Hello, reader friends! Join me in welcoming author friend Travis Thrasher for a little chat and giveaway celebrating American Omens!
about the author
Bestselling author Travis Thrasher has written over 50 books, spanning genres in fiction, nonfiction and children’s literature. His inspirational stories have included collaborations with filmmakers, musicians, athletes, celebrities and pastors.
With the childhood goal of pursuing a writing career starting in third grade, Thrasher worked for 13 years at Tyndale House Publishers after graduating college. His experience working with as Author Relations Manager allowed him to understand the writing life as well as training him to work with a variety of personalities. This experience has proven to be invaluable with varied writing projects in the decade he’s been a full-time writer.
Thrasher lives with his wife and three daughters near Chicago. Visit his website!
q&a
Tell us about your new book, American Omens.
T: American Omens is a thriller set in the future that explores the threat of Christianity in the United States being subverted and Christians being ostracized for their beliefs.
B: This sounds like an intense story!
You tell the story from multiple points of view, some of whom do not know each other for the majority of the book. Why did you decide to frame the story this way? Which point of view was your favorite to write?
T: I wanted to tell this story from three viewpoints: a believer who is struggling with his faith, somebody who doesn’t have faith and isn’t really thinking about it, and somebody very much opposed to having a faith. So you have a believer, a searcher, and a nonbeliever. I thought these three journeys would be interesting to watch unfold.
I really love all these characters. My favorite might be the person who doesn’t have a viewpoint, the radical Christian who calls himself Reckoner. It was fun to write about him and see his character come to life.
B: I enjoy stories with multiple perspectives, it’s a good reminder to be aware of other people’s life experiences.
The story is set in the year 2038. What was it like brainstorming and writing about technology 20 years from now?
T: Fascinating because I love thinking about it, and frustrating because I wish I had more time to research trends and technology.
B: Ah, those rabbit trails are mighty tempting!
What are you currently reading?
T: I’m usually reading about a dozen books or more at the same time. But here are a few: George Lucas: A Life
B: A fellow tandem reader! There are just too many books to only read one!
What’s one thing you learned about yourself while writing American Omens?
T: I learned that I’m stronger in my faith than I might actually like to admit. That I hold certain truths firmly. My urgency level for sharing the gospel increases as I get older and look out into the world.
B: Sounds like wisdom to me, friend!
What do you hope readers take away from American Omens?
T: There’s a line in a message from Reckoner that says “Wake up. Do you find desires inside of you that nothing in this world can satisfy? The most probable explanation, as C.S. Lewis wrote, is that you are made for another world.” If this book can wake people up and get them to think, not about the future but more importantly about their present state. Fiction is not the place to preach to readers, but rather to get their minds to start wondering. Getting hearts to possibly slow down and consider some of the things written about inside the novel.
B: Well said. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us today, Travis!
about the book
Title: American Omens
Author: Travis Thrasher
Publisher: Waterbrook
Genre: Futuristic Thriller
Release Date: February 12, 2019
In this taut thriller that depicts a future where belief is dangerous, faith is deemed hatred, and a group of powerful elite keeps watch, the Reckoner has come to wake up America.
The year is 2038 and Cheyenne Burne is a brilliant young programmer working for Acatour, the world’s top technology firm. Her father converts to Christianity, and he suddenly disappears without a trace. When a stranger hands Cheyenne a coded message that sends her on a collision course with a clandestine group of believers, she must put her life in the hands of those following a man known only as the Reckoner. He claims he wants to bring back true faith in Christ to America and also reveal the forces behind the disappearances of the many renowned people who publicly declared their Christian faith.
Operating in the shadows and living off the grid, this mysterious prophet assembles a ragtag team–including a former bookseller whose store was shut down for selling prohibited books–to help him take the battle for transparency to the top. With a ruthless FBI agent closing in, can Cheyenne and the others expose the truth and lead a return to God in America before it’s too late?
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tour giveaway
Thanks to the generosity of the publisher, one fortunate Faithfully Bookish reader friend will win a print copy of American Omens.
US only | ends 4/3 | giveaway policy
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Is anyone brave enough to take this book for a spin?!
I’m a big ol’ scaredy cat but it looks like quite an exciting story!
Faithfully Bookish 
I have to read this amazing and exciting book! Futurist thriller with a religious theme is unique and intriguing. Thanks for the post to let me know about this book.
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Hi! This looks like a great book. I enjoy venturing away from my usual pick of Christian romance into this genre from time to time.
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This looks like a very interesting book that I can share with my husband and son.
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