New Book From Guideposts Editor Reveals 9 Essential Keys to Creating Long Lasting Change

April 15, 2011 - PRLog -- When Edward Grinnan first began working at Guideposts, America’s most beloved inspirational magazine, nearly 25 years ago, there was no way he could know that the people he would be meeting and the stories of personal change and faith he would be writing and editing were going to save his life.  Today, Grinnan is the Editor-In-Chief of Guideposts (paid monthly circulation of 2.3 million) and reveals his never-before-told story in his first book, The Promise of Hope: How True Stories of Hope & Inspiration Saved My Life and How They Can Transform Yours by Edward Grinnan (Guideposts Publications; Hardcover; 5 ½ x 8 ¼, 288 pages; $19.99; ISBN:  978-0-8249-4815-3) to be published May 2, 2011.

Far from being a typical self-help book, The Promise of Hope is more a not-by-yourself-help book.  Throughout Grinnan’s career at Guideposts, few knew about his past—a past marked with alcoholic seizures, homelessness, depression, emergency rooms, addiction, detox and rehab all before the age of 30.   Grinnan entertained the idea of writing a book for several years, but had no intention of including his struggle with alcoholism and depression.  In fact, he figured his first book would be based on compelling inspirational stories taken from the magazine along with some new never-before-published material and the insights he’d gained on personal change and growth in his years as a writer and editor.  Grinnan had long decided his story would remain buried, until his wife, singer and actress Julee Cruise, asked him point blank one day after reviewing his book contract, “you’re going to tell your own story aren’t you?  You know, I married you because of your story.”  It was then that Grinnan discovered there are people who want to help us see and share the truth about ourselves.  For Grinnan it was his wife.

The Guidesposts brand is steeped in uplifting true stories of hope, faith, personal growth and positive thinking from real-life readers of all walks of life, celebrities as well as the rest of us.  Grinnan’s job is to help and encourage people to tell their personal stories and talk about their lives in a way that inspires powerful change in others.  One of the first things he asks when reviewing manuscripts is, “how does the narrator change?”  So it is with this question that Grinnan wove his own dramatic personal story through the other amazing and inspiring stories he tells in The Promise of Hope, connecting each one to the next to reveal not only his past on the page, but also nine basic qualities that he’s learned are universal to the change process:  Honesty, Willingness, Imagination, Commitment, Faith, Forgiveness, Acceptance, Resilience, and Love.  These themes makes up the chapters of The Promise of Hope; helping readers apply the lessons in each story to their own lives.

Grinnan says, “Writing autobiographically is a little like performing surgery on yourself without anesthesia. In the process I discovered that honesty is the true north of my spiritual compass.”  And so it is with Honesty that the first chapter of the book begins and Grinnan reveals his personal story for the first time, starting with the day he wandered into Guideposts desperate for a job, a story that began in hopelessness and ended in renewal, gratitude and success.  The Promise of Hope was indeed found in each of the stories he’s edited over his 25-year career at Guideposts.  This compellingly written book now offers readers nine keys to create powerful personal change in their own lives and achieve lasting happiness.

The Promise of Hope will be available at major bookstores and retailers everywhere and online.  Edward Grinnan is available for interview.  For more information please visit http://www.guideposts.org/personal-growth/promise-hope or find Edward Grinnan.The Promise of Hope on Facebook and Twitter.


The Promise of Hope
How True Stories of Hope and Inspiration Saved My Life and How They Can Transform Yours
by Edward Grinnan
Jacketed Hardcover 5 ½ x 8 ¼ ; 288 pages
Price:19.99
Guideposts
ISBN:  978-0-8249-4815-3
Category: Self-help/Personal Growth
Release Date: May 2, 2010

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