suffers from a mild form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome that makes him socially inept but also really good at certain mathematical problems, which is why he's a good code breaker. I also liked the heroine in the story, an Indian woman named Savita Sajan. She's smart and successful and beautiful, all at once! Plus, one of the villains is a nun who kills people (get this) with her rosary! As a former Catholic school girl, I could really identify. The pace of the book is like a roller coaster. And while you learn a lot about things like the freemasons and the founding fathers (Franklin plays a role in the book) the story is so interesting that it never gets in the way of the plot. I finished the book in two sittings! I've never read anything else by this author but I plan to now. It was that good."

    David Hall @ Amazon.com
    "For those of us that need to view American history from a different point, this reader was not disappointed. The writer's research and description of Ben Franklin and his time is more than commendable. It must be applauded. The locations of early America are accurate. For a reader who has not visited historical London or Paris, this is for you. For those of us who are familiar with present-day New York City, you will find comfort. I suggest that a reader read GOSPEL TRUTHS first. That novel will give a good foundation for THE GOD MACHINE . . . How the author keeps his history, location, personalities, and science in order is almost incomprehensible. The science alone will make a science buff scream with joy . . . Please give this well-written work a try. You will not have wasted your money."

    Traveler @ Amazon.com
    "I have loved Sandom's books in the past but, with this novel, he really hit it out of the ballpark. The history is rich, the characters real, and the clip irrestible. You won't want the story to end. Perhaps most memorable for me was Sandom's portrayal of Ben Franklin. I have long been fascinated with Franklin and I feel like Sandom personalized him for me in an unforgettable way. You will savor this book long after you finish. Enjoy!"

    abdoggett @ Up in the Air and BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It is a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie. I am looking forward to reading Gospel Truths. If you are a fan of historical thrillers such as The Lost Symbol, you should definitely read The God Machine. It is a fast-paced, page-turner that keeps you hooked right up until the last page. A GREAT read!"

    R.S. Beck @ BN.com
    "The God Machine is perfect for night-time reading. The characters are accessible and the thrilling plot moves fluidly. Even if you think you know what is going to happen at the end, you keep reading to find out the conclusion. What Dan Brown has on Mr. Sandom, I do not understand. This book should be made into a movie."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "
    This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life . . . The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle . . . the book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity . . . As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller . . . (THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller . . . as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff . . . Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe . . . Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
    "Just finished reading another book The God Machine by J.G. Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."

    E.M.S. Cohen @ jgsandom.com
    "Just read you for the first time.  Thrilled!  Enjoyed it."

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep elements fresh.  If you like this type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths, published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers . . . In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written . . . Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable . . . A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin — in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment — all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book . . . fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page . . . If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown . . . Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read . . . Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written . . . I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while . . . Better than The Da Vinci Code . . . I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book — so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was impossible to put down . . . The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "I chose this book and this author because I read an article comparing the author to Dan Brown and the book to The Da Vinci Code. Well, now that I finished it I can say that (it's)...a very good story...The ending is slightly different than that of other books which deal with the same subject...Usually, in other books, the characters decide to do nothing with the discovery (of a hertical gospel) -- as this would upset society. But, in this case, the author chooses a more open ending."

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapters.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    Lee Titus @ jgsandom.com
    "May God truly guide your wonderfully magnificent work!  Thank you from Lee!  P.S. I really look forward to reading The God Machine.
    "

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your trade paperback version of the new edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller THE WAVE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Holly @ amazon.com
    "Gave this book to my husband for his birthday as we went to the book store and bought several books for myself, my children and nieces and nephews. Some we ordered from Amazon as well. It is a summer tradition to go and buy their summer reading book list and then have them share their thoughts as we all read along. Like a mini book club! My husband said this book was exceptionally good! Intense story line. He enjoyed it and joined in on our mini book club discussion!"

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    Here are the results of the June 2010 Readers' Poll, derived from Chapter 14 of THE GOD MACHINE. The question was, "According to Sister Maria, how did St. Agnes die?"  Two thirds of you got this one right.  The correct answer was, "Her head was cut off with a sword."

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS 

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, THE UNRESOLVED or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHS

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your trade paperback copy of the new edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Link to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MENRESURRECTION MEN is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released under pen name T.K. Welsh.  If you're planning to buy a copy, hold tight:  It will be available in paperback and eBook form in only a few weeks.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear me speak about the pen name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . (J.G. Sandom) is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas — the yearly salary of a working man — Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    To purchase your copy of RESURRECTION MEN, click here!

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, the "author's cut".

    THE UNRESOLVED is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.

    This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Fangless Fables Press, where their motto is, "The real evil is us."

    See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."

    Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl.  She likes to have fun.  She thinks her sister is ridiculous.  Her parents drive her crazy.  She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.

    Mallory even has a summer job -- figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed.  Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.

    Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry.  And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.

    Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.

    Except Mallory is dead.

    THE UNRESOLVED was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

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    June 2010

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    The latest edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller is finally available as an eBook and trade paperback.  To order your eBook, click here.  To order your trade paperback of the new edition, click here.

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your trade paperback copy of the new edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller

     

    Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

     

    And, for the first time ever, THE UNRESOLVED is available as a paperback (from Fangless Fables Press) and in eBook form. If you held off buying that expensive hardback, now's your chance to read the "author's cut."  Click here to purchase your copy today.

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED


    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books by the Washington Post, which called the novel a "subtle gem," THE UNRESOLVED was named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens, nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, a Cybils literary award, and a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA).

     

    RESURRECTION MEN is also going to paperback and eBook soon.  Keep an eye out!

    In the meantime, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.

    The novel will also soon appear in Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America), in Polish, and even in Turkish.  So — Gracias, Dziękuję and Çok Sagolun!  (Goodness . . . what's next?)

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.  (If you do, I'll feature you on this website!)  Then, email your friends and tell them about it.  Click here for THE GOD MACHINE postcards.

    Or, if you already own the book and you want your own GOD MACHINE Bookmark, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.

     

    Check out my recent author interview at the official International Thriller Writers official website, and see what prompted me to write THE GOD MACHINE and GOSPEL TRUTHS.

    For this month's excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Links to Amazon.com where you can purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    R&B
    "A fast-paced thriller of a ride which kept this reader on her toes. Side by side search and chase more than two centuries apart, the pace and mystery do not waver. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this book, and into the hands of an author who knew what to do with it . . . Exhilarating, penetrating, even while switching between centuries as far back as A.D.33, does not lose its focus . . . I recommend this book to readers of action, historical fiction, historical religion, and fans of thrillers."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    Armchair Interviews
    "J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action . . . Original."

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend.  Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed.  When I finally finished the book, it was 2:34 in the morning, and I had to get up in 4 hours.  It was definitely worth the loss of sleep.  The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present . . . a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINETHE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
    "The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    James T. Glover @ Amazon.com
    "I bought this book and actually quit reading the book that I was presently reading at the time. Once I started I couldn't put it down. Excellent job keeping you interested and it never lets up. I don't remember a slow part in the whole book. Characters were great and the story was great. Kind of reminded me of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. Not that the plot was the same just there was a lot of stuff that was in both books. However, I found this book much better and better written. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves a historical thriller."

    Moni @ Amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom's first novel, Gospel Truths, was called "the thinking man's Da Vinci Code." Now, with the publication of The God Machine, Sandom has secured his position as the premier writer of theo-thrillers, outdoing even Dan Brown . . . I LOVED this book! It doesn't pander to readers, and, like with Gospel Truths, I learned all kinds of interesting things about the Gnostics, an early Christian sect labeled heretics by the Church, plus a host of real historical characters: from Da Vinci and Ben Franklin, to electrical geniuses Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison . . . I also loved the fact that the book features a smart and beautiful woman of color, Savita Sajan, Koster's partner. It's rare to read books where such characters are truly 3-dimensional, and not just thrown in as exotic love interests. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys religious thrillers and mysteries. It's fast-paced, well-written and fun. Plus, as with all of Sandom's books, you'll not only be entertained, but learn something new and interesting too."

    Thriller Crazy @ Amazon.com
    "While checking out a new novel by Steve Berry, I came across this new religious thriller by J.G. Sandom called The God Machine. A quick scan revealed that the book features a heroine named Savita Sajan. As a woman of Indian descent, it's rare to see such characters in popular fiction, and so I snapped it up
    .

    "I am so glad I did. I LOVED this book. It's a roller-coaster of a ride that flits back and forth in time, from the days of Benjamin Franklin (a central character in the book), to today. Without giving away too much of the plot, the book involves the quest for a lost Gnostic gospel (the Gospel of Judas) once owned by Ben Franklin, and thought heretical by the organized Church. If uncovered, the presence of the gospel might completely undermine the Church because it features a version of Christ's teachings that are contrary to what we have come to believe today.

    "But the book is so much more. This particular version of the gospel features a strange drawing, a part of which was first rendered soon after the time of Christ by one of his followers, and then expanded over the centuries by Leonardo Da Vinci, Franklin himself, and later by other electrical inventors, from Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, to Savita herself. (Savita actually attended Edison High School!)

    "Too often in novels when Indian women are depicted, they're either subservient bystanders or exotic sex kittens. But in The God Machine, Savita Sajan is actually the head of a very successful high-tech company in Silicon Valley. (I couldn't help thinking of Padmasree Warrior, the CTO of Cisco Systems.) Brilliant, often funny, deeply religious, passionate, and, yes, beautiful, Savita Sajan is someone all girls (Indian or not) can look up to. I also liked her male counterpart, the hero of the novel, Joseph Koster, who suffers from a mild form of Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism.

    "The book is set primarily in New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC, but Savita and Koster also travel to England and France in their quest, places where Franklin lived and worked during his career as a statesman. And wherever they go, they're trailed by a Columbian killer nun who assassinates the enemies of the Church by strangling them with her rosary beads. Really creepy!

    "While the book succeeds brilliantly as a thriller (I couldn't put it down), it's also chockfull of interesting tidbits about Biblical history, chip technology, the Knights of Malta, Freemasonry and, of course, the life of Ben Franklin. It also explores the connection between religion and science, things based on faith versus things based on reason. I loved that about it because it really made me think in new ways about science.

    "I recommend this book to anyone who likes religious thrillers, historical thrillers (for the parts that take place in the 18th century) and for those readers who actually like to learn something while they're being entertained. It's kind of like Dan Brown meets Michael Crichton. Buy it. You won't be disappointed."

    Ed Lute @ Reading Experiences
    "A very good thriller . . . (with a) very well developed plot . . . (and) a strong Gnostic message . . . The book has made me curious again about Ben Franklin.  Recommended!"

    D.T. @ Amazon.com
    "I picked up this book when it was recommended by Amazon. I am so glad they did. It was really a fun read. I love religious thrillers and this was one of the best I've read. Just as good as any Dan Brown's written. In fact I liked it a lot more than The Lost Symbol. The story caught me right from the beginning. I thought the main character, Joseph Koster, was really interesting. He suffers from a mild form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome that makes him socially inept but also really good at certain mathematical problems, which is why he's a good code breaker. I also liked the heroine in the story, an Indian woman named Savita Sajan. She's smart and successful and beautiful, all at once! Plus, one of the villains is a nun who kills people (get this) with her rosary! As a former Catholic school girl, I could really identify. The pace of the book is like a roller coaster. And while you learn a lot about things like the freemasons and the founding fathers (Franklin plays a role in the book) the story is so interesting that it never gets in the way of the plot. I finished the book in two sittings! I've never read anything else by this author but I plan to now. It was that good."

    David Hall @ Amazon.com
    "For those of us that need to view American history from a different point, this reader was not disappointed. The writer's research and description of Ben Franklin and his time is more than commendable. It must be applauded. The locations of early America are accurate. For a reader who has not visited historical London or Paris, this is for you. For those of us who are familiar with present-day New York City, you will find comfort. I suggest that a reader read GOSPEL TRUTHS first. That novel will give a good foundation for THE GOD MACHINE . . . How the author keeps his history, location, personalities, and science in order is almost incomprehensible. The science alone will make a science buff scream with joy . . . Please give this well-written work a try. You will not have wasted your money."

    Traveler @ Amazon.com
    "I have loved Sandom's books in the past but, with this novel, he really hit it out of the ballpark. The history is rich, the characters real, and the clip irrestible. You won't want the story to end. Perhaps most memorable for me was Sandom's portrayal of Ben Franklin. I have long been fascinated with Franklin and I feel like Sandom personalized him for me in an unforgettable way. You will savor this book long after you finish. Enjoy!"

    abdoggett @ Up in the Air and BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It is a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie. I am looking forward to reading Gospel Truths. If you are a fan of historical thrillers such as The Lost Symbol, you should definitely read The God Machine. It is a fast-paced, page-turner that keeps you hooked right up until the last page. A GREAT read!"

    R.S. Beck @ BN.com
    "The God Machine is perfect for night-time reading. The characters are accessible and the thrilling plot moves fluidly. Even if you think you know what is going to happen at the end, you keep reading to find out the conclusion. What Dan Brown has on Mr. Sandom, I do not understand. This book should be made into a movie."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "
    This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life . . . The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle . . . the book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity . . . As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller . . . (THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller . . . as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff . . . Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe . . . Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
    "Just finished reading another book The God Machine by J.G. Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."

    E.M.S. Cohen @ jgsandom.com
    "Just read you for the first time.  Thrilled!  Enjoyed it."

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep elements fresh.  If you like this type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths, published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers . . . In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written . . . Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable . . . A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin — in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment — all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book . . . fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page . . . If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown . . . Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read . . . Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written . . . I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while . . . Better than The Da Vinci Code . . . I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book — so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was impossible to put down . . . The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
    "I chose this book and this author because I read an article comparing the author to Dan Brown and the book to The Da Vinci Code. Well, now that I finished it I can say that (it's)...a very good story...The ending is slightly different than that of other books which deal with the same subject...Usually, in other books, the characters decide to do nothing with the discovery (of a hertical gospel) -- as this would upset society. But, in this case, the author chooses a more open ending."

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapters.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    Lee Titus @ jgsandom.com
    "May God truly guide your wonderfully magnificent work!  Thank you from Lee!  P.S. I really look forward to reading The God Machine.
    "

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your trade paperback version of the new edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller THE WAVE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    Here are the results of the May 2010 Readers' Poll, derived from Chapter 13 of THE GOD MACHINE. The question was, "What was etched on Ben Franklin's concave mirror after his house had been robbed?"  Only one third of you got this one right.  The correct answer was, "A Maltese Cross."

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS 

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, THE UNRESOLVED or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHS

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your trade paperback copy of the new edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Link to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MENRESURRECTION MEN is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released under pen name T.K. Welsh.  If you're planning to buy a copy, hold tight:  It will be available in paperback and eBook form in only a few weeks.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear me speak about the pen name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas — the yearly salary of a working man — Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    To purchase your copy of RESURRECTION MEN, click here!

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, the "author's cut". The UNRESOLVED is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and, of all my work, one of my personal favorites.  It is now — finally — available in paperback and in eBook form.  Click here to get your copy of the "author's cut" version of what the Washington Post called a "subtle gem."

    THE UNRESOLVED was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history.

    Mallory Meer had just turned fifteen when, thanks to the only boy she ever loved, she would be dead, a victim of the General Slocum steamship disaster.  Bound by love to her grieving family, and outraged by the multitude of senseless deaths, Mallory haunts those responsible for the tragedy, determined to see that justice is served.

    Based on the real-life sinking of the General Slocum steamship — which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a Lutheran church outing — THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge.  The novel dramatizes how a single life — and death — can have a powerful influence on history.

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

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    May 2010

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    For the first time ever, THE UNRESOLVED is available as a paperback and in eBook form. If you held off buying that expensive hardback, now's your chance to read the "author's cut."  Click here to purchase your copy today.

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your copy of the "author's cut" of THE UNRESOLVED, now in paperback


     

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books by the Washington Post, which called the novel a "subtle gem," THE UNRESOLVED was named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens, nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, a Cybils literary award, and a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA).

     

    RESURRECTION MEN is also going to paperback and eBook soon.  Keep an eye out!

    In the meantime . . .

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS has just gone back for a
     3rd printing!

     

    The novel is also finally available as an eBook.  Click here to purchase your Kindle copy today.

     

    Also in its 3rd printing , THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook. The novel will also soon appear in Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America), in Polish, and even in Turkish.  So — Gracias, Dziękuję and Çok Sagolun!  (Goodness . . . what's next?)

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.  (If you do, I'll feature you on this website!)  Then, email your friends and tell them about it.  Click here for THE GOD MACHINE postcards.

    Or, if you already own the book and you want your own GOD MACHINE Bookmark, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.

     

    Check out my recent author interview at the official International Thriller Writers official website, and see what prompted me to write THE GOD MACHINE and GOSPEL TRUTHS.

    For this month's excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Links to Amazon.com where you can purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    R&B
    "A fast-paced thriller of a ride which kept this reader on her toes. Side by side search and chase more than two centuries apart, the pace and mystery do not waver. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this book, and into the hands of an author who knew what to do with it . . . Exhilarating, penetrating, even while switching between centuries as far back as A.D.33, does not lose its focus . . . I recommend this book to readers of action, historical fiction, historical religion, and fans of thrillers."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    Armchair Interviews
    "J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action . . . Original."

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend.  Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed.  When I finally finished the book, it was 2:34 in the morning, and I had to get up in 4 hours.  It was definitely worth the loss of sleep.  The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present . . . a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINETHE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Matt @ goodreads.com
    "Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."

    B. Moore @ Amazon.com
    "I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."

    James T. Glover @ Amazon.com
    "I bought this book and actually quit reading the book that I was presently reading at the time. Once I started I couldn't put it down. Excellent job keeping you interested and it never lets up. I don't remember a slow part in the whole book. Characters were great and the story was great. Kind of reminded me of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. Not that the plot was the same just there was a lot of stuff that was in both books. However, I found this book much better and better written. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves a historical thriller."

    Moni @ Amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom's first novel, Gospel Truths, was called "the thinking man's Da Vinci Code." Now, with the publication of The God Machine, Sandom has secured his position as the premier writer of theo-thrillers, outdoing even Dan Brown . . . I LOVED this book! It doesn't pander to readers, and, like with Gospel Truths, I learned all kinds of interesting things about the Gnostics, an early Christian sect labeled heretics by the Church, plus a host of real historical characters: from Da Vinci and Ben Franklin, to electrical geniuses Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison . . . I also loved the fact that the book features a smart and beautiful woman of color, Savita Sajan, Koster's partner. It's rare to read books where such characters are truly 3-dimensional, and not just thrown in as exotic love interests. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys religious thrillers and mysteries. It's fast-paced, well-written and fun. Plus, as with all of Sandom's books, you'll not only be entertained, but learn something new and interesting too."

    Thriller Crazy @ Amazon.com
    "While checking out a new novel by Steve Berry, I came across this new religious thriller by J.G. Sandom called The God Machine. A quick scan revealed that the book features a heroine named Savita Sajan. As a woman of Indian descent, it's rare to see such characters in popular fiction, and so I snapped it up
    .

    "I am so glad I did. I LOVED this book. It's a roller-coaster of a ride that flits back and forth in time, from the days of Benjamin Franklin (a central character in the book), to today. Without giving away too much of the plot, the book involves the quest for a lost Gnostic gospel (the Gospel of Judas) once owned by Ben Franklin, and thought heretical by the organized Church. If uncovered, the presence of the gospel might completely undermine the Church because it features a version of Christ's teachings that are contrary to what we have come to believe today.

    "But the book is so much more. This particular version of the gospel features a strange drawing, a part of which was first rendered soon after the time of Christ by one of his followers, and then expanded over the centuries by Leonardo Da Vinci, Franklin himself, and later by other electrical inventors, from Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, to Savita herself. (Savita actually attended Edison High School!)

    "Too often in novels when Indian women are depicted, they're either subservient bystanders or exotic sex kittens. But in The God Machine, Savita Sajan is actually the head of a very successful high-tech company in Silicon Valley. (I couldn't help thinking of Padmasree Warrior, the CTO of Cisco Systems.) Brilliant, often funny, deeply religious, passionate, and, yes, beautiful, Savita Sajan is someone all girls (Indian or not) can look up to. I also liked her male counterpart, the hero of the novel, Joseph Koster, who suffers from a mild form of Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism.

    "The book is set primarily in New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC, but Savita and Koster also travel to England and France in their quest, places where Franklin lived and worked during his career as a statesman. And wherever they go, they're trailed by a Columbian killer nun who assassinates the enemies of the Church by strangling them with her rosary beads. Really creepy!

    "While the book succeeds brilliantly as a thriller (I couldn't put it down), it's also chockfull of interesting tidbits about Biblical history, chip technology, the Knights of Malta, Freemasonry and, of course, the life of Ben Franklin. It also explores the connection between religion and science, things based on faith versus things based on reason. I loved that about it because it really made me think in new ways about science.

    "I recommend this book to anyone who likes religious thrillers, historical thrillers (for the parts that take place in the 18th century) and for those readers who actually like to learn something while they're being entertained. It's kind of like Dan Brown meets Michael Crichton. Buy it. You won't be disappointed."

    Ed Lute @ Reading Experiences
    "A very good thriller . . . (with a) very well developed plot . . . (and) a strong Gnostic message . . . The book has made me curious again about Ben Franklin.  Recommended!"

    D.T. @ Amazon.com
    "I picked up this book when it was recommended by Amazon. I am so glad they did. It was really a fun read. I love religious thrillers and this was one of the best I've read. Just as good as any Dan Brown's written. In fact I liked it a lot more than The Lost Symbol. The story caught me right from the beginning. I thought the main character, Joseph Koster, was really interesting. He suffers from a mild form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome that makes him socially inept but also really good at certain mathematical problems, which is why he's a good code breaker. I also liked the heroine in the story, an Indian woman named Savita Sajan. She's smart and successful and beautiful, all at once! Plus, one of the villains is a nun who kills people (get this) with her rosary! As a former Catholic school girl, I could really identify. The pace of the book is like a roller coaster. And while you learn a lot about things like the freemasons and the founding fathers (Franklin plays a role in the book) the story is so interesting that it never gets in the way of the plot. I finished the book in two sittings! I've never read anything else by this author but I plan to now. It was that good."

    David Hall @ Amazon.com
    "For those of us that need to view American history from a different point, this reader was not disappointed. The writer's research and description of Ben Franklin and his time is more than commendable. It must be applauded. The locations of early America are accurate. For a reader who has not visited historical London or Paris, this is for you. For those of us who are familiar with present-day New York City, you will find comfort. I suggest that a reader read GOSPEL TRUTHS first. That novel will give a good foundation for THE GOD MACHINE . . . How the author keeps his history, location, personalities, and science in order is almost incomprehensible. The science alone will make a science buff scream with joy . . . Please give this well-written work a try. You will not have wasted your money."

    Traveler @ Amazon.com
    "I have loved Sandom's books in the past but, with this novel, he really hit it out of the ballpark. The history is rich, the characters real, and the clip irrestible. You won't want the story to end. Perhaps most memorable for me was Sandom's portrayal of Ben Franklin. I have long been fascinated with Franklin and I feel like Sandom personalized him for me in an unforgettable way. You will savor this book long after you finish. Enjoy!"

    abdoggett @ Up in the Air and BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It is a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie. I am looking forward to reading Gospel Truths. If you are a fan of historical thrillers such as The Lost Symbol, you should definitely read The God Machine. It is a fast-paced, page-turner that keeps you hooked right up until the last page. A GREAT read!"

    R.S. Beck @ BN.com
    "The God Machine is perfect for night-time reading. The characters are accessible and the thrilling plot moves fluidly. Even if you think you know what is going to happen at the end, you keep reading to find out the conclusion. What Dan Brown has on Mr. Sandom, I do not understand. This book should be made into a movie."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "
    This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life . . . The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle . . . the book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity . . . As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller . . . (THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller . . . as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff . . . Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe . . . Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
    "Just finished reading another book The God Machine by J.G. Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."

    E.M.S. Cohen @ jgsandom.com
    "Just read you for the first time.  Thrilled!  Enjoyed it."

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep elements fresh.  If you like this type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths, published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers . . . In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written . . . Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable . . . A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin — in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment — all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book . . . fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page . . . If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown . . . Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read . . . Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written . . . I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while . . . Better than The Da Vinci Code . . . I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book — so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was impossible to put down . . . The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Reader Reviews

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapters.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    Lee Titus @ jgsandom.com
    "May God truly guide your wonderfully magnificent work!  Thank you from Lee!  P.S. I really look forward to reading The God Machine.
    "

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    THE WAVE -- A John Decker Thriller (Kindle edition)

     

    THE WAVE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Harvey @ amazon.com
    "A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    Here are the results of the April 2010 Readers' Poll, derived from Chapter 12 of THE GOD MACHINE. The question was, "What was Sister Maria giving Bishop Munoz of Brazil right before she strangled him with her rosary beads?"  Seventy-five percent of you got this one right.  The correct answer was, "A blowjob."  Now you know why I write my YA books under a different name:  T. K. Welsh.  Yes, some of my "adult" books — written under my birth name — are a little racy!  That said, since my cousin Paul was a Catholic Archbishop, the head of the Vatican Bank (IOR), and the mayor of the Vatican City, I know whereof I speak.

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS 

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, THE UNRESOLVED or any of my other books?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHS

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to Lulu.com where you can purchase THE WAVETHE WAVE continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses.  Some call it aesthetic destruction.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West:  Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    [NOTE:  I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE.  More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Link to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MENRESURRECTION MEN is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.  If you're planning to buy a copy, hold tight:  It will be available in paperback and eBook form in only a few weeks.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear me speak about the pen name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas — the yearly salary of a working man — Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    To purchase your copy of RESURRECTION MEN, click here!

     

    Links to CreateSpace where you can purchase your copy of the "author's cut" of THE UNRESOLVED, now in paperback The UNRESOLVED is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and, of all my work, one of my personal favorites.  It is now — finally — available in paperback and in eBook form.  Click here to get your copy of the "author's cut" version of what the Washington Post called a "subtle gem."

    THE UNRESOLVED was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history.

    Mallory Meer had just turned fifteen when, thanks to the only boy she ever loved, she would be dead, a victim of the General Slocum steamship disaster.  Bound by love to her grieving family, and outraged by the multitude of senseless deaths, Mallory haunts those responsible for the tragedy, determined to see that justice is served.

    Based on the real-life sinking of the General Slocum steamship — which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a Lutheran church outing — THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge.  The novel dramatizes how a single life — and death — can have a powerful influence on history.

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

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    April 2010

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    First Spain (and all of Latin America), then Poland, and now ... Turkey!  What's next?

    Foreign rights for a Turkish edition of THE GOD MACHINE have been sold to Pegasus Publishing.

    Çok Sagolun!

     

    Back for a 3rd printing in the U.S., THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts, and is featured on a number of new Amazon listmanias, such as Fiction about Items and Creatures and Books You'll Want to Read.

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.  (If you do, I'll feature you on this website!)  Then, email your friends and tell them about it.  Click here for THE GOD MACHINE postcards.

    Or, if you already own the book and you want your own GOD MACHINE Bookmark, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

     

    Check out my recent author interview at the official International Thriller Writers official website, and see what prompted me to write THE GOD MACHINE and GOSPEL TRUTHS.

    For this month's excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown...All hail J.G. Sandom...(The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses...Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    R&B
    "A fast-paced thriller of a ride which kept this reader on her toes. Side by side search and chase more than two centuries apart, the pace and mystery do not waver. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this book, and into the hands of an author who knew what to do with it...Exhilarating, penetrating, even while switching between centuries as far back as A.D.33, does not lose its focus...I recommend this book to readers of action, historical fiction, historical religion, and fans of thrillers."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    Armchair Interviews
    "J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action...Original."

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend.  Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed.  When I finally finished the book, it was 2:34 in the morning, and I had to get up in 4 hours.  It was definitely worth the loss of sleep.  The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present...a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more...Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINETHE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    James T. Glover @ Amazon.com
    "I bought this book and actually quit reading the book that I was presently reading at the time. Once I started I couldn't put it down. Excellent job keeping you interested and it never lets up. I don't remember a slow part in the whole book. Characters were great and the story was great. Kind of reminded me of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. Not that the plot was the same just there was a lot of stuff that was in both books. However, I found this book much better and better written. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves a historical thriller."

    Moni @ Amazon.com
    "J.G. Sandom's first novel, Gospel Truths, was called "the thinking man's Da Vinci Code." Now, with the publication of The God Machine, Sandom has secured his position as the premier writer of theo-thrillers, outdoing even Dan Brown...I LOVED this book! It doesn't pander to readers, and, like with Gospel Truths, I learned all kinds of interesting things about the Gnostics, an early Christian sect labeled heretics by the Church, plus a host of real historical characters: from Da Vinci and Ben Franklin, to electrical geniuses Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison...I also loved the fact that the book features a smart and beautiful woman of color, Savita Sajan, Koster's partner. It's rare to read books where such characters are truly 3-dimensional, and not just thrown in as exotic love interests. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys religious thrillers and mysteries. It's fast-paced, well-written and fun. Plus, as with all of Sandom's books, you'll not only be entertained, but learn something new and interesting too."

    Thriller Crazy @ Amazon.com
    "While checking out a new novel by Steve Berry, I came across this new religious thriller by J.G. Sandom called The God Machine. A quick scan revealed that the book features a heroine named Savita Sajan. As a woman of Indian descent, it's rare to see such characters in popular fiction, and so I snapped it up
    .

    "I am so glad I did. I LOVED this book. It's a roller-coaster of a ride that flits back and forth in time, from the days of Benjamin Franklin (a central character in the book), to today. Without giving away too much of the plot, the book involves the quest for a lost Gnostic gospel (the Gospel of Judas) once owned by Ben Franklin, and thought heretical by the organized Church. If uncovered, the presence of the gospel might completely undermine the Church because it features a version of Christ's teachings that are contrary to what we have come to believe today.

    "But the book is so much more. This particular version of the gospel features a strange drawing, a part of which was first rendered soon after the time of Christ by one of his followers, and then expanded over the centuries by Leonardo Da Vinci, Franklin himself, and later by other electrical inventors, from Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, to Savita herself. (Savita actually attended Edison High School!)

    "Too often in novels when Indian women are depicted, they're either subservient bystanders or exotic sex kittens. But in The God Machine, Savita Sajan is actually the head of a very successful high-tech company in Silicon Valley. (I couldn't help thinking of Padmasree Warrior, the CTO of Cisco Systems.) Brilliant, often funny, deeply religious, passionate, and, yes, beautiful, Savita Sajan is someone all girls (Indian or not) can look up to. I also liked her male counterpart, the hero of the novel, Joseph Koster, who suffers from a mild form of Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism.

    "The book is set primarily in New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC, but Savita and Koster also travel to England and France in their quest, places where Franklin lived and worked during his career as a statesman. And wherever they go, they're trailed by a Columbian killer nun who assassinates the enemies of the Church by strangling them with her rosary beads. Really creepy!

    "While the book succeeds brilliantly as a thriller (I couldn't put it down), it's also chockfull of interesting tidbits about Biblical history, chip technology, the Knights of Malta, Freemasonry and, of course, the life of Ben Franklin. It also explores the connection between religion and science, things based on faith versus things based on reason. I loved that about it because it really made me think in new ways about science.

    "I recommend this book to anyone who likes religious thrillers, historical thrillers (for the parts that take place in the 18th century) and for those readers who actually like to learn something while they're being entertained. It's kind of like Dan Brown meets Michael Crichton. Buy it. You won't be disappointed."

    Ed Lute @ Reading Experiences
    "A very good thriller...(with a) very well developed plot...(and) a strong Gnostic message...The book has made me curious again about Ben Franklin.  Recommended!"

    D.T. @ Amazon.com
    "I picked up this book when it was recommended by Amazon. I am so glad they did. It was really a fun read. I love religious thrillers and this was one of the best I've read. Just as good as any Dan Brown's written. In fact I liked it a lot more than The Lost Symbol. The story caught me right from the beginning. I thought the main character, Joseph Koster, was really interesting. He suffers from a mild form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome that makes him socially inept but also really good at certain mathematical problems, which is why he's a good code breaker. I also liked the heroine in the story, an Indian woman named Savita Sajan. She's smart and successful and beautiful, all at once! Plus, one of the villains is a nun who kills people (get this) with her rosary! As a former Catholic school girl, I could really identify. The pace of the book is like a roller coaster. And while you learn a lot about things like the freemasons and the founding fathers (Franklin plays a role in the book) the story is so interesting that it never gets in the way of the plot. I finished the book in two sittings! I've never read anything else by this author but I plan to now. It was that good."

    David Hall @ Amazon.com
    "For those of us that need to view American history from a different point, this reader was not disappointed. The writer's research and description of Ben Franklin and his time is more than commendable. It must be applauded. The locations of early America are accurate. For a reader who has not visited historical London or Paris, this is for you. For those of us who are familiar with present-day New York City, you will find comfort. I suggest that a reader read GOSPEL TRUTHS first. That novel will give a good foundation for the GOD MACHINE...How the author keeps his history, location, personalities, and science in order is almost incomprehensible. The science alone will make a science buff scream with joy...Please give this well-written work a try. You will not have wasted your money."

    Traveler @ Amazon.com
    "I have loved Sandom's books in the past but, with this novel, he really hit it out of the ballpark. The history is rich, the characters real, and the clip irrestible. You won't want the story to end. Perhaps most memorable for me was Sandom's portrayal of Ben Franklin. I have long been fascinated with Franklin and I feel like Sandom personalized him for me in an unforgettable way. You will savor this book long after you finish. Enjoy!"

    abdoggett @ Up in the Air and BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It is a cross between the DaVinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie. I am looking forward to reading THE GOSPEL TRUTHS. If you are a fan of historical thrillers such as The Lost Symbol, you should definitely read The God Machine. It is a fast-paced, page-turner that keeps you hooked right up until the last page. A GREAT read!"

    R.S. Beck @ BN.com
    "The God Machine is perfect for night-time reading. The characters are accessible and the thrilling plot moves fluidly. Even if you think you know what is going to happen at the end, you keep reading to find out the conclusion. What Dan Brown has on Mr. Sandom, I do not understand. This book should be made into a movie."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "
    This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life...The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle...The book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity...As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller...(THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller...as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff...Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe...Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
    "Just finished reading another book The God Machine by JG Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."

    E.M.S. Cohen @ jgsandom.com
    "Just read you for the first time.  Thrilled!  Enjoyed it."

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep some elements fresh.  If you like that type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers...In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written...Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable...A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin—in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine, released in paperback in May 2009."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "J. Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment -- all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book...fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page...If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown...Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read...Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written...I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while...Better than The Da Vinci Code...I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book--so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was impossible to put down...The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Reader Reviews

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations...I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable...(GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists...l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapters.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be -- an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    Lee Titus @ jgsandom.com
    "May God truly guide your wonderfully magnificent work!  Thank you from Lee!  P.S. I really look forward to reading The God Machine.
    "

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    For those of you who took last month's Readers' Poll, the question was, "In 1529, what annual fee did the Knights of Malta have to pay the Holy Roman Emperor, King Charles V of Spain, for the right to rule Malta, Gozo and Tripoli?"  Congratulations to everyone who entered this month.  You all got it right!  The correct answer was, "A falcon."   That's right:  A Maltese Falcon!

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS 

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS!Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHS

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol...before The Last Templar...before The Secret...and before THE GOD MACHINE -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to Lulu.com where you can purchase THE WAVETHE WAVE continues to climb up the charts @ lulu.com and through most online bookstores.  If you want to buy this John Decker thriller, please do so at lulu.com since other online retailers keep practically all of the profits!

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" -- available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Link to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MENRESURRECTION MEN is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    Here is a fabulous new review of RESURRECTION MEN at mezzowriter's ReadWrite blog:

    "First off, I love the cover.  VERY striking.  (Also listed as author: J.G. Sandom.)  Welsh’s tale is a unique blend of Oliver Twist and Jack the Ripper.  Very Dickensian in many ways, but still very accessible to younger readers (more MATURE younger readers, however).  I was really intrigued by the subject matter; I didn’t know much about the body-snatcher trials.  It’s a page-turner.  It hits the ground running from the very beginning and the momentum is consistent...A very good read.  Highly recommended, especially for lovers of Dickens."

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear me speak about the pen name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction...I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book...Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    To purchase your copy of RESURRECTION MEN, click here!

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE UNRESOLVED

    THE UNRESOLVED
    is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh. The novel was recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post. THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction...a subtle gem (of a book)." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

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    March 2010

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    Calling all Spanish-speaking readers.  Worldwide Spanish rights to THE GOD MACHINE have been sold to La Factoria de Ideas of Madrid.  Gracias!

    My theo-thrillers continue to climb up the charts, popping up on a number of Amazon listmanias, such as Excellent Conspiracy Thrillers, If You Like the Eden Series, Pulse-Pounding New Thrillers, and Kindle Thrills to Get Your Heart Pumping, plus a number of personal wish lists.

    Back for a 3rd printing, THE GOD MACHINE is now available at your local Costco (in NJ), Duane Reade (in NYC) or RiteAid (in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware), as well as through all major book chains and online retailers.  Go into Costco and pick up a signed copy with a complimentary GOD MACHINE bookmark.

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a quick review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.  (If you do, I'll feature you on this website!)  Then, email your friends and tell them about it.  Click here for THE GOD MACHINE postcards.

    Or, if you already own the book and you want your own GOD MACHINE Bookmark, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     

    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

     

    Check out my recent author interview at the official International Thriller Writers official website, and see what prompted me to write THE GOD MACHINE and GOSPEL TRUTHS.

    For this month's excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown...All hail J.G. Sandom...(The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses...Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    R&B
    "A fast-paced thriller of a ride which kept this reader on her toes. Side by side search and chase more than two centuries apart, the pace and mystery do not waver. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this book, and into the hands of an author who knew what to do with it...Exhilarating, penetrating, even while switching between centuries as far back as A.D.33, does not lose its focus...I recommend this book to readers of action, historical fiction, historical religion, and fans of thrillers."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    Armchair Interviews
    "J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action...Original."

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend.  Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed.  When I finally finished the book, it was 2:34 in the morning, and I had to get up in 4 hours.  It was definitely worth the loss of sleep.  The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present...a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more...Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINETHE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Reader Reviews

    Thriller Crazy @ Amazon.com
    "While checking out a new novel by Steve Berry, I came across this new religious thriller by J.G. Sandom called The God Machine. A quick scan revealed that the book features a heroine named Savita Sajan. As a woman of Indian descent, it's rare to see such characters in popular fiction, and so I snapped it up
    .

    "I am so glad I did. I LOVED this book. It's a roller-coaster of a ride that flits back and forth in time, from the days of Benjamin Franklin (a central character in the book), to today. Without giving away too much of the plot, the book involves the quest for a lost Gnostic gospel (the Gospel of Judas) once owned by Ben Franklin, and thought heretical by the organized Church. If uncovered, the presence of the gospel might completely undermine the Church because it features a version of Christ's teachings that are contrary to what we have come to believe today.

    "But the book is so much more. This particular version of the gospel features a strange drawing, a part of which was first rendered soon after the time of Christ by one of his followers, and then expanded over the centuries by Leonardo Da Vinci, Franklin himself, and later by other electrical inventors, from Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, to Savita herself. (Savita actually attended Edison High School!)

    "Too often in novels when Indian women are depicted, they're either subservient bystanders or exotic sex kittens. But in The God Machine, Savita Sajan is actually the head of a very successful high-tech company in Silicon Valley. (I couldn't help thinking of Padmasree Warrior, the CTO of Cisco Systems.) Brilliant, often funny, deeply religious, passionate, and, yes, beautiful, Savita Sajan is someone all girls (Indian or not) can look up to. I also liked her male counterpart, the hero of the novel, Joseph Koster, who suffers from a mild form of Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism.

    "The book is set primarily in New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC, but Savita and Koster also travel to England and France in their quest, places where Franklin lived and worked during his career as a statesman. And wherever they go, they're trailed by a Columbian killer nun who assassinates the enemies of the Church by strangling them with her rosary beads. Really creepy!

    "While the book succeeds brilliantly as a thriller (I couldn't put it down), it's also chockfull of interesting tidbits about Biblical history, chip technology, the Knights of Malta, Freemasonry and, of course, the life of Ben Franklin. It also explores the connection between religion and science, things based on faith versus things based on reason. I loved that about it because it really made me think in new ways about science.

    "I recommend this book to anyone who likes religious thrillers, historical thrillers (for the parts that take place in the 18th century) and for those readers who actually like to learn something while they're being entertained. It's kind of like Dan Brown meets Michael Crichton. Buy it. You won't be disappointed."

    Ed Lute @ Reading Experiences
    "A very good thriller...(with a) very well developed plot...(and) a strong Gnostic message...The book has made me curious again about Ben Franklin.  Recommended!"

    D.T. @ Amazon.com
    "I picked up this book when it was recommended by Amazon. I am so glad they did. It was really a fun read. I love religious thrillers and this was one of the best I've read. Just as good as any Dan Brown's written. In fact I liked it a lot more than The Lost Symbol. The story caught me right from the beginning. I thought the main character, Joseph Koster, was really interesting. He suffers from a mild form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome that makes him socially inept but also really good at certain mathematical problems, which is why he's a good code breaker. I also liked the heroine in the story, an Indian woman named Savita Sajan. She's smart and successful and beautiful, all at once! Plus, one of the villains is a nun who kills people (get this) with her rosary! As a former Catholic school girl, I could really identify. The pace of the book is like a roller coaster. And while you learn a lot about things like the freemasons and the founding fathers (Franklin plays a role in the book) the story is so interesting that it never gets in the way of the plot. I finished the book in two sittings! I've never read anything else by this author but I plan to now. It was that good."

    David Hall @ Amazon.com
    "For those of us that need to view American history from a different point, this reader was not disappointed. The writer's research and description of Ben Franklin and his time is more than commendable. It must be applauded. The locations of early America are accurate. For a reader who has not visited historical London or Paris, this is for you. For those of us who are familiar with present-day New York City, you will find comfort. I suggest that a reader read GOSPEL TRUTHS first. That novel will give a good foundation for the GOD MACHINE...How the author keeps his history, location, personalities, and science in order is almost incomprehensible. The science alone will make a science buff scream with joy...Please give this well-written work a try. You will not have wasted your money."

    Traveler @ Amazon.com
    "I have loved Sandom's books in the past but, with this novel, he really hit it out of the ballpark. The history is rich, the characters real, and the clip irrestible. You won't want the story to end. Perhaps most memorable for me was Sandom's portrayal of Ben Franklin. I have long been fascinated with Franklin and I feel like Sandom personalized him for me in an unforgettable way. You will savor this book long after you finish. Enjoy!"

    abdoggett @ Up in the Air and BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It is a cross between the DaVinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie. I am looking forward to reading THE GOSPEL TRUTHS. If you are a fan of historical thrillers such as The Lost Symbol, you should definitely read The God Machine. It is a fast-paced, page-turner that keeps you hooked right up until the last page. A GREAT read!"

    R.S. Beck @ BN.com
    "The God Machine is perfect for night-time reading. The characters are accessible and the thrilling plot moves fluidly. Even if you think you know what is going to happen at the end, you keep reading to find out the conclusion. What Dan Brown has on Mr. Sandom, I do not understand. This book should be made into a movie."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "
    This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life...The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle...The book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity...As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller...(THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller...as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff...Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe...Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
    "Just finished reading another book The God Machine by JG Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."

    E.M.S. Cohen @ jgsandom.com
    "Just read you for the first time.  Thrilled!  Enjoyed it."

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep some elements fresh.  If you like that type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers...In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written...Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable...A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin—in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine, released in paperback in May 2009."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "J. Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment -- all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book...fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page...If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown...Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read...Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written...I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while...Better than The Da Vinci Code...I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book--so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was impossible to put down...The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Reader Reviews

    David Hall @ jgsandom.com
    "Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations...I look forward to any future writings."

    Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable...(GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists...l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    Tom Bradley @ chapters.indigo.ca
    "Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."

    Ben @ www.goodreads.com
    "Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be -- an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."

    Lee Titus @ jgsandom.com
    "May God truly guide your wonderfully magnificent work!  Thank you from Lee!  P.S. I really look forward to reading The God Machine.
    "

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    For those of you who took last month's Readers' Poll, the question was, "Who was Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua of Philadelphia compared to in the news?"  Everyone who entered got this one right.  Too easy...once again!  (Must make them harder!)  The correct answer was, "Darth Vader." 

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS 

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS!Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHS

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol...before The Last Templar...before The Secret...and before THE GOD MACHINE -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    Links to Lulu.com where you can purchase THE WAVETHE WAVE continues to climb up the charts @ lulu.com and through most online bookstores.  If you want to buy this John Decker thriller, please do so at lulu.com since other online retailers keep practically all of the profits!

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" -- available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.


    Link to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MENRESURRECTION MEN
    is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    YA Librarian Anna R. wrote a 4-star review of RESURRECTION MEN at Shelfari last month:

    "This book was nothing like what I expected. I honestly thought that it was going to be a ghoulish horror novel about a boy working with the bodysnatchers. Instead, it was rather like reading Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (or almost any other of Dickens' works). The author's style was all his own--he didn't write like Dickens (or try to). Like Dickens, he dealt with the grim and gritty reality of the London underground. The story was dark, sad, and grisly, but ended in a satisfyingly positive light."

    And, here's a post at School Librarian 2.0 about my recent Skype reading of RESURRECTION MEN:

    "Video chat, such as Skype, is very useful in education because it is usually free, easy to use, and done in real time. In J.G. Sandom's article (actually, a letter to the Editor of School Library Journal), "Skype Hype," I learned how librarians, and teachers for that matter, can use video chat for conferences and collaboration, as well as to show students different people and places they cannot meet or travel to themselves. For example, a teacher had her students read a book by a particular author, and then they were able to hold an interview/conference session with him! The students were so excited to interview the author and actually put a face with a name. In addition, the author was pleased to get closer with his readers.

    "Considering what I have learned in Chapter 4 of Hendron's book and in Sandom's article, if a classroom has internet connection and a webcam, educators can create meaningful learning opportunities for their students and for themselves!"

    CALLING ALL TEACHERS and SCHOOL LIBRARIANS!

    Have your students read one of my YA historical novels and then bring me directly into your media or music lab to talk about the book.  Using Skype and a webcam, a PC video call is easy and free, and it makes a real difference to the students when they can pose their questions directly to the author.  Contact me at tkwelsh@gmail.com or jgsandom@gmail.com to set up a similar FREE Skype Book Reading & Conference.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear me speak about the pen name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction...I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book...Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    To purchase your copy of RESURRECTION MEN, click here!

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE UNRESOLVEDHere is a wonderful new review of THE UNRESOLVED by the Canadian information services librarian from LibrisNotes:

    "The Unresolved is a fascinating blend of ghost story and historical fiction. The historical event that forms the basis of the plot is the sinking of the paddle steamer ferry, General Slocum, June 15, 1904. The steamer was ferrying members of the St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church when fire broke out in the forward Lamp Room. It was thought that a careless discarding of a lighted cigarette onto straw ignited the blaze, which rapidly spread throughout the steamer. Contributing to the terrible loss of life (over 1000 persons perished) was the lack of working fire hoses and life jackets which caused women and children to sink like stones. It was considered the worst disaster in New York city until the events of 9/11.

    "The author, T.K. Welsh, takes many of the facts known about the disaster and the subsequent inquest and incorporates them into her story. She tells the story of the disaster from the viewpoint of 15 year old Mallory Meer who is on the General Slocum with her mother, her younger sister Nixie, her older sister Louisa and her brother Helmuth. Also on the excursion is Dustin Brauer, the boy Mallory is falling in love with. Unfortunately, Mallory does not survive the disaster - she is a ghost relating the events to us, the reader.

    "The book opens with Mallory who lingers as a ghost recounting the tragedy and who cannot find peace until she helps bring to justice those responsible for the fire and the loss of life. From the character of Mallory, we trace the events that happened just prior to the fire, the disaster itself and on through to the inquest. It is through Mallory, as a ghost, that we learn what people think and feel. We learn about Dustin's past and the history of Mallory's family too. We are told about the German community in New York city, Kleinduetschland and about the Knickerbocker Steamship Company who owned the steamer.

    "As happened in real life, in The Unresolved, those truly responsible are not held accountable and punished. Or are they?

    "This gripping historical novel held my interest to the gripping and shocking end.

    "For those who would like to do further reading on the General Slocum disaster please see the following website:  General Slocum."

    THE UNRESOLVED is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh. The novel was recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post. THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction...a subtle gem (of a book)." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

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    February 2010

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    THE GOD MACHINE has been officially submitted for an Edgar Award, under the Best Paperback Original category.  Whoever it was who nominated me, thanks!

    Meantime, the theo-thriller continues to climb up the charts, with new offers for foreign publication in a variety of markets -- from Spain to Poland!  And the book's rise is not going unnoticed; many readers continue to tweet about the book.

    Check out my recent author interview at the official International Thriller Writers website, and see what prompted me to write THE GOD MACHINE and GOSPEL TRUTHS.

    Back for a 3rd printing, THE GOD MACHINE is now available at your local Costco (in NJ), Duane Reade (in NYC) or RiteAid (in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware), as well as through all major book chains and online retailers.  Go into Costco and pick up a signed copy with a complimentary GOD MACHINE bookmark.

    That's right:  I am now, officially, a drugstore novelist, one aisle over from Convenience Foods!

     

    IMG_0551


     

    Spread the good news.  If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a quick review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.  (If you do, I'll feature you on this website!)  Then, email your friends and tell them about it.  Click here for THE GOD MACHINE postcards.

    Or, if you already own the book and you want your own GOD MACHINE Bookmark, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     


    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

     

    For this month's excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown...All hail J.G. Sandom...(The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses...Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    R&B
    "A fast-paced thriller of a ride which kept this reader on her toes. Side by side search and chase more than two centuries apart, the pace and mystery do not waver. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this book, and into the hands of an author who knew what to do with it...Exhilarating, penetrating, even while switching between centuries as far back as A.D.33, does not lose its focus...I recommend this book to readers of action, historical fiction, historical religion, and fans of thrillers."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    ArmchairInterviews
    Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star thriller
    "
    J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action...Original."

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend. Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed. When I finally finished the book it was 2:34 in the morning and I had to get up in 4 hours. It was definitely worth the loss of sleep. The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present...on a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more...Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Reader ReviewsLinks to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

    David Hall @ jgandom.com
    "Thank amazon.com for suggesting your GOD MACHINE. Historical novels can be both educational and entertaining. I am finding the GOD MACHINE to be both."

    Traveler @ Amazon.com
    "I have loved Sandom's books in the past but, with this novel, he really hit it out of the ballpark. The history is rich, the characters real, and the clip irrestible. You won't want the story to end. Perhaps most memorable for me was Sandom's portrayal of Ben Franklin. I have long been fascinated with Franklin and I feel like Sandom personalized him for me in an unforgettable way. You will savor this book long after you finish. Enjoy!"

    abdoggett @ Up in the Air and BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It is a cross between the DaVinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie. I am looking forward to reading THE GOSPEL TRUTHS. If you are a fan of historical thrillers such as The Lost Symbol, you should definitely read The God Machine. It is a fast-paced, page-turner that keeps you hooked right up until the last page. A GREAT read!"

    R.S. Beck @ bn.com
    "The God Machine is perfect for night-time reading. The characters are accessible and the thrilling plot moves fluidly. Even if you think you know what is going to happen at the end, you keep reading to find out the conclusion. What Dan Brown has on Mr. Sandom, I do not understand. This book should be made into a movie."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life...The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle...The book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity...As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller...(THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller...as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff...Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe...Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
    "Just finished reading another book The God Machine by JG Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."

    E.M.S. Cohen @ jgsandom.com
    "Just read you for the first time.  Thrilled!  Enjoyed it."

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep some elements fresh.  If you like that type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers...In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written...Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable...A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin—in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine, released in paperback in May 2009."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "J. Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment -- all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book...fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page...If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown...Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read...Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written...I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while...Better than The Da Vinci Code...I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book--so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was
    impossible to put down...The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    For those of you who took last month's Readers' Poll, the question was, "Before the return of the Lord to the Earth, and before the Rapture, Jesus will be given a scroll -- the deed to the Earth.  The scroll will be secured with..."  Everyone who entered got this one right.  Too easy!  The correct answer was, "7 Seals."  Hopefully, this month's poll will be more challenging. 

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS 

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHS

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS!

    Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol...before The Last Templar...before The Secret...and before THE GOD MACHINE -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    Links to Lulu.com where you can purchase THE WAVE

     

    THE WAVE continues to climb up the charts @ lulu.com and through most online bookstores.  If you want to buy this John Decker thriller, please do so at lulu.com since other online retailers keep practically all of the profits!

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" -- available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

    Link to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MEN
    RESURRECTION MEN
    is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    YA Librarian Anna R. wrote a 4-star review of RESURRECTION MEN at Shelfari last month:

    "This book was nothing like what I expected. I honestly thought that it was going to be a ghoulish horror novel about a boy working with the bodysnatchers. Instead, it was rather like reading Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (or almost any other of Dickens' works). The author's style was all his own--he didn't write like Dickens (or try to). Like Dickens, he dealt with the grim and gritty reality of the London underground. The story was dark, sad, and grisly, but ended in a satisfyingly positive light."

    And, here's a post at School Librarian 2.0 about my recent Skype reading of RESURRECTION MEN:

    "Video chat, such as Skype, is very useful in education because it is usually free, easy to use, and done in real time. In J.G. Sandom's article (actually, a letter to the Editor of School Library Journal), "Skype Hype," I learned how librarians, and teachers for that matter, can use video chat for conferences and collaboration, as well as to show students different people and places they cannot meet or travel to themselves. For example, a teacher had her students read a book by a particular author, and then they were able to hold an interview/conference session with him! The students were so excited to interview the author and actually put a face with a name. In addition, the author was pleased to get closer with his readers.

    "Considering what I have learned in Chapter 4 of Hendron's book and in Sandom's article, if a classroom has internet connection and a webcam, educators can create meaningful learning opportunities for their students and for themselves!"

     CALLING ALL TEACHERS and SCHOOL LIBRARIANS!

    Have your students read one of my YA historical novels and then bring me directly into your media or music lab to talk about the book.  Using Skype and a webcam, a PC video call is easy and free, and it makes a real difference to the students when they can pose their questions directly to the author.  Contact me at tkwelsh@gmail.com or jgsandom@gmail.com to set up a similar FREE Skype Book Reading & Conference.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear me speak about the pen name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction...I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book...Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    To purchase your copy of RESURRECTION MEN, click here!

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.  The novel was recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. The novel was featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

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    January 2010

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    This month, THE GOD MACHINE is featured at thrillerwriters.org, which gets over 850,000 visits per month, and whose newsletter reaches 12,000 subscribers.  Check out the Author Interview, and see what prompted me to write THE GOD MACHINE and GOSPEL TRUTHS.

    Happy New Year!

     

    Looking for something to read while you're sitting down with that turkey sandwich?  Daunted by the new decade?  Run down to your local Costco (in NJ), Duane Reade (in NYC) or RiteAid (in Philly).

    Back for a 3rd printing, THE GOD MACHINE has arrived!

    I am now, officially, a drugstore novelist, one aisle over from Convenience Foods!

     

    IMG_0551


     

    Spread the good news.  Email a friend.  Click here for THE GOD MACHINE postcards.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     


    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian electrical engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

     

    For this month's excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses...Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    R&B
    "A fast-paced thriller of a ride which kept this reader on her toes. Side by side search and chase more than two centuries apart, the pace and mystery do not waver. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this book, and into the hands of an author who knew what to do with it...Exhilarating, penetrating, even while switching between centuries as far back as A.D.33, does not lose its focus...I recommend this book to readers of action, historical fiction, historical religion, and fans of thrillers."

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend. Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed. When I finally finished the book it was 2:34 in the morning and I had to get up in 4 hours. It was definitely worth the loss of sleep. The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present...on a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    ArmchairInterviews
    Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star thriller
    "
    J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action...Original."

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more...Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Reader ReviewsLinks to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown...All hail J.G. Sandom...(The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    Traveler @ Amazon.com
    "I have loved Sandom's books in the past but, with this novel, he really hit it out of the ballpark. The history is rich, the characters real, and the clip irrestible. You won't want the story to end. Perhaps most memorable for me was Sandom's portrayal of Ben Franklin. I have long been fascinated with Franklin and I feel like Sandom personalized him for me in an unforgettable way. You will savor this book long after you finish. Enjoy!"

    abdoggett @ Up in the Air and BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It is a cross between the DaVinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie. I am looking forward to reading THE GOSPEL TRUTHS. If you are a fan of historical thrillers such as The Lost Symbol, you should definitely read The God Machine. It is a fast-paced, page-turner that keeps you hooked right up until the last page. A GREAT read!"

    R.S. Beck @ bn.com
    "The God Machine is perfect for night-time reading. The characters are accessible and the thrilling plot moves fluidly. Even if you think you know what is going to happen at the end, you keep reading to find out the conclusion. What Dan Brown has on Mr. Sandom, I do not understand. This book should be made into a movie."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life...The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle...The book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity...As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller...(THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller...as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff...Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe...Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
    "Just finished reading another book The God Machine by JG Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."

    E.M.S. Cohen @ jgsandom.com
    "Just read you for the first time.  Thrilled!  Enjoyed it."

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep some elements fresh.  If you like that type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers...In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written...Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable...A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin—in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine, released in paperback in May 2009."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "J. Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment -- all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book...fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page...If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown...Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read...Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written...I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while...Better than The Da Vinci Code...I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book--so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was
    impossible to put down...The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    For those of you who took last month's Readers' Poll, the question was, "What was Pastor Michael Rose doing when he was practicing his sermon about the End-Times?"  80% of you got this one right.  Great job.  The correct answer was, "Copulating with a whore while snorting crystal meth."  Clearly, you were paying attention to this part of the book! 

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS 

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE?  Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    I appreciate your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHS

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol...before The Last Templar...before The Secret...and before THE GOD MACHINE -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    Links to Lulu.com where you can purchase THE WAVE

     

    THE WAVE is still selling briskly @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" -- available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about myother recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

    Link to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MEN
    RESURRECTION MEN
    is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    YA Librarian Anna R. wrote a 4-star review of RESURRECTION MEN at Shelfari this month:

    "This book was nothing like what I expected. I honestly thought that it was going to be a ghoulish horror novel about a boy working with the bodysnatchers. Instead, it was rather like reading Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (or almost any other of Dickens' works). The author's style was all his own--he didn't write like Dickens (or try to). Like Dickens, he dealt with the grim and gritty reality of the London underground. The story was dark, sad, and grisly, but ended in a satisfyingly positive light."

    And, here's a post at School Librarian 2.0 about my recent Skype reading of RESURRECTION MEN:

    "Video chat, such as Skype, is very useful in education because it is usually free, easy to use, and done in real time. In J.G. Sandom's article (actually, a letter to the Editor of School Library Journal), "Skype Hype," I learned how librarians, and teachers for that matter, can use video chat for conferences and collaboration, as well as to show students different people and places they cannot meet or travel to themselves. For example, a teacher had her students read a book by a particular author, and then they were able to hold an interview/conference session with him! The students were so excited to interview the author and actually put a face with a name. In addition, the author was pleased to get closer with his readers.

    "Considering what I have learned in Chapter 4 of Hendron's book and in Sandom's article, if a classroom has internet connection and a webcam, educators can create meaningful learning opportunities for their students and for themselves!"

     CALLING ALL TEACHERS and SCHOOL LIBRARIANS!

    Have your students read one of my YA historical novels and then bring me directly into your media or music lab to talk about the book.  Using Skype and a webcam, a PC video call is easy and free, and it makes a real difference to the students when they can pose their questions directly to the author.  Contact me at tkwelsh@gmail.com or jgsandom@gmail.com to set up a similar FREE Skype Book Reading & Conference.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear me speak about the pen name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction...I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book...Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    To purchase your copy of RESURRECTION MEN, click here!

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.  The novel was recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. The novel was featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

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    December 2009

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    Thanks to you, THE GOD MACHINE has gone back for a third printing.  That's right -- a 3rd printing!

    Now available in Rite Aid, Duane Reade and Costco outlets, plus in US Army PXs, all along the East Coast!

    See what some have called,
    "The perfect holiday gift of 2009!"

    Spread the good news.  Email a friend.  Click here for THE GOD MACHINE postcards. 

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     


    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian electrical engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

     

    For this month's excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses...Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    R&B
    "A fast-paced thriller of a ride which kept this reader on her toes. Side by side search and chase more than two centuries apart, the pace and mystery do not waver. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this book, and into the hands of an author who knew what to do with it...Exhilarating, penetrating, even while switching between centuries as far back as A.D.33, does not lose its focus...I recommend this book to readers of action, historical fiction, historical religion, and fans of thrillers."

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend. Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed. When I finally finished the book it was 2:34 in the morning and I had to get up in 4 hours. It was definitely worth the loss of sleep. The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present...on a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    ArmchairInterviews
    Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star thriller
    "
    J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action...Original."

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more...Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Reader ReviewsLinks to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown...All hail J.G. Sandom...(The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    R.S. Beck @ bn.com
    "The God Machine is perfect for night-time reading. The characters are accessible and the thrilling plot moves fluidly. Even if you think you know what is going to happen at the end, you keep reading to find out the conclusion. What Dan Brown has on Mr. Sandom, I do not understand. This book should be made into a movie. With the right screenplay it would make money."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life...The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle...The book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity...As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    E.M.S. Cohen @ jgsandom.com
    "Just read you for the first time.  Thrilled!  Enjoyed it."

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller...(THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller...as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff...Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe...Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
    "Just finished reading another book The God Machine by JG Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep some elements fresh.  If you like that type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers...In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written...Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable...A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin—in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine, released in paperback in May 2009."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "J. Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment -- all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book...fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page...If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown...Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    abdoggett @ BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It's a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read...Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written...I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while...Better than The Da Vinci Code...I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book--so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was
    impossible to put down...The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    For those of you who took last month's Readers' Poll, the question was, "In which city does Joseph Koster's best friend live?"  Only 20% of you got this one right.  The correct answer was, "Moscow."

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS 

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE?  Click here to learn how you can bring J.G. Sandom into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    The author appreciates your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHS

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol...before The Last Templar...before The Secret...and before THE GOD MACHINE -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    Links to Lulu.com where you can purchase THE WAVE

     

    THE WAVE
    THE WAVE is still selling briskly @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube. See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MEN

    RESURRECTION MEN
    RESURRECTION MEN is J.G. Sandom's third Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear the author speak about the name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires T.K. Welsh to write, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction...I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book...Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    To purchase your copy of RESURRECTION MEN, click here!

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE UNRESOLVED

    THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED is J.G. Sandom's second Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.  The novel was recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. The novel was featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

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    November 2009

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    Thanks to you, THE GOD MACHINE has gone back for a third printing.  That's right -- a 3rd printing!

    And, soon it will be in Rite Aid, Duane Reade and Costco outlets, plus in US Army PXs, all along the East Coast!

    If you live in Philly (home of the National League Championship Series winners!), go to your nearest Rite Aid and buy a book!

    If you live in New York (home of the American League Championship Series winners!), go to your nearest Duane Reade and...yes, that's right...buy a book!

    (If they don't have them yet, ask them when they're coming in.)

    Books will be in a dozen Costcos in New Jersey starting in January.

    Meanwhile, the theo-thriller continues to climb up the charts, this month ranking in the top 0.04 percentile at Amazon!

     

    Thanks for your support!

     

    Spread the good news.  Email a friend.  Click here for THE GOD MACHINE postcards. 

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     


    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian electrical engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

     

    For this month's excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE THE GOD MACHINE -- Editorial Reviews

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses...Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend. Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed. When I finally finished the book it was 2:34 in the morning and I had to get up in 4 hours. It was definitely worth the loss of sleep. The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present...on a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    ArmchairInterviews
    Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star thriller
    "
    J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action...Original."

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more...Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Reader ReviewsLinks to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown...All hail J.G. Sandom...(The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life...The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle...The book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity...As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    E.M.S. Cohen @ jgsandom.com
    "Just read you for the first time.  Thrilled!  Enjoyed it."

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller...(THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller...as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff...Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe...Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
    "Just finished reading another book The God Machine by JG Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep some elements fresh.  If you like that type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers...In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written...Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable...A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin—in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine, released in paperback in May 2009."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "J. Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment -- all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book...fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page...If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown...Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    abdoggett @ BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It's a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read...Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written...I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while...Better than The Da Vinci Code...I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book--so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was
    impossible to put down...The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    GOSPEL TRUTHS -- Reader Reviews

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSDan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
    "The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable...(GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists...l am looking forward to reading the sequel."

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    For those of you who took last month's Readers' Poll, the question was, "How did Nick Robinson characterize the enigmatic illustration found in Ben Franklin's version of the Gospel of Judas?"  Only one third of you got this one right.  The correct answer was, "A Masonic curiosity."  (Yes, I know this one was tricky.  The "phi" was the most popular answer, and it's also featured throughout the novel.)

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS 

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE?  Click here to learn how you can bring J.G. Sandom into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    The author appreciates your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHS

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol...before The Last Templar...before The Secret...and before THE GOD MACHINE -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    Links to Lulu.com where you can purchase THE WAVE

     

    THE WAVE
    THE WAVE is still selling briskly @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube. See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MEN

    RESURRECTION MEN
    RESURRECTION MEN is J.G. Sandom's third Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear the author speak about the name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires T.K. Welsh to write, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction...I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book...Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    To purchase your copy of RESURRECTION MEN, click here!

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE UNRESOLVED

    THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED is J.G. Sandom's second Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    This month, someone posted a question about the book's ending at YAHOO!Answers.

    Nicole asked:  "OK.  So I was a bit confused.  Did she (Mallory) take over that guy's (Barnaby's) wife at the end?  Because she said she came home to him every night, and she was comforting him when he was mumbling about seeing the ghost girl.  Or, did she mean that she was just haunting him every day?  And why was she not allowed into judgment (Heaven/Hell)?  Any ideas?"

    And DumbKat responded:  "I believe the author meant that she just haunted him. I don't think it has anything to do with his wife. But by haunting him, she became intimate with him. And he came home to Mallory every night...just as he came home to his wife.  I believe her desire to see that justice was done in the case of the Slocum meant that she would be haunting him until his death. In the Epilogue, Welsh says, 'It took Barnaby seventeen winters to die.' But now that he, and all the rest who were guilty, are gone, she can finally move on. As she says, 'It's done...Will you lead me? Will you open the door, please?' This is Mallory saying it's over and it's time for her to move on to the next world. It's her cry to God to finally open the door. And, I believe, He did."

    What do you think?  Post your answer here.

    THE UNRESOLVED was recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. The novel was featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

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    October 2009

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    Back for a second printing, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts, this month ranking in the top 0.1 percentile at Amazon!

     

    Thanks for your support!

     

    Spread the good news.  Tell a friend.  Click here for THE GOD MACHINE postcards. 

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     


    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian electrical engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

     

    For this month's excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE THE GOD MACHINE -- Editorial Reviews

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses...Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend. Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed. When I finally finished the book it was 2:34 in the morning and I had to get up in 4 hours. It was definitely worth the loss of sleep. The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present...on a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    ArmchairInterviews
    Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star thriller
    "
    J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action...Original."

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS -- Editorial Reviews

    Crystal Reviews
    "J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more...Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"

    To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

     

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Reader ReviewsLinks to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown...All hail J.G. Sandom...(The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life...The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle...The book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity...As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller...(THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller...as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff...Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe...Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
    "Just finished reading another book The God Machine by JG Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep some elements fresh.  If you like that type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers...In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written...Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable...A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin—in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine, released in paperback in May 2009."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "J. Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment -- all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book...fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page...If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown...Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    abdoggett @ BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It's a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read...Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written...I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while...Better than The Da Vinci Code...I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book--so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was
    impossible to put down...The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    For those of you who took last month's Readers' Poll, the question was, "Who were Theresa Robinson's parents??"  All of you got this one right.  Too easy!  The correct answer was, "Bill and Anne Huntington, of the Texas Huntingtons."

    Look for the Huntingtons, a family of Texas oil billionaires, to play a key role in the sequel to THE GOD MACHINE.  That's right.  I'm working on the outline right now!

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS 

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE?  Click here to learn how you can bring J.G. Sandom into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    The author appreciates your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHS

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol...before The Last Templar...before The Secret...and before THE GOD MACHINE -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Links to Lulu.com where you can purchase THE WAVE

     

    THE WAVE
    THE WAVE is still selling briskly @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube. See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MEN

    RESURRECTION MEN
    RESURRECTION MEN is J.G. Sandom's third Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear the author speak about the name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires T.K. Welsh to write, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction...I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book...Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    To buy your copy, click here!

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE UNRESOLVED

    THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED is J.G. Sandom's second Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    This month, someone posted a question about the book's ending at YAHOO!Answers.

    Nicole asked:  "OK.  So I was a bit confused.  Did she (Mallory) take over that guy's (Barnaby's) wife at the end?  Because she said she came home to him every night, and she was comforting him when he was mumbling about seeing the ghost girl.  Or, did she mean that she was just haunting him every day?  And why was she not allowed into judgment (Heaven/Hell)?  Any ideas?"

    And DumbKat responded:  "I believe the author meant that she just haunted him. I don't think it has anything to do with his wife. But by haunting him, she became intimate with him. And he came home to Mallory every night...just as he came home to his wife.  I believe her desire to see that justice was done in the case of the Slocum meant that she would be haunting him until his death. In the Epilogue, Welsh says, 'It took Barnaby seventeen winters to die.' But now that he, and all the rest who were guilty, are gone, she can finally move on. As she says, 'It's done...Will you lead me? Will you open the door, please?' This is Mallory saying it's over and it's time for her to move on to the next world. It's her cry to God to finally open the door. And, I believe, He did."

    What do you think?  Post your answer here.

    THE UNRESOLVED was recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here!

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

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    September 2009

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    A heartfelt thank you to all of you who entered THE GOD MACHINE Readers' Contest.  And here are the winners:  Luz Carrion; Annette Doggett; Rod Lott; and Nightreader.  Congratulations!

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     

    Thanks to you, my loyal readers, THE GOD MACHINE has gone back for a second printing!

     


    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian electrical engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

     

    For this month's excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE THE GOD MACHINE -- Editorial Reviews

    Historical Novels Review
    "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses...Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"

    Books By Mail (BBM)
    "I learned a valuable lesson this weekend. Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed. When I finally finished the book it was 2:34 in the morning and I had to get up in 4 hours. It was definitely worth the loss of sleep. The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present...on a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    bookideas.com
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    ArmchairInterviews
    Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star thriller
    "
    J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action...Original."

     

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Reader ReviewsLinks to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

    A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
    "The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note:  Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.)  So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode.  I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep some elements fresh.  If you like that type of genre, it's a good book to buy."

    Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
    "This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."

    Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
    "The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers...In The God Machine the reader gets it all:  crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written...Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."

    Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
    "One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    "This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life...The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle...The book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity...As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable...A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin—in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine, released in paperback in May 2009."

    David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
    "Sandom is a born story-teller...(THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller...as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff...Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe...Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    "J. Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment -- all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    "I loved this book...fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page...If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown...Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    abdoggett @ BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It's a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie."

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown...All hail J.G. Sandom...(The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read...Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written...I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet!  Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while...Better than The Da Vinci Code...I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    "This is quite a book--so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was
    impossible to put down...The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    READERS' POLL

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    For those of you who took last month's Readers' Poll, the question was, "Where did Edward Marshall, Solomon Jennings and James Yeates begin their Walking Purchase?"  Only half of you got this one right.  The correct answer is, "Where the road from Pennsville meets Durham."

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

     

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS

    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

     

    READINGS & SIGNINGS 

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE?  Click here to learn how you can bring J.G. Sandom into your home via a free Skype online video call.  All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.

    The author appreciates your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, click here.

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHS

    Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE?  Read the prequel:  GOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code...before The Last Templar...before The Secret...and before THE GOD MACHINE -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Links to Lulu.com where you can purchase THE WAVE

     

    THE WAVE
    THE WAVE is still selling briskly @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube. See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MEN

    RESURRECTION MEN
    RESURRECTION MEN is J.G. Sandom's third Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear the author speak about the name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires T.K. Welsh to write, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction...I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book...Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    To buy your copy, click here!

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE UNRESOLVED

    THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED is J.G. Sandom's second Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    THE UNRESOLVED was recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here!

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    August 2009

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    Because of you, my loyal readers, THE GOD MACHINE has gone back for a second printing!

     

    A heartfelt thank you to all of you who entered THE GOD MACHINE Readers' Contest.

    And the winners are ...

    GRAND PRIZE WINNER:  Luz Carrion

    Ms. Carrion will receive $500 in cash, plus a live, personal Skype video (or phone) reading from THE GOD MACHINE, and a free autographed copy of the book.

    2nd PRIZE WINNER:  Annette Doggett

    For her dozens and dozens of entries, Ms. Doggett will receive $350 in cash or a new Kindle 2 electronic book reader (from Amazon), plus a live, personal Skype video (or phone) reading from THE GOD MACHINE, and a free autographed copy of the book.

    3rd PRIZE WINNER:  Rod Lott

    Mr. Lott will receive a live, personal Skype video (or phone) reading from THE GOD MACHINE, and a free autographed copy of the book.

    4th PRIZE WINNER:  "Nightreader"

    "Nightreader" will receive a free autographed copy of THE GOD MACHINE.

     

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE

     

    Tired of waiting for Dan Brown's sequel to The Da Vinci Code?  Enter THE GOD MACHINE.

     


    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian electrical engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

     

    For an excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    See below for information on FORTHCOMING READINGS & SIGNINGS.

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    READERS' POLL
    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE.  (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    For those of you who took last month's Readers' Poll, the question was, "Ben Franklin's coded journal was brought to Nick Robinson in a box of ..."  Almost 67% of you got this right.  The correct answer is, "Running Shoes."

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS
    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

    To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    FORTHCOMING READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase the book

    THE GOD MACHINE -- SIGNING
    Date:         August 1, 2009
    Venue:       B. Dalton
    Time:         1:00 - 3:00 PM
    Address:     192 Quaker Bridge Mall, Lawrenceville (off Rt. 1), NJ
    Phone:       (609) 799-8198

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase the book

    THE GOD MACHINE -- READING & SIGNING
    Date:         September 9, 2009
    Venue:       Mercer County Library (Hopewell Branch)
    Time:         6:30 - 8:00 PM
    Address:     245 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington
    Phone:       (609) 737-2610

     

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE?  Click here to learn how you can bring J.G. Sandom into your home via a free Skype online video account.  All you need is a video camera and a PC.

    The author appreciates your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE GOD MACHINE THE GOD MACHINE -- Editorial Reviews

    bookpage.com
    "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."

    bookideas.com
    Rating:
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    ArmchairInterviews
    Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star thriller
    "
    J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action...Original."

     

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Reader Reviews

    George Smith @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "
    This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life...The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle...The book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity...As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"

    Ladybug @ Amazon.com
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    "I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable...A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"

    Karen Elley @ The Book Case
    Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes:  "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin—in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine, released in paperback in May 2009."

    David Ross @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "Sandom is a born story-teller...(THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller...as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff...Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe...Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "J. Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment -- all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "I loved this book...fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page...If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
     
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown...Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    abdoggett @ BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It's a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie."

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown...All hail J.G. Sandom...(The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read...Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written...I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet! 
    Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while...Better than The Da Vinci Code...I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10!  It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk.  Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "This is quite a book--so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was impossible to put down...The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."


    IN OTHER NEWS

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase GOSPEL TRUTHSGOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code...before The Last Templar...before The Secret...and before THE GOD MACHINE -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Links to Lulu.com where you can purchase THE WAVE

     

    THE WAVE
    THE WAVE is still selling briskly @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube. See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MEN

    RESURRECTION MEN
    RESURRECTION MEN is J.G. Sandom's third Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear the author speak about the name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires T.K. Welsh to write, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction...I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book...Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    To buy your copy, click here!

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE UNRESOLVED

    THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED is J.G. Sandom's second Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    THE UNRESOLVED was recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here!

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    July 2009

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    Thanks to you, THE GOD MACHINE--the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS--has just gone back for a second printing!

     

    Enter THE GOD MACHINE READERS' CONTEST and you could...

     

    WIN $500

     

    ...plus a free autographed copy of THE GOD MACHINE. (See below for details.)

     

    THE_GOD_MACHINE_Cover_Art

     

     

    Tired of waiting for Dan Brown's sequel to The Da Vinci Code?  Enter THE GOD MACHINE.

     


    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian electrical engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

     

    For an excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    See below for information on FORTHCOMING READINGS & SIGNINGS.

    To order your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    Links to page where you can download THE GOD MACHINE e-Postcards

    To download a .pdf of Jesus, right-mouse-click here, and then "Save Target As" the file (under whatever name you choose) to anywhere on your PC (e.g. your Desktop).  Once it's on your PC, you can attach it to emails and send it on to friends.
     
    Or you can right-mouse click on the image, "Copy" it, and then right-mouse click "Paste" it directly into an email message.
     

    Links to a page where you can download THE GOD MACHINE e-Postcards

    To download a .pdf of Liberty, right-mouse-click here, and then "Save Target As" the file (under whatever name you choose) to anywhere on your PC (e.g. your Desktop).  Once it's on your PC, you can attach it to emails and send it on to your friends.
     
    Or you can right-mouse click on the image, "Copy" it, and then right-mouse click "Paste" it directly into an email message.
     
    THE GOD MACHINE READERS' CONTEST
    The book business, like so many others, is in trouble these days.  So, I'm turning to you--my loyal readers--to help me get the word out about THE GOD MACHINE.  By participating in this Readers’ Contest, you’ll become part of the book launch, part of the book experience, and authors--in a very real sense--of the book’s success.

    How do you enter to win?  It's easy!

    • Every time you blog about THE GOD MACHINE, Tweet about the book to your "followers" on Twitter, or write a review on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com or Borders.com, you'll be entered into the drawing for the Grand Prize.
    • Post one of the GOD MACHINE e-Postcards (like the one of Ben Franklin, above) on your blog, Facebook or MySpace page and you'll be entered twice.  Create a new e-Postcard based on the book and you'll be entered 5 times!
    • If you read THE GOD MACHINE in your book group and have me speak to your group via Skype online video, in person or by phone, you--and everyone else in your group--will be entered into the drawing.
    • If you attend one of my readings, you'll be entered into the drawing.
    • And, if you put together a book trailer for THE GOD MACHINE suitable for posting on YouTube, you'll receive 10 entries into the drawing!  (If you're unfamiliar with book trailers, click here for an example.)

    The Grand Prize is $500, plus a live, personal Skype video (or phone) reading from THE GOD MACHINE for you and your friends, and a free autographed copy of THE GOD MACHINE.  Think about how many books you could buy at your favorite book store with $500!

    The contest runs through the end of this month, concluding at midnight on July 31st.  All winners will be announced in my August "What's New!" post.

    For an automated PowerPoint slideshow about THE GOD MACHINE and the Readers' Contest, click here.  (When it prompts you, click Open.  Or, select Save and send it on to your friends!)  Click here to view the PowerPoint slideshow at YouTube.

    For full contest rules, click here.

    Now, go out there and start organizing your book groups!  Good luck, and remember:  The more reviews you post, the greater your chances of winning!

    READERS' POLL
    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE.  (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    For those of you who took last month's Readers' Poll, the question was, "What is the name of the hand grip of the Entered Apprentice?"  Great job!  Everyone who answered got this one right.  The correct answer is, "Boaz."

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS
    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

    To order your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    FORTHCOMING READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Links to Random House where you can purchase the book

    THE GOD MACHINE -- SIGNING
    Date:         August 1, 2009
    Venue:       B. Dalton
    Time:         1:00 - 3:00 PM
    Address:     192 Quaker Bridge Mall, Lawrenceville (off Rt. 1), NJ
    Phone:       (609) 799-8198

    Links to Random House where you can purchase the book

    THE GOD MACHINE -- READING & SIGNING
    Date:         September 9, 2009
    Venue:       Mercer County Library (Hopewell Branch)
    Time:         6:30 - 8:00 PM
    Address:     245 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington
    Phone:       (609) 737-2610

     

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE?  Click here to learn how you can bring J.G. Sandom into your home via a free Skype online video account.  All you need is a video camera and a PC.

    The author appreciates your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE_GOD_MACHINE_2009_Thumb_Nail THE GOD MACHINE -- Editorial Reviews

    bookideas.com
    Rating:
    "The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"

    ArmchairInterviews
    Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star thriller
    "
    J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action...Original."

     

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Reader Reviews

    David Ross @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "Sandom is a born story-teller...(THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."

    James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller...as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff...Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe...Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "J. Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment -- all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    G. Goggins @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "I enjoyed this book a lot...I like to learn something when I read, and I really felt that I learned a lot after reading both the Gospel Truths and The God Machine. J. Sandom has a good way with developing his characters."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "I loved this book...fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page...If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
     
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown...Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    abdoggett @ BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It's a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie."

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown...All hail J.G. Sandom...(The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read...Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written...I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet! 
    Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while...
    Better than The Da Vinci Code...I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10! It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk. Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com

    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "This is quite a book--so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was impossible to put down...The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked!"

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Link to Bantam to purchaseGOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code...before The Last Templar...before The Secret...and before THE GOD MACHINE -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to purchase THE WAVE

     

    THE WAVE
    THE WAVE is still selling briskly @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube. See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MEN

    RESURRECTION MEN
    RESURRECTION MEN is J.G. Sandom's third Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear the author speak about the name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires T.K. Welsh to write, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction...I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book...Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    To buy your copy, click here!

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE UNRESOLVED

    THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED is J.G. Sandom's second Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    THE UNRESOLVED was recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here!

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    June 2009

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is finally available!

     

    Enter THE GOD MACHINE READERS' CONTEST and you could...

     

    WIN $500

     

    ...plus a free autographed copy of THE GOD MACHINE. (See below for details.)

     

    THE_GOD_MACHINE_Cover_Art

     

     

    Tired of waiting for Dan Brown's sequel to The Da Vinci Code?  Enter THE GOD MACHINE.

     


    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian electrical engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

     

    For an excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    See below for information on FORTHCOMING READINGS & SIGNINGS.

    To order your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    Links to THE GOD MACHINE e-Postcards/Wallpapers  

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Links to THE GOD MACHINE e-Postcards

     

    THE GOD MACHINE READERS' CONTEST
    The book business, like so many others, is in trouble these days.  So, I'm turning to you--my loyal readers--to help me get the word out about THE GOD MACHINE.  By participating in this Readers’ Contest, you’ll become part of the book launch, part of the book experience, and authors--in a very real sense--of the book’s success.

    How do you enter to win?  It's easy!

    • Every time you blog about THE GOD MACHINE, Tweet about the book to your "followers" on Twitter, or write a review on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com or Borders.com, you'll be entered into the drawing for the Grand Prize.
    • Post one of the GOD MACHINE e-Postcards (like the one of Ben Franklin, above) on your blog, Facebook or MySpace page and you'll be entered twice.  Create a new e-Postcard based on the book and you'll be entered 5 times!
    • If you read THE GOD MACHINE in your book group and have me speak to your group via Skype online video, in person or by phone, you--and everyone else in your group--will be entered into the drawing.
    • If you attend one of my readings, you'll be entered into the drawing.
    • And, if you put together a book trailer for THE GOD MACHINE suitable for posting on YouTube, you'll receive 10 entries into the drawing!  (If you're unfamiliar with book trailers, click here for an example.)

    The Grand Prize is $500, plus a live, personal Skype video (or phone) reading from THE GOD MACHINE for you and your friends, and a free autographed copy of THE GOD MACHINE.  Think about how many books you could buy at your favorite book store with $500!

    The contest runs through the end of July, concluding at midnight on July 31st.  All winners will be announced in my August "What's New!" post.

    For an automated PowerPoint slideshow about THE GOD MACHINE and the Readers' Contest, click here.  (When it prompts you, click Open.  Or, select Save and send it on to your friends!)  Click here to view the PowerPoint slideshow at YouTube.

    For full contest rules, click here.

    Now, go out there and start organizing your book groups!  Good luck, and remember:  The more reviews you post, the greater your chances of winning!

    READERS' POLL
    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE.  (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    For those of you who took last month's Readers' Poll, the question was, "What did Ian Wilson of the Independence Park Service have dangling from the chain attached to his wallet?"  This one was tough, but most of you got it right:  "A small Mason's square."

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS
    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

    To order your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    FORTHCOMING READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Links to Random House where you can purchase the book

    THE GOD MACHINE
    Date:         June 13th, 2009
    Venue:       Border's
    Time:         1:00 - 2:00 PM
    Address:     601 Nassau Park, Princeton (off Rt. 1), NJ
    Phone:       (856) 985-8909

     

    THE GOD MACHINELinks to Random House where you can purchase the book
    Date:         June 24th, 2009
    Venue:       Head House Books
    Time:         7:30 - 9:00 PM
    Address:     619 South Second Street, Philadelphia PA
    Phone:       (215) 923-9525

     

    Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club?  Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE?  Click here to learn how you can bring J.G. Sandom into your home via a free Skype online video account.  All you need is a video camera and a PC.

    The author appreciates your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE_GOD_MACHINE_2009_Thumb_Nail THE GOD MACHINE -- Editorial Reviews

    Book Passage
    "A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action...Original."

     

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Reader Reviews

    Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
    "The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."

    Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "J. Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment -- all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."

    G. Goggins @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "I enjoyed this book a lot...I like to learn something when I read, and I really felt that I learned a lot after reading both the Gospel Truths and The God Machine. J. Sandom has a good way with developing his characters."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "I loved this book...fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page...If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
     
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown...Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    abdoggett @ borders.com

    5 out of 5  
    "I just finished The God Machine and it is a great read!  It's a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. This book would make a fantastic movie."

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Move over, Dan Brown...All hail J.G. Sandom...(The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."

    Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
    "I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read...Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"

    Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
    "Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"

    John Moore @ jgsandom.com
    "As good as any Dan Brown has written...I could not put it down."

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet! 
    Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while...
    Better than The Da Vinci Code...I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10! It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk. Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com

    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "This is quite a book--so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was impossible to put down...The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked!"

     
     
    IN OTHER NEWS

    Link to Bantam to purchaseGOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code...before The Last Templar...before The Secret...and before THE GOD MACHINE -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

     

    Link to purchase THE WAVE THE WAVE
    THE WAVE is still selling briskly @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube. See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase RESURRECTION MEN

    RESURRECTION MEN
    RESURRECTION MEN is J.G. Sandom's third Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear the author speak about the name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires T.K. Welsh to write, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction...I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book...Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    To buy your copy, click here!

     

    Links to Amazon where you can purchase THE UNRESOLVED

    THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED is J.G. Sandom's second Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh.

    THE UNRESOLVED was recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here!

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

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    May 2009

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

     

    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is finally available!

     

    Enter THE GOD MACHINE READERS' CONTEST and you could...

     

    WIN $500

     

    ...plus a free autographed copy of THE GOD MACHINE. (See below for details.)

     

    THE_GOD_MACHINE_Cover_Art

     

     

    Tired of waiting for Dan Brown's sequel to The Da Vinci Code?  Enter THE GOD MACHINE.

     


    The Church insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

     

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling...and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful Indian electrical engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

     

    For an excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

    See below for information on FORTHCOMING READINGS & SIGNINGS.

    To order your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    Links to THE GOD MACHINE e-Postcards/Wallpapers  

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE GOD MACHINE READERS' CONTEST
    The book business, like so many others, is in trouble these days.  So, I'm turning to you--my loyal readers--to help me get the word out about THE GOD MACHINE.  By participating in this Readers’ Contest, you’ll become part of the book launch, part of the book experience, and authors--in a very real sense--of the book’s success.

    How do you enter to win?  It's easy!

    • Every time you blog about THE GOD MACHINE, Tweet about the book to your "followers" on Twitter, or write a review on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com or Borders.com, you'll be entered into the drawing for the Grand Prize.
    • Post one of the GOD MACHINE e-Postcards (like the one of Ben Franklin, above) on your blog, Facebook or MySpace page and you'll be entered twice.  Create a new e-Postcard based on the book and you'll be entered 5 times!
    • If you read THE GOD MACHINE in your book group and have me speak to your group via Skype online video, in person or by phone, you--and everyone else in your group--will be entered into the drawing.
    • If you attend one of my readings, you'll be entered into the drawing.
    • And, if you put together a book trailer for THE GOD MACHINE suitable for posting on YouTube, you'll receive 10 entries into the drawing!  (If you're unfamiliar with book trailers, click here for an example.)

    The Grand Prize is $500, plus a live, personal Skype video (or phone) reading from THE GOD MACHINE for you and your friends, and a free autographed copy of THE GOD MACHINE.  Think about how many books you could buy at your favorite book store with $500!

    The contest will begin on May 1st (3 days following the release of THE GOD MACHINE on April 28th), and will run through the end of July, concluding at midnight on July 31st.  All winners will be announced in my August "What's New!" post.

    For an automated PowerPoint slideshow about THE GOD MACHINE and the Readers' Contest, click here.  (When it prompts you, click Open.  Or, select Save and send it on to your friends!)  Click here to view the PowerPoint slideshow at YouTube.

    For full contest rules, click here.

    Now, go out there and start organizing your book groups!  Good luck, and remember:  The more reviews you post, the greater your chances of winning!

    READERS' POLL
    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE.  (HINT:  For excerpts from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.)

    For those of you who took last month's Readers' Poll, the question was, "What did the mysterious stranger from Egypt, who was accompanied by Rabbi Simon Nathan of Philadelphia, bring to Ben Franklin?"  Every one of you who responded to this question got it right.  Well done!  The correct answer was, "The codex of an ancient Gospel."  That's right:  The Gospel of Judas.

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS
    For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun!  Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

    Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.

    To order your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.

     

    FORTHCOMING READINGS & SIGNINGS

    Links to Random House where you can purchase the bookTHE GOD MACHINE
    Date:         May 29th, 2009
    Venue:       Breezin with Bierman
    Time:         8:00 - 9:00 PM
    Phone:       (609) 252-1953
    Access:       Princeton TV-30, Channel 45 (FIOS) & streaming live @ www.princetontv.org



    Links to Random House where you can purchase the book

    THE GOD MACHINE
    Date:         May 30th, 2009
    Venue:       Pennington Market
    Time:         Noon - 1:00 PM
    Address:     25 Route 31 South, Pennington NJ
    Phone:       (609) 737-0058

     

    THE GOD MACHINELinks to Random House where you can purchase the book
    Date:         June 13th, 2009
    Venue:       Border's
    Time:         1:00 - 2:00 PM
    Address:     601 Nassau Park, Princeton (off Rt. 1), NJ
    Phone:       (856) 985-8909

     

    THE GOD MACHINELinks to Random House where you can purchase the book
    Date:         June 24th, 2009 [RESCHEDULED]
    Venue:       Head House Books
    Time:         7:30 - 9:00 PM
    Address:     619 South Second Street, Philadelphia PA
    Phone:       (215) 923-9525

     

    The author appreciates your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    THE_GOD_MACHINE_2009_Thumb_Nail THE GOD MACHINE -- Editorial Reviews

    Book Passage
    "In a thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action, one man--spurred by the discovery of Benjamin Franklin's coded journal--goes in search of the legendary Gospel of Judas, but finds something even more incredible.  Original."

     

    THE GOD MACHINE -- Reader Reviews

    G. Goggins @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "I enjoyed this book a lot.  I had read Gospel Truths years ago and remember how it struck me as a better read than the highly popular DaVinci Code, in part, because of the rich historic details and intelligent connections. I like to learn something when I read, and I really felt that I learned a lot after reading both the Gospel Truths and The God Machine. J. Sandom has a good way with developing his characters, too, and Joseph Koster is quirky enough to be interesting, yet very real. It was nice to catch up with him in The God Machine after so many years."

    gracie412 @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "I loved this book! I'm a huge fan of these kinds of thrillers and I must say this is one of the best out there. This book was fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page. I was already a fan after Gospel Truths but -- man oh man -- this one was way more exciting and more of a thrill ride...If I had a God Machine I'd wish that J.G. Sandom not take so long between books. I can't wait for this to be made into a movie! If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"

    seagull49 @ BN.com
     
    "One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown...This book is a page-turner. It will keep you up. I have read Gospel Truths and this one, and both are great. Do your shelf a favor and buy it."

    abdoggett @ BN.com
    "I really enjoyed this book! It is a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie. I am looking forward to reading GOSPEL TRUTHS.

    Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
    "Dan Brown is considered the god of the God thrillers. Well, move over, Dan Brown...All hail J.G. Sandom. Do you love codes? Hidden maps? Forbidden sacred texts? Secret societies? Ancient cover-ups? Masonic puzzles? Then, get yourself THE GOD MACHINE as fast as you can — freshly published by Bantam paperbacks. It is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage.  I see on the author’s website that he even has a Readers’ Contest: five hundred bucks…Jeez.  What’s keeping you?"

    Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet...If you like religious thrillers with secret discoveries, mystery, religious nuts and secret societies, conspiracies, intrigue, and a well-developed characters, then you need to get this book. Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while...Better than The Da Vinci Code...I give 5 stars out of 5, or a 10 out of 10! It's a rarity among the world of fiction, especially those of this ilk. Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"

    Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com

    5.0 out of 5 stars
    "
    This is quite a book--so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was impossible to put down...The fact that Sandom is an excellent writer makes the story all the more real. He has craftfully created characters that are real and believable and his pacing is remarkable. I do not often read a book in one sitting, especially when I have exams to grade, but "The God Machine" pulled me in and kept me hooked!"

     

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Link to Bantam to purchaseGOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code...before The Last Templar...before The Secret...and before THE GOD MACHINE -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to purchase THE WAVE THE WAVE
    THE WAVE is still selling briskly @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube. See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Amazon to purchaseRESURRECTION MEN
    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires J.G. Sandom to write his Young Adult (YA) novels (under the name T.K. Welsh).

    RESURRECTION MEN has been named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." The Thrushmetal Review said, "The action and pace is steady and quick, rarely pausing, and finishes in an unforgettable, movie-quality fight-to-the-death.” BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work...I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.”KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book!” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    (NOTE: J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Dutton-Penguin to purchase

    THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED recently made Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    (NOTE: J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

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    April 2009

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    I performed a Skype Book Reading and Conference with kids from the Fort Plain Jr/Sr High School in New York on March 27th.  Using the high school media lab, they opened a free account with (VOIP online phone service provider) Skype and video-called me at my home through a PC.  I'm equipped with a videocam and free Skype account myself, so I was able to see the kids in the classroom, and they were able to see me.  In fact, they projected the Skype-cast up on a big screen so everyone could get a good view.  It took hardly any time to set up...and it was FREE!

    The kids had a great time asking me all sorts of questions about RESURRECTION MEN and writing in general.  And I received a kind note thereafter from the progressive Fort Plain librarian, Mary Van Patten, who to my knowledge is the first educator in the state to exploit the Web in this way:

    "The students were so thrilled with this experience.  Fort Plain is a small town, next to Canajoharie NY; it's exit 29 off the NY Thruway.  There are a lot of dairy farms in the area.  Many of these farms are being bought by Amish people.  Because of the Erie Canal, it was once a prosperous town.  The students I work with are great...Thanks so much for making this happen."

    What a great way to leverage the Net to get closer to readers.  I'm encouraging all elementary, junior and high school librarians out there who are carrying my T.K. Welsh titles (like THE UNRESOLVED and RESURRECTION MEN) to contact me at tkwelsh@gmail.com in order to set up a similar Skype Book Reading and Conference.  Have the children read one of my YA historical novels and then invite me into your media or music lab to talk about the book.  Using Skype and a webcam, a PC video call is easy and free, and it makes a real difference to the students when they can pose their questions directly to the author.

    In fact, participants of any Book Club or Book Circle with ten members or more who purchase one of my novels--like THE WAVE, GOSPEL TRUTHS or my forthcoming religious thriller THE GOD MACHINE--can contact me at jgsandom@gmail.com to set up a similar FREE Skype Book Reading and Conference.

    Invite me into your living room, and I'll invite you into mine.  Rather than simply discussing a book amongst yourselves, as usual, imagine having the author right there to answer your questions directly.

    And speaking of my new thriller, the forthcoming release of THE GOD MACHINE is featured on the Winchester College Alumni home page -- Old Wykehamists (OW) News.  For those of you Old Wykehamists who still have fond memories of Kenny's, check out this new online resource.

    Link to purchase THE WAVE THE WAVE
    J.G. Sandom's most recent novel, THE WAVE, is finally available @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube. See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    The results are in for last month's READERS' POLL. The question was, "Where did the terrorist Ali Hammel plant his explosive device on the island of Lanzarote in the Canaries?"  One third of you got this one wrong, thinking it was in "a container marked sturgeon."  The correct answer was, "In a jukebox featuring The Beatles."

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE
    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS,
    will be released by Bantam (Random House) AT THE END OF THIS MONTH (April 28th, 2009).

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll, in the left margin, and test your knowledge of THE GOD MACHINE.  (HINT:  There's an excerpt from the Prologue of the new book here.)

    Tell the author what you think of the book cover here.

    In the Philadelphia area?  Come and here J.G. Sandom read from THE GOD MACHINE at Head House Books next month (May 12th).  [See details under FORTHCOMING READINGS, below.]

    Link to Bantam to purchase
        The Church Insisted it didn't exist.

                They lied.

        They said it was just a Masonic legend.

                It wasn't.

        A two thousand year old secret...

                Revealed.

        STEP INTO THE GOD MACHINE!


    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets...and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling...and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful electrical engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

    To pre-order or purchase your copy, click here.


    IN OTHER NEWS

    Link to Bantam to purchaseGOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code...before The Last Templar...before The Secret -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Amazon to purchaseRESURRECTION MEN
    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires J.G. Sandom to write his Young Adult (YA) novels (under the name T.K. Welsh).

    RESURRECTION MEN has been named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." The Thrushmetal Review said, "The action and pace is steady and quick, rarely pausing, and finishes in an unforgettable, movie-quality fight-to-the-death.” BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work...I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.”KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book!” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    (NOTE: J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Dutton-Penguin to purchase

    THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED recently made Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    (NOTE: J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

    To buy your copy, click here.


    FORTHCOMING READINGS

    LIVE READING:

    Book:        THE GOD MACHINE
    Date:         May 12th, 2009
    Venue:       Head House Books
    Time:         7:30 - 9:00 PM
    Address:     619 South Second Street, Philadelphia PA
    Phone:       (215) 923-9525

    The author appreciates your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, click here.


    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Link to Lulu.com to purchaseTHE WAVE -- Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "In Sandom's doomdsay thriller, a cryptanalyst and an oceanographer combine forces in an attempt to thwart a terrorist plan to inundate the eastern seabord of the United States...Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle, in its pacing and violence, and a measure of brains as it goes about knitting Islamic calligraphy into the action, as well as making skirmishes into cryptography, vulcan stimulation and the higher physics of radiation and isotope decay without force-feeding the dense material to the reader...After a rather stately start...(THE WAVE) races from improbably to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead...A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Amazon to purchase

    RESURRECTION MEN -- Reader Reviews

    Michelle @ tkwelsh.com
    "I've just completed reading Resurrection Men and I must say that it made it to my favorite book list (only one so far, and I do read often) Which is saying a lot... T.K you are an extraordinary writer that snags me out of my surroundings and into your imagintion! I plan to read The Unresolved and any other future book you may write! Share your talent! Its a substance you must not waste!"

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    March 2009

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    Link to Lulu.com to purchase

    The forthcoming release of THE GOD MACHINE is featured on the Winchester College Alumni home page -- Old Wykehamists (OW) News.  For those of you Old Wykehamists who still have fond memories of Kenny's, check out this new online resource.

    THE WAVE
    J.G. Sandom's most recent novel, THE WAVE, is finally available @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube. See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    We'll be adding a new chapter from the book each month until THE GOD MACHINE goes on sale in April, 2009. Enjoy!

    The results are in for last month's READERS' POLL. The question was, "What did the terrorist Ziad say El Aqrab had told him had been carried from India to Spain by the Muslim Almoravids?" Only a handful of you tried this one, but you all got it right.  The correct answer was, "The number zero (0)."

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll (in the left margin) and test your knowledge of THE WAVE.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE
    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is
    scheduled to be released by Bantam AT THE END OF NEXT MONTH (April 28th, 2009). Tell the author what you think of the book cover here.

    Link to Bantam to purchase
    The Church Insisted it didn't exist.

            They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

            It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

            Revealed.

    STEP INTO THE GOD MACHINE!


    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets...and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling...and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

    To pre-order your copy, click here.


    IN OTHER NEWS

    Link to Bantam to purchaseGOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code...before The Last Templar...before The Secret -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS! Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Amazon to purchaseRESURRECTION MEN
    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires J.G. Sandom to write his Young Adult (YA) novels (under the name T.K. Welsh).

    RESURRECTION MEN has been named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." The Thrushmetal Review said, "The action and pace is steady and quick, rarely pausing, and finishes in an unforgettable, movie-quality fight-to-the-death.” BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work...I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.”KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book!” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    (NOTE: J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Dutton-Penguin to purchase

    THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED recently made Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    (NOTE: J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

    To buy your copy, click here.

     

    FORTHCOMING READINGS

    SKYPE READING & BOOK CONFERENCE:

    Book:       RESURRECTION MEN
    Date:        March 27th, 2009
    Venue:      Fort Plain Junior/High School
    Time:        10:30 - 11:30 AM
    Address:    Fort Plain, New York

    The author appreciates your feedback.  If you'd like to say something about a reading, click here.

     

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Link to Lulu.com to purchaseTHE WAVE -- Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "In Sandom's doomdsay thriller, a cryptanalyst and an oceanographer combine forces in an attempt to thwart a terrorist plan to inundate the eastern seabord of the United States...Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle, in its pacing and violence, and a measure of brains as it goes about knitting Islamic calligraphy into the action, as well as making skirmishes into cryptography, vulcan stimulation and the higher physics of radiation and isotope decay without force-feeding the dense material to the reader...After a rather stately start...(THE WAVE) races from improbably to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead...A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Amazon to purchase

    RESURRECTION MEN -- Reader Reviews

    Kat M at Shelfari
    "A super book! Very Dickensian, which I love. Setting was partly 1830's London and trying to live in appalling conditions. The resurrection men were those who dug up bodies for science. It was also about a doctor using these bodies. And about a boy living on the streets until a nice doctor takes him in. A great book."

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    February 2009

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    Link to Lulu.com to purchase

    THE WAVE
    J.G. Sandom's most recent novel, THE WAVE, is finally available @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube. See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    We'll be adding a new chapter from the book each month until THE GOD MACHINE goes on sale in April, 2009. Enjoy!

    The results are in for last month's READERS' POLL. The question was, "What mathematical constant (often found in Islamic architecture) did Decker leverage to unravel the PC wallpaper used by El Aqrab in communicating with his agents?" Only half of you got this one right.  This was a tough one.  The correct answer was, "The Golden Ratio (phi)."

    In mathematics and the arts, two quantities are in the Golden Ratio if the ratio between the sum of those quantities and the larger one is the same as the ratio between the larger one and the smaller.  The Golden Ratio is an irrational mathematical constant, approximately 1.6180339887.  Many architects, including those practicising Islamic architecture, have proportioned their work to approximate the Golden Ratio, especially in the form of the Golden Rectangle -- in which the ratio of the longer side to the shorter is the golden ratio -- believing this proportion to be aesthetically pleasing.  The Golden Ratio is also featured extensively in the architecture of the great Gothic cathedrals of France (see GOSPEL TRUTHS).

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll (in the left margin) and test your knowledge of THE WAVE.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE
    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is currently with the publisher.
    The novel is scheduled to be released by Bantam in April 2009. Let me know what you think of the cover by leaving a comment here.

    Link to Bantam to purchase
    The Church Insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

    STEP INTO THE GOD MACHINE!


    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets...and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling...and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

    To pre-order your copy, click here.


    IN OTHER NEWS

    Link to Bantam to purchaseGOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code...before The Last Templar...before The Secret -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS! Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Amazon to purchaseRESURRECTION MEN
    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires J.G. Sandom (T.K. Welsh) to write his Young Adult (YA) books, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN has been named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." The Thrushmetal Review said, "The action and pace is steady and quick, rarely pausing, and finishes in an unforgettable, movie-quality fight-to-the-death.” BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work...I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.”KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book!” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    (NOTE: J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Dutton-Penguin to purchase

    THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED recently made Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    (NOTE: J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

    To buy your copy, click here.


    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Link to Lulu.com to purchaseTHE WAVE -- Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "In Sandom's doomdsay thriller, a cryptanalyst and an oceanographer combine forces in an attempt to thwart a terrorist plan to inundate the eastern seabord of the United States...Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle, in its pacing and violence, and a measure of brains as it goes about knitting Islamic calligraphy into the action, as well as making skirmishes into cryptography, vulcan stimulation and the higher physics of radiation and isotope decay without force-feeding the dense material to the reader...After a rather stately start...(THE WAVE) races from improbably to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead...A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    December 2008

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    Link to Lulu.com to purchase

    [Follow me on Twitter.]

    THE WAVE
    J.G. Sandom's most recent novel, THE WAVE, is finally available @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, check out THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube. See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    We'll be adding a new chapter from the book each month until THE GOD MACHINE goes on sale next year. Enjoy!

    The results are in for last month's READERS' POLL. The question was, "How does the terrorist Al-Hakim cross into Israel from Egypt?"  Every one of you who responded got this one right.  Fantastic!  The correct answer was, "Through an underground tunnel beneath the border fence."

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll (in the left margin) and test your knowledge of THE WAVE.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE
    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is currently with the publisher.
    The novel is scheduled to be released by Bantam in April 2009. Let me know what you think of the cover by leaving a comment here.

    Link to Bantam to purchase
        The Church Insisted it didn't exist.

                                They lied.

        They said it was just a Masonic legend.

                                It wasn't.

        A two thousand year old secret...

                                Revealed.

     

     

    STEP INTO THE GOD MACHINE!

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets...and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling...and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

    To pre-order your copy, click here.

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Link to Bantam to purchaseGOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code...before Holy Blood, Holy Grail and Labyrinth...before The Secret -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS! Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Amazon to purchaseRESURRECTION MEN
    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires J.G. Sandom (T.K. Welsh) to write his Young Adult (YA) books, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN has been named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." The Thrushmetal Review said, "The action and pace is steady and quick, rarely pausing, and finishes in an unforgettable, movie-quality fight-to-the-death.” BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work...I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book!” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    (NOTE: J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Dutton-Penguin to purchase

    THE UNRESOLVED
    THE UNRESOLVED was recently featured in the October, 2008, Horn Book Halloween Special, "Ghost Stories", and made Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature last year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association. It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year." All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history. Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    (NOTE: J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

    To buy your copy, click here.

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Link to Lulu.com to purchaseTHE WAVE -- Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "In Sandom's doomdsay thriller, a cryptanalyst and an oceanographer combine forces in an attempt to thwart a terrorist plan to inundate the eastern seabord of the United States...Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle, in its pacing and violence, and a measure of brains as it goes about knitting Islamic calligraphy into the action, as well as making skirmishes into cryptography, vulcan stimulation and the higher physics of radiation and isotope decay without force-feeding the dense material to the reader...After a rather stately start...(THE WAVE) races from improbably to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead...A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Amazon to purchaseRESURRECTION MEN -- Editorial Reviews

    School Library Journal
    Not.Exactly.Dead.: Under the sheets reading
    "When Tyrolean soldiers kill young Victor's parents, he leaves his hometown of Modena on a merchant ship headed up the Mediterranean coast. A violent spat with another crewmember casts Victor overboard and clinging to a gaff in the English Channel with almost all chances of hope gone. He washes ashore, and an elderly Englishman takes in the injured boy and nurses him back to health. The man then sells him to Tipple and Biggs, two undertakers who intend to teach Victor the mortuary trade. Victor is taken to London, where he learns of Tipple's and Biggs's questionable practices such as digging up the recently deceased to sell their organs to doctors, or worse, murdering orphans to increase their profit with 'fresh subjects.' Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England through an elaborate plot of body snatching, greed, and street life. This is a challenging read, but competent readers will be on the edge of their seats as they follow Victor from Italy to England as he seeks to solve mysteries and combat the rampant malevolence of the period."

    Curriculum Connections
    Murder and Mayhem Under Grey Skies
    "Dissecting corpses for medical study also figures in T. K. Welsh’s Resurrection Men (Dutton, 2007), set in 1830s London. Victor, orphaned at 12, is kidnapped and sold to a pair of grave robbers, “resurrection men” who sell fresh bodies to researchers and run a ring of beggar children on the side. In a gruesomely detailed recounting of Victor’s wildly fluctuating fortunes, Welsh creates a bleak portrait of London street life, darkly Dickensian and thoroughly riveting. Offer this one alongside Oliver Twist for lively, if uneasy, discussion."

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    November 2008

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    I was the featured guest author at the recent Middle Atlantic College Stores (MACS) National Convention at the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dover, DE, on the 26th of October.  Over a hundred college bookstore owners & managers were in attendance, and a good time was had by all.  I read selections from GOSPEL TRUTHS and the forthcoming sequel THE GOD MACHINE, and talked about the Internet and how college bookstores can leverage the Web to improve business.

    Meanwhile, my Young Adult (YA) novel RESURRECTION MEN is currently being featured in both School Library Journal (John Peters' article entitled "Not.Exactly.Dead -- Under the Sheets Reading") and Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey Skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear me speak about my name through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".

    THE UNRESOLVED is featured in the October, 2008, Horn Book Monthly Special, "Ghost Stories" ... for all of you who like a good scare this time of year. The novel also made Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.

    Last but not least, check out the new cover art for THE GOD MACHINE, due out on April 28th, 2009, from Bantam (See below).

    Link to Lulu.com to purchase

    THE WAVE
    THE WAVE is finally available @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, check out THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube.  See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    We'll be adding a new chapter from the book each month until THE GOD MACHINE goes on sale next year. Enjoy!

    The results are in for last month's READERS' POLL. The question was, "What are the prophesies found in Sura 81 of Al Takwir in the Koran meant to symbolize?"  You all got this one right.  Great job!  The correct answer was, "The end of the world."

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    Check out the latest Readers' Poll (in the left margin) and test your knowledge of THE WAVE.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE
    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is currently with the publisher.
    The novel is scheduled to be released by Bantam in May 2009. Let me know what you think of the cover by leaving a comment here.

    Link to Bantam to purchase
            The Church Insisted it didn't exist.

                                                    They lied.

            They said it was just a Masonic legend.

                                                    It wasn't.

            A two thousand year old secret...

                                                    Revealed.



            
            STEP INTO THE GOD MACHINE!

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets...and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling...and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

    To pre-order your copy, click here.

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Link to Bantam to purchaseGOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before
    The Da Vinci Code...before Holy Blood, Holy Grail and Labyrinth...before The Secret -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Link to Amazon to purchaseRESURRECTION MEN
    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires J.G. Sandom (T.K. Welsh) to write his Young Adult (YA) books, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN has been named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." The Thrushmetal Review said, "The action and pace is steady and quick, rarely pausing, and finishes in an unforgettable, movie-quality fight-to-the-death.” BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work...I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book!” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    (NOTE: J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    To buy your copy, click here!

    Link to Dutton-Penguin to purchase

    THE UNRESOLVED
    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens.  The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature last year.  THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association.  It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the Year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction."  School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way."  Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel."  Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account."  Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up."  The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year."  All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one.  Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story."  And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history.  Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge.  The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    (NOTE: J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

    To buy your copy, click here!

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    Link to Lulu.com to purchaseTHE WAVE -- Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "In Sandom's doomdsay thriller, a cryptanalyst and an oceanographer combine forces in an attempt to thwart a terrorist plan to inundate the eastern seabord of the United States...Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle, in its pacing and violence, and a measure of brains as it goes about knitting Islamic calligraphy into the action, as well as making skirmishes into cryptography, vulcan stimulation and the higher physics of radiation and isotope decay without force-feeding the dense material to the reader...After a rather stately start...(THE WAVE) races from improbably to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead...A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    October 2008

    6_the_wave_cover_artNEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    THE WAVE
    J.G. Sandom's THE WAVE is finally available @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, check out THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube.  See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    We'll be adding a new chapter from the book each month until THE GOD MACHINE goes on sale next year.  Enjoy!

    The results are in for last month's READERS' POLL.  The question was, "How long will it take for the Eastern Seaboard to be considered safe following the explosion of a 1 kiloton nuclear bomb in New York City?"  Every one of you got this one right.  Fantastic!  The correct answer was, "24-36 months."  Pretty scary, no?

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    Check out the Readers' Poll to the left and test your knowledge of THE WAVE.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE
    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is currently with the publisher.
      The novel is scheduled to be released by Bantam in the summer of 2009.

    The Church Insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

    STEP INTO THE GOD MACHINE!

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin.  A hidden map.  A legendary gospel.  These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets...and it almost cost him his life.  But some treasures are too hard to resist.  And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling...and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it.  But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Gospel_truths_2007_cover_art_2GOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before The Da Vinci Code...before Holy Blood, Holy Grail and Labyrinth...before The Secret -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com.  Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth."  Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception."  Mostly Murder characterized it as, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."  And the (New York Daily) News said, "GOSPEL TRUTHS is a monumental novel of suspense ... almost epic in proportion ... complex, yet skillfully crafted."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here

    To buy your copy, click here.

    5_resurrection_men_cover_art_1RESURRECTION MEN
    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer.  See what inspires J.G. Sandom (T.K. Welsh) to write his Young Adult (YA) books, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN has been named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Welsh's visceral descriptions of industrial London are unflinching...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." The Thrushmetal Review said, "The action and pace is steady and quick, rarely pausing, and finishes in an unforgettable, movie-quality fight-to-the-death.” BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale in which more than bodies are resurrected – the souls of the primary characters are at stake as well. Welsh brings 19th-century London to life in all its horrors and brilliance and Victor is a hero worthy of the reader's attention...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Welsh’s plot and writing style are reminiscent of Oliver Twist by Dickens but far more graphic. Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction...(A) lurid stomach-churner... strewn with corpses and gruesome relics." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction that made me read every page intently to the end...T. K. Welsh’s rich vocabulary and detailed descriptions...transported me to the streets of London...I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.” KLIATT, the Free Online Library, said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...You can practically smell the smells, and feel the hair rising on the back of your neck, as you read this book. The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book! Victor is a worthy protagonist, and one that is not easily forgotten once the book is finished. A wonderfully ghoulish story that captures the darkness of London in the mid-1800s. Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England through an elaborate plot of body snatching, greed, and street life...Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they follow Victor from Italy to England as he seeks to solve mysteries and combat the rampant malevolence of the period.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you.  [NOTE:  Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    To buy your copy, click here!

    3_the_unresolved_cover_art_7

    THE UNRESOLVED
    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens.  The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature last year.  THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association.  It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "(Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction."  School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way."  Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel."  Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account."  Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up."  The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year."  All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time."  Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story."  And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history.  Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge.  The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

    To buy your copy, click here!

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    The_wave_2007_thumb_nail_3THE WAVE -- Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "In Sandom’s doomsday thriller, a cryptanalyst and an oceanographer combine forces in an attempt to thwart a terrorist plan to inundate the eastern seaboard of the United States...Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle, in its pacing and violence, and a measure of brains as it goes about knitting Islamic calligraphy into the action, as well as making skirmishes into cryptography, vulcan stimulation and the higher physics of radiation and isotope decay without force-feeding the dense material to the reader...After a rather stately start...(THE WAVE) races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead...A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To buy your copy, click here.

    5_resurrection_men_cover_art_1RESURRECTION MEN -- Reader Reviews

    pmlyayakkers @ LibraryThing

    "After Victor's parents are murdered, he leaves Italian village and signs onto a merchant ship. A fight with another crewman results in his being injured and thrown overboard. Found on shore in England, he is sold to two disreputable "resurrection men" who set him up as a beggar. Poor children's lives were worthless in 1830's London. This is the story of how he and others struggled to live, often died and were taken advantage of. Victor's story has a happy ending - many others did not. Resurrection men were in the business of stealing corpses or otherwise obtaining bodies for medical research."

    To buy your copy, click here!

    EVENTS

    Gospel_truths_2007_cover_art_2GOSPEL TRUTHS et al
    Date:        October 26th, 2008
    Venue:     2008 Annual Middle Atlantic College Stores Convention
    Time:       1:00 - 2:00 PM
    Address:   Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover, DE
    Phone:     (402) 440-0941

    J.G. Sandom will be the featured speaker at the Author Luncheon for the 2008 MACS Annual Convention @ the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover, DE.  For more information about this event, please contact Art Johansen, Program Committee Chair, at 402/440-0941.

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    September 2008

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    The_wave_2007_thumb_nail_3THE WAVE
    J.G. Sandom's THE WAVE is finally available @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, check out THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube.  See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    We'll be adding a new chapter from the book each month until THE GOD MACHINE goes on sale next year.  Enjoy!

    The results are in for last month's READERS' POLL.  The question was, "Where did John Decker go after meeting with Professor Hassan at Columbia?"  Every one of you got this one right.  Well done!  The correct answer was, "To a whorehouse."

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    Check out the Readers' Poll to the left and test your knowledge of THE WAVE.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE
    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is currently with the publisher.
      The novel is scheduled to be released by Bantam in the summer of 2009.

    The Church Insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

    STEP INTO THE GOD MACHINE!

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin.  A hidden map.  A legendary gospel.  These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets...and it almost cost him his life.  But some treasures are too hard to resist.  And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling...and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it.  But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Gospel_truths_2007_cover_art_2GOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before The Da Vinci Code...before Holy Blood, Holy Grail and Labyrinth...before The Secret -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com.  Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth."  Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception."  Mostly Murder characterized it as, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."  And the (New York Daily) News said, "GOSPEL TRUTHS is a monumental novel of suspense ... almost epic in proportion ... complex, yet skillfully crafted."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here

    To buy your copy, click here.

    5_resurrection_men_cover_art_1RESURRECTION MEN
    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer.  See what inspires J.G. Sandom (T.K. Welsh) to write his Young Adult (YA) books, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN has been named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Welsh's visceral descriptions of industrial London are unflinching...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." The Thrushmetal Review said, "The action and pace is steady and quick, rarely pausing, and finishes in an unforgettable, movie-quality fight-to-the-death.” BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale in which more than bodies are resurrected – the souls of the primary characters are at stake as well. Welsh brings 19th-century London to life in all its horrors and brilliance and Victor is a hero worthy of the reader's attention...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Welsh’s plot and writing style are reminiscent of Oliver Twist by Dickens but far more graphic. Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction...(A) lurid stomach-churner... strewn with corpses and gruesome relics." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction that made me read every page intently to the end...T. K. Welsh’s rich vocabulary and detailed descriptions...transported me to the streets of London...I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.” KLIATT, the Free Online Library, said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...You can practically smell the smells, and feel the hair rising on the back of your neck, as you read this book. The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book! Victor is a worthy protagonist, and one that is not easily forgotten once the book is finished. A wonderfully ghoulish story that captures the darkness of London in the mid-1800s. Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England through an elaborate plot of body snatching, greed, and street life...Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they follow Victor from Italy to England as he seeks to solve mysteries and combat the rampant malevolence of the period.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you.  [NOTE:  Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    To buy your copy, click here!

    3_the_unresolved_cover_art_7

    THE UNRESOLVED
    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens.  The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature last year.  THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association.  It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "(Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction."  School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way."  Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel."  Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account."  Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up."  The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year."  All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time."  Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story."  And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history.  Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge.  The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

    To buy your copy, click here!

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    The_wave_2007_thumb_nail_3THE WAVE -- Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "In Sandom’s doomsday thriller, a cryptanalyst and an oceanographer combine forces in an attempt to thwart a terrorist plan to inundate the eastern seaboard of the United States...Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle, in its pacing and violence, and a measure of brains as it goes about knitting Islamic calligraphy into the action, as well as making skirmishes into cryptography, vulcan stimulation and the higher physics of radiation and isotope decay without force-feeding the dense material to the reader...After a rather stately start...(THE WAVE) races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead...A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To buy your copy, click here.

    EVENTS

    Gospel_truths_2007_cover_art_2GOSPEL TRUTHS et al
    Date:        October 26th, 2008
    Venue:     2008 Annual Middle Atlantic College Stores Convention
    Time:       1:00 - 2:00 PM
    Address:   Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover, DE
    Phone:     (402) 440-0941

    J.G. Sandom will be the featured speaker at the Author Luncheon for the 2008 MACS Annual Convention @ the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover, DE.  For more information about this event, please contact Art Johansen, Program Committee Chair, at 402/440-0941.

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    August 2008

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    The_wave_2007_thumb_nail_3THE WAVE
    J.G. Sandom's THE WAVE is finally available @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, check out THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube.  See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    We'll be adding a new chapter from the book each month until THE GOD MACHINE goes on sale next year.  Enjoy!

    The results are in for last month's READERS' POLL.  The question was, "Where did John Decker go after meeting with Professor Hassan at Columbia?"  Every one of you got this one correct.  Well done!  The correct answer was, "To a whorehouse."

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    Check out the Readers' Poll to the left and test your knowledge of THE WAVE.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE
    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is currently with the publisher.
      The novel is scheduled to be released by Bantam in the summer of 2009.

    The Church Insisted it didn't exist.

    They lied.

    They said it was just a Masonic legend.

    It wasn't.

    A two thousand year old secret...

    Revealed.

    STEP INTO THE GOD MACHINE!

    The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin.  A hidden map.  A legendary gospel.  These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.

    Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets...and it almost cost him his life.  But some treasures are too hard to resist.  And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling...and infinitely more deadly.

    Now, along with beautiful engineer Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it.  But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing...staying alive, another.

    For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven...could open the portals of Hell.

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Gospel_truths_2007_cover_art_2GOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before The Da Vinci Code...before Holy Blood, Holy Grail and Labyrinth...before The Secret -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com.  Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth."  Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception."  Mostly Murder characterized it as, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."  And the (New York Daily) News said, "GOSPEL TRUTHS is a monumental novel of suspense ... almost epic in proportion ... complex, yet skillfully crafted."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here

    To buy your copy, click here.

    5_resurrection_men_cover_art_1RESURRECTION MEN
    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer.  See what inspires J.G. Sandom (T.K. Welsh) to write his Young Adult (YA) books, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN has been named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Welsh's visceral descriptions of industrial London are unflinching...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." The Thrushmetal Review said, "The action and pace is steady and quick, rarely pausing, and finishes in an unforgettable, movie-quality fight-to-the-death.” BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale in which more than bodies are resurrected – the souls of the primary characters are at stake as well. Welsh brings 19th-century London to life in all its horrors and brilliance and Victor is a hero worthy of the reader's attention...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Welsh’s plot and writing style are reminiscent of Oliver Twist by Dickens but far more graphic. Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction...(A) lurid stomach-churner... strewn with corpses and gruesome relics." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction that made me read every page intently to the end...T. K. Welsh’s rich vocabulary and detailed descriptions...transported me to the streets of London...I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.” KLIATT, the Free Online Library, said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...You can practically smell the smells, and feel the hair rising on the back of your neck, as you read this book. The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book! Victor is a worthy protagonist, and one that is not easily forgotten once the book is finished. A wonderfully ghoulish story that captures the darkness of London in the mid-1800s. Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England through an elaborate plot of body snatching, greed, and street life...Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they follow Victor from Italy to England as he seeks to solve mysteries and combat the rampant malevolence of the period.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you.  [NOTE:  Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    To buy your copy, click here!

    3_the_unresolved_cover_art_7

    THE UNRESOLVED
    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens.  The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature last year.  THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association.  It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "(Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction."  School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way."  Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel."  Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account."  Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up."  The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year."  All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time."  Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story."  And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history.  Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge.  The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

    To buy your copy, click here!

    MOST RECENT REVIEWS

    The_wave_2007_thumb_nail_3THE WAVE -- Editorial Reviews

    Kirkus
    "In Sandom’s doomsday thriller, a cryptanalyst and an oceanographer combine forces in an attempt to thwart a terrorist plan to inundate the eastern seaboard of the United States...Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle, in its pacing and violence, and a measure of brains as it goes about knitting Islamic calligraphy into the action, as well as making skirmishes into cryptography, vulcan stimulation and the higher physics of radiation and isotope decay without force-feeding the dense material to the reader...After a rather stately start...(THE WAVE) races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead...A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    To buy your copy, click here.

    THE UNRESOLVED -- Reader Reviews

    3_the_unresolved_cover_art_7

    Laurie Balderson "Jamesmom" @ Amazon
    "I purchased this book as a supplement to a classroom play that I do every year on the General Slocum disaster of 1904. Most people don't realize that this was the worst disaster to hit NY until 9/11 but few if any have heard about it. Rather than weigh the reader down with technical details, it gives a heart-wrenching account from the main character's pov (who is dead) of the senseless acts that went on before and right after the burning of the ship."

    To buy your copy, click here.

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    July 2008

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    The_wave_2007_thumb_nail_3THE WAVE
    J.G. Sandom's THE WAVE is finally available @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, check out THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube.  See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    We'll be adding a new chapter from the book each month until THE GOD MACHINE goes on sale in 2009.  Enjoy!

    Check out the Readers' Poll to the left and test your knowledge of THE WAVE.

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE
    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is currently with the publisher.
      The novel is scheduled to be released by Bantam in the summer of 2009.

    When Ben Franklin's coded journal is accidentally unearthed in Philadelphia, it reveals the presence of a secret map, hidden by Franklin at the birth of our nation, a map to the possible resting place of the Gospel of Judas -- a 2,000-year-old Gnostic text that threatens to unravel Christianity and to undermine the very foundation of the Church.

    Working unwittingly for a secret Gnostic Masonic lodge, mathematician and architect Joseph Koster (who appeared in GOSPEL TRUTHS), accompanied by the beautiful and intelligent engineer Savita Sajan, begin a quest to discover the gospel's hiding place, a quest that takes them from Philadelphia to England and France.

    But they are not alone. For the Knights Hospitaller of Malta, military agents of the Catholic Church in Rome, and minions of the Evangelical Christian right, are right behind them...and they'll do anything, kill anyone, to prevent the discovery of the Gospel of Judas.

    All seems lost when Koster realizes that Franklin's map leads not just to the Gospel of Judas, but reveals a plan for the construction of a terrible device -- a God machine -- that, if completed, could open a doorway to heaven itself...or to hell.

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Gospel_truths_2007_cover_art_2GOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before The Da Vinci Code...before Holy Blood, Holy Grail and Labyrinth...before The Secret -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com.  Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth."  Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception."  Mostly Murder characterized it as, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."  And the (New York Daily) News said, "GOSPEL TRUTHS is a monumental novel of suspense ... almost epic in proportion ... complex, yet skillfully crafted."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here

    To buy your copy, click here.

    5_resurrection_men_cover_art_1RESURRECTION MEN
    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer.  See what inspires J.G. Sandom (T.K. Welsh) to write his Young Adult (YA) books, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN has been named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Welsh's visceral descriptions of industrial London are unflinching...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." The Thrushmetal Review said, "The action and pace is steady and quick, rarely pausing, and finishes in an unforgettable, movie-quality fight-to-the-death.” BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale in which more than bodies are resurrected – the souls of the primary characters are at stake as well. Welsh brings 19th-century London to life in all its horrors and brilliance and Victor is a hero worthy of the reader's attention...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Welsh’s plot and writing style are reminiscent of Oliver Twist by Dickens but far more graphic. Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction...(A) lurid stomach-churner... strewn with corpses and gruesome relics." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction that made me read every page intently to the end...T. K. Welsh’s rich vocabulary and detailed descriptions...transported me to the streets of London...I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.” KLIATT, the Free Online Library, said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...You can practically smell the smells, and feel the hair rising on the back of your neck, as you read this book. The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book! Victor is a worthy protagonist, and one that is not easily forgotten once the book is finished. A wonderfully ghoulish story that captures the darkness of London in the mid-1800s. Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England through an elaborate plot of body snatching, greed, and street life...Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they follow Victor from Italy to England as he seeks to solve mysteries and combat the rampant malevolence of the period.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you.  [NOTE:  Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    To buy your copy, click here!

    3_the_unresolved_cover_art_7

    THE UNRESOLVED
    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was recently nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens.  The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature last year.  THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association.  It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "(Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction."  School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way."  Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel."  Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account."  Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up."  The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year."  All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time."  Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story."  And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history.  Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge.  The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

    To buy your copy, click here!

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    June 2008

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    The_wave_2007_thumb_nail_3THE WAVE
    J.G. Sandom's THE WAVE is finally available @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, check out THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube.  See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    We'll be adding a new chapter from the book each month until THE GOD MACHINE goes on sale in 2009.  Enjoy!

    Check out the Readers' Poll to the left and test your knowledge of THE WAVE.

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE
    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is currently with the publisher.
      The novel is scheduled to be released by Bantam in the summer of 2009.

    When Ben Franklin's coded journal is accidentally unearthed in Philadelphia, it reveals the presence of a secret map, hidden by Franklin at the birth of our nation, a map to the possible resting place of the Gospel of Judas -- a 2,000-year-old Gnostic text that threatens to unravel Christianity and to undermine the very foundation of the Church.

    Working unwittingly for a secret Gnostic Masonic lodge, mathematician and architect Joseph Koster (who appeared in GOSPEL TRUTHS), accompanied by the beautiful and intelligent engineer Savita Sajan, begin a quest to discover the gospel's hiding place, a quest that takes them from Philadelphia to England and France.

    But they are not alone. For the Knights Hospitaller of Malta, military agents of the Catholic Church in Rome, and minions of the Evangelical Christian right, are right behind them...and they'll do anything, kill anyone, to prevent the discovery of the Gospel of Judas.

    All seems lost when Koster realizes that Franklin's map leads not just to the Gospel of Judas, but reveals a plan for the construction of a terrible device -- a God machine -- that, if completed, could open a doorway to heaven itself...or to hell.

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Gospel_truths_2007_cover_art_2GOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before The Da Vinci Code...before Holy Blood, Holy Grail and Labyrinth...before The Secret -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com.  Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth."  Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception."  Mostly Murder characterized it as, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."  And the (New York Daily) News said, "GOSPEL TRUTHS is a monumental novel of suspense ... almost epic in proportion ... complex, yet skillfully crafted."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here

    To buy your copy, click here.

    5_resurrection_men_cover_art_1RESURRECTION MEN
    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer.  See what inspires J.G. Sandom (T.K. Welsh) to write his Young Adult (YA) books, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN has been named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Welsh's visceral descriptions of industrial London are unflinching...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." The Thrushmetal Review said, "The action and pace is steady and quick, rarely pausing, and finishes in an unforgettable, movie-quality fight-to-the-death.” BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale in which more than bodies are resurrected – the souls of the primary characters are at stake as well. Welsh brings 19th-century London to life in all its horrors and brilliance and Victor is a hero worthy of the reader's attention...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Welsh’s plot and writing style are reminiscent of Oliver Twist by Dickens but far more graphic. Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction...(A) lurid stomach-churner... strewn with corpses and gruesome relics." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction that made me read every page intently to the end...T. K. Welsh’s rich vocabulary and detailed descriptions...transported me to the streets of London...I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.” KLIATT, the Free Online Library, said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...You can practically smell the smells, and feel the hair rising on the back of your neck, as you read this book. The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book! Victor is a worthy protagonist, and one that is not easily forgotten once the book is finished. A wonderfully ghoulish story that captures the darkness of London in the mid-1800s. Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England through an elaborate plot of body snatching, greed, and street life...Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they follow Victor from Italy to England as he seeks to solve mysteries and combat the rampant malevolence of the period.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you.  [NOTE:  Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    To buy your copy, click here!

    3_the_unresolved_cover_art_7

    THE UNRESOLVED
    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was recently nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens.  The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature last year.  THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association.  It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "(Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction."  School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way."  Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel."  Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account."  Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up."  The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year."  All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time."  Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story."  And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history.  Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge.  The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

    To buy your copy, click here!

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    May 2008

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    The_wave_2007_thumb_nail_3THE WAVE
    J.G. Sandom's THE WAVE is finally available @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, check out THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube.  See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    We'll be adding a new chapter from the book each month until THE GOD MACHINE goes on sale in 2009.  Enjoy!

    Check out the Readers' Poll to the left and test your knowledge of THE WAVE.

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE
    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is currently with the publisher.
      The novel is scheduled to be released by Bantam in the summer of 2009.

    When Ben Franklin's coded journal is accidentally unearthed in Philadelphia, it reveals the presence of a secret map, hidden by Franklin at the birth of our nation, a map to the possible resting place of the Gospel of Judas -- a 2,000-year-old Gnostic text that threatens to unravel Christianity and to undermine the very foundation of the Church.

    Working unwittingly for a secret Gnostic Masonic lodge, mathematician and architect Joseph Koster (who appeared in GOSPEL TRUTHS), accompanied by the beautiful and intelligent engineer Savita Sajan, begin a quest to discover the gospel's hiding place, a quest that takes them from Philadelphia to England and France.

    But they are not alone. For the Knights Hospitaller of Malta, military agents of the Catholic Church in Rome, and minions of the Evangelical Christian right, are right behind them...and they'll do anything, kill anyone, to prevent the discovery of the Gospel of Judas.

    All seems lost when Koster realizes that Franklin's map leads not just to the Gospel of Judas, but reveals a plan for the construction of a terrible device -- a God machine -- that, if completed, could open a doorway to heaven itself...or to hell.

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Gospel_truths_2007_cover_art_2GOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before The Da Vinci Code...before Holy Blood, Holy Grail and Labyrinth...before The Secret -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com.  Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth."  Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception."  Mostly Murder characterized it as, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."  And the (New York Daily) News said, "GOSPEL TRUTHS is a monumental novel of suspense ... almost epic in proportion ... complex, yet skillfully crafted."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here

    To buy your copy, click here.

    5_resurrection_men_cover_art_1RESURRECTION MEN
    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer.  See what inspires J.G. Sandom (T.K. Welsh) to write his Young Adult (YA) books, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN has been named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Welsh's visceral descriptions of industrial London are unflinching...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." The Thrushmetal Review said, "The action and pace is steady and quick, rarely pausing, and finishes in an unforgettable, movie-quality fight-to-the-death.” BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale in which more than bodies are resurrected – the souls of the primary characters are at stake as well. Welsh brings 19th-century London to life in all its horrors and brilliance and Victor is a hero worthy of the reader's attention...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Welsh’s plot and writing style are reminiscent of Oliver Twist by Dickens but far more graphic. Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction...(A) lurid stomach-churner... strewn with corpses and gruesome relics." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction that made me read every page intently to the end...T. K. Welsh’s rich vocabulary and detailed descriptions...transported me to the streets of London...I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.” KLIATT, the Free Online Library, said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...You can practically smell the smells, and feel the hair rising on the back of your neck, as you read this book. The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book! Victor is a worthy protagonist, and one that is not easily forgotten once the book is finished. A wonderfully ghoulish story that captures the darkness of London in the mid-1800s. Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England through an elaborate plot of body snatching, greed, and street life...Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they follow Victor from Italy to England as he seeks to solve mysteries and combat the rampant malevolence of the period.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you.  [NOTE:  Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    To buy your copy, click here!

    3_the_unresolved_cover_art_7

    THE UNRESOLVED
    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was recently nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens.  The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature last year.  THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association.  It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "(Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction."  School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way."  Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel."  Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account."  Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up."  The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year."  All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time."  Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story."  And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history.  Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge.  The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

    To buy your copy, click here!

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

    April 2008

    NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

    The_wave_2007_thumb_nail_3THE WAVE
    J.G. Sandom's THE WAVE is finally available @ lulu.com and through most major booksellers and online bookstores.

    If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, check out THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller.

    Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle ... (and) brains ... Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead ... A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."

    When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, the Scorpion, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv.

    Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes...and the authorities never get the bomb.

    While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker -- assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson -- believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.

    Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.

    J.G. Sandom's most recent TV interview on "Breezin' with Bierman" is available at YouTube.  See the author read from THE WAVE, and chat about his other recent publications.

    For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.

    We'll be adding a new chapter from the book each month until THE GOD MACHINE goes on sale in 2009.  Enjoy!

    Check out the Readers' Poll to the left and test your knowledge of THE WAVE.

    For the results of previous polls, click here.

    To buy your copy, click here.

    THE GOD MACHINE
    THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is currently with the publisher.
      The novel is scheduled to be released by Bantam in the summer of 2009.

    When Ben Franklin's coded journal is accidentally unearthed in Philadelphia, it reveals the presence of a secret map, hidden by Franklin at the birth of our nation, a map to the possible resting place of the Gospel of Judas -- a 2,000-year-old Gnostic text that threatens to unravel Christianity and to undermine the very foundation of the Church.

    Working unwittingly for a secret Gnostic Masonic lodge, mathematician and architect Joseph Koster (who appeared in GOSPEL TRUTHS), accompanied by the beautiful and intelligent engineer Savita Sajan, begin a quest to discover the gospel's hiding place, a quest that takes them from Philadelphia to England and France.

    But they are not alone. For the Knights Hospitaller of Malta, military agents of the Catholic Church in Rome, and minions of the Evangelical Christian right, are right behind them...and they'll do anything, kill anyone, to prevent the discovery of the Gospel of Judas.

    All seems lost when Koster realizes that Franklin's map leads not just to the Gospel of Judas, but reveals a plan for the construction of a terrible device -- a God machine -- that, if completed, could open a doorway to heaven itself...or to hell.

    IN OTHER NEWS

    Gospel_truths_2007_cover_art_2GOSPEL TRUTHS
    Before The Da Vinci Code...before Holy Blood, Holy Grail and Labyrinth...before The Secret -- there was GOSPEL TRUTHS!  Re-released after more than a decade, it's time to read the book that started it all.

    J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com.  Check out the in-depth author interview.

    Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth."  Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception."  Mostly Murder characterized it as, "A fascinating mystery ... captivating and engrossing."  And the (New York Daily) News said, "GOSPEL TRUTHS is a monumental novel of suspense ... almost epic in proportion ... complex, yet skillfully crafted."

    When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal -- leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four -- intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.

    For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.

    To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here

    To buy your copy, click here.

    5_resurrection_men_cover_art_1RESURRECTION MEN
    Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer.  See what inspires J.G. Sandom (T.K. Welsh) to write his Young Adult (YA) books, and learn about the author's writing process.

    RESURRECTION MEN has been named a Junior Library Guild selection.

    Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Welsh's visceral descriptions of industrial London are unflinching...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." The Thrushmetal Review said, "The action and pace is steady and quick, rarely pausing, and finishes in an unforgettable, movie-quality fight-to-the-death.” BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale in which more than bodies are resurrected – the souls of the primary characters are at stake as well. Welsh brings 19th-century London to life in all its horrors and brilliance and Victor is a hero worthy of the reader's attention...T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Welsh’s plot and writing style are reminiscent of Oliver Twist by Dickens but far more graphic. Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction...(A) lurid stomach-churner... strewn with corpses and gruesome relics." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction that made me read every page intently to the end...T. K. Welsh’s rich vocabulary and detailed descriptions...transported me to the streets of London...I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.” KLIATT, the Free Online Library, said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details...You can practically smell the smells, and feel the hair rising on the back of your neck, as you read this book. The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book! Victor is a worthy protagonist, and one that is not easily forgotten once the book is finished. A wonderfully ghoulish story that captures the darkness of London in the mid-1800s. Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England through an elaborate plot of body snatching, greed, and street life...Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they follow Victor from Italy to England as he seeks to solve mysteries and combat the rampant malevolence of the period.”

    Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas -- the yearly salary of a working man -- Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.

    For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.

    If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you.  [NOTE:  Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    To buy your copy, click here!

    3_the_unresolved_cover_art_7

    THE UNRESOLVED
    Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of 2006 by the Washington Post, THE UNRESOLVED was recently nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association -- YALSA 2007 Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens.  The novel was previously named a 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature last year.  THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the 2006 Cybils literary awards, and for the 2007 Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association.  It's currently featured as one of the Best Teen Books of the year 2006 at BarnesAndNoble.com.

    The Washington Post said, "(Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction."  School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way."  Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story ... (and) a tightly wound novel."  Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account."  Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up."  The Edge of the Forest said, "It may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year."  All About the Book said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a great one. Mallory is the most well-developed ghostly character I've seen in a long, long time."  Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story."  And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."

    Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history.  Based on the sinking of the General Slocum steamship -- which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a church outing -- THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge.  The novel dramatizes how a single life -- and death -- can have a powerful influence on history.

    (NOTE:  J.G. Sandom writes his young adult novels under the name T.K. Welsh.)

    For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!

    To buy your copy, click here!

    Posted in What's New! | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

    Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us | | |

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