Elvis left the building after being on hand to promote former Harlequin romance writer Leanna Ellis' forthcoming first Christian novel.

Tribute artist Harold Schulz, dressed as a young Presley, strummed his guitar and pointed attendees to the B&H Publishing Group booth where Ellis was signing advance copies of the book, which is due out next March.

The novel tells the story of young widow Claudia, who sets out on a journey of discovery and healing when she determines to fulfill her late husband's last request by returning a 3-foot bust of "The King" to its rightful owner in Memphis, Tenn.

Ellis made her own road trip to Memphis to research the book, which she said was intended to illustrate how people need to deal with the different idols they may allow into their lives.

Having written 12 Harlequin titles, Ellis said, "I just felt God was pulling me" into the direction of Christian writing. "God changed many things in my life," she said. "I had a real difficult pregnancy with my first child in 1997, and he was born with a hole in his heart. God healed his heart, and I really just think He changed mine."

Ellis said that while some might think Elvis an unlikely focus for a Christian novel, "his favorite music was gospel ... a lot of people don't know that. The only GRAMMY he ever won was for gospel, so there's a huge spiritual element."

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