Brandon Barr & Mike Lynch's "After the Cross"

Title: After the Cross
Publisher: Ellechor Publishing

Cover blurb: Colton Foster, once hailed as a renowned expert in Latin, Hebrew and Greek, had his reputation destroyed when a shadowy antiquities dealer outwitted him with master forgeries from Solomon s Temple. Years later, his career and self-respect still in pieces, a team discovers an 800-year old letter in Istanbul and his life takes a pivotal turn. The job of translating the letter, purportedly revealing the hidden cross of Jesus, is his for the taking, and with it a chance to redeem himself.

Mallory Windom is smart, beautiful, and skilled at getting what she wants. A linguistic prodigy with a dark history, she trusts no one, an important skill in the black market antiquities trade where she regularly sells her expert talents to the highest bidder.

As Colton and Mallory hunt for Christianity s most prized relic, mysterious forces seem bent on stopping them at every turn. They soon discover that the most important struggle of their lives is not around them, but from within, testing their beliefs, their ethics, and their growing love for one another.

1) How did this story come to you?
ML: A few years back I watched a documentary on TV about Helena, the mother of Constantine. He's considered the Roman Empire's first Christian emperor. She converted from paganism to Christianity in her 70's, and went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem a few years after that. Inspired by the stories she had read about Jesus in the Gospels, she wanted to see the places where Jesus lived and performed His miracles, the most important being the place where He was crucified. After arriving in Jerusalem in 327 A.D., she was horrified to see that a Roman temple had been built on Golgotha, and ordered it be torn down immediately. As the soldiers set about breaking down the temple, they discovered what she believed to be the actual cross of Jesus buried nearby. It became a holy relic of Catholic Church for many years, until it disappeared from history eight centuries later. As I was watching this documentary I wondered what it would be like if Jesus' cross in our time, and the impact it would have on the world. And thus our story was born.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
ML: It took Brandon and me about a year to write the book, and get into publishable shape. Then it was a matter of sending it out to different publishers, until we received an e-mail from Ellechor Publishing, saying they were very interested in the story. After our agent negotiated a publishing contract with them, we had a signed deal. The book came out 11 months after that.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
BB: I’ve had three pet rats, each named Mr. Rathead. I love studying theology and apologetics. One of my favorite genres to read is science fiction and fantasy.
ML: I pride myself for never having owned a cell phone, I taught myself how to juggle and ride a unicycle, and I was an extra in a movie once.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
BB: Currently Mike and I are working on a science fiction novel, and in the future, we have a historical novel in mind.

5) Parting comments?
ML: Brandon and I appreciate your interest in After the Cross, and letting people know about the book. Thank you for giving us this opportunity.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
BB: http://www.brandonbarr.com/
ML: http://www.mikelynchbooks.com/