Latest News

Temple Dancer on Youtube

I'm an author whose creative life concerns 17th Century India, and the scope and pace of the internet boggles my little brain. Whaleshaman, a blogging fan from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, sent me a link to this strange video on Youtube.com. What does it mean? Who made it? Who's the man in the photo at the end?

Life was so much easier 350 years ago. Click here to see the video.


   La Danseuse du Temple: A surprise hit in France

According to France Loisir, the French book club, sales of the La Danseuse du Temple are skyrocketing. 30,000 copies so far. And I only discovered this because I started getting fan mail:

“Just a short note from France to say THANK YOU for the wonderful hours spent with your great book ! I do like it ! adventure, love, passion, history... Perfect !!!!
-- Joelle ”

To read a sample chapter of The Temple Dancer in French, click here. To see a beautiful French fan site: click here.


   About.com picks The Temple Dancer as a Hot New Release for August!

Quite an honor to be one of only six books so honored...Click here to see them all...

Also there's a great review:

“Fast-paced and suspenseful...laced with intrigue and romance...A fun and suspenseful trip through 17th-century India...a smorgasbord of colorful characters...” Click here to read more

   Pre-release Event: Speed Reading in Ocean Grove

The Comfort Zone, the community bookstore in Ocean Grove New Jersey, John's family home, sponsored the first reading and autograph session for The Temple Dancer on August 5. The Comfort Zone was given special permission to sell copies before the 22 August release date -- they sold out a whole case in a hour!

   USA Today: Critic's Pick!

USA Today says The Temple Dancer is a "Don't Miss" Beach Read for the coming summer. You can see their article by clicking here.

Listen to The Temple Dancer

He's the talented narrator of The Da Vinci Code and hundreds of other audiobooks.
Now Paul Michael reads The Temple Dancer aloud.
    Listen...

Latest Reviews

“Fast-paced and suspenseful...laced with intrigue and romance!” -- About.com

“A fun and suspenseful trip through 17th-century India...a smorgasbord of colorful characters...” Read more

“Fast-paced story...intriguing characters and situations!” -- Publisher's Weekly

“A melange of creatively imagined characters... an entertaining historical saga...” Read more

“High-Voltage Adventure!” -- Booklist

“Renowned historian Speed conducts an exciting tour of seventeenth-century India...” Read more

“Splendid entertainment in the grand style!” -- Judith Merkle Riley

“What an adventure! Two women, utterly different in culture and outlook, travel across seventeenth century India on elephant...” Read more

“A dazzling debut!” -- India Edghill

“The Temple Dancer sweeps the reader into an age of passion and danger, romance, chivalry, and high adventure...” Read more

“An ocean of a story!” -- Michael Swanwick

“Beautiful women, dangerous men, and India at the height of its glory...” Read more

Check back often!

This site is being updated regularly. We're building as quickly as we can!

Join Speed Readers for email updates!