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First American Ebola survivor inks WaterBrook Multnomah book deal Print Email
Written by Beverly Rykerd   
Friday, 30 January 2015 01:49 PM America/New_York

Kent-Amber-brantlyThe first American Ebola survivor—Dr. Kent Brantly—and his wife, Amber, have signed a major book deal with WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, a division of the Crown Publishing Group at Penguin Random House.

The still-untitled book is scheduled for release from WaterBrook Press in Summer 2015, in print and digital formats, to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the surge in the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

When American doctor and Samaritan’s Purse missionary Kent Brantly was diagnosed with Ebola in July 2014, the epidemic in West Africa became headline news in the United States. His emergency medical transfer from Liberia to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, along with fellow missionary Nancy Writebol, is an extraordinary story of medical advancements in conjunction with God’s grace.

Following Kent’s release, the Brantlys have been active in addressing the Ebola epidemic and are in high demand for media interviews and speaking engagements. Kent was included on the cover of Time Magazine’s “2014 Person of the Year” issue recognizing “The Ebola Fighters.”

Alex Field, WaterBrook Multnomah vice president and publisher, and Bruce Nygren, senior editor, jointly acquired at auction North American print, electronic and serial rights. The Brantlys are represented by Chris Park at Foundry Literary + Media.

“We are thrilled to partner with Kent and Amber on this book project,” said Alex Field, WaterBrook Multnomah vice president and publisher. “After spending time with the Brantlys, I’ve been deeply impressed by their sincere desire to follow their passion and calling to help others.

“Their book will be about how God called them to serve the people of West Africa, and along the way, readers will experience what the Brantlys experienced in the chaos of the Ebola epidemic. We believe that their story will inspire many readers to follow God’s calling for their own lives as a result.”

Writer David Thomas will assist the Brantlys with chronicling their journey. Thomas’ credits include the New York Times best-seller Foxcatcher with Mark Shultz, which has been adapted into the Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated film starring Steve Carell. WaterBrook Multnomah senior editor Bruce Nygren is the project’s editor.