AN INTERVIEW WITH CECIL MURPHY

I’ve invited author Cecil Murphey over for a chat. I know you’ll find him fascinating, knowledgeable, and inspiring. . .

Cecil, I know you have had more than one-hundred books published. What a remarkable accomplishment. How long have you been writing, and how did you build up such an impressive publishing record?

I wrote my first article in 1971. I wrote that article 18 times on the typewriter before I sent it out. Less than a month later, I received an acceptance, and I was on the way. In 1975, my first book came off the press. Around 1980, the senior editor of  Fleming H. Revell asked me to write books for them. I ghosted a number of celebrity-type books, suggested several series, and wrote most of the books in those series. One year I wrote twelve devotional books (96 pages each) such as devotionals for lovers, for calorie counters, and for runners. The next year, I wrote five books—all on a part-time basis.

From the beginning, my determination was to be the best writer I could become. I didn't worry about sales; I only wanted to write well.

I became a full-time writer in 1984. Unless some of them became best sellers, I realized I could support myself only if I produced at least three books a year. I've had five best sellers, but I still produce at least three books a year.

Your audience might be interested to know that only a small percentage of free-lance writers actually make a living in this business. Most of them teach or speak to supplement their income. The figure I hear most often is less than 5 percent. I feel incredibly blessed to be among that group.

Although I continue to polish my craft, I have two advantages.

1. I'm highly self-disciplined. When I write, I don't waste time.
2. I write quickly. Words come easily to me, so I rarely sit and stare. After I've done my preparation for a book, I plunge ahead and finish it quickly. I've been writing long enough that I write good first drafts and they need little revision.

Please tell us about your most recent releases?

A year ago, Revell released 90 Minutes in Heaven, which I wrote for Don Piper (and my name is on the cover). The sales have hit almost half a million and the book hasn't peaked. It's currently number three at Wal-Mart. We plan to do three follow-up books.

When I'm not writing for others, I feel drawn to write about aging and caregiving. As baby boomers push toward retirement, I want to help them with the issues they face. Among my titles are: Aging Is an Attitude; My Parents My Children: Spiritual Help for Caregivers; and When Someone You Love Has Alzheimer's.

What are some of the reasons you became a writer? 

I can't remember when I didn't want to write—and I assume that's true for many of us. Even as a child, my teachers gave me high grades on essay tests. When I was in graduate school, my professors commented on how much they enjoyed my examinations because they read easily. One of my first editors said, "Your writing is effortless to read." 

More important, God gave me the gift, although it took me a long time to recognize it. The urge to write was something that had to come out—and it did at the appropriate time. I was a missionary and a pastor before I tried to write professionally. I needed to experience life and understand myself a little more before I was ready to write.

Writers have to be a bit egoistical—we have to believe we have things to say that others want to read. I fit into that category. We also have to be enthusiastic and keep that enthusiasm thriving through rejections and setbacks. I've sold many books, but I've also have received a large number of rejections.

One of your books, I Choose to Stay, which you ghostwrote, is being made into a Disney movie. What is the premise of the story?

The film will be called The Mighty Bishops—the name of the chess team in the inner-city school where Salome Thomas-EL was a teacher and later principal. He taught students to play championship chess and they won national tournaments. One example is Denise Picknard. At age 13, she had played only 18 months when she won a national title. Later, Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the school and challenged her to a game. She beat the then-future governor, but he took it well and wrote the foreword to the book

The book is about a gifted teacher who turned down inducements to desert the inner city, because he felt he had to reach out to inner-city kids and made them winners in life.

Is this the first time you’ve ever had your work made into a movie?  

Yes, however, I've barely finished a proposal for a book based on a documentary done by the BBC and the Discovery Channel. (The documentary will air either Christmas of 2005 or Easter of 2006). Our working title is Magic or Miracles? Did Jesus Really Perform Miracles? I worked with a Christian illusionist (magician) who examines the miracles of Jesus. We've aimed this at the Wal-Mart crowd. My agent will shop the proposal this month.

Since many writers hope to one day see their work up on the silver screen, I’m sure this experience is exciting for you. Could you tell us how this dream came true?

Our agent believed so strongly in this book that she took it to one of the top three agencies in Hollywood—Creative Artists Agency. They liked what they saw.

I simply try to write the best book I can. If Hollywood picks it up that's fine. Before Disney came along, I haven't thought much about book-to-film ideas. I still don't think much along that line. I'm not a screen writer and have no ambitions to become one. I write books.

My book, 90 Minutes in Heaven, has been optioned for a TV feature film.

Did you write the screenplay? If not, who did?

The screenplay isn't finished. No one has told me who wrote the screenplay because the producers haven't cast the lead actor. Apparently, the screenwriter will adapt some of the dialogue to fit the style of the lead. That's something I didn't know before.

I've heard rumors that Will Smith will play the title role. Last week I learned that Will Smith  will write the foreword to our next book, The Immortality of Influence that comes out in May..

As a writer, how hard or easy was it to release your work into the hands of another writer?  

Not a problem. When Hollywood buys a film, the movie version may or not may resemble the book. They pay well, and it's their product. The result is not a book on film, because they cast the story into another medium. Few films closely resemble the book.

One good thing for me is that before Disney releases the film, the publisher will issue a new edition, use the Disney art, and re-title the book  The Mighty Bishops.

Did you have any creative control over the story as it was being made into a movie?

None. I neither asked for nor expected it. The producers will pay Salome Thomas-EL a nice amount of money to be the technical advisor. Writers rarely have any authority.

What is the title of the movie and when will it be released?

They will call it The Mighty Bishops. When the producers of the Kurt Russell film, Miracle, approached us, we knew they would change the title. My understanding is that the film will come out in late 2006 or early 2007.

Where will the premiere be held?

I don't know, but I assume it will be Philadelphia. That city is prominent in the book.

Are you excited to attend the premiere?

Frankly, I hadn't thought about it until now. I assume they'll invite me, and I'll  probably be excited. I attended a launching party in Philadelphia when the publisher released the book. I enjoyed the party and met a number of people, including a few celebrities.

Do you have any suggestions for writers who’ve always wanted to have their work made into a movie?

Before I answer, I want to point out how this works. Each year, producers option books for film. That means they pay writers anywhere from a thousand dollars to five figures while they raise the money to produce the film. The contract usually runs 18 months to two years. If they don't raise the funds, the project is dead. Writers don't return the money  and they can then pitch the book to other producers.

Writers also need to realize that every year, producers option books—many books—that never make it to the screen. 

Once the producers have the funds, however, and exercise their option, the big money comes into play. Writers can receive anywhere from five to seven figures for a screenplay. When a book has a movie tie-in, it also means increased sales for the book and generally the book gets re-released with ties to the film.

Here's my advice:

1. Write the best you can. Of the 160,000 new books that come out in print annually,  less than 5 percent receive options for film. 

2. Don't sign away the movie rights on the book contract. Most publishers either want those rights (even if it book never gets optioned) or do a 50-50 split with the authors. Our agent fought for us to retain the movie rights.

3. If possible, sign with an agent who knows the film industry or has connections. Most of the Christian agents don't have those connections. Our agent, Deidre night, has Hollywood connections and recently established a Los Angeles branch of the Knight Agency. In October, she sold two books by other writers to Hollywood. 

4. For writers who want their books translated to the silver screen, I suggest they write for the larger, general market. A New York house published I Choose to Stay, which made it easier for my agent to pitch to producers. Although a few Christians produce film (and most of them aren't quality products), the Hollywood people rarely look at Christian books.

5. Revell is a Christian publisher, but Deidre Knight was able to option 90 Minutes in Heave because of her connections. When she pitched 90 Minutes along with number of general-market books, the title tantalized a TV producer and he was open to hear about the book. She sold the option before we had a publisher—which is rare.

6. Finally, the Hollywood process moves about as rapidly as a glacier in Antarctica. Our agent told us that, so we've been patient.

What a pleasure it’s been to visit with you, Cecil. I’m sure our cyber guests have enjoyed reading about your life. God bless you in all your many endeavors!