After years of working with leaders locally and around the world, Keith Spurgin kept hearing the same thing: people were surrounded by others, yet deeply alone.

That recurring theme of isolation — both in others and in his own life — became the foundation for his debut book, “Unknown.”

Spurgin, a communicator, leadership coach and founder of New Hope Church in Wylie, said he wrote the book for people who have tried to find community but never quite get there.

“One of the things I hear from them over and over again is how isolated they feel,” Spurgin said. “They have people but very little connection.”

The message also reflected his own experience.

Spurgin shares in the book a pivotal moment in his own life when his wife told him she felt as though he had “a mistress” — not in a literal sense, but in how his work and responsibilities had taken priority over their relationship.

“It rocked my world,” he said. “She didn’t mean it literally, but she did feel like my work, my people, my reputation and my calling had become more important than she was.”

The experience, he said, forced him to reevaluate and ultimately rebuild that connection.

“It took us several years to rediscover our footing, but I’m happy to report that we’ve been married 38 years and we are happier than ever,” Spurgin said. “It’s not perfect, but it is really good.”

The book, his first completed manuscript after starting several others, reflects what he calls the “heartbeat” of his life’s work — helping people build authentic relationships and healthy cultures.

Released earlier this year, “Unknown” quickly gained traction and landed on the USA Today Bestseller list in February.

Spurgin said he wrote the book for three primary audiences: individuals struggling to find genuine community, those who feel there is more but are still searching, and leaders seeking to build healthy teams and culture but struggling to get there.

“They start a relationship and feel like it is going well, but soon discover the other person isn’t as interested as they thought,” Spurgin said. “Broken relationships are painful because God designed us for something better.”

Balancing the writing process with leading both a church and a leadership organization proved challenging.

“Leading two organizations while writing a book is not something I would suggest to anyone,” Spurgin said.

Even so, revisiting difficult personal experiences — including strained relationships and friendships that ended without clear resolution — made the process especially emotional.

Reader response, he said, has been overwhelming.

Many have reached out to say the book reflects their own stories, while others have described it as life changing. In one instance, a radio host who interviewed Spurgin later confided in him about struggles in her marriage. After discussing principles from the book, he said she told him, “this is going to change my life.”

Looking ahead, Spurgin said he is considering future writing projects, potentially focused on leadership topics such as founder transitions — an area he notes often presents challenges for organizations. He is also planning to launch a podcast.

“Unknown” is published by Morgan James and is available through major retailers and online platforms. Spurgin is also offering a free digital copy through his website keithspurgin.net.

Stay informed and support your local community newspaper — subscribe to the Murphy Monitor.