Fun Stuff Around Here

We just heard from the doctor, and our second granddaughter will be born most likely in the next 24 hours. Having just returned from what is most likely my last trip of the year, we’re quite excited. Lindsay Grace will soon join our family and we’ll let you know here how all that sorts out.

On the way back from Central California yesterday I stopped at the plant that prints all of our Lifestream books as well as THE SHACK—Delta Printing Solutions. What a plant! They print 60 million books per year and we were a bit awed by the size of their presses and their whole production lay-out. We are also blessed to work with some extraordinary people who share our passion for God’s life in the world. It was a joy to meet people face-to-face with whom we’ve talked on the phone extensively.

And now we have entered the Tickle-Me-Elmo phase of THE SHACK. Do you remember the first Christmas Tickle-Me-Elmo became the must-get gift for children? Stores sold out and people waited weeks to get one. Unfortunately th grow curve for THE SHACK has outrun our best hopes and planning. As of today Windblown will run out of books for the second printing, which we did in August. We sold 11,000 books in the first four months and the next 22,000 in the last two and a half months. We never saw it coming. We had already ordered a new printing, when sales took a giant leap. Last week THE SHACK was #17 in sales through the largest distributor in North America. Interest has soared, as have those who are ordering cases of THE SHACK to give away to family and friends. So, we’re going to have a few days overlap where books will have to be back-ordered. We do, however, still have a few copies here at Lifestream if you need some right away.

Windblown will have more paperbacks on November 26, and a new hardback edition available on December 5. The hardback version will include an article written by the author of THE SHACK telling the story behind the story—why he wrote the book and how this unique project came to fruition. It’s a great story.

Daily we continue to receive endorsements from people, as well as gut-wrenching stories of how this book has helped people out of great brokenness to re-engage God as their Father. It has been awesome. And yesterday the author received this from a noted author and theologian:

I am a Franciscan priest living in New Mexico, also a writer and teacher. I just want to thank you, of course, for The Shack, but especially for taking the mystery of the Trinity and making it so real, concrete, relational, and loving. I have done several conferences on the Trinity, here and in Canada, (“The Divine Dance” and “The Shape of God”) and am always saddened that this unique vision of God that we Christians have, has had so little actual influence. Your courage and insight can only have come about by personal experience of the Mystery and a very real life of faith. You take the Trinity from the textbooks and the theologians to real life. Wonderful!!

Thank you so much, and know that if anybody questions you, your theology is excellent and a much needed orthodoxy (and orthopraxy too!). I wish I could write even a bit as well as you do, but I am so happy that you are doing it in a way that is already healing for thousands of God’s children.

Peace and every good,

Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M.

Can you imagine? After unsuccessfully trying to pass this book off to a publisher, we concluded that three of us as friends would find a way to make this book available to the world. We couldn’t be more excited at how this book has found its way into the hearts and homes of people all over the world. We’ve not spent one dime in publicity. We’ve done no advertising nor major media appearances, and yet this gift keeps finding its way to an audience simply through friends and friends of friends. Someone in the publishing industry ran an article last week on THE SHACK, charting it’s growth curve at Amazon, as a best-seller from an unknown author. It was funny how they tried to explain in human terms, what clearly from my perspective is a work of Father’s.

Last week, Paul, the author, visited a bookstore in Canada that has sold over 600 copies of this book. He did some presentations there for librarians, Christian schools and the public. He also spent some time visiting some people nearby whom I had visited last month. When her mom told her that Paul was coming, the conversation went like this:

Aniela: So who’s this Paul coming? Is it Paul Sue??
Mom: No, Aniela.

Aniela: Is it The-Church-Has-Left-The-Building Paul?

Mom: No, Aniela.

Aniela: Is it The-Shack Paul??

Mom: Yes Aniela!

Aniela: First, The-God-Journey Wayne visits us, then The-Shack Paul. Who’s next the Queen???

You have to remember, she’s Canadian, but it’s nice to know we rank up there with the Queen! Hilarious!

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