Ace Collins lives to write! This is proven by the more than sixty titles he has created in the past two and half decades. Zondervan released two Ace Collins books in 2009 and another two in 2010. Ace has four more books scheduled for release in 2011 and 2012. Three of those are with Abingdon Press and one will be Zondervan’s first secular novel.

Ace’s first novel, “Farraday Road” was released in October, 2008 and went into a second printing even before it hit bookstores. That book has generated than 28,000 Kindle orders. This mystery-action adventure will jump-start a series of books based on the exploits of a champion of justice — Arkansas lawyer Lije Evans. The next in the Lije Evans Mystery Series is called “Swope’s Ridge” and is hitting bookstores now and has garnered great reviews.

Collins also just agreed to create a new action-adventure character for Zondervan. The first book in this series, “Words of the Father,” will be released as a hardcover ABA novel in 2011. Set in modern day times, against the backdrop of terrorism and secret medical research, history professor Jeff Burke races against two different mysterious enemies trying to find a lost book of the bible that could alter the parameters of the world’s three major religions. “Words of the Father” is a book that combines Indiana Jones type adventure with Di Vinci Code and National Treasure mystery. It promises to be Collins’ most unusual and exciting offering yet.

Beyond his fiction books Ace continues to pen several nonfiction books a year. In April, Zondervan released a book that Ace had wanted to write for more than a decade — “GrATTIDUE”. This book reflects the author’s values and is a follow up to “Sticks & Stones – Using Your Words As A Powerful Force!” In that book the author to shared the stories of some of the most incredible people he has met in his career — people who make a real impact on others. Another new Christmas book, “Stories Behind Christmas’ Greatest Hits” will be released this fall and will feature a huge national media blitz. . In 2008 and 2009 Collins books that were shipped included, “Stories Behind Heroes of Faith,” and 25 Days, 26 Ways to Make this Your Best Christmas Ever.”

In 2008 the author hit bookstores with “Stories Behind Women of Extraordinary Faith.” The “Stories Behind” books have been a staple of Ace’s work for several years going back to “The Stories Behind The Best-Loved Songs of Christmas,” released in 2001, and still selling strong a decade later. This first Christmas book was followed by another bestseller, “The Stories Behind The Great Traditions of Christmas,” not only topped the charts, but has now been translated and released in China. “More Stories Behind The Best-Loved Songs of Christmas” is the most recent holiday offering, issued in 2007. This trio of Yule Tide favorites has combined for 35 hardcover printings, more than 650,000 units in book sales and is now available in a special box set. Other books in this series include “Stories Behind Hymns That Have Inspired America,” “Stories Behind The Songs and Traditions of Easter” and “Untold Gold - The Stories Behind Elvis's #1 Hits.” The latter was a hit in the U.S. and the U.K and is being considered for a 2009 TV special.

Collins began his writing career more than two decades ago when he teamed with Louise Mandrell for “The Mandrell Family Album.” Since that time he has penned more than fifty books including bios of Evel Knievel, Bette Midler,

Pam Tillis, The Dixie Chicks, autobiographies with Lauren Chapin and The Cathedral Quartet, how to books, a historical children series, a book on the star players of the old Negro baseball league and two best sellers with one of the biggest stars in the history of entertainment — the legendary Lassie. During his career Ace has written for a wide variety of publishers including St. Martin's Press, Viking-Penguin, Putnam, Harper-Collins, Thomas Nelson, Word, Zondervan and the Chicago Review Press. In the course of his writing Collins has also penned more than 2,000 magazine features for the likes of People, Us, Texas Monthly, Plus Magazine and Guideposts. For the past twenty years he has also been the editor and graphic designer for WME Magazine. He also hosts the nonprofit charity organization's radio and television broadcasts.

Collins has made scores of television guest appearances including Good Morning America, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, CNN, Fox and Friends, The NBC Nightly News, Entertainment Tonight, Court TV, E The Untold Story, At Home Live, The Early Show and Crook and Chase. Two of his books have been made into network TV specials. Ace hosted the ABC holiday offering Lassie 280 Dog years On TV on ABC. His book “Father Does Know Best” was made into a NBC movie of the week. Besides TV appearances, the author averages more than 150 radio interviews a year.

Ace has won numerous awards for his writing including three Golden Quills, an America’s Writing Award and the Angel of Excellence Award. The latter was for penning an inspirational feature in Plus Magazine. He has spoken to many groups and was a feature lecturer at the National Archives Author Series in Washington D.C.
 

The Arkadelphia, Arkansas-based writer has been married for thirty-five years to Kathy Collins, a former school administrator for the Bynum Independent School District and onetime Associate Director for the Center for Learning and Development in Waco, Texas, she is now teaching in the education department at Ouachita Baptist University. The couple has two sons; Clint, a graduate of Baylor University who is a restaurant manager in Waco, and Rance, a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University who worked for Turner Classic Movies. Ace’s hobbies include restoring and driving classic cars. He currently owns a 1934 Auburn 652Y Sedan, a 1936 Cord 810 Westchester, and a 1965 Mustang Fastback. He is also a huge college basketball fan, a collector of movie memorabilia from the Golden Age of Hollywood and enjoys Art-Deco design.

Ace Collins Bio