NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Hundreds of fans have packed into bookstores to catch a glimpse of Broadman & Holman’s newest author — Fox News personality and former Iran-Contra figure Oliver North.
North has kicked off an aggressive month-long promotional tour for his newest book, “Mission Compromised,” published by B&H, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Hundreds of fans showed up at three Nashville-area bookstores on Sept. 10 to meet North and purchase a copy of his book.
“It’s been great getting out and meeting people,” North said. “I think the readers are connecting with the Christian themes in the book. Faith and fiction can work together.”
Mission Compromised is the retired Marine lieutenant colonel’s first work of fiction.
The book officially went on sale across the country the week of Sept. 9.
While Broadman & Holman has other fiction titles, other authors don’t have the stature and selling potential of North, whose book involves espionage, Middle East terrorists, the White House and the United Nations.
Broadman & Holman has printed 350,000 copies in the first of what it hopes is more than one printing. John Thompson, B&H vice president for marketing, told The Tennessean 275,000 to 300,000 have been sold to retailers. It’s No. 3 so far on Amazon.com, according to the site.
The book follows the adventures of Marine Maj. Peter J. Newman who is assigned to a top-secret post on the National Security Council at the White House.
“I write about the things I know,” North said. “And I think people are going to enjoy this book.”
North draws on his own experience as a National Security Council staff member under former President Reagan from 1983-86. It was during that period that he and others were implicated in orchestrating the illegal sale of arms to Iran and shifting the proceeds to Contra rebels fighting the Sandinista government in Nicaragua.
The novel deals with the aftermath of a failed assassination attempt on Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and terrorist Osama bin Laden. Woven into the story is the main character and his wife reconnecting with God. North said he had been writing the book before the Sept. 11 attacks.
North is traveling across the country on a bus formerly used by country entertainer Dolly Parton’s band. Dubbed the Dolly-Ollie bus, it will carry North and his promoters to 58 cities for 62 signings in 30 days.
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(BP) photos posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo titles: YOUNG FAN, NORTH SIGNS BOOKS, NEW BOOK, SIGNING COPIES and WAITING IN LINE.
