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Feb. 22, 2010

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Doctors called Grant Dykstra a miracle.

And it's not because of what he could do with a basketball.

Before Dykstra became an All-American guard at Western Washington University, he nearly lost his arm in an accident as a young boy on the family's farm.

Dykstra shares his inspiring story in Saved Twice, a newly released book about 13 Christian athletes. It is written by Gail Wood, an award-winning sportswriter who has written for USA Today.

With their real-life drama as a backdrop, these athletes share how God is there in the good and bad times. These stories inspire hope.

From Lorenzo Romar, the Pac-10 coach of the year and the men's basketball coach at the University of Washington, to John Olerud, former Seattle Mariner first baseman, to Marty Tadman, the All-American defensive back for Boise State, to Brian Sternberg, the former world record holder in the pole vault, they all share their inspirational stories.

Other stories include: Ruth Mahre, who was caught in an avalanche; Carly Boohm, who was held under water 45 minutes in a canoe accident and lived; Kayla Burt, the UW guard who faced a race against death after her heart stopped; Gabriel Atem, a high school runner who is one of the Lost Boys from Sudan; and Sarah Yelenich, who was told she had cancer a week after she graduated from high school.

"We all love a comeback," said Gail Wood, author of Saved Twice. "These stories are about the best comebacks ever. The bring hope and inspiration."

Wood has written for USA Today, Seattle Times, Tacoma News Tribune, Charisma and over 60 other newspapers and magazines. The Seattle Times awarded him a Blethen Memorial Award for feature writing. Gannett named me columnist of the year.

Xulon Press published Saved Twice and it is available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Nobles or through Xulon Press.

Original PRWeb article: Real Life Sports Dramas Will Touch Readers' Hearts and Inspire Faith

In Saved Twice ($10.99, paperback, 978-1-61579-434-8), a new release from Xulon Press author Gail Wood, readers will follow the stories of 13 Christian athletes saved both by grace and from life-threatening emergencies. Whether it is an all-star first baseman suffering from a grand mal seizure, a teenage girl held underwater 45 minutes and surviving, a Pac-10 coach of the year having a gun pointed at his head, or a world record pole vaulter breaking his neck, each of their stories will inspire readers with their Christian faith and their courage in the face of death.

With their dramatic storyline as a backdrop, these 13 athletes share how God is there in the good and bad times,' the author says. 'They share about the power of prayer, about facing death, and about survival. These real life dramas will touch readers' hearts and encourage their faith. If you begin to feel afraid or lose hope, read one of these stories. They will restore your hope.'

In his 29 years as an award-winning sportswriter, Wood has written for more than 60 newspapers and magazines, including USA Today and The Seattle Times. 'I've interviewed the biggest names of the game--Michael Jordan, Payton Manning, Shaun Alexander, and Ken Griffey, Jr.--and I've watched sports' biggest moments. But the stories in this book trump them all.'

Gail Wood currently resides in Washington. He was named columnist of the year by Gannett, received a Blethen Memorial Award from The Seattle Times for feature writing, and has won more than 25 national and regional awards.

Xulon Press, a division of Salem Communications, is the world's largest Christian publisher, with more than 7,000 titles published to date. Retailers may order Saved Twice through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. Saved Twice is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.