Christian Retailing

‘Shack’ publisher turns to music Print Email
Written by Staff   
Monday, 08 June 2009 01:27 PM America/New_York
Debut CD may be followed by ‘ Inspired By’ bestseller set

The publishing newcomers behind Christian fiction phenomenon The Shack are hoping for a repeat success in the music world.

Windblown Records, a new division of Windblown Media—the company formed to publish William P. Young’s novel after it was turned down by more than 20 established publishers—has released My Beautiful One. The 12-track CD features instrumental arrangements of worship songs by Chris DuPré.

Windblown Media publisher Brad Cummings said: “Seldom do songs transcend the realm of words and touch your spirit, but I believe these do. What he Shack did with words, Chris DuPré does with music.” Though there is no direct connection to The Shack, the CD cover design includes the face of a young girl—a nod to the missing girl central to Young’s story.

Like the book before it, My Beautiful One has had a low-key release. Since its availability has been announced at the Windblown Web site—www.windblownmedia.com—some stores that have seen good sales of The Shack have placed orders for My Beautiful One.

Distribution is being handled from Cummings’ home, as it was for Young’s novel until Windblown struck a deal with Hachette Book Group USA.

Meanwhile, discussions are continuing about a possible “Inspired By” collection of new songs from Christian artists.

“We have had a fair amount of interest within the whole music industry,” Cummings said, adding that musicians and others in Nashville had been among the first to embrace The Shack.

Published in May 2007, the novel now has more than 7 million copies in print, and is closing in on a year on the New York Times Paperback Trade Fiction best-seller list. The Shack has also been ranked in the top 10 best-seller lists of CBA and the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.