Press Release
Hodder Faith to publish word-of-mouth sensation The Shack28/05/2008
Hodder Faith, a division of Hachette Livre UK, today announced that it is to publish the phenomenal US word-of-mouth bestseller The Shack by William P Young.
Originally written by an Oregon salesman as a story for his children, then reworked in collaboration with two friends and former pastors, The Shack has become a runaway bestseller. The novel tells the story of a man whose young daughter is abducted during a family vacation, and who four years later receives a note, apparently from God, inviting him back to the shack where his daughter’s blood had been discovered. The Shack reveals provocative and poignant views of God and how He relates to humanity. Unable to secure a publisher for the story, collaborators Wayne Jacobsen and Brad Cummings formed Windblown Media and began distribution from Brad’s garage. Fueled entirely by word-of-mouth (Windblown Media has spent less than $300.00 in marketing the book), The Shack has sold more than one million copies since its release in the US one year ago. Sales are growing rapidly week to week, and there are 1.1 million copies in print. It is the best selling religious fiction book in America and currently sits at #15 on the USA Today bestseller list. Windblown Media is in talks with film studios that are eager to bring this riveting novel to the screen.
Windblown Media and Hachette Book Group USA have entered into a publishing co-venture to bring The Shack and other titles published by Windblown Media to a global readership and Hodder Faith will be publishing other books developed and published by Windblown Media in conjunction with HBGUSA.
“Hachette has opened a tremendous door for us to ply our passion while they do the heavy lifting in production and distribution. We couldn’t be more excited at this opportunity and how it will allow us to take the momentum of The Shack and inspire readers who are spiritually hungry to find their own vibrant relationship with God,” commented Wayne Jacobsen, co-owner of Windblown Media.
David Young, CEO of Hachette Book Group USA, said “We are honored and thrilled to have been appointed as the sales, marketing, and distribution partner with Windblown Media to help further develop the sales reach, both domestically and internationally, for their wonderful book The Shack. Nobody can fail to be moved by William P. Young’s affecting and highly original novel. It is a great feat of storytelling and imagination that takes readers through a journey of pain and enlightenment that they will have never traveled before and will never forget.”
Wendy Grisham, Director of Publishing, Hodder Faith said:
“I am delighted that we will be publishing The Shack. This truly astounding book, profound in its simplicity, has a tremendous effect on everyone who reads it. I know that there is an enormous readership for it in the UK and I look forward very much indeed to working on future projects with Windblown Media and our colleagues at Hachette in the US.”
For further information, please contact Clare Harington on +44 (0)207 6108 or clare.harington@hachette-livre.co.uk
About Hodder Faith
Hodder Faith is the UK’s leading Christian publishing house. Hodder & Stoughton has a legacy of one hundred and forty years of Christian publishing and is committed to providing the highest quality books to equip people, wherever they are in their faith, with tools to explore current issues from a Christian perspective. Best-selling authors include RT Kendall, Philip Yancey, Richard Foster, Joyce Meyer and Rob Parsons, with titles ranging from popular theology and Christian living to fiction and devotional books, as well as innovative new projects such as the Manga Bible and SourceTalk DVD resources.
Hachette Livre UK is the UK’s largest and most diverse publishing group. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hachette Livre SA which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lagardère SCA, one of France’s leading public companies.