Even Elvis [Paperback]

Mary Ann Thornton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mary Ann Thornton was born in Oklahoma.  She had followed Elvis' career from Ed Sullivan onward...but at a distance...then in 1972 things changed. As a new Christian, feeling a divine unction, there was a directive, a reason and a need to pray for Elvis. Those prayers and God's
hand moving in precarious situations in his life brought nights of prayer and deep discussion about his life, dreams, disappointments. Elvis' calling to the ministry at an early age, the bittersweet issues in his life, the illnesses...it's here...and a Happy Ending on top of that!

Mary Ann is a graduate of Berean School of the Bible (Assembly of God), Rhema Bible Training Institute and Christian Writer's Guild. She has been speaking at churches, groups, city wide events since in 1974. Her books, articles, book reviews and poetry have been published on many web sites and periodicals over the years.  Please visit website evenelvis.com for further information.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: New Leaf Press (March 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089221063X
• ISBN-13: 978-0892210633
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,686,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Ann Thornton was born in Oklahoma and currently resides in the Kansas City, MO. area. Her writing experience includes: Even Elvis,two other books currently out of print [The New Age Dilemma and Crossroads to Committment].

She has written book reviews for several publications, numerous articles and has had her poetry published.

Mary Ann also produced and served as hostess of a Christian radio program "Reality Check" heard from Florida to Missouri with guests such as Alvin Slaughter, George Otis, the Parachute Band and many others.

In Even Elvis you walk a divinely led journey, pure in thought and deed, to bring the love of Jesus and restoration to a hurting man. Absorb it and see what the Lord has done. VISIT: evenelvis.com for further information.

Her speaking experience began in 1974 and has spanned the U.S. and several other countries, includes: churches, Christian groups, women's groups, seminars, city wide meetings. Accompanying her speaking and writing career are hundreds of media interviews and many book signings. She is available for book signings and speaking engagements as well.

Mary Ann is a graduate of Berean School of the Bible/Assemblies of God, Rhema Bible Training Institute and Christian Writer's Guild School.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Different Kind of Elvis Book, May 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Even Elvis (Paperback)

EVEN ELVIS isn't your typical "I was Elvis' best friend and confidante" tome. It isn't a book that breathlessly details everything that Elvis ever said or did. In fact, Elvis isn't the main focus of the book--Jesus Christ is.

I know what some of you are thinking: "Oh, no, a religious book! ARGH!" But EVEN ELVIS isn't preachy or boring. Thornton (who's been an Elvis fan since childhood) simply and powerfully tells her story of how she felt impressed by the Lord to pray for Elvis. Four years of intercessory prayer culminated in a meeting with Elvis at the Las Vegas Hilton in December of 1976. The Elvis we see in EVEN ELVIS isn't a pill-popping pervert or a sequined saint. We see a man who desperately needed to know that God loved him and had plans for him.

EVEN ELVIS is a page-turner and reads like an action thriller. It is one of the few Elvis books that won't leave you depressed when you get to the last page. EVEN ELVIS is a book that deserves a wider audience. It is a book that just may change your life.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "For the "love" of Elvis", May 12, 2000

By 

Bonnie Traino (Bloomfield, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Even Elvis (Paperback)

"A book written with prayer,compassion,and the love of a friend who cared enough to reach out to Elvis when he was hurting the most. "Even Elvis" is for anyone who loved the man, and for those that never knew him, but wish they had. Mary Ann writes with a true sensitivity for the truth-when others have written just for profit. This book will touch your soul as 6 years of events unfold in Elvis' life and God reaches out to him with the love he had searched for, for so many years--and finally found. A book that will truly touch your heart.---Bonnie Traino

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true-life Christian thriller starring Elvis, April 15, 2006

By 

Andrew Tonkin (Burbank, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Even Elvis (Paperback)

Frankly a thrilling read! Written by a charming Christian lady from Oklahoma who spends four years attempting to reach Elvis to convince him to become an evangelic minister. (Truly, this book should have been called Tryin' To Get To You.) Her tone is humorous and self-effacing and you really end up liking the woman and rooting for her cause even if you're not a Christian.

Even though this book is all about Elvis, the true heroes are God and Mary Ann Thornton, the author. Unlike other spiritual books about Elvis, it doesn't claim that he was any kind of supernatural being but rather an ordinary human. In most E books he is the centerpiece, shining radiantly to illuminate all those around; here he's a mere mortal, adrift on a sea of sin, reaching out for God's and Mary Ann's lifeline.

Unique in my experience, because what really drives the plot are dreams, visions, randomly chosen Bible verses, and quite simply the voice of God himself speaking to Mary Ann. A representative passage, just after visting Elvis' Forest Lawn mausoleum, about a week after his death:

The morning we were to leave, I was awakened from a deep sleep to see an open vision of a black-haired man dressed in pure white raiment silhouetted in an emerald green field, gazing over a cliff toward me. In the background appeared white architecture that appeared to have been carved from pure ivory. Instantly knowing it was Heaven, I began straining for a better look at the man.

Startled by the fact that I recognized him I quickly quizzed, "Lord, is that Elvis? Can that be him? Oh Lord, you wouldn't let me see him now," doubting what my own eyes were seeing. "But... he looks different than he did here. He looks peaceful and content. His face has the same look as those angels You've let me see. Oh Lord, is that Elvis?"

In a calm, reassuring tone, the Lord patiently replied, "Yes, Mary Ann, that's Elvis. And, of course, he looks different. That's Heaven."

- Horrified at Elvis' inability to remember lyrics, mount the stage unassisted, or sense her presence in the audience, June 18, 1977:

Becoming physically ill, I walked into the hall and leaned against a doorway to watch the rest of the concert while my tears flowed freely.

- After leaving her final gift with Elvis at Graceland, July 16, 1977:

I left books with him every time I was near him because I knew he read books on various religions and sometimes that isn't too safe. I thought I should counteract some of it with Christian theology. Although Elvis wasn't alone in doing that. A lot of Christians read a lot of things that could lead to spiritual harm.

If even half of this tale is true, it's gotta be the greatest Elvis story ever told. A little gem. Read it