Why Is 'The Secret' Author Being So Secretive About Her New Book? 4 Theories

(Aug. 16) -- Tuesday sees the release of "The Power," a follow-up to Rhonda Byrne's wildly successful self-help book "The Secret." Published in 2006, "The Secret" went on to sell more than 19 million copies in its hardcover edition, and "The Power" is expected to have a similarly seismic impact. (It's already No. 36 on Amazon's list of best-selling books.)

But even though "The Power" will almost certainly be a major publishing event -- the Irish Independent puts it on a par with the Harry Potter novels -- Byrne herself has been oddly quiet, granting no interviews about the book and in fact shying away from doing any publicity at all.

In the absence of any appearances from Byrne, the publisher, Atria Books, is rolling out a promotional campaign that combines radio ads, TV spots and billboards in four major markets.

Before she was a best-selling author, Byrne worked as a television producer in Melbourne. Her production company, Prime Time Productions, was responsible for such documentary programming as "OZ Encounters: UFO's in Australia" and "Sensing Murder," a reality series where a panel of psychics tried to unravel various unsolved homicides.

It seems unlikely that a veteran TV producer and world-famous author (and one who is also an Oprah protege) would lack the savvy to partake in the customary media blitz surrounding the release of an anticipated book. Here, then, are four reasons Byrne might be avoiding the limelight.

1. She "wants the book to speak for itself."

That quote comes from Judith Curr, publisher and executive vice president of Atria Books. It's possible Byrne simply doesn't want to get in the way of her own message, and so is keeping a low profile for the time being.

2. She just doesn't like doing the promotional circuit.

Maybe it's not about this particular book. Maybe Byrne is one of those authors, like Salinger and Pynchon, who abhors the whole dog-and-pony show. Certainly, this squares with the evidence of the past couple of years: Byrne hasn't given a major interview since 2008.

3. If she goes out in public, she'll have to address her critics.

Not everyone is a fan of "The Secret," whose central claim is that we can exercise vast influence over our own lives through unwavering positive thinking. By believing that good things will happen to you, Byrne asserts, you can bend fate to your will.

It's a philosophy that many readers undoubtedly find resonant -- but it's also one that's attracted plenty of skepticism. One of the best-known critics, author Barbara Ehrenreich ("Nickel and Dimed"), has scoffed at the idea that "you can control the world with your thoughts" and draws a line from Byrne's book to a "huge empathy deficit in our society." Ehrenreich is far from alone in questioning the wisdom of "The Secret," and maybe Byrne would rather not field those questions.

4. Who needs a book tour when you know The Secret?

On the other hand, maybe Byrne is keeping schtum because she's progressed beyond the need for silly, vulgar things like talk-show appearances. If you can manipulate events just by believing that good things will happen to you, why bother putting in the legwork?