AMERICUS — Linda Fuller could hardly hold back the excitement as she held a copy of her late husband’s autobiography, Beyond the American Dream (Smyth & Helwys Publishing), just arriving to her home in Americus from the printer.

“The cover feels like velvet,” she says with a sparkle in her eye. “The book itself seems even better now that it’s in print.”

Linda discovered the hand-typed, 42-year-old manuscript in the back of a filing cabinet a few weeks after her husband’s death in early 2009. She immediately realized its significance and began manually transcribing the words into her computer. She spent many days and nights preparing the manuscript for the printer.

“I was married to Millard nine out of the 30 years covered in this autobiography. It got tucked away before I, or anyone else for that matter, had a chance to read it,” Linda said. “A few weeks following Millard’s sudden and unexpected death, typing the manuscript on my computer helped heal some of the intense grief I was feeling.”

“Beyond the American Dream” chronicles the first 30 years of Millard Fuller’s life — a self-made millionaire by 29 who gave away everything in order to save his marriage and seek a new direction. For the first time, the early part of the story, describing Millard’s life from Alabama country boy to millionaire is told by the man who lived it.

Millard and Linda Fuller’s story is legendary. The Fullers built Habitat for Humanity and the Fuller Center for Housing from the ground up — both Americus-based organizations with the mission of eliminating poverty housing. Their work continues to impact the lives of millions of people worldwide.

“Beyond the American Dream” was written by Fuller himself and completed in 1968, eight years before he launched the affordable housing movement, when he and his wife Linda were still determining where life would take them next. He kept a journal in his desk and wrote in detail about his new business and law ventures.

Fuller is the author of 10 other books. This is his first and only autobiography and it is a compelling narrative describing not only his childhood, but also the events that came after, all leading up to the crucial moment where he and Linda’s marriage nearly crumbled and they chose to start fresh — and penniless. Their journey led them to Koinonia Farm located just outside of Americus. It was at Koinonia that the Fullers found the inspiration to start Habitat for Humanity International and, later, The Fuller Center for Housing. While transcribing the book over the past year, Linda chose to include vignettes from her own point of view to fill out the narrative. The project also gave her a chance to sort through the family archives.

“Working on this book presented me with opportunities to relish and share precious memories found in photographs. I had hundreds in which to choose,” she says.

Millard details his experience at age 30 when he decided to give away his fortune and dedicate his life toward a higher calling. In these pages, he openly expresses moments of doubt, joy and drive to make the world a better place. Millard’s “first and last” book is being officially released at the second annual Millard Fuller Legacy Build held in Indianapolis Sept. 3-10, 2010. Simultaneously, a total of 100 Fuller Center homes will be built, renovated and dedicated worldwide during that time to honor Millard by carrying on his extraordinary legacy.

A public book signing with Linda Fuller will be held on Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, along with the premiere of a new documentary about Millard also entitled “Beyond the American Dream.” A book signing event is being planned for Americus at a later date. As with all of Fuller’s books, all proceeds from book sales go back to The Fuller Center to build and repair houses for the poor.

Books are on sale now at the Fuller Center headquarters located at 701 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in Americus. Call the office at 229-924-2900 or visit www.fullercenter.org/news/beyond-american-dream-first-release for more details.