Also by this author: Midnight
Published by Moody Publishers on July 1, 2007
Genres: Fiction, Christian, Suspense
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Colin Scott is a top literary agent at a firm representing some of the biggest names in publishing. He's worked hard to reach this place, yet now it seems routine and aggravating. On top of the creeping cynicism in his professional life, Colin and his wife are desperate to have a baby. As the pressure mounts, he finds himself questioning almost every decision he's ever made. And he seems to be having a nervous breakdown. Then disaster strikes. On a much-needed vacation in Mexico, his wife's parasail malfunctions and she plunges to her death. From that point on, Colin's life goes from bad to worse as he loses his job and, apparently, his mind.
Writing is an art; it’s intensely personal and soul-baring. Publishing is business; it’s intensely public and sells its soul to the highest bidder. Colin Scott, a top literary agent, deals in the latter but at least makes an attempt to respect the former. But after years in the business and managing many top-name authors, Colin’s idealism is conflicting with his industry and his cynicism mounts as he sees good art sacrificed to make good money. That fire to discover new talent just isn’t there anymore, and on a personal level things are falling apart as well.
Then the straw that broke the camel’s back comes when tragedy strikes: Colin’s life is changed forever. He loses everything. His passion, his job…maybe even his mind. Sky Blue is a novel of love, loss, and how one man finds his place in the world.
Author Travis Thrasher has long contended that Sky Blue is his favorite novel to date, and I can see why. Travis has worked on both the business and creative ends of the industry, and that experience shines through as he navigates Colin through his rise and fall in the business of books. Part drama, part supernatural mystery, part romance, Sky Blue is an engaging story with an incredible twist – one I never saw coming and had to read through a couple times to wrap my mind around. It’s another solid offering from Travis Thrasher that again carries the great themes of hope and restoration.
Mini Q&A with Travis
Josh: You’ve long held that this is your favorite novel to date [though this is now replaced by 40: A Novel]. Why?
Travis: It’s my most personal and the novel that took the longest time to write. There are bits and pieces of me in every one of my stories, but there’s a huge chunk of myself in Sky Blue. I love too that it doesn’t fit into one box. It’s kind of a love story, kind of a supernatural thriller, kinda a midlife crisis novel.
Josh: Each chapter is the title of a classic novel. What went into those chapter arrangements and have you read each one of those novels?
Travis: I wanted to do something cool with chapter titles. Then I realized that it could be an important plot point–some nice little detail that means something later in the novel.
I would like to say I’ve read all those novels. But no way.
Josh: Sky Blue depicts the oft-conflicting business of publishing with the art of writing. How do you as an author balance the two?
Travis: I tell writers aspiring to be published this: there is a personal side of writing and a business side of writing. Realize the difference. Writing is deeply personal but publishing is a business. That business isn’t deeply personal (though it can be). Publishing is about making money. So I realize that my writing is personal but the business side of things is not. I remain fortunate to live in both sides on a daily basis.
About Travis Thrasher
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.
His novels are as diverse as the people he’s worked with, ranging from love stories to supernatural thrillers. Publishers Weekly said “Sara and Ethan are two of the most real and sensitive lovers to grace the genre” when reviewing his first novel, The Promise Remains. They also stated “Thrasher demonstrates a considerable talent for the horror genre” in a review for Isolation years later. His readers have enjoyed the unpredictability of his novels, whether it’s due to a unique style such as second person or a twist they never saw coming.
Thrasher’s storytelling ability has also allowed him to work with others on their books, from musicians like country musician Scotty McCreery and Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain to the Robertsons of Duck Dynasty. He has also penned novels based on songs such as Paper Angels with Jimmy Wayne and novelizations for films including Do You Believe? and God’s Not Dead 2. Upcoming projects continue to expand his talents, with projects including The Black Auxiliary about the lives of the 17 American black athletes who competed in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, and Baby Don’t Hurt Me about comedian Chris Kattan’s life and time on Saturday Night Live.
Travis lives with his wife and three young daughters in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area.
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