Taya Kyle, widow of the late Chris Kyle, former U.S. Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times bestselling author, has emerged as a strong and fearless voice for military veterans and families struggling with the traumatic effects of war. Now a major motion picture directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, Chris Kyle’s American Sniper shows the true story of Chris and Taya’s life together and their incredible experience between tours and during the war. Chris’ legacy is documented in the Academy Award nominated film released in January 2015.

In her book, American Wife (William Morrow), Kyle shares her and her husband’s private journey, a moving and universal chronicle of love, family, faith, grief, resilience, and purpose that is a model of heroism for us all. Matching the straightforward, soul-baring style of American Sniper, she talks with honesty about the trials and triumphs of her life with-and without Chris- the sleepless nights as a military spouse, the exhilaration as her husband was lionized, the quiet moments when family sheltered them from the madness of fame, the joy of discovering her own purpose in harmony with Chris’s own legacy.

In American Wife, she recounts the struggles and looks toward the future, revealing the intimate story of her marriage and the inspirations that have given her strength. She speaks out on the effects of fame, both good and bad, and provides a road map for others faced with difficulties, big and small.  American Wife is a startling and affecting portrait of woman of grit and determination-an example we can all follow to become a hero in our own lives.

Following the tragic death of her husband in February of 2013, Taya Kyle has focused on keeping the spirit of her husband and his service alive through continuing his work. She regularly speaks to audiences across the country about his incredible accomplishments as the top sniper in U.S. military history and the challenges that face veterans today. She has also contributed a foreword and an afterword to the new book American Gun: A history of the U.S. in Ten Firearms (William Morrow), authored by Chris Kyle with William Doyle. A riveting and inspiring speaker, Taya Kyle is a perfect fit for military and veteran organizations, historical societies, colleges and universities, corporations, and community groups.

In American Gun, the history of the United States can be seen through the lens of a hand-selected list of firearms. From the American long rifle to the Colt .45 revolver to the M16 platform rifle, this is the story of how guns have played a fascinating, indispensable, and often underappreciated role in our national history. As a Navy SEAL Team 3 chief, Chris served numerous combat tours, including four in Operation Iraqi Freedom. For his bravery in battle, Chris was honored with many awards and citations, including two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars withValor, and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. Following hiscombat deployments, Chris became the chief instructor for training Naval Special Warfare Sniper and Counter-Sniper teams, and he authored the Naval Special Warfare Sniper Doctrine, the first Navy SEAL sniper manual. His memoir, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History (William Morrow), written with Jim DeFelice and published in January of 2012, has become an international bestseller, spending more than a year on the New YorkTimes’ bestseller list with nine weeks at number one. The book, which covers everything from Chris Kyle’s childhood in Texas to the effects of war on soldiers’ families back home, is a profoundly unique story that Taya Kyle is now determined to share with others. A movie adaptation of American Sniper is set to be directed by Stephen Spielberg, with Bradley Cooper playing the role of Chris Kyle.

A native of Oregon, Taya Kyle currently lives in Texas with her two children. She has appeared on many television shows, including NBC’s Weekend Today, The O’Reilly Factor, Fox & Friends, and on national and local radio shows. Her moving speech at the National Rifle Association’s 2013 annual meeting has attracted widespread attention and has established her as an outspoken leader among veterans and their families.