Stephen Lawhead’s New Fantasy Series!

I pulled this giddily from the Stephen Lawhead forum, as quoted from the ECPA:

Thomas Nelson Fiction announces new contract for Stephen Lawhead

When Stephen Lawhead’s Scarlet was announced as the 2008 Christy Award winner in the Visionary category, Lawhead didn’t forget to thank the “little people” in the acceptance remarks he passed along. Those “elves, dwarves, and assorted pixies and sprites” will likely be pulling extra hours again soon.

Thomas Nelson Fiction is pleased to announce a newly signed contract for Lawhead … a five-novel series titled Bright Empires. The contract continues Thomas Nelson’s exclusive North American publishing relationship with the author.

“I’ve had the idea for the Bright Empire series for over ten years. In my mind, I’ve always thought of it as my ‘super-fantasy.’ Now, in Allen Arnold, I have a publisher … along with an editorial and marketing team … who are every bit as enthusiastic about it as I am. After years of indulging my passion for historical fiction, I’m keen to get back to my first love—High Fantasy,” said Lawhead.

“Twenty years ago, Stephen Lawhead captured my imagination with his novels. Now it is my great privilege to be both his friend and the publisher of these epic tales,” said Allen Arnold, Vice President and Publisher, Thomas Nelson Fiction.

The first book in the new series … The Skin Map … is planned to release September 2010, followed annually by The Bone House, The Spirit Well, The Shadow Lamp, and The Fatal Tree.

Stephen Lawhead currently has nine titles spanning three trilogies with Thomas Nelson. Tuck, the conclusion to the King Raven trilogy releases next February.