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Bestselling Author Honored with Prestigious Award

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

ATLANTA, May 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- The American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) has honored bestselling author Cecil Murphey by giving him the 2009 Extraordinary Service Award, one of their most prestigious awards. This award reflects the great respect the ASJA membership holds for Murphey and his extraordinary service to other writers.

More than 30 years ago when Cecil Murphey sensed God wanted him to write, he made a double commitment to never stop learning and to help other writers in any way he could. Every day since then Cecil has prayed that double commitment because he wants it to remain a significant part of his daily living. Through his mentoring, teaching, and philanthropy, he has helped countless writers around the world.

Murphey is the author or co-author of 112 published books and has enjoyed great success in recent years. "90 Minutes in Heaven," the book he wrote with Don Piper, has been on the New York Times bestseller list since October 2006 and has sold more than four million copies. "Gifted Hands" (with Dr. Ben Carson) premiered as a Johnson & Johnson Spotlight Presentation® movie on TNT in February, starring Oscar-winner Cuba Gooding Jr. Originally published by Zondervan in 1990, the book continues to sell thousands of copies each year.

Murphey's most recent book is "When Someone You Love Has Cancer: Comfort and Encouragement for Caregivers and Loved Ones" (Harvest House). His 113th book, "When God Turned Off the Lights" (Regal), will release at ICRS in July. "Christmas Miracles" will follow in early fall. His fourth book with Don Piper and a book written with Bishop Eddie Long will release in the near future.

When he's not writing or teaching, Murphey enjoys preaching in churches and speaking for Celebrate Recovery and a variety of other groups.

Prior to launching his career as a full-time writer and speaker, Cecil served as pastor of Riverdale Presbyterian Church in Metro Atlanta, as a volunteer hospital chaplain for ten years, and was a missionary in Kenya for six.

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

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