Cecil “Cec” Murphey (born January 28, 1933) is an American writer with more than 100 books published since 1975 in categories such as fiction, nonfiction, biography, memoir, and inspiration. He has many best sellers to his credit, most notably “The Ben Carson Story” (collaboration with Dr. Ben Carson) and “A True Story of Death & Life” (collaboration with Don Piper). Murphey has also written books with other notable celebrities such as Shaun Alexander ("Touchdown!"), Franklin Graham ("Rebel With a Cause"), singer B.J. Thomas ("In Tune"), and Bishop Eddie Long ("60 Seconds to Greatness").
Murphey is also a public speaker on such topics as Christianity, faith, care-giving, and writing. He currently resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife, Shirley.
Murphey was born in Hobart, Oklahoma. Growing up without much exposure to spiritual living, he went into the Navy soon after high school (1951—1955). In 1954 he came across a used copy of the book The Magnificent Obsession (By Lloyd C. Douglas) which resulted in Murphey having a salvation experience. From that point, he began attending church regularly, and within a year he met his future wife, Shirley Brackett. They were soon married.
After a discharge from the Navy, Murphey taught school for three years before moving to Kenya, Africa to serve as a missionary for a period of six years. Upon returning to the United States he began studying for the ministry at Columbia, A Presbyterian seminary in Atlanta, GA. Murphey also holds an MA in education from Atlanta University, and an honorary Doctorate of Literature degree from The Richmond Virginia Seminary.
In February 2007 Murphey and his wife Shirley lost their house and all belongings in a fire which also took the life of their son in law, Alan Hege.
Murphey served as full-time pastor of a small Presbyterian church in Atlanta, GA for fourteen years. He has also spoken and taught at conferences for years on topics related to Christian living, caregiving, and spiritual growth for Christians. He and his wife Shirley, along with their kids, served as missionaries in a remote village in Kenya, Africa for six years in the late 1960’s. Murphey also taught regular classes at Beula Heights Bible College for 18 years, and currently teaches a Bible Discovery class at his church in Atlanta, GA.
Murphey began publishing magazine articles in 1971 while still a full time pastor. Since 1975, he has published more than 700 articles and 116 books in categories such as Christian living, caregiving, spiritual growth, memoir, fiction, nonfiction, and inspiration. In 1984 he left the pastorate to become a full-time writer. He has ghostwritten books with such celebrities as Franklin Graham, Shaun Alexander, Dr. Ben Carson, B.J. Thomas, Bishop Eddie Long, and Don Piper. He has many best sellers in the past three decades, most notably “The Ben Carson Story” (with Dr. Ben Carson), and “A True Story of Death & Life” (with Don Piper).Murphey has more than 30 years experience teaching writing at hundreds of conferences, retreats, seminars, workshops and keynote addresses across the United States and overseas.
“A True Story of Death and Life” has sold more than 3 million copies, is in print in 25 languages, and has been listed on the NY Times bestseller list continuously since October 2006. it has also been optioned as a film production. Since the initial publication of 90 Minutes, Two follow-up books have been released: “Daily Devotions Inspired by 90 Minutes in Heaven” and “Heaven is Real.” A fourth book in the 90 Minutes series is also planned.
--2009 — Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story was made into a TV movie by USA Network. The movie was released on February 7, 2009, and has subsequently seen release on three other continents in several languages.
--2006 - Murphey received an honorary D.Litt from Richmond Virginia Seminary for his "distinguished service in the field of literature."
--Georgia Authors of the Year Award, 2004: Murphey, Cecil - The Relentless God
Prayer: Pitfalls and Possibilities, Hawthorn Books
1976
But God Has Promised, Creation House
Put On a Happy Face, Christian Herald
1977
Somebody Knows I’m Alive, John Knox Press
How to Live a Christian Life, Christian Herald
1978
When in Doubt, Hug ‘Em, John Knox Press
1979
Prayerobics: A Guide for Developing Your Prayer Fitness, Word Books
Comforting Those Who Grieve, John Knox Press
1981
Getting There From Here, Word Books
Seven Daily Sins (And What to Do About Them) Servant Books
In Tune (ghostwritten autobiography of singer B. J. Thomas) Fleming H. Revell
Spaceship Earth (ghostwritten) for Institute for Church Growth
1982
Devotions for Joggers, Fleming H. Revell
Devotions for Calorie Counters, Fleming H. Revell
Devotions for Lovers, Fleming H. Revell
Devotions for Travelers, Fleming H. Revell
Devotions for Worriers, Fleming H. Revell
1983
Fitness: The Answer Book, Fleming H. Revell
Headaches: The Answer Book (ghostwritten for Joan Miller) Fleming H. Revell
Devotions for Winners, Fleming H. Revell
Devotions for Grandparents, Fleming H. Revell
Devotions for Nurses (written under the name of Joan Masters) Fleming H. Revell
Press On: A Disciple’s Guide to Spiritual Growth, Servant Books
1984
No Mountain Too High (ghostwritten autobiography of ultra-marathon runner Stan Cottrell) Fleming H. Revell
Encyclopedia for Christian Marriage (Writer, Compiler, and Editor) Fleming H. Revell
Encyclopedia for Today’s Christian Woman (Writer, Compiler, and Editor) Fleming H. Revell
1985
Woman on Death Row (ghostwritten autobiography of convicted murderer Velma Barfield) Thomas Nelson
Eleven novels (published by Fleming H. Revell)
Being a Leader (ghostwritten for Anthony D’Souza), Haggai Institute
1986
The Leadership Style of Jesus (ghostwritten for Michael Youssef) Victor Books
Leading Others (ghostwritten for Anthony D’Souza), Haggai Institute
Leading Effectively Leader (ghostwritten for Anthony D’Souza), Haggai Institute
1986
Good People Die on Sunday (ghostwritten for Paul Spitz, self-published)
1987
Cry Freedom: The Story of Lida Vashchenko and her Remarkable Escape from Soviet Russia by Lida Vaschenko and Cecil Murphey, Servant Books
Another Chance: Learning to Like Yourself, Westminster Press
He-ism versus Me-ism (ghostwritten for Michael Youssef) Harvest House
1988
Day to Day: Spiritual Help When Someone You Love Has Alzheimer’s, Westminster Press
Keeping My Balance: Spiritual Help When Someone I Love Abuses Drugs, Westminster Press
1989
Breaking the Silence: Spiritual Help When Someone You Love Is Mentally Ill, Westminster Press
It’s Easier to Succeed Than to Fail (ghostwritten for S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A) Thomas Nelson
Master Mind, fiction (ghostwritten for Michael Youssef) Crossway Books (reprinted 1991 by Thomas Nelson as The Voice: A Novel of the New World Order)
Dictionary of Biblical Literacy (Writer, Compiler, and Editor) Thomas Nelson
Earth King, (ghostwritten for Michael Youssef) Crossway Books (reprinted by Thomas Nelson as Man of Peace: A Novel of the Antichrist, 1992)
1990
Happy Face, children’s fiction serialized by Presbyterian Publishing House
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story by Ben Carson with Cecil Murphey, published jointly by Zondervan Publishing House and Review & Herald; Mass paper by Harper Collins
With Byrd at the Bottom of the World by Norman D. Vaughan with Cecil B. Murphey, Stackpole Books
Dino: Beyond the Glitz and Glamour by Dino Kartsonakis with Cecil Murphey, Thomas Nelson
1991
Inner Eating: How to Free Yourself Forever from the Tyranny of Good (ghostwritten for Shirley Billigmeier) Thomas Nelson
Happy Face Again, children’s fiction serialized by Presbyterian Publishing House
Mantalk: Resources for Exploring Male Issues, Presbyterian Publishing House
In Search of a Lovely Moment (ghostwritten for Roger Breland) Thomas Nelson
Fast Your Way to Health (ghostwritten for Lee Bueno) Whitaker House
1001 Things You Need to Know About the Bible, American Bible Society
1992
Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential by Ben Carson with Cecil Murphey, Zondervan; mass paperback Harper Collins
Help Yourself: A Revolutionary Alternative Recovery Program (Ghostwritten for Dr. Joel C. Robertson) Thomas Nelson
Kids Don’t Want to Use Drugs: How You and Your Kids Can Avoid the Dangers (ghostwritten for Joel C. Robertson) Thomas Nelson
The Help Yourself Love Yourself NonDiet Weight-Loss Plan (ghostwritten for Joel Robertson) Thomas Nelson
Ben Carson by Ben Carson with Cecil Murphey and Nathan Aseng, Zondervan
1994
Something Special: The Story of Ullanda Innocent by Ullanda McCullough-Innocent with Cecil Murphey, Review & Herald
1995
My Life of Adventure by Norman Vaughan with Cecil Murphey. Stackpole Books
Saving Carrick (ghostwritten for Thom McElheny) [Not Published]
Rebel with a Cause, (ghostwritten for Franklin Graham) Thomas Nelson
1996
A Touch of Georgia: Where to Go and What to Do in the Peach State by Cecil Murphey and Judy Rogers, Thomas Nelson
1997
Invading the Privacy of God, Servant Publications 1998
Mr. Dream Merchant (ghostwritten for Dr. Erroll Bailey) Element-Penguin
1999
The Bible A to Z, Publications International
Failure: The Womb of Success, ghostwriter for Beulah Heights Bible College, WinePress
4,000 Questions, Answers, and Puzzles from the Bible, Publications International
2000
Live 10 Healthy Years Longer by Dr. Jan Kuzma and Cecil Murphey, Word
My Parents My Children: Spiritual Help for Caregivers, WestminsterJohn Knox
2001
Simply Living: Modern Wisdom from the Ancient Book of Proverbs, Westminster John Knox
Seeking God’s Hidden Face: When God Seems Absent, InterVarsity Press
God...More than a Name, Broadman & Holman
Beyond World Class: Transforming Companies Through Value-based Leadership by Alan Ross with Cecil Murphey, Dearborn
Choosing to Live: Ben Sanidad with Cecil Murphey [self-published]
Three Voices by Carolyn Driver with Cecil Murphey [not published]
2002
The God Who Pursues: Encountering a Relentless God, Bethany House,
Unconditional Excellence: Answering God’s Call to Be Your Professional Best by Alan M. Ross with Cecil Murphey, Adams Media,
Futuring: Leading Your Church into Tomorrow: by Dr. Samuel Chand and Cecil Murphey, Baker Books,
2003
United By Tragedy: A Father’s Story by Dr. David Wilkins with Cecil Murphey
I Choose to Stay by Salome Thomas-EL with Cecil Murphey, Kensington
The Relentless God, Bethany
Who’s Holding Your Ladder?: Selecting Your Leaders...Leadership’s Most Critical Decision by Dr. Samuel Chand with Cecil Murphey, Mall Publishing
2004
It All Starts at Home: 15 Reasons to Put Family First by Dr. Larry Harris with Cecil Murphey, Revell
Committed but Flawed: Finding Fresh Ways to Grow Spiritually, AMG
When Someone You Love Has Alzheimer’s, Beacon Hill
When Someone You Love Abuses Drugs or Alcohol
When Someone You Love Suffers from Depression or Mental Illness
90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey, Revell
2005
Aging is an Attitude, AMG
Who Moved My Ladder? by Dr. Samuel Chand with Cecil Murphey, Mall Publishing
Battlefield of the Mind Daily Devotional: Insights That Will Change the Way You Think by Joyce Meyer with Cecil Murphey, Warner Faith Books [not credited]
2006
The Immortality of Influence by Salome Thomas-EL with Cecil Murphey, Kensington
Touchdown! Alexander by Shaun Alexander with Cecil Murphey. Harvest House.
Daily Devotions Inspired by 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper and Cecil Murphey, Penguin/Berkeley Praise
2007
Heaven Is Real by Don Piper and Cecil Murphey, Penguin/Berkeley Praise
2008
Everybody Loved Roger Harden by Cecil Murphey, Barbour
Everybody Wanted Room 623 by Cecil Murphey, Barbour
Please Get to Know Me by Virginia Garberding with Cecil Murphey
Everybody Called Her a Saint by Cecil Murphey, Barbour
2009
When Someone You Love Has Cancer by Cecil Murphey, Harvest House
When God Turned Off the Lights by Cecil Murphey, Regal Books
Christmas Miracles by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson, St. Martins Press
