Contact: Twila Belk, Gotta Tell Somebody Inc., 563-332-1622, twila@gottatellsomebody.com

ATLANTA, July 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- "90 Minutes in Heaven," the New York Times bestseller written by Cecil Murphey for Don Piper, recently received the 2009 Retailers Choice Award for backlist books. This was Murphey's second Retailers Choice Award. "Touchdown Alexander," the book he wrote with Seattle Seahawk's MVP Shaun Alexander, won in 2007 for the autobiography category.

According to a press release from Christian Retailing, the competition's sponsor, "Nominated products were judged on the impact they have had on staff and customers, including their ability to speak to hearts and evoke emotion, open minds to new ways of thinking, and encourage and affirm Christ-like living."

Awards keep piling up for this well-decorated author, who is seen by many writers as a patriarch in the publishing industry. Earlier this year Murphey received the prestigious Extraordinary Service Award, given by the American Society of Journalists and Authors. The award showed the great respect the ASJA membership has for Murphey and his help for other writers.

In 2007, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association honored Murphey with its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award. He was recognized not only for his excellent writing but also for his selfless mentoring in the Christian writing community. He's won a number of other awards as well, including the Gold Medallion Award, the Blackboard Book of the Year Award, and two Silver Angel Awards. In addition, he’s a three-time recipient of the Dixie Council of Authors and Journalists' Author of the Year Award.

Murphey began writing in 1971 while pastoring a church in metro Atlanta. After 13 years of doing both, he faced a crisis. "I had to decide if I was a preacher who wrote or a writer who preached." Writing won out, and he left the pastorate in 1984. He's been writing professionally ever since.

Murphey's first collaborative effort was a book written for singer B. J. Thomas in 1981. Since that time he's written books with S. Truett Cathy, Dino Kartsonakis, Franklin Graham, Dr. Ben Carson, Salome Thomas-EL, Shaun Alexander, Don Piper, Bishop Eddie Long, and many other celebrities.

Although he enjoys working with others and telling their stories, he's penning more of his own titles now. "When Someone You Love Has Cancer: Comfort and Encouragement for Caregivers and Loved Ones" (Harvest House) came out in January. "When God Turned Off the Lights" (Regal) debuted at ICRS in mid-July and will begin shipping to bookstores in August. "Christmas Miracles" (St. Martin's Press) is scheduled for an October release.

For more information about Cecil Murphey--The Man Behind the Words, visit www.themanbehindthewords.com.  

To schedule Cecil Murphey for an interview or to speak for an event, contact Twila Belk at twila@gottatellsomebody.com or 563-332-1622.