CECIL MURPHEY--REASONS TO SMILE

Already well known for his warm smile and big hugs, veteran author Cecil Murphey has even more reasons to smile these days.

"90 Minutes in Heaven" (Revell), the book he wrote for Don Piper, has been on the "New York Times" Paperback Nonfiction bestseller list for 255 consecutive weeks. In addition, the book charted on two new lists that the "New York Times" will publish for the first time on February 13: the E-Book Bestsellers Nonfiction list and the Combined Print & E-Book Bestsellers list.

When Don Piper contacted Murphey to write "90 Minutes in Heaven," Murphey said, "I'm not interested in writing about a near-death experience."

"This was not near death," Don said. "I really died."

Murphey said he didn't believe him, and it took several weeks for Don to convince him. "Once I began to write the book, I knew it would be a big book. Just a gut feeling."

About a dozen publishers didn't agree with Murphey and turned it down, but he still believed in the project. "I had no idea it would stay on the bestseller lists and stay there so long." The book has appeared on several other bestseller lists and a feature film is now in the works.

But that's not all. Murphey recently learned that his most intimate book, "When a Man You Love Was Abused: A Woman's Guide to Helping Him Overcome Childhood Sexual Molestation" (Kregel, May 2010), has gone into its second printing. That's especially gratifying to him because it took six years to find a publisher willing to take the risk to print it. "There's no audience for this type of book," multiple editors said.

At 78 years old, Murphey is at the height of his career and going strong. In January, Regal Publishers released his 120th book, "Knowing God, Knowing Myself: An Invitation to Daily Discovery." Berkley (a division of Penguin Publishing) will release his fourth book with Don Piper, "Getting to Heaven: Departing Instructions for Your Life Now," on March 1. And he has five more books scheduled for publication in 2011.

Not only does Cecil Murphey stay busy writing and speaking nationwide, but he helps countless people through his two blogs -- one for writers ( www.cecwritertowriter.com), and the other blog is for male survivors of sexual abuse (www.menshatteringthesilence.blogspot.com). He and Twila Belk, his assistant, co-host the "Cec and Me" radio show, which airs live on Tuesday evenings at www.toginet.com/shows/cecandme.

For more information about Cecil Murphey, or to sign up for his monthly newsletter, visit www.cecilmurphey.com. For interview or booking requests, contact Twila Belk at twilabelk@mchsi.com or 563-332-1622.