Tyndale Acquires Bestselling Author of Shadowmancer

CAROL STREAM, Ill., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- G.P. Taylor, the bestselling author of Shadowmancer, a fantasy novel widely referred to in the mainstream press as "the Christian Harry Potter," has signed a multiple-book deal with Tyndale House Publishers to publish The Dopple Ganger Chronicles, a new series of "illustronovellas." Best defined as illustrated novels blending the genres of fiction and graphic novels, the illustronovellas are part of a worldwide campaign to connect a young, visually-oriented generation with the joy and satisfaction of reading good books. Targeting a youthful audience, the series will feature at least six books, with the first book scheduled for Fall 2008 release. Markosia, Ltd., a leading UK-based graphic novel publisher, will provide illustrations for the series.

Taylor's new Dopple Ganger Chronicles will feature three children: mischievous identical twins Sadie and Saskia Dopple, who live in an orphanage, and Erik Morrissey Ganger, a boy who works in the orphanage. In the first book, The First Escape, the twins are separated when Saskia is adopted by Muzz Elliot, a wealthy woman who is at the center of a murderous plot, and long-lost family treasure. Sadie and Erik run away from the orphanage on a quest to find Saskia, who has discovered the murder plot and is trying to stop it.

A former rock band "roadie" turned Anglican minister in Cloughton, North Yorkshire, Taylor has been hailed as "hotter than Potter" and "the new C.S. Lewis" in the UK. After initially self-publishing, his success brought him a multi-million dollar contract for Shadowmancer and six additional novels. Shadowmancer reached the top spot on the New York Times' bestsellers list in 2004 and was eventually translated into 48 different languages and optioned for a movie. Wormwood, a subsequent novel in the series, was nominated for a Quill book award. Other novels in the series included Tersias and The Curse of Salamander Street. Worldwide sales for Taylor now total more than 3 million copies.

"Our team is energized by GP Taylor's vision to introduce an image-driven generation to the benefits of reading," says Doug Knox, VP and Publisher. "The themes of faith Taylor builds into his stories are central to our publishing mission and the illustronovella format, reminiscent of Dickens, is a perfect vehicle for today. The Dopple Ganger Chronicles will release in the UK and USA, building on GP Taylor's media popularity and great success as a guest speaker in schools."

By integrating an exciting story line with vivid manga-style graphics in the Dopple Ganger Chronicles, Taylor hopes to make it easier for a visually-oriented generation to engage with visually-inviting text and to discover the pleasures of books. The first book has been tested on selected schools in the UK with great results. "I have been amazed at how the book has got children into reading," Taylor says. "This is my desire, to see more children read with no one left behind."

Tyndale House Publishers was founded in 1962 by Dr. Kenneth N. Taylor as a means of publishing The Living Bible. Now one of the premier publishing houses in the industry, it has published numerous New York Times bestsellers, including the popular Left Behind series, and currently, Quiet Strength, a memoir by Indianapolis Colts' head coach Tony Dungy. Tyndale publishes the New Living Translation Bible, and many popular children's products, including the Wormling Series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry, Chronicles of Narnia radio theatre, the Friends and Heroes DVDs, and Adventures in Odyssey audio products