Many of you are anticipating the arrival of SparkPeople's first book, The Spark. Here's a special message and book update from SparkPeople founder and CEO, Chris "SparkGuy" Downie!

Hello, SparkPeople!

I'm writing with some exciting updates on our upcoming book, The Spark!

First, we are incredibly excited that The Spark will be carried by many of the top retailers—both bookstores and general retailers. Our book agent said that The Spark has become one of the most anticipated books for 2010! Here are some of the retailers that have committed to sell The Spark starting December 29:

• Amazon.com
• Barnes & Noble (and BN.com)
• Costco
• Sam's Club
• Walmart (and Walmart.com, where we're currently the #1 preorder!)
• Several international retailers

This list and the overall quantity of orders are amazing considering that this is our first book. Our publisher even had to do a second print run before the book even launches because of all the pre-orders we've received! Can I get a "Woohoo?"

Part of the reason for this anticipation and success is that our members have pre-ordered so many books. This is a top reason that retailers vastly increased the size of their orders. We're now in position to turn The Spark into an instant bestseller. From all of us at SparkPeople, we want to thank everyone who has pre-ordered the book so far. Even though I'm listed as the author, I consider this book something that we've all worked on together--both our team and all of our members. I'll continue to share updates so that everyone can be part of this adventure!

Here's another update that is just as exciting.

We invited a small group of new and long-time SparkPeople members to read an advance copy of The Spark. Their feedback about the book exceeded our wildest expectations. After completing the 28-day program in The Spark, several members provided their own reviews of the book. These reviews are meaningful because they support our belief that The Spark really is the perfect complement to SparkPeople.com. The book and the website together might be one of the most powerful combinations ever developed to help people reach their goals.

We thought it would be fun to share some of their reviews from with you to get you even more excited about The Spark. Here are just a few of the many highlights (bold added for emphasis):

"The Spark wasn't just about losing weight and achieving physical results, it is honestly a book about transforming your LIFE and really getting everything you want from it. It's a tool that can help you set realistic, achievable goals for yourself and ensure you reach them in a timely manner. The teachings of this book have seeped into my work life, my personal life and even my family life! It's much, much more than just a weight-loss book. It's a tool that you can use at any part of your life journey and I'm definitely purchasing this book for all of my loved ones! I tell everyone that SparkPeople.com has 100% changed my life and now I can say that The Spark has ENHANCED my life! Thank you, Chris, for everything you've done for me. I am forever indebted!" – SPARKLINGVIOLET

"I grew up an overweight kid and became an overweight adult. I was searching for something my entire life and this book, website and program are EXACTLY what I was searching for. This book is wonderfully written and gave me a map for a journey that I was literally dying to start! Chris' personal journey and dedication is so evident in this book. He shows you how you can succeed in EVERY area of your life, how to set goals, spiral up instead of down, how to set your sites high and reach for whatever it is you want! Thank you Chris and SparkPeople...you have FOREVER changed my life!" – ERNURSERN

"This book tells a story and gives you a way of life to follow. It is adaptable and useful to anyone in any situation, plus it is not selling a product or agenda. It all comes from real people with real stories and life lessons they learned, so this makes it real and something readers at any life level can identify with and follow." – KSIGMA1222

"The Spark is revolutionary. If you're tired of 'dieting' and looking for a quick fix that you never get, look to this book. It has very valuable information on how to change your outlook on life and healthy living. Believe me, it is worth it. It's not another fad. Read it and you'll find out just how easy it is to change your life." – ZENA_MARIA

"The Spark has changed the way I see myself and my future. I now see everything as an adventure to enjoy. Most books are rigid with foods and exercises. This book gives you suggestions on where to start and allows you to build as much as you want as you go. It also hits on your entire life as a whole and shows you how it all connects together. Give it a try! You have nothing but pounds and insecurities to lose. You will probably even learn a little about yourself in the process!" – BUGGIRL19

"The Spark is an incredible tool to help you to realize your potential and how to take steps to change your life. While I have been a member of SparkPeople.com for almost 3 years, I have learned much of what was included in the book regarding health and fitness. However, the book added so much regarding the achievement of personal goals in other areas of life. It is a truly empowering guide to reaching your dreams in life. It is different from other diet books I've read because it provides a method to make lasting changes in your life that can apply not only to your health and fitness, but to all aspects of your life." – ZIRCADIA

Combining the pre-orders, retail orders, and reviews from members who have read the book suggests that we now have a chance to turn this into a true blockbuster. Each new book sold increases our chance to rank high on the New York Times bestseller list. (A tiny part of me is daring to hope that we can become a #1 New York Times Bestseller.) If this happens, it will increase our chance of helping millions more people reach their goals--the healthy SparkPeople way!

SparkCheers!

Chris (SparkGuy)