Contact:
Karen Campbell, (616) 698-3246, karen.campbell@zondervan.com
Grand Rapids, Mich., March 5, 2009—Bestselling author and popular syndicated Southern columnist, Ronda Rich, has gained a legend of fans by writing down-home stories that touch hearts and tickle funny bones with a nostalgic look at the South and its people.
A decade ago, she burst onto the scene delivering a fresh yet wise and cozy look at the South of her upbringing with the runaway best-seller What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should). She followed up with My Life In The Pits, the critically acclaimed memoir of the years she spent working in NASCAR (called “one of the greatest sports books ever written” by The New York Times) and her first novel, The Town That Came A-Courtin’, a warm-hearted tale recently optioned for a major movie.
Now she has delivered what some are saying is the book she was born to write. Literally.
What Southern Women Know About Faith (Zondervan) is a heart-tugging, uplifting, inspiring and, at times, downright joyous, funny look at the strong, abiding faith that grips women throughout the South and defines the region that defines the Bible Belt.
“It’s about a faith that carries us through the up times, down times and the sideway times,” says Rich, a Georgia native who was born the daughter and granddaughter of ordained Baptist preachers who carried the gospel throughout the North Georgia mountains. Ms. Rich, incidentally, is an 11th generation Southerner, all of which have sprung up from the Appalachian foothills.
“This book speaks to my heart,” proclaimed superstar Dolly Parton, after reading What Southern Women Know About Faith.
Former Georgia senator Zell Miller proclaimed, “My words cannot do this book justice. It will pull at your heart, tickle your funny bone and bring you to your knees. It is that good.”
Due for release on April 1 from Zondervan, What Southern Women Know About Faith has already garnered a stellar review from Publisher’s Weekly which lauded the book for its humor yet “gritty, steadfast rock solid faith.”
Stevie Waltrip, wife of Fox Sports announcer and Daytona 500 winner, Darrell Waltrip, penned the foreword, recalling a 25-year friendship with the author and the times when their faith has worked together such as Waltrip’s historic 1989 Daytona winner when he bested the field by going a miraculous seven laps further than the rest of the field on the final tank of gas while the two women prayed on pit road. “We have prayed together often on things big and small,” Mrs. Waltrip recalls.
Included, too, in another chapter is the story of the scripture that Mrs. Waltrip gave to Dale Earnhardt a few hours before his death and how that scripture, found taped to the dash board of his wrecked car, led many to find their own faith and salvation.
From the inspiring stories of mothers who trusted their children into the hands of the Lord, even when facing death, to other women whose simple but provocative faith has carried them through financial, emotional and spiritual crises and ordinary daily trials, this book holds a story for every person whose hands will hold it.
And, of course, in the typical Ronda Rich style of writing, it has plenty of lighter moments.
“When I recorded the audio version of the book, I found myself laughing out loud,” she says. “Then, there were the times I had to choke back tears, moved by the power of some of these great women of active, engaged faith.”
Her favorite story in the book?
“Probably the story of my niece, Nicole, who held her unconscious two-year-old after a swimming accident, and prayed that the Lord’s will be done. She said, ‘He’s yours, Lord, and even if you have to take him home, I’ll still love you and praise you. I ask only that you give me the strength to face the dark days ahead.’ I choke up every time I tell that story,” Rich says. “That’s powerful to pray God’s will be done, no matter what.”
On the lighter side, though, Rich loves the story of a friend’s aunt who is constantly shopping for the right dress to be “laid out in when she dies.”
“She insists that she wants a red dress for the visitation then wants to be changed into another dress for burial,” Rich says, laughing. “She says, ‘Everyone who knows me, knows I’d never wear the same dress two days in a row!’”
Ronda Rich is a popular speaker, author and syndicated columnist who has appeared on dozens of television shows including The View, The Other Half, Best Damn Sports Show, CNN and appeared in many magazines including Cosmopolitan, Redbook and Woman’s Own. Some of her published books include My Life in the Pits, a memoir of her days in the NASCAR circuit and What Southern Women Know (that Every Woman Should). Her newspaper column, Dixie Divas, is carried in hundreds of newspapers across the country and she is co-host on a cooking show called Dixie Divas in the Kitchen on Georgia Public Television. For more information go to www.whatsouthernwomenknow.com.
Zondervan, a
HarperCollins company, is a world leader in Christian communications and the leading Christian publishing brand. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general and academic resources by influential leaders and emerging voices, and been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with offices in San Diego and Miami, Zondervan conducts events and publishes its bestselling
Bibles,
books,
audio,
video,
curriculum,
software, and
digital products through its
Zondervan,
eZondervan,
Zonderkidz,
Youth Specialties,
Editorial Vida, and
National Pastors Convention brands. Zondervan resources are sold worldwide through retail stores, online, and by
Zondervan ChurchSource, and are translated into nearly 200 languages in more than 60 countries. Visit Zondervan on the Internet at
www.zondervan.com (mobile site:
zvan.mobi).
