March (Web-only) 2004

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The author of the bestseller The Purpose-Driven Life will delay the release of his newest book for at least one year. Tentatively titled Healing Choices, executives at Howard Publishing, along with Rick Warren and co-author John Baker, decided to hold the release of the book that was due in bookstores in August.

"Rick's wife has been ill with cancer, and the growth of Saddleback [Church] has exploded," said Greg Petree, vice president for marketing. "With all of that going on in Rick and John's lives, he has a lot more material that he wants to put into the book. He's had a lot more life experiences, and he wants to draw from these new life experiences a more current, more relevant book."

Petree said it's unclear how long the book will be delayed, but it is on hold until at least 2005. Howard already has a manuscript for the book, and could still release it. But Petree said the decision to wait "was a no-brainer." Petree said the wait would allow Warren to write a better book and do more to promote it. "We felt like we would have a better product to put out there," Petree said.

But the small publisher surely isn't planning to shelve Warren's follow-up to The Purpose-Driven Life indefinitely. "We're certainly not going to wait too long. It's too important to all of us," Petree said. He expects marketing for the book to exceed $300,000.

The book, with more material from Warren, will include stories told by participants in Saddleback's recovery program along with teaching on the beatitudes from Warren. Co-author Baker works with the Saddleback's Celebrate Recovery program, which was recently praised in a speech by President George Bush. Howard Corporate Vice President Ryan Howard said the book is about making choices and dealing ...