A couple of people have asked me about the status of my two books – the one that is finished and coming out, The Triumph of Christianity: How A Forbidden Religion Swept the World, and the one I am now doing my research on The Invention of the Afterlife: A History of Heaven and Hell. First, Triumph.  There is indeed news about this one, and I can’t decide if it’s good news or bad news.  It feels (emotionally) like it’s bad but I think it is probably good.   My publisher, Simon & Schuster, has decided to delay publication from this coming September until the following February.  The new publication date is February 13. There are no glitches or problems with publishing it earlier.  It is done and ready to go.  I have read through two sets of page proofs, it has been copy-edited multiple times, it is sitting there waiting to be run off and sent out.  But for a variety of complicated reasons Simon & Schuster wants to wait till February. The short story [...]