Contact:
Todd Starowitz
630-784-5397
Mavis Sanders
630-784-5275
Carol Stream, IL – Meb Keflezighi (pronounced Kef-lez-ghee), 2009 New York City Marathon champion, will release his memoir, Run to Overcome: The Inspiring Story of an American Champion’s Long-Distance Quest to Achieve a Big Dream, with Tyndale House Publishers, the Illinois-based publisher announced today. The autobiography, which is scheduled to release in November 2010, will chronicle the incredible story of Keflezighi’s escape to the U.S. from war-torn Eritrea and the struggles he has faced to become one of the world’s top long-distance runners. Dick Patrick will collaborate with Keflezighi in writing the book. The book will feature a comprehensive marketing and publicity campaign.
"We’re delighted to be working with Meb,” said Jan Long Harris, Tyndale Associate Publisher. “He’s an amazing champion with a fascinating, inspiring story of overcoming great hardships on his way to achieving a worthy dream.”
When Meb Keflezighi won the New York City Marathon in 2009—the first American to do so in 27 years—some critics questioned whether the Eritrean-born runner was “really” an American in spite of his U.S. citizenship status and the fact that he has represented the USA on two Olympic and several World Championship teams. Yet Meb is a living embodiment of the American dream. His family came to the U.S. to escape a life of poverty and a violent war with Ethiopia; Meb was 12 years old at the time, spoke no English, and had never raced a mile. Yet he became an A student and a high school state and national champion. And when he stood on the platform as a silver medalist in the 2004 Summer Olympics, Meb knew his hard work and determination had paid off. How could life be any better?
Then it all came crashing down. Meb, a favorite for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, fractured his hip and pelvis during the trials and was left literally crawling. His close friend and fellow marathoner Ryan Shay suffered a cardiac arrest at the trials and died the same day. Devastated, Meb was about to learn whether his faith in God, the values his parents had taught him, and his belief that he was born to run were enough to see him through.
Run to Overcome tells the inspirational story of a man who discovered the real meaning of victory, and who embodies the American spirit of overcoming the odds.
Tyndale House Publishers has had great success with sports-related titles in recent years. Tony Dungy’s memoir, Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life, rocketed to the top spot on the New York Times Best Sellers List in August 2007, and more importantly, impacted countless lives. With more than 1,000,000 copies sold, Quiet Strength is one of the best-selling sports-related titles in history. His second book, Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance, reached No. 2 on the New York Times Best Sellers List in February 2009 and has sold more than 300,000 copies.
In 2008, Don’t Bet Against Me!—the memoir of Deanna Favre, wife of NFL great Brett Favre—spent 10 consecutive weeks on either the New York Times hardcover nonfiction primary list (top 15) or expanded list (top 35). It is now in its eighth printing, with more than 200,000 copies in print. Tyndale released The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life by Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel in July 2008, and the book spent eight consecutive weeks on the Times’ “Advice, How-To, and Miscellaneous” list (either primary or expanded), reaching as high as No. 3. It has sold more than 100,000 copies.
In 2009, Super Bowl–winning coach and NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs’s book Game Plan for Life reached as high as No. 3 on the Times’ “Advice, How-To” list in August. It has also sold more than 100,000 copies. First Things First: The Rules of Being a Warner, by Kurt and Brenda Warner, reached No. 10 on the Times’ hardcover nonfiction list in July.
On July 6, 2010, Tyndale will release Coming Back Stronger, the memoir of New Orleans Saints quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees. On August 3, 2010, the publisher will release The Mentor Leader, the latest book by Tony Dungy.
Tyndale House Publishers was founded in 1962 by Dr. Kenneth N. Taylor as a means of publishing The Living Bible. It is now one of the premier publishing houses in the industry. Tyndale products include numerous New York Times best sellers, including the popular Left Behind series. Tyndale also publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, and many other resources for church and family. Tyndale House Publishers is located in Carol Stream, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago.