Last week I wrote a post entitled Co-Authoring: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. In the beginning of the article, I made this statement:
“I don’t know about you, but I’m wired for networking and co-laboring. I love team-work and prefer joint projects over flying solo. So co-writing suits my personality.”
On the heels of that remark, someone suggested that I ask my blog readers to answer the following:
Name a published author that you’d like to see me co-author a book with.
Even if your choice is a “long shot,” I’d still like to hear your answer to this question.
Also, don’t miss my Frequently Asked Questions page. Some of the questions I’ve addressed so far are:
*what is your advice on blogging, writing books, and getting published?
*has your recent shift of ministry-focus affected your view of your previous books on the church?
*I want to leave my church. What advice can you give me on how to do it?
*I’ve looked for an organic expression of the church like you describe in Reimagining Church, but I cannot find one near me. What do I do?
*what’s the difference between clergy salaries and receiving royalties for the work of authors, musicians, and artists?
And many more . . .
P.S. If you haven’t heard about the (possible) upcoming Writers & Bloggers Workshop, read about it here.
Rachel Held Evans
Jonalyn Grace Fincher (Ruby Slippers)
Francis Chan
Shane Claiborne or Rachel Held Evans
Frank I saw your response to someone’s question about if you were willing to coauthor a book with a woman and as I expected you said of course, so I would like to see you write a book with Beth Moore. That would be awesome. How does these cowriting projects work exactly with the books you wrote with Sweet and Barna?
Thanks Donna. I’ve only co-written with 2 authors so far, the two people you mentioned (George Barna and Len Sweet). In both cases, they reached out to me and expressed interest in a joint project. After praying over it, I felt comfortable with the proposed projects, so that’s how they came to be. As I’ve said before, I’m open to the Lord’s leading to co-write or co-work with another author provided there’s a clear subject in view that we can collaborate on. Consequently, should any of the published authors that readers have mentioned approach me with an invitation, I’m very open to prayerfully consider it. The authors should contact PTMIN@aol.com – by the way, I’m not sure how many of the authors mentioned even know about this discussion. So if a reader wants to see me co-write with someone they’ve selected, they may want to pass this post on to those individuals.
P.S. for those who didn’t see the question Donna is referring to about co-authoring with a woman and my answer, see the comments here: http://frankviola.org/2012/01/30/godsviewofawoman/
I really liked your answer to the question on the other blog post. One of the things I respect about you is how you interview women regularly and promote their work.
My vote would be Margaret Feinberg. I think you two have a lot in common. She’s my favorite female author and you’re my favorite male author.
Thx. Sarah. I appreciate you noticing.
Your timing is remarkable. I’m editing an interview I just did with Margaret as I write this!
Frank didn’t you collaborate with Cynthia La Grou on a book called “taking flight” ? Is the project you’re doing with Felicity Dale similiar?
Chad: Yes, I sure did. There were other contributors too for Cynthia’s book. The project I’m helping Felicity Dale right now is going to have other authors as well, though I don’t know who they are. Felicity is a dear friend and I’m honored that she asked me to participate in her new project.
1. Alicia Britt Chole (Her book “Anonymous” about Christ’s hidden years was incredible)
2. Kenneth Boa
How about Paul David Tripp? Tony Campolo and Shane Claireborne would be great too. I am not on the you and Francis Chan bandwagon…sorry.
Mike Frost
Don Miller
I have no idea what a co-authored book with Don Miller would look like though
Have you read any of these? http://frankviola.org/books
Rachel Held Evans or Rob Bell
1. George Barna 2. Leonard Sweet.
Wait, you did those already. Um Mr. Chan then. Why did someone say for him to take a hike?
Greg Boyd (number one by far)
Scot McKnight
Alan Hirsch
I’d like to see you and John Eldredge write something.
I’ll go ahead and add another vote for Francis Chan. Someone else mentioned Shane Clairborne, and that could be really good too.
Francis Chan can take a hike.
I was going to say I’d like to see a book with Viola and Chan. Why are you saying Chan should take a hike? What does that mean?
N.T. Wright is a good choice too.
Francis Chan or Frangipane…. Whoa, don’t say that five times fast.
I’d like to see you and Francis Chan write a book together.
1. Francis Chan.
2. Greg Boyd.
William Paul Young
Ted Dekker
John Bevere
Mike Bickle
Rick Joyner
mary demuth.
I agree with the others who said Francis Chan.
Francis Chan
Alan Hirsch
Greg Boyd
N.T. Wright
Dallas Willard
Richard J Foster
C. Baxter Kruger
Milt Rodriguez
Jon Zens
Kenneth McIntosh
Ross Rhodes
Ben Witherington
Francis Frangipane
Shaine Claiborne? He tends to co-author as well. How about a divergent point of view as well, like a Kurt Willems. Great Mennonite blogger/author whom you could find some interesting points of overlap. It’d be like a Venn Diagram in book form.
Thanks for this kind comment Steven. Who knows, perhaps in the future Frank and I will overlap in this way. Even so, I thank you for your kind words
Word Kurt! Random that you saw this one here. I dig your blog quite a bit, and would love to continue to follow your writing.
N.T. Wright, Rikk Watts, Mark Strom, Scot McKnight, Nicholas Wolterstorff, Tom Morris
Yes, Francis Chan and you!
There are a few that I would like to see write with you: Dallas Willard, Reggie McNeal, and maybe James Bryan Smith.
Nadia Bolz-Weber, Rachel Held-Evans, NT Wright
I second this one!
I find it incredibly fascinating how theologically diverse these suggestions are… a minister, a priest and a rabbi walk into a bar…
NT Wright!
Greg Boyd
PS I would love to go to writers workshop. I tried to message you on facebook but I couldn’t. Don’t know why.
I agree with the others who said Francis Chan, but I heard he doesn’t write his books but has ghost writers write them instead. Greg Boyd would be a good coauthor for you too.
Dr. James B. Richards
MaryKate Morse author of “Making Room for Leadership” and currently working on another book on prayer.
It would be interesting to have you co-author with a woman on the deeper spiritual life.
Eugene Peterson
Greg Boyd too.
I 2nd eugene peterson and also beth moore
I would love to see a collaboration with John Eldredge. I also like the idea of Dallas Willard.
You and Leonard Sweet wrote two amazing books. If I have to come up with someone else I can think of several I’d like to see you write with.
Dallas Willard
Greg Boyd
David Platt
Francis Frangipane
but my top pick is Francis Chan. Yep, Viola and Chan. Probaby too good to be true.
D.A. Carson?
Francis Chan, definately. You two would make the BEST collaboration ever! I really hope this happens.
What’s Chan’s email address?
Tim Ferris. Maybe something like – the 4 Hour Church Transformation. So that instead of all of us just talking about – we just MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THIS WOULD BE SWEET!
Frank, I would love to see you co-author a book with … me. I have two published books (Harvest House Publishing) and am currently working on a book on the proper use of spiritual gifts in the church today. I may not be well-known, but I definitely share your passion for the organic church.
My book looks at the three most important elements in the Early Church (free-flow interaction of spiritual gifts, one-anothering, and spiritual intimacy) and discusses how these elements can become operational in today’s contemporary church.
Thanks Ken. But I’ve not written on “organic church” or ecclesiology for the last 5 books and I have no plans to write on that topic as I’ve said all I want to say about it in this series: http://www.ReimaginingChurch.org
This post talks about the shift in my ministry focus: http://frankviola.org/2012/03/05/seasonsofministry/
Who, other than yourself, would you offer as my next co-author?
FRANK VIOLA AND FRANCIS CHAN. I want to see that book!
Ditto. That would be AWESOME!!
Hugh Halter or Alan Hirsch
N.T. Wright
Frank, this pertains to your blog in general. Recently you started mailing only links instead of the whole post. Whatever the reason: you might be losing a few faithful readers. I used to organize your posts and read them during long train train rides. Or else I read them on my mobile phone. In both cases, network quality or the hassle of setting up tethering are often an issue. Actually, the e-mail subscription doesn’t much sense any more – I might as well just set up a bookmark and check your blog from time to time. Best wishes from Switzerland, Gottardo
Gottardo: Thx. for sharing your concern.
The blog sends out a short excerpt to email subscribers and they just click the heading which takes less than a second to read the whole post on the blog. We made this change because despite the countless times we’ve told readers to comment on the blog and not click “reply” in their email inboxe and comment, many people were still doing this. There was even a clear note at the bottom of each email post saying “Do not click REPLY and comment here. But comment on the blog.”
Since we moved to excerpts, it’s resolved the whole problem. If someone doesn’t want to take a second to click on the link and read the articles on the blog, they really aren’t interested enough in the content to begin with. From our analysis, the readership of this blog has been increasing daily. So I’m not worried about it.
Francis Chan! If you and Francis coauthored a book, it would probably beat “the shack” in sales and impact. I’ve been secretly waiting for you guys to do something together.
Sam Storms.
Dr. Greg Boyd or N. T. Wright.
How about co-authoring with N.T. Wright?
NT Wright!
I nominate Dr. Ben Witherington III. Y’all could write a page-turner for sure!
Greg Boyd
It’d be nice to read a book written by you and Alister McGrath. Maybe an interesting mix of historical church + historical theology. What do you think? Cheers from Brazil, Frank. You should definitely come here and get to know our domestic churches. Your books and thoughts have given us tremendous support and hope.
How about Bill Johnson or Doug McMurry