But husband, Ted, ‘not yet comfortable' with writing a book on moral failure that led to downfall

Tyndale House Publishers is to publish a memoir by Gayle Haggard, wife of the former president of the National Association of Evangelicals and well-known author, Ted Haggard.

In Why I Stayed, to be released in January 2010, she will share "a message of forgiveness and love" regarding her husband, also the founder and ex-senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo.—whose confession to sexual immorality in November 2006 led to his downfall, Tyndale officials said.

"This is my story of choosing to love my husband through some of the most difficult challenges any marriage could face," Gayle Haggard said in a statement.

Her husband currently has no plans to write a book on his experience. "I have not signed nor am I talking with any publishers about any upcoming books by me," he told Christian Retailing. "I have not been comfortable yet with writing a book. So because of that, I haven't accepted any of the offers regarding a book contract. Instead, Gayle and I are traveling and speaking every other weekend, which is a very nice pace for us."

Haggard, who recently returned to the spotlight after two years of seclusion, said he was not aware that his previous books had been pulled by Christian bookstores.

"I was isolated, so I didn't know they were pulled but that does make sense to me," he said. "I've been so busy (that) I've not had discussions with anyone in the marketplace about my old books except readers who comment on them."

After reading the Why I Stayed manuscript, Tyndale President Mark Taylor said he "was very moved by Gayle's story. It is a beautiful—though heart-wrenching—story of how (with the grace of God) she chose to love Ted, save her marriage and protect her family."

Jon Farrar, Tyndale's nonfiction acquisition director, added: "When we met with Gayle, we realized God was already using her story to touch the lives of thousands of people. We knew this story needed to be heard in its entirety. It's an amazing story of the choices Gayle made in her darkest hours and how less-than-perfect people everywhere desperately need a community that provides healing and a path to restoration."

Tyndale will launch Why I Stayed, co-written by Angela Hunt, with a national promotional campaign, including an author tour.

The Haggards have recently been guests on numerous TV shows and cable programs. An HBO documentary titled The Trials of Ted Haggard has aired 40 times.

The couple—who currently live in Colorado Springs with two of their five children—have been married for more than 30 years.

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