Ted Dekker and Erin Healy join forces again to co-author the book Burn.

Check out the OBS Review of ‘Burn’ HERE

A little about Ted Dekker: Ted Dekker (born October 24, 1962) is a New York Times best-selling author of more than twenty novels. He is best known for stories which could be broadly described as suspense thrillers with major twists and unforgettable characters, though he has also made a name for himself among fantasy fans.

Early in his career he wrote a number of spiritual thrillers and his novels were lumped in with ‘Christian Fiction’ a surprisingly large category. His later novels are a mix of mainstream novels such as Adam, Thr3e, Skin, Obsessed and BoneMan’s Daughters, and Fantasy thrillers that metaphorically explore faith. Best known among these is his Circle Series: Green, Black, Red, White and The Paradise Books: Showdown, Saint, and Sinner. Source

A little about Erin Healy: Erin Healy is an award-winning fiction editor who has worked with talented novelists such as James Scott Bell, Melody Carlson, Colleen Coble, Brandilyn Collins, L. B. Graham, Rene Gutteridge, Michelle McKinney Hammond, Robin Lee Hatcher, Denise Hildreth, Denise Hunter, Randy Ingermanson, Jane Kirkpatrick, Gilbert Morris, Frank Peretti,Lisa Samson, Randy Singer, Robert Whitlow, and many others.

She began working with Ted Dekker in 2002 and edited twelve of his heart-pounding storiesbefore their collaboration on Kiss, the first novel to seat her on “the other side of the desk.”

Erin is the owner of WordWright Editorial Services, a consulting firm specializing in fiction book development. She lives with her family in Colorado. Source

The following questions were answered by both Ted Dekker and Erin Healy

How did you decide you wanted to co-author? And what is involved in that process?

The idea of co-authoring arose from a practical need: Ted wanted to write more books but had only so many hours in the day in which to do it. There was also a strategic reason for inviting Erin: her partnership allowed Ted to return to a type of storytelling that was very popular among his female fans especially. So it was a win-win arrangement. As far as for what is involved, the key element is trust. Lots and lots of trust and respect for each other, and hours of phone conversations.

Do you find you enjoy co-authoring better than writing solo? Why or why not?

It’s so different from writing solo that we can’t really call it better or worse. On the plus side, two creative minds can be better than one. Each person brings important contributions to the table. On the minus side, ownership has to be shared, and that always means creative compromise.

Who are your literary influences?

The history of thriller novels is long and rich, so it’s hard to name just a few people. Also, we both read very broadly outside of the genre. Neither of us has only one model we’re aiming to emulate.

Where did the concept for Burn originate?

This concept came out of a merging of ideas we were working on independently of one another. Ted was spinning a book idea based on the old Choose Your Own Adventure stories, and Erin was playing with a story about a woman who got a “do-over” of a poor choice. In both cases the tales involved the idea of facing critical moments in life and choosing the divergent outcomes.

Did you draw any characteristics from people in your own life for the characters?

Not for Burn. These characters are portraits of extremes created to serve the themes. But everyone might see glimpses of themselves in each of the characters.

Which character(s) were the most challenging to write? The most fun?

Janeal was definitely the most challenging, because she’s a risky protagonist. She embodies the less noble qualities of being human, but we needed readers to willingly follow her story. In a way, though, this also made her one of the most fun to write. Rising to challenges is exciting.

Do you relate personally to any of your characters?

On a metaphorical level, perhaps. We’ve faced tensions of critical decisions and not always chosen well, even if the circumstances weren’t as dramatic as the ones Janeal faced. And we’ve experienced the necessary difficulty of dying to self, as Janeal must learn to do.

Did you do any research in relation to the gypsy community or any other aspect of the book?

American gypsies are rare, as is material written about them. But the book Gypsies: The Hidden Americans by Anne Sutherland provided valuable insights into the culture of these communities. Of course, Burn is highly imaginative fiction too! We took liberties.

What would you have done if you were given the choice that Janeal was faced with?

How can this question be answered in the absence of experiencing the dilemma? It’s easy to say we would run into a fire to save a dying friend. In the presence of such deadly heat, though, self-preservation and the promise of a clean slate might prove to wield the stronger will.

The cover art for Burn is really breathtaking and is a good segway to the novel. What was the process in choosing the cover art for the book?

Thomas Nelson, the Designworks Group, and Pixelworks Studios did an amazing job! The original design involved the use of a stock photo and was also dramatic, but the Thomas Nelson team felt that the full potential of the concept would be achieved only with an image shot specifically for this cover. It’s an original photo and a breathtaking result.

Will there be a sequel to Burn?

At present, we don’t have one planned.

What is your involvement with fans? Do you tour? Do you have a Twitter, Facebook or MySpace page?

Ted and Erin can be followed on their Web sites (teddekker.com, erinhealy.com) and on Facebook and Twitter. Find the links to these social media sites—which is the most effective way to give fans immediate updates—on their Web sites.

What is the one thing you’d like to say to all your fans?

We love you. Without you, there are no stories to tell!

Erin, what did you learn from editing (Dekker’s work) that helped you in the writing process?

Many things, but this particular thing stands out: one reason Ted’s stories are so successful is because they take all kinds of risks in an effort to engage reader emotions. Both of these qualities—a high level of risk and a high value placed on the readers’ hearts—are ones I hope to emulate.

Erin, will you tell us a little more about Never Let You Go?

My first solo novel is a spiritual thriller about a single mother who’s highest value in life is loving and protecting her daughter. But in one day, her ex-husband returns, her sister’s killer comes up for parole, and an old friend shows up demanding repayment of debts that aren’t hers. These events seem to be connected, and they all conspire to wrest her daughter out of her safe grip.

Thanks Ted and Erin for the interview and telling us more about your book. Want more information about these two authors? Check out the links below!

Ted Dekker Official Site HERE

Erin Healy Official Site HERE