William Paul Young’s Bestseller – The Shack – Sales Soar During Economic Downturn

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ — Former janitor and best-selling
author, William Paul Young, at # 1 on the NY Times list for thirty-three
straight weeks, has completed nearly 200 book signings, speaking events, and
media interviews during the past six months in support of his run-away
bestseller, The Shack, including author appearances in Brazil, Canada and
Australia, as well as interviews in Croatia, UK, Asia, and Africa.

Speaking of the growing global interest in The Shack, Young said, “We live
in a world of uncertainty, in which religion has not been able to produce the
authenticity, forgiveness and love that resonates deep in the human heart.
Unexpected and unanticipated, this little story is touching places of the
human soul in transformational ways and can only be properly characterized as
‘a God-thing.’ I am humbled and grateful,” he said, “to be invited on this
beautiful though sometimes painful adventure.”

Stories from readers whose lives are being changed by The Shack number in
the thousands, including those who abandoned plans to commit suicide and
others who discovered hope and comfort amidst the tragic loss of a child or
the disappointments of empty religion. Because of this book, there has been
reconciliation between Young and childhood abusers.

Young, father of six, wrote The Shack as a Christmas gift for his children
three years ago, but did not have enough money to print it for them at the
local office supply near his home until after the holidays. Friends who read
it began giving copies to friends until May, 2007, when Young and two partners
at Windblown Media pooled their resources to print the first 10,000 copies.
The explosive sales trajectory beginning with national retail distribution in
September, 2007, resulted in an international distribution deal with Hachette,
4.4 million copies in print, translations slated for over 35 foreign language
editions, and a growing list of countries where The Shack tops the charts.

“During the five week period from November 2nd through December 7th,
Neilson Bookscan reported a 43% growth in sales of The Shack while overall
sales dropped,” said Brad Cummings, publisher of Windblown Media. “Publishers
Weekly reported a 6.6% drop in sales the week ending December 7th while
Bookscan reported a 22.5% increase in sales of The Shack for the same time
period.”

For more information on Young, go to www.Windrumors.com. For interview
availability, contact Wes Yoder at 615.370.4700 X 230 or
Wes@AmbassadorAgency.com

SOURCE Hachette Book Group