217. How Did Publishers Steward the Blockbuster Left Behind Series? | with Dan Balow

The year is 1995. A new creative power has arisen, partnering a Christian marriage/prophecy teacher with a “journeyman” author of fiction and sports biographies. Together they forged a Christian thriller juggernaut that later hit The New York Times bestseller list and started global conversations about the world’s ending. How did the Left Behind series become such a blockbuster?

Episode sponsors

1. Enclave Publishing: Breath of Bones by Tricia Goyer and Nathan Goyer
2. Realm Makers 2024 writers’ conference
3. Lorehaven Open World next month

Mission update

• Lorehaven reviews: Blood of the Stars, Water’s Break (June 21)
• Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild

Concession stand

• This is part 2 of our Left Behind Legacy series, celebrating this franchise
• For those hoping to debate end times, Zack and Stephen beat you to it.
• We like Christian fiction. We think it’s great stuff. So was the LB series.
• Our other podcast episodes can defend the idea, the label, the genre.

Introducing guest Dan Balow

Dan Balow started in the Christian publishing business in 1983—marketing, sales, audiobooks, digital publishing, acquisitions, and beyond. He worked at Tyndale House Publishers from the early ’90s to the mid-2000s with hundreds of authors and thousands of books. He’s been an agent and publisher, board member of the Evangelical Christian Publisher’s Association and chair of the Global Publishers Alliance, and original member of the advisory board of the Christy Awards. He and his wife Carol live in Wheaton Illinois; they have four grown children and seven grandchildren.

• Dan Balow at The Steve Laube Literary Agency
• WriteToPublish.com

1. Pre: From book fan to head of Tyndale marketing

• Dan shares his personal origin story with biblical faith and book-making.
• We learn more about Tyndale House Publishers, its origins and legacy.
• Finally we hear about this intriguing late-1995 novel by LaHaye/Jenkins.