February 11, 2014
Colorado Springs, CO–(CANADIAN CHRISTIAN NEWS SERVICE)–Alive Communications Literary Agency has been selected to represent The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust for the published and unpublished works of the late Henri J.M. Nouwen, announced Rick Christian, founder and president of Alive and its sister e-publishing company Bondfire Books. The Dutch-born Catholic priest was the world-renowned author of spirituality classics, including The Wounded Healer, Here and Now, The Inner Voice of Love, The Way of the Heart, and The Return of the Prodigal Son. His 40-plus books have sold millions of copies and been translated into 30 languages.
“As a long-time Nouwen reader, it was an extraordinary privilege to review the treasure trove of his unpublished materials archived in Toronto,” said Christian, noting that it was especially meaningful because it followed his trip to The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia where he spent hours contemplating Rembrandt’s monumental oil painting, ‘The Return of the Prodigal Son,’ which so inspired Nouwen’s writings.
“The volume and depth of Nouwen’s unreleased resources are breathtaking,” added Christian, who said that his collected letters, sermons, shorter works, video and audio recordings, will gradually be released in the coming years once publishers have been determined.
“The appointment of Alive was made after a request for proposals from literary agencies throughout Canada and the United States, followed by personal interviews,” said Sister Sue Mosteller of the Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust, the entity that oversees the estate and managed the selection process of an agency relationship. “Henri’s writings continue to challenge readers with their wisdom and spiritual insight, and we look forward to promoting his living legacy for the next generation with the assistance of Alive.”
A former professor at the University of Notre Dame and both Yale and Harvard Divinity Schools, Nouwen earned a doctorandus in psychology and has the unique honor of being the most-read author among both Catholics and mainline Protestants, according to pulpitandpew.org. Themes in his writings include the spirituality of solitude, community and compassion, as well as unconditional love and forgiveness, peacemaking, and his struggle to reconcile his depression and priestly vows of celibacy with his Christian faith and desire for intimacy. Nouwen died in 1996 after serving ten years in Toronto as senior pastor of the L’Arche Daybreak, a community home for developmentally disabled adults and their caregivers.
Contact:
Rick Christian, President
(719) 260-7080, ext. 120
For Further Information on Henri Nouwen:
Please visit the Henri Nouwen Society at www.henrinouwen.org.
About Alive Communications:
Alive Communications is the world’s largest, most influential literary agency for faith-based and inspirational authors, and is internationally known for its representation through books, film and TV. Books it has agented have sold over 200 million copies, and more than a dozen of these have been #1 New York Times bestsellers. Clients and notable titles of the Colorado Springs, CO agency include Todd Burpo’s Heaven is for Real (9 million copies sold), which Randall Wallace adapted for a Spring 2014 Tri-Star/Columbia Pictures film; Eugene Peterson’s The Message (20 million copies sold); the Left Behind series (70 million copies sold); Karen Kingsbury’s novels (25 million copies sold), Lisa Beamer’s post 9-11 Let’s Roll! (1.5 million copies sold), and Steve Arterburn and Dave Stoop’s Life Recovery Bible (2 million copies sold). Other authors in its stable include Rich Stearns, the late Brennan Manning, Valorie Burton, Emerson Eggerichs, Anne Graham Lotz, Randy Singer, Nancy Rue, Tim Downs, Alister McGrath, Lynn Vincent, Miles McPherson, Brady Boyd, Elisa Morgan, and Ray Johnston.
In 2012, Alive launched a sister e-publishing company, Bondfire Books. Working with other agencies and notable authors, Bondfire Books attracted early acclaim by paying 50% royalties, double the industry standard, and by negotiating short five-year renewable licenses instead of the usual grant for the lifetime of copyright. It utilizes print partnerships with established publishers for retail distribution. Its list features ebook exclusives from a select group of authors, including #1 New York Times bestseller Karen Kingsbury and Eugene H. Peterson, translator of The Message Bible. All of its titles are sold through major online etailers and are readable on all primary electronic devices.