Bestseller Bytes

-- Publishers Weekly, 1/16/2008

Quiet Strength, the inspirational memoir by Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy, reached a major milestone: it now has more than one million copies in print. The book pubbed in July with a first printing of 170,000 and has been back to press 18 times. Dungy says he's "overwhelmed with the response to his book," noting that it is "beyond what I ever imagined. I thank God for the platform He has given me and I'm very grateful to Nathan Whitaker and to Tyndale for their help in telling this story." Evangelical Christian publisher Tyndale has another football-related hit: Don't Bet Against Me! by Deanna Favre, wife of the Green Bay Packers' Brett Favre. Her book is now in its eighth printing, with more than 200,000 copies in print.

In a feature on Businessweek.com, communications coach Carmine Gallo suggests that the secret behind Joel Osteen's charisma is that "he speaks the language of hope." Gallo goes on to note that "speaking in positive, optimistic language will leave everyone inspired and energized by your presence." 

A popular theme in Christian fiction is Amish folk and their lives, and Wanda E. Brunstetter's books focus on those stories. On her Web site, Brunstetter explains why. "It is my hope that you will not only enjoy a good story when you read one of my books, but will learn more about the Amish way of life. As I have come to know and love my special Amish friends, I've been filled with the realization that, while they may live and dress differently than most of us 'Englishers,' they experience the same joys and deal with the same struggles as we do." New on PW's religion paperback bestseller list is On Her Own. 

Since 1979, Gary Chapman has written more than 20 books. The Five Love Languages (1992), has sold about four million copies in English and has been translated into 36 languages, including Arabic and Hindi. He has also appeared on numerous TV and radio programs and has his own daily radio show, A Love Language Minute, which can be heard on more than 100 radio stations nationwide.