Howard Books, the Nashville-based Christian imprint of Simon & Schuster, has signed William Paul Young, author of the bestseller The Shack, to a two-book deal.

The first title under the deal, a novel called Eve, is a creative retelling of the story of Adam and Eve; it is scheduled for fall 2015. The second book in the deal will be nonfiction, and set for fall 2016. Simon & Schuster Audio will release audiobook editions of both books, for which Howard has acquired world publishing rights.

The Shack (2007), which was Young's debut, spent 177 weeks on bestseller lists. Today, there are more than 20 million copies of his books in print.

Merkh and Becky Nesbitt , v-p and editor-in-chief at Howard, made the acquisition. Young was represented by Wes Yoder, Ambassador Literary Agency, Nashville, and Dan Polk, of Baxter, Stinson, Polk LLC, Annapolis, Md.