The Fifth Gospel Book Signing

Last night Regee and I went to Ian Caldwell’s book signing at Barnes & Noble in Tysons Corner.

Ian has just published his new book, “The Fifth Gospel” which is already on the New York Times Best Seller list and moving up!

If you remember, Ian co-authored the best-selling novel “The Rule of Four” with Dusty Thomason some years ago.  All of this is very close to home because Ian, Dusty, Jose and Patricia all went to Thomas Jefferson High School in Fairfax County and remain the best of friends.

In addition, Jen Joel was the literary agent who sold and had published “The Rule of Four”.  She has now sold and had published “The Fifth Gospel”.  Way to go Jen!

It is already on the New York Times Best Seller List.

At the book signing last night, there was a large crowd overspilling from the Fiction section into the Cooking and History sections, because Ian is our "local boy" and family, friends and fans were all eager to congratulate him on his success.

Ian did not give a book reading (he told us all to read the book!) but did something much more interesting.  He told us about how the book evolved, the depth of research it took; the implications for a growing family; how he was taken deeper and deeper into the recesses of the Vatican (without actually visiting the Vatican); and the amazing people he encountered during the whole 11 year (you read that right) adventure.

We stood in line for the book signing and as soon as we mentioned Dusty, Jose and Jen he leapt up and hugged us and signed our books with great enthusiasm.  The dedication that he wrote in my book was delightfully whimsical:  “For Ian...because great names think alike!  Ian”.

He is a very talented, committed and gracious young man.  During his talk he acknowledged with some emotion the enormous debt writers and, indeed, all artists, owe to families and friends.  Even as he talked, his wife was adjusting the mike and bringing him a bottle of water.

We both bought a book because we needed to read his masterpiece immediately.  I read the first four chapters last night and Regee was still reading when I went to sleep.

As Nelson DeMille says on the back cover: "The Fifth Gospel is a cathedral where skeptics and believers alike may enter and all will leave transformed”.  Your local bookshop will help you get started on your transformation.

We are so proud to be part of the world that Ian, Dusty, Jose and Jen make so entertaining and meaningful.  Thanks so much.