Here’s one I’m particularly excited about:

Champion of the World got a boost from critically-acclaimed author—and Montana native—Smith Henderson this week. He had the following to say about the novel:

“CHAMPION OF THE WORLD is a debut with the masterful breadth and insight of a veteran talent’s work. The confluence of a sport and entertainment, gambling and gangsterism is illuminated on every page, as Chad Dundas burrows into the tangled roots of American wrestling. Tragic and by turns hopeful, CHAMPION OF THE WORLD is a showcase bout full of reversals, grit, and spirit.”

— Smith Henderson, author of Fourth of July Creek

You’ve probably already read Henderson’s own debut, Fourth of July Creek, which has been lighting up “best of” lists since its release last year. If you haven’t read it, dude, what are you waiting for?

The book won the 2014 Montana Book Award and is described as a “shattering and iconic American novel” in the first damn line of its Amazon plot summary. It was a 2014 New York Times Notable Book, won the 2015 John Creasy (New Blood) Dagger Award and was named a finalist for scores of others. So, yeah, pretty good.

Henderson is a PEN award winner and was the 2011 Philip Roth Writer in Residency at Bucknell University. He’s won a Pushcart Prize, been a fellow at Michener Center at University of Texas and his short fiction has appeared in Tin House, American Short Fiction and One Story, among others.

To say I’m stoked that he’s among those offering advance praise for Champion of the World is a massive understatement.

— Chad

Historical novelist and screenwriter David Fuller lent some kind words to Champion of the World this week, calling the book “a terrific debut.”

It’s always a thrill to net a bit of applause from a writer the caliber of Fuller. The author of more than 50 screenplays—including Necessary Roughness, The Heist, and Gang in Blue—his first novel Sweetsmoke was nominated for an Edgar Award, and shortlisted for a John Creasy “New Blood” Dagger Award in the UK.

Fuller’s second novel Sundance came out on June 16, 2015 and tells the story of Harry Longbaugh–aka The Sundance Kid–living in Wyoming five years after he allegedly died in a shootout in Bolivia.

Here’s what Fuller said about Champion of the World:

“Chad Dundas sets us squarely down in 1921 and brings it vividly to life. Moira and Pepper Van Dean feel like a real couple. The tense buildup to the wrestling matches is outstanding, and the pleasure of the matches themselves is that their outcome cannot be predicted. A terrific debut.”

—David Fuller, author of Sundance

Check back for more updates about Champion of the World. We’re getting close to having an official publication date and cover art. You’ll know as soon as I do!

— Chad

Champion of the World continues to creep through the publication process, headed for a 2016 release. We’ve completed what we hope is the final copyedit and bound proofs are now in the hands of a few selected readers. Slowly but surely, it feels as though a bit of momentum is building.

The first piece of advance praise for the book comes by way of New York Times bestselling author Jeff Guinn, and it makes me feel a little misty-eyed every time I read it.

Not that I’ve been reading it again and again or anything.

Here’s what Guinn has to say about Champion of the World:

“Here’s one of the finest first novels in years, a gritty tale involving professional wrestling, bootlegging, and the byzantine strategies of cold-blooded conmen and desperate grifters. If the subject matter strikes you as too quirky, think again. My advice to anyone who loves brilliant storytelling is this: read Chad Dundas’s Champion of the World.”

— Jeff Guinn

Guinn is the author of numerous books, a former Edgar Award nominee, a former books editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and an award-winning investigative journalist. His book The Last Gunfight made the NYT bestseller list in 2012.

To see him say nice things about Champion makes me feel downright giddy.

— Chad