James Redfield
Born 1950 · Age 75
American writer, lecturer, screenwriter and film producer best known for The Celestine Prophecy series of novels and related works.
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Life & Career Timeline
Raised in rural Alabama; family influences
Grew up on land with gardens and pasture; father was an art teacher and WWII veteran whose outlook influenced Redfield's values and social conscience.
Entered Auburn University (approx.)
Began undergraduate studies, majoring in sociology and studying Eastern philosophies including Taoism and Zen (date approximate based on birth year).
Graduated Auburn University (approx.)
Completed undergraduate degree with a major in sociology (exact year not specified; estimated from typical timeline).
Received master's degree in counseling (approx.)
Later received a master's degree in counseling (source states he received a master's; timing estimated early-mid 1970s).
Began career as therapist to abused adolescents (approx.)
Worked as a counselor/therapist to abused adolescents for over 15 years prior to leaving in 1989 (start year estimated).
Quit therapy job to write full-time
Left his role as a therapist to focus on writing full-time, synthesizing interests in psychology, Eastern/Western philosophies, ecology and mysticism.
Retreated to lakeside cabin to write
Moved to a lakeside cabin inherited from his grandfather to work on his writing and to synthesize his spiritual research (described in profiles).
Self-published The Celestine Prophecy
Published his first novel, The Celestine Prophecy, independently; sold copies directly (including from the trunk of his car).
Early grassroots sales and promotion
Peddled and promoted the self-published book locally and via book tours; early momentum led to broader bookseller and reader interest.
Public identification as author of The Celestine Prophecy
The Celestine Prophecy is commonly cited as a 1993 novel (self-published originally, widely recognized from this year onward).
The Celestine Prophecy reached No. 1 on NYT Best Seller list
After the Warner Books release the novel quickly climbed to the No. 1 position on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Expanded Celestine product line launched
A range of Celestine-branded products appeared: a workbook, autographed wall calendar, The Celestine Journal newsletter, and audiotapes by Salle Redfield.
Warner Books bought rights; hardcover published
Warner Books acquired rights to The Celestine Prophecy and published a hardcover edition in March 1994.
The Celestine Prophecy: An Experiential Guide published
Co-wrote an experiential guide to the novel with Carol Adrienne (published 1995).
Publishing Trends: #2 international bestseller (1995)
The novel was listed as the #2 international bestseller in 1995 by Publishing Trends.
Published sequel: The Tenth Insight: Holding the Vision
Released the sequel novel, The Tenth Insight (1996), which also became a bestseller.
The Celestine Prophecy: #1 international bestseller (1996)
Publishing Trends listed The Celestine Prophecy as the No. 1 international bestseller in 1996.
Sales milestone reported (~5.8M copies by 1996)
Profiles (e.g., Maclean's) reported roughly 5.8 million copies sold in 32 countries by mid-1996.
Two books spent combined 74 weeks on NYT Best Seller list
The Celestine Prophecy and The Tenth Insight together spent 74 weeks on the NYT Best Seller list, helping make him the top-selling hard cover author in 1996 (BP Report).
Canadian book tour and international speaking engagements
Completed an international/Canadian book tour; gained rapid media attention and was negotiating film interest but was cautious about rights deals (reported mid-1996).
Refused early film-right concessions; insisted on creative control
As of 1996 he had declined various early multimillion-dollar film offers, insisting on script control and A-list talent.
Published: The Celestine Vision (non-fiction)
Published The Celestine Vision: Living the New Spiritual Awareness (1997), exploring the background of the emerging spirituality in his novels.
Award: Medal of the Presidency of the Italian Senate
Awarded the Medal of the Presidency of the Italian Senate at the XXIII Pio Manzu International Conference in Rimini (citation in sources; flagged on Wikipedia as needing citation).
Published: The Secret of Shambhala (Eleventh Insight)
Released The Secret of Shambhala: In Search of the Eleventh Insight (1999), continuing the Celestine series.
International New Thought Alliance Humanitarian of the Year
Received Humanitarian of the Year honor from the International New Thought Alliance approximately two months after the Auburn award (summer 2000).
Auburn University Humanitarian of the Year (shared)
In spring 2000 he shared Auburn University's Humanitarian of the Year award with Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity.
Co-authored: God and the Evolving Universe
Collaborated with Michael Murphy and Sylvia Timbers to publish the non-fiction work God and the Evolving Universe (J.P. Tarcher, 2002).
Sales milestone: Over 20 million copies sold (reported)
By May 2005 The Celestine Prophecy had reportedly sold over 20 million copies worldwide and been translated into 34 languages.
Film: The Celestine Prophecy (released); produced and co-wrote screenplay
A 2006 film adaptation of The Celestine Prophecy was released; Redfield produced and co-wrote the screenplay with Barnet Bain and Dan Gordon.
Published: The Celestine Prophecy: The Making of the Movie
Co-wrote a book about the film's making with Monty Joynes, published in 2006.
Global Prayer Project (founder) — webcast
James and Salle Redfield are noted as the founders of the Global Prayer Project, a bi-weekly webcast offering guided prayer and meditation (exact founding date not specified).
Published: The Twelfth Insight: The Hour of Decision
Grand Central Publishing released The Twelfth Insight: The Hour of Decision in February 2011.
Profiled in Canadian Encyclopedia and other media
Featured in profiles and interviews (e.g., The Canadian Encyclopedia entry updated Dec 2013) documenting his career, tours and influence.
Personal memoir-style account published on official site
Posted an extensive 'My Story' personal biography on CelestineVision.com detailing upbringing, influences, and path to writing (site post dated Oct 2015).
Listed in online databases, IMDb and referenced in modern sources
Profiles and references (including IMDb and Wikipedia snapshots) continue to document Redfield's works and film contributions (retrieval dates noted in sources 2024).
Perennial inclusion: Watkins List of 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People (noted)
Profiles mention Redfield's recurring presence on the Watkins list of spiritually influential living people (specific years vary; described as perennial inclusion).
Key Achievement Ages
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