News

10/23/2023 - Having finished Season 1 of High & Silver Presents: The Pilgrim’s Progress, Zachary is working on a paperback version of the text of his retelling of Christian's story, available soon!

1/1/2022 - Zachary has started a new podcast, called High & Silver Presents: The Pilgrim’s Progress. It’s a serialized retelling of John Buyan’s classic Christian allegory, with reimagined and added content, delivered in the author's trademark “enhanced audiobook” format.

9/4/2021 - A new audio-exclusive short, entitled “Behind You: A Playing Saint Story,” is now available on the audio page. It’s a 96-minute origin story for Father Michael, chock-full of Easter Eggs. If you’ve purchased either of the bundles, you can find the story on your download

4/10/2021 - Zach has launched a new audio page, containing ebooks of all of his novels, as well as short stories and extras. Books are available from Audible and a variety of other sellers, or deeply discounted as direct downloads and bundles.

11/9/2020 - The audio book of Playing Saint | All Souls’ Day is now available, through Audible, Apple Audio Books, and just about anywhere else audio books are sold, as well as (deeply discounted) as a direct download on the audio page.

7/26/2020 - We’ve put out the omnibus, containing both of our End-Times-wackiness satires. You can get the paperback or ebook here.

1/28/2020 - The audio version of Playing Saint is now finished. It is currently available on Awesound and will be on Audible and Apple Books soon!

10/6/2019 - Zach has launched a Kickstarter campaign for audio versions of all his books. UPDATE: The project has been funded three times over!

6/10/2018 - Zach’s Young Adult novel Clinch is now available in paperback and ebook formats.

3/6/2018 - In addition to his other podcasts, Zach is now co-hosting popular pod, These Go to Eleven. New episodes drop on Tuesday night, timed so that they will end at . . . waaaait for it . . . eleven.

10/5/2017 - Playing Saint | All Souls’ Day will hit shelves on October 30. Click here to pre-buy. Release week will be marked with an online launch event (on 10/30) and an in-store release party (on 11/2).

9/15/17 - The new book Jot That Down: Encouraging Essays for New Writers is now available and includes an essay by Zachary, entitled, “Injecting Real Life into Fiction.”

5/1/17 - Zachary will be launching a new podcast in mid-June. It will be called “Clinch: A Podcast of Fiction and Not-Fiction,” and will contain the full serialization of Zachary’s young adult novel, Clinch.

3/15/17 - The cover for Playing Saint | All Soul’s Day has been revealed! The book will drop on October 30th. SEE THE COVER...

2/22/17 - In late May, Zachary will be joining authors Cliff Graham, Connilyn Cossette, and Ted Kluck on a tour of the Holy Land. If you would like to join them, check out www.goodbattletours.com

11/22/16 - You can weigh in on what to call the Playing Saint sequel. Click here to take the survey.

10/30/16 - Zachary is writing again! A number of projects are back in play, including the Playing Saint sequel, coming out one year from today. READ MORE...

6/27/16 - The Last Con has been nominated for an Inspy award, in the Mystery/Suspense cateogry. READ MORE...

12/8/15 - The Gut Check Guide to Publishing is now available, co-written by Zachary and prolific author Ted Kluck. You can check get the paperback from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

11/9/15 - Zachary is re-launching his book The Last Con, by giving away two new short stories (featuring characters from The Last Con and Playing Saint) and hosting an online launch party.
9/3/15 - Zachary will be taking part in two panels at the Alpena Book Festival on September 26. He will also be at the ACFW conference the week before.

7/16/15 - Family Fiction Edge Magazine has once again featured Zachary. Click here for the July issue.
6/29/15 - Playing Saint is a finalist for the ACFW Carol Awards in the Debut Novel category. READ MORE...

5/3/15 - On the July 7 release date, Baker Book House in Grand Rapids will be hosting a book launch party for The Last Con (7/7 @ 7). Zachary will speak, sign books, and teach attendees a little bit about the gentle art of the grift.

4/29/15 - Zachary has launched a Street Team—a core group of readers who will help get the word out on social media about new releases, sales, etc., and receive exclusive content and giveaways. To join the Street Team, e-mail streetteam@zacharybartels.com.

4/5/15 - The Inspy Awards shortlists have been announced, and Playing Saint is up for an Inspy in the Suspense category, alongside Steven James, Ted Dekker, and Ronnie Kendig.

12/9/14 - Zachary’s next novel, The Last Con is now available for pre-buy. It will be released in bookstores and online on July 7, 2015.

10/7/14 - Playing Saint is now available! Look for it wherever page-turners are sold.

9/30/14 - A week before the release of the book, Library Journal publishes a positive review of Playing Saint, recommending the “intrigue-filled thriller” and RT Book Reviews gives it ★★★★½. READ MORE...

9/7/14 - As the release date approaches, Christian Retailing calls Playing Saint “an anticipated thriller,” and Family Fiction Edge puts Zachary on the cover of its October issue.

7/4/14 - Bestselling author Colleen Coble and award-winning author Tracy Groot have provided endorsements for Zachary’s upcoming novel, Playing Saint. READ MORE...

6/20/14 - Advanced reading copies of Playing Saint are arriving, soon to be given away on my blog.

3/12/14 - HarperCollins fiction brought Zachary down to Nashville to speak about Playing Saint at their sales conference. READ MORE...

3/2/14 - The final cover for Playing Saint has been unveiled. The book should be available for pre-buy in a few weeks. READ MORE...

11/24/13 - The first of Zachary’s contracted books with Thomas Nelson is moving ahead. The title has been changed from Demoniac to Playing Saint and it is scheduled to be in stores on October 7, 2014.

5/20/13 - Zachary has signed a two-book contract with major publisher Thomas Nelson! His first book (tentatively titled Demoniac: A Novel) will hit stores in 2014. READ MORE...

1/4/13 - Bestselling author Steven James has provided an enthusiastic endorsement for Zachary’s forthcoming novel, Demoniac. READ MORE...

10/20/12 - The first half of 42 Months Dry: A Tale of Gods and Gunplay, Zachary’s supernatural action/thriller novel, will be available to read online, beginning immediately. One chapter will be released each week. Click the “42 Months Dry” tab above to read it. READ MORE...

10/16/12 - Zachary has ramped down his two former blogs and has launched a new blog, zacharybartels.blogspot.com, as part of his new website, www.zacharybartels.com.

10/2/2012 - Zachary has signed a contract with Credo Communications. He is now represented by literary agent Ann Byle.