John > Recent Status Updates

I'm running multiple literary tours in 2024/25--trips to Asia based on my own novels, and trips to Europe based on the novels of Kate Quinn, Martha Hall Kelly, etc. These wonderful authors will accompany me on the trips. If anyone is interested in learning more, please send me a direct message. Thank you. - John

I am leading a wonderful literary tour to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, alongside bestselling novelist, Jamie Ford. This tour will happen in January 2024. If anyone would like additional details, please send me a direct message. Thank you. - John

I just returned from running great literary tours to Uzbekistan and India. I also have wonderful group tours lined up for SE Asia, Bhutan, Japan, Uzbekistan, and Greece. If anyone would like more info, please send me a DM. These are amazing trips which I run through my company, www.johnshorstravel.com. For more info you can also friend me on Facebook. Thanks!

I've led tours to the settings of my novels since 2013 (www.johnshorstravel.com). This January, I am co-leading a special literary tour to Cambodia. My companion will be Loung Ung, author of "First They Killed My Father". We'll tour the sites in her book, and then will fly to Angkor Wat to explore the temples re-imagined in my novel, "Temple of a Thousand Faces". Please DM me if you'd like more info. Thanks!

An excerpt from The Denver Post's review of my new novel, "My Midnight Sun":

"Enchanting... Ever since his blockbuster “Beneath a Marble Sky” was published some years ago, Colorado author John Shors has been known for his haunting love stories set in exotic lands, told in more than 10 novels. “My Midnight Sun” follows in the Shors tradition, and does not disappoint."

My new novel, My Midnight Sun, is now available. My Midnight Sun is set in the Himalayas of Nepal and is an unusual love story.

“My Midnight Sun is a powerful story of love, pain, and redemption.” – Joshua Hammer, author of The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu

All ebook versions of The Demon Seekers: Book One are just $0.99 from March 9 - 16. Proceeds will go to a children's charity in Cambodia.

"An exhilarating tale with an engaging protagonist that will have readers eagerly anticipating sequels." - Kirkus Reviews

"The Demon Seekers trilogy captivated me completely. I can't wait for the world to dive into it like I did!" - Kaia Gerber, teenage supermodel

For a limited time, the Kindle version The Demon Seekers: Book One is just $1.99 on Amazon.... I hope you have a great weekend!!! - John

I'm pleased to announce that The Demon Seekers: Book Three is now available. All three novels in my young adult science fiction trilogy are out and receiving great reviews.

"An exhilarating tale with an engaging protagonist that will have readers eagerly anticipating sequels." -- Kirkus Reviews

"An exceptional novel, one that pleads to become cinematic... Highly recommended." -- San Francisco Review of Books

Happy Friday, everyone! More reviews have come in for my young adult, science fiction novel, The Demon Seekers. I thought I'd share two:

"An exhilarating tale with an engaging protagonist that will have readers eagerly anticipating sequels." - Kirkus Reviews

"An exceptional novel, one that pleads to become cinematic, and is a strong beginning of a new series. Highly recommended." - San Francisco Review of Books

I'm happy to announce that The Demon Seekers: Book Two is now available. My young adult science fiction series is generating wonderful reviews and significant interest from Hollywood.

"An exceptional novel." -- The San Francisco Review of Books

"The Demon Seekers trilogy captivated me completely. I can't wait for the world to dive into it like I did!" -- Kaia Gerber, model of the year

For six years I have been writing a young adult, science fiction trilogy. The Demon Seekers: Book One was officially released today. Early reviews have been very favorable, and I already have significant interest from Hollywood. If you're a fan of books like The Hunger Games, Divergent, etc., I think you'll enjoy The Demon Seekers.

For six years I have been working on a young adult, science fiction trilogy.

The Demon Seekers: Book One was released this week. Books two and three will be launched on Dec 1 and Jan 1. I'm quite excited about this series. Hollywood is already expressing significant interest.

"The Demon Seekers trilogy captured me completely. I can't wait for the world to dive into it like I did!" -- Kaia Gerber

To my Goodreads' friends, if you'd like to receive the occasional update on my books, writings, events, etc., please friend me on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. I also run occasional book giveaways through these social media platforms. Thanks! - John

I'm pleased to say my new novel, Unbound, hit #6 on Barnes & Nobles' bestseller list and #17 on Amazon's bestseller list. I also optioned the film rights to Hollywood. So, thank you, to all of you, who read Unbound! I hope my love story set on the Great Wall of China put a smile on your face... On another note, this winter I'm leading a literary tour to SE Asia. For more info, please send me a direct message. Thanks!

I hope this message finds everyone well. I'm happy to report that my new novel, Unbound, is getting great reviews. Unbound is based on a famous Chinese love story, and is set on the Great Wall.

"Unbound is both exotic romance and adventure story, as beautifully written as the author’s acclaimed Beneath a Marble Sky.” – The Denver Post

“An intense, historical page-turner… a legendary tale.” – The Shanghai Daily

I'd like to let my Goodreads friends know that my new novel, Unbound, is now available. It's a love story set on the Great Wall of China.

“Unbound is utterly captivating—an epic, historical page-turner with a beatingheart. I loved it.” – Jamie Ford, author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

"A gem of storytelling.” – Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife

My best wishes to you! - John

I have been lucky to lead literary tours to the settings of my novels. These tours have been wonderful successes, and I've taken groups of readers to India, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. If anyone would like additional information, please send me a private message. Thanks!

"Over the past two years, I have been taking small groups of readers to the settings of my novels. These trips have been wonderful successes. In 2016, I'm planning reader trips to Cambodia/Vietnam, as well as India. If anyone is interested in more information, please send me a private message. Thanks for your time and thoughts. Best wishes, John

Over the past two years, I have been taking small groups of readers to the settings of my novels. These trips have been wonderful successes. In 2016, I'm planning reader trips to Cambodia/Vietnam, as well as India. If anyone is interested in more information, please send me a private message. Thanks for your time and thoughts. Best wishes, John

It's always fun to get overseas press coverage:

“Reflecting the beauty and splendor of Angkor Wat, Shors' narrative reads like a poet's description of the jungles, the temples, and the hearts of each character.” – The Phnom Penh Advisor

“Cambodia, with a modern history as tragic as any in the world, is in real need of heroes. In Shors' inspirational Jayavar, they have just that.” – The Bangkok Post

I still have a few seats left on my literary tour to SE Asia if anyone is interested. Cheers. - John

“Temple of a Thousand Faces, like Angkor Wat itself, is gorgeous and varied, with power and beauty to spare.” – BookReporter.com

“A wonderfully complex epic novel of love and lust, mystery and war ... played out against the kind of exotic background that makes Shors' grand books best sellers.” – The Denver Post

“An epic love story.” – Southeast Asia Globe

The Des Moines Register ran a nice piece about my literary tour program: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps...

I'm so grateful for the wonderful support of readers. Not only did critics enjoy Temple of a Thousand Faces, but people have rated it highly within the various online book communities. I don't know 99% of these people, but they've taken the time to champion my work. Much appreciated!!!

I am taking a month of from writing, and for a change of pace, am helping first-time writers get works published. I'm doing this consulting through the end of August. If anyone is interested, feel free to send me a message. Best wishes, John

To read the first two chapters of Temple of a Thousand Faces, please visit: http://www.johnshors.com/files/Temple...

I’m trying to raise money to remove landmines from Cambodia. If you purchase a copy of Temple of a Thousand Faces between now and May 15th, please let me know, and I’ll make a $2 donation to http://www.landmine-relief-fund.com/ .

Any money raised can go a long way. For instance, about $200 pays for a deminer’s salary for an entire month, and $50 clears 500 square feet of a minefield.

Thank you. - John

If anyone is curious what my new novel is about, please read this Denver Post review: http://www.denverpost.com/books/ci_22...

Thanks to so many people on Goodreads, who have added my forthcoming novel, Temple of a Thousand Faces, to their to-read lists. I appreciate your support! - John