Burpo Colton, the son of evangelical preacher of the Church of Imperial, Nebraska, two months before her fourth birthday, he was suddenly on the operating table with a ruptured appendix. Some time later, the boy told an astonishing story: you see during the operation died and gone to heaven, where he met his great-grandfather, the biblical Samson, John the Baptist and Jesus, whose eyes were the color of sea blue and shimmered like, "recalled 11-year-old out of Colton.
Colton's father, Todd, has described a vision of his son in the 163-page book, "Heaven Is for Real" ("Heaven is real") that surprisingly became a hit in the U.S. winter, winning the best-seller lists by storm, and dispersing hundreds of thousands of copies .
Publisher Thomas Nelson of Nashville, Tennessee, officers beat his record sales. The first print run was 40,000 copies, but since the book launch in November, ordered as many as 22 Reprints and spent a total of more than 1.5 million copies. At the bestseller list, "New York Times" in the category of non-fiction in paperback, "Heaven Is for Real" last occupied the first place.
Success book largely driven by advertising whispering, the title was not in fact a typical bestseller promotion: not organized a big tour author and publisher and the author's name were not particularly well known. The publication, however, has gained renown through wzmiankom in popular television shows such as "Fox & Friends" and "The 700 Club" and on CNN.
book sold well in national bookstore chains like Barnes & Noble, as well as in the Christian niche shops, shows Matt Baugher, vice president and editor of Thomas Nelson. It is also promoted in supermarkets such as Wal-Mart, and churches and pastoral groups consist of increasing orders.
- Perhaps we all want to know what awaits us on the other side, when we die - Baugher said, adding that at first was skeptical of the family stories Burpo, but quickly changed his mind. - It's a very sensible, conservative, very normal family from the Midwest. We came to the conclusion that their story is absolutely credible. And besides, we were convinced that the will of the people.
book instantly became a hit on the network and Barnes & Noble occupies one of the leading places on the bestseller list at bn.com. The person selects the titles for the department of religion at once delighted to get the story and ordered copies for each store network in the country, suggests Patricia Bostelman, Barnes & Noble vice president of marketing.
- Among the books on religious themes are many stories about the paradise experience in the state of clinical death and the afterlife - Bostelman adds, admitting that several other books of the "heaven" in the title has sold quite well recently. - But this is unusual because it tells the story of a little boy. When adults show a similar relationship, readers typically respond much more cynical, and accused the authors of trying to earn wealth for their alleged apparitions.
Todd Burpo wrote a book with the assistance of Lynn Vincent, co-author of memoirs, "Going Rogue" Sarah Palin. Burpo, pastor of Crossroads Wesleyan Church in Imperial, rural village in southwestern Nebraska, admitted in an interview that has already met with criticism. - People say that we did it for money, but it's not true - Burpo says, referring to anonymous comments about the book on the Internet. - Do not expect success. We were just hoping that the publisher will come out on their own. (He announced that a large part intends to distribute royalties in need, and the rest spent on home improvements.)
Todd and his wife, Sonja, from the beginning to the end they did not believe his son, who began to describe his vision of only a few months after the sudden illness and a history of operations in 2003. Burpo argues that convinced them the details of his story. Colton mentioned that in heaven he met his younger sister, dark-haired girl similar to her older sister Cassie. Seeing the puzzled parents, he asked his mother: "You had a child who died in your stomach, right?". Burpo acknowledges that a few years earlier his wife had a miscarriage, but not talked about that Coltonowi. - He could not know about it - gives father.
Burpo you add that Colton images accurately described what he saw in the sky - for example, bloody wounds on the hands of Jesus - and I had never seen before.
boy's parents finally decided to share this story with others outside their town. Burpo began to cite it in their Sunday sermons to the faithful. Pastor friend contacted them with Joel Kneedlerem of Alive Communications, a Christian literary agent from Colorado Springs. Kneedler proposed contract for the publication of a book publisher Thomas Nelson, known for his religious titles such as "40 days with Jesus" Sara Young. The advance was over $ 10,000.
List Price $ 16.99 This book, although at Amazon.com you can buy a 9.34 dollar. In bookstores Barbara's Bookstore, an independent network operating mainly in the Chicago area, the book takes first place in the nonfiction bestseller list. Greg Sato, manager of one of the branch, says that interest in it clearly increased in mid-February.
- When it comes to fiction, I often ask clients about this position - indicate Sato. - "Heaven Is for Real" is like a book, Oprah Winfrey, only more religious and spiritual.
Colton, fair-haired boy with a round face on the cover of the book, now plays the piano and trumpet, is fascinated with Greek mythology, listens to Christian rock and a fan of football teams from Nebraska.
Colton tells his story objectively and without emotion. As he says, it is nice that readers will recognize it as inspiring. - For those people will come blessings that heal their wounds - he adds. - Very very happy.
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