Photo:Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty Images; Courtesy of Etruscan Press
Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty Images; Courtesy of Etruscan Press
Etruscan Press
“I am honored to bring Diane’s story to life,” Curtis says in a statement shared with PEOPLE. “Many are familiar with Jim’s kidnapping and his brutal beheading 10 years ago. It was broadcast all around the world and became one of the iconic photos of our time. But few know the real story of exactly how this ordinary mother of five, former nurse and literal force of nature took the worst imaginable event in her life and turned it into a powerful act of grace.”
The book will also detail what the Foley family went through while James was being held captive, as well as Diane’s meeting with one of the men who killed him. Diane, who resigned from her job as a nurse practitioner to advocate for her son’s release in 2013, founded theJames W. Foley Legacy Foundationin 2014. The organization advocates for Americans wrongfully detained abroad and for the safety of journalists and international travelers, per their website.“This year marks the 10th anniversary of Jim’s horrific public murder,” Diane says in a statement. “Over 100 innocent Americans have been freed since 2014, but international kidnapping continues as fellow Americans are targeted and held captive in Gaza, Russia, China, Iran, Syria and around the world. I am so grateful to Jamie Lee for so generously helping tell Jim’s story and continuing his legacy of goodness."
Elizabeth Eagle; The Foley Foundation
“There is not a better voice to tell Diane’s story with grace and humility than Jamie Lee,” McCann adds.
James’s story was also shared in the 2016 documentaryJim: The James Foley Story, which featuredSting’s Academy Award-nominated song “Empty Chair.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“There were many times when I read this book aloud that I had to stop and literally sob,” Curtis continues. “But then, somehow, Diane found the words and the hope to keep me going. Ultimately this is a work of great faith and redemption. And here is a woman making the whole world accessible to us all.”American Motherwill be published on March 5, 2024 in both print and audiobook formats.
source: people.com
