Look out heaven, here come miracles. Books on the hereafter are still going strong on the bestseller lists. Now four new books tell the stories of lives that came crashing down but were saved by the power of the divine. From honor student to American Idol finalist, from mother of four to Hollywood washout, each one tells of the faith and strength that changes lives.
Idol fans will recognize Scott MacIntyre, the blind singer who made it to the finals in 2009. He inspired millions, and now in By Faith, Not By Sight (Thomas Nelson, Apr.) he tells his life story. Born blind, the musical prodigy was on the cusp of his post-college career when he was diagnosed with renal failure. MacIntyre describes his early life, his illness, and the amazing dreams that came true after he received a donated kidney.
Says Matt Baugher, senior v-p and publisher for Thomas Nelson’s nonfiction trade group, “For Nelson, it was all about the strength and power of his story. He almost lost everything to kidney disease and was saved when the wife of a former professor came forward to offer a kidney.” Adds Baugher, “My hope is that the book conveys that a positive attitude and strong faith are the two most important companions to any trial we might face.”
One drunk driver meeting one happy family in a violent crash equals tragedy, but Miracle for Jen by Linda Barrick (Tyndale, Mar.) paints hope into the picture. When 15-year-old Jennifer Barrick awakens from a coma, she must learn again to walk, talk, eat, and pray. Yet her spiritual life is more vibrant than ever. Barrick’s mother recounts the accident and its aftermath, revealing a miracle of faith and recovery.
Stephanie Nielson’s dreams had come true with her marriage and four children, but she nearly lost it all in a plane crash that left her disfigured. Heaven is Here (Hyperion, Apr.) is the story of a Mormon housewife whose life and faith became an inspiration to many.
Nielson will be featured in People, Parade (cover story), and on NBC’s Today Show. She will also host an essay contest, with winners to be featured on her blog. “Heaven is Here shows that during the worst life can throw at us, we can find the best in ourselves,” says Christine Pride, senior editor at Hyperion. “But we can’t do it alone; we need friends, family, faith, and hope. The early Amazon reviews show how powerfully that message is resonating.”
One miracle begets another in Joe Kissack’s The Fourth Fisherman (WaterBrook, Mar.). When three Mexican fishermen are found after months at sea, their story of faith and survival inspires Kissack. Years of stress, hiding, and addiction have ruined his career and marriage, but when he heads to Mexico determined to tell the fishermen’s story, his own life miraculously changes.
