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Shauna Niequist’s New Book, Present Over Perfect, Debuts on Four Major Bestseller Lists

Published by Zondervan, Niequist explores simple, soulful living as a rich alternative to striving for perfection; features foreword by Brené Brown

Contacts:

Robin Barnett, Director of Public Relations
tel: 616-698-3251 
robin.barnett@harpercollins.com

Kelsey Hulgan, Icon Media Group 404-754-3474 kelsey@iconmediagroup.com

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., August 19, 2016—Zondervan is pleased to announce that Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living (August 9, 2016) by Shauna Niequist will debut at #2 on The New York Times Advice, How-To, & Miscellaneous bestseller list for Aug. 28, 2016. Present Over Perfect also debuted at #1 on the Publishers Weekly Nonfiction list, #1 on The Wall Street Journal Best-Seller Nonfiction list and #8 on USA Today’s Best-Selling Books list

“We are honored to partner with Shauna on bringing the message of Present Over Perfectto the world,” said David Morris, vice president and publisher of Zondervan trade books. “We are thrilled that we exceeded our launch sales goal, and believe that accomplishment is an indication of the need for and strength of Shauna’s message.”

Zondervan worked with Niequist to create a dynamic book launch campaign that includes national publicity, extensive pre-order and influencer promotions and a special book launch simulcast. Niequist also spoke at the Global Leadership Summit hosted at Willow Creek Community Church outside of Chicago, which was viewed by over 300,000 participants across the world. Additionally, Niequist will headline The Belong Tour, a live event focusing on how to live a fun, faith-filled, purposeful life, with events in 12 major markets this fall.

Renowned scholar and researcher Brené Brown, Ph.D., wrote the foreword saying, “I believe the most powerful way to share what it really means to show up and be present is through story, and that’s Shauna’s offering with this book. Her gift to us is a collection of stories that are real, honest, and familiar in a way that is both comfortable and a little uncomfortable (like the truth can be).”

Present Over Perfect also has endorsements from Glennon Doyle Melton, Jen Hatmaker, Dr. Henry Cloud and Donald Miller, to name a few.

At 36-years-old the popular author and speaker found herself exhausted and isolated, fed up with the frantic life she had created. For the next three years, she chronicled her journey to trade competition, comparison and exhaustion for meaning, connection and unconditional love, and shares her experiences in the essays that comprise Present Over Perfect.

“This book is an account of my winding, messy journey from exhaustion to peace, from isolation to connection, from hustling and multitasking to sacred presence,” writes Niequist. “And this book is an invitation, too—a hand holding out across the pages, inviting you into that same journey, because it has been the greatest, most rewarding change of my adult life.”

With her trademark vulnerability, Niequist brings readers into the depths of her journey to find a life that resembled one she actually wanted to live: one of peace, connection and rest. Readers of all ages and stages are discovering some of themselves in Niequist’s words, a collection of essays that encourages them to leave behind whatever is keeping them from being present in life’s sacred, everyday moments.

Present Over Perfect encourages readers into the practice of presence in their relationships with their families and loved ones and a deeper experience of faith. In these pages, readers will be invited to discover their own paths to what Niequist has found to be a more fulfilling way of life.

About the Author
Shauna Niequist is the author of Present Over Perfect, Savor, Bread & Wine, Cold Tangerines, and Bittersweet. Shauna is a bookworm, a beach bum, an enthusiastic home cook and a passionate gatherer of people. She is married to Aaron, and they live in Chicago with their two boys, Henry and Mac. You can connect with her online at ShaunaNiequist.com.

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