Publishing Crusades: Warner Faith, Putnam on Graham

by Steven Zeitchik, PW Daily -- Publishers Weekly, 6/24/2005

Non-sectarian journalism and religion publishing are getting together in an unusual collaboration driven, in part, by interest in Billy Graham and his big NY event this weekend.

Time Magazine’s Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy have been signed by Warner Faith to write on the evangelical leader's relationships with eleven presidents, going from Truman to Bush II. The book promises “the details of the relationships, how they evolved – in some cases over several generations – and how they altered the larger political landscape.”

D.C. Attorney Robert Barnett sold the book to Warner Faith; the authors will take their time researching, with the pub date set for September ’07. Also making it unusual: the reverend is cooperating.

The news comes as Graham comes to NY this weekend for what many believe is his final Crusade. Earlier this week Putnam announced that it will publish transcripts of the event next month. Graham will contribute foreword and afterword to that book.