The book cover of Upstream, a novel by Bishop Bryant. The title appears in white lowercase letters over a misty teal sky, above a quiet river winding through dark evergreen forest toward a distant mountain. A contour-line river map curls beside the title. The words A Novel and the author's name, Bishop Bryant, sit beside the river.

Advance order

Preorder Upstream

One man’s search to find his purpose.

AvailableTuesday, February 23, 2027

Hardcover · eBook  ·  Forefront Books in collaboration with Simon & Schuster

Available at these retailers:

Please preorder for yourself and others now, as initial print quantities may be limited.

Where the profits go

Every preorder helps

All book profits go to Wine To Water

They will be donated to Wine To Water in Boone, N.C., and used to restore and replenish lives in western N.C. As most of you know, some firsthand, two years ago Hurricane Helene killed several and inflicted dreadful damage in western N.C. For those who survived, recovery will take decades or more.

Your purchases will launch Upstream but, more importantly, help flood victims in North Carolina.

Visit Wine To Water (opens in a new tab)

A letter from Bishop

Living a renewed Life

Aamodt is a Norwegian word for the place where two streams converge and intertwine. The word can also be used to describe the seams on earth where spiritual and material worlds intersect, giving us fresh breath, a renewed life – but radically changed.

October 17th of 2021 marked a new era for us, as my wife Bevo contracted Covid. She recovered for a few days then crashed into a hospital ICU bed for sixteen dreadful days. Death stalked her as we hid under God’s wings while many prayed. She barely survived and rehabbed her life over the next year, while I dismantled mine. Until then I had been like an old beaver, relentlessly cramming endless sticks into the porous, futile dam that was my life. It could no longer hold water and ruptured as decades of our lives washed downstream.

Afterwards, I quit the endless race to win in this world, and began walking in another. Sixteen days when we both thought she would die gave us yearnings to live – differently – to find our place. Over time, that led to contentment for us, Bevo in her creative arts and I in my writing that eventually became Upstream. The hardest and most difficult time became the crucible that regenerated us. We found our purpose. So, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Oliver, Mary. “The Summer Day,” lines 18-19.

Please do me a favor. Preorder Upstream today, for yourself and as a gift for others.

— Bishop Bryant

The details

  • Titleupstream, a novel
  • AuthorBishop Bryant
  • PublisherForefront Books in collaboration with Simon & Schuster
  • FormatsHardcover · eBook
  • ReleaseTuesday, February 23, 2027
  • ISBN9781637636411
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