November 9, 2026 Edition
Industry News
HarperCollins Christian Publishing honors the life and legacy of Jack Countryman
HCCP and Thomas Nelson mourn the passing of Jack Countryman, visionary publisher, bestselling author, and founder of JCountryman Gift Books, who died on November 3. His remarkable career helped shape the Christian publishing industry and brought biblical encouragement to millions of readers around the world.
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ECPA announces 2026 Top Shelf Book Cover Award winners
ECPA announced the winners of the 2026 Top Shelf Book Cover Awards last week during the opening session of ECPA PubU. A total of 38 winning designs were recognized across Bibles, Children’s, Fiction, and Nonfiction categories.
The Christy Award® names ten novels as the 2026 winners
ECPA announced the winners of the 2026 Christy Award® on Friday during its Awards Gala in Nashville, in nine fiction categories along with the evening’s highest honor, The Christy Book of the Year® presented to “South of Somewhere” by T.I. Lowe (Tyndale House Publishers). The Amplify Award for Christian Fiction was presented to “The Filling Station” by Vanessa Miller (Thomas Nelson Fiction).
ECPA December webinar to explore Human Strategy and AI Tools in Publishing
How can publishers harness AI while keeping human judgment at the center of strategic decisions? ECPA’s free member webinar on December 4 will explore this timely topic with publishing industry veterans and AI experts Hannah Johnson and George Walkley in a session titled, The Alchemy in Publishing Today: Human Decisions, AI Tools, and the Crafting of Effective Strategy.
Staff Announcements
UMI announces publishing veteran Katara Washington Patton as new publisher
Urban Ministries, Inc. (UMI), the largest independent, African American-owned-and-operated Christian media company, has announced publishing veteran Katara Washington Patton as its new publisher.
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David C Cook names Linda Howard as Executive Vice President & Publisher
David C Cook is pleased to announce the promotion of Linda Howard to executive vice president & publisher. In her new role Howard will lead the ministry’s U.S. and global books divisions, including acquisitions, licensing and partnerships.
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IVP appoints Rachel Hastings to Vice President of Editorial
InterVarsity Press (IVP) has appointed Rachel Hastings as the new divisional vice president of editorial and as associate publisher. IVP is also pleased to announce that Jon Boyd has been named executive editor.
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HarperChristian Resources welcomes Caitlyn Carlson as Senior Acquisitions Editor
HCCP has announced that Caitlyn Carlson will join HarperChristian Resources as Senior Acquisitions Editor, effective November 16. Carlson joins from NavPress, where she was Senior Acquisitions Editor for Bible studies and ministry resources.
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Milestones
SPCK Group wins Top Shelf Book Cover Award for “Journey with Me for Kids”
SPCK Group is delighted to announce that “Journey with Me for Kids” written by Catherine Campbell and illustrated by Emma Skerratt, was named a winner at the 2026 ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Awards. Pres release attached.
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Product News
Carlos and Alexa PenaVega release new book, "Joy Isn't Cancelled" with Nelson Books
Big Time Rush’s Carlos PenaVega and actress Alexa PenaVega mark the release of their latest book, “JOY ISN’T CANCELED: What Grief Taught Us About Pain, Peace, and Purpose,” with Nelson Books. Drawing from their own experience with unimaginable loss, the couple shares a powerful message of hope for anyone navigating grief.
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Abundance Books releases a behind the scenes look of the movie Conceivable
Abundance Books releases “Behind the Scenes of Conceivable: The Ministry in the Movie” by Rev. Beth Caulfield on November 10, 2026. The companion to the feature film Conceivable takes readers inside a filmmaking journey shaped by personal experience, collaboration, and an appointment to ministry in the cinematic arts.
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Thomas Nelson Gift releases special edition of award-winning “Breath as Prayer”
Thomas Nelson Gift announces the release of “Breath as Prayer, Special Edition: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul” by award-winning author and artist Jennifer Tucker, available November 3, 2026.
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New Growth Press releases The Ology Curriculum for elementary children on December 7
The Ology Curriculum introduces elementary children to systematic theology so they can get to know God and his Word better. This 52-lesson curriculum by Marty Machowski takes a deeper dive into the theological truths of his popular children’s storybook study, “The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New.”
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Media Announcements
Gary Sinise releases “Graceful Warrior,” a powerful tribute to his son Mac with national media campaign
Award-winning actor, humanitarian, and New York Times bestselling author Gary Sinise releases his most personal book to date, “Graceful Warrior: The True Story of a Son, a Father, and a Family Who Carried Each Other Through” (Nelson Books/Thomas Nelson), tomorrow, November 10, a particularly meaningful date for the Sinise family as it marks what would have been his son Mac's thirty-sixth birthday.
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TODAY, NBC News feature NYT bestselling authors Sissy Goff & David Thomas
Expert therapists and New York Times bestselling authors Sissy Goff and David Thomas discuss grace-filled parenting this holiday season. On Monday, November 9, the pair will be featured live on The TODAY Show (airs 9:45 am ET) and NBC News Now will feature Sissy and David at 12:45 pm and 2:45 pm ET on Tuesday, November 10.
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Carlos and Alexa PenaVega appear on NBC’s TODAY Show
Big Time Rush’s Carlos and actress Alexa PenaVega appeared on NBC’s TODAY Show on Thursday, November 5 to discuss their new Nelson Books release, JOY ISN’T CANCELED. During the heartfelt conversation, the couple opened up about navigating unimaginable grief following the loss of their daughter, Indy, and how their faith has helped them find hope and joy even in life’s most difficult seasons. Their powerful message of resilience and hope reached a national audience, bringing the heart of their new book to life.
Other News
INDUSTRY
PUBLISHING
- Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against OpenAI Draws 50+ Amicus Briefs
- Proudly Human Promises to Certify AI-Free Books
- Oxford University Press Tests Licensing Content to ChatGPT
- HarperCollins Posts 9% Revenue Gain in Q1
- Bookwire Sells Zebralution’s Music Business to Warner Music Group
- New CBP Importer of Record Rules: What U.S. Importers Need to Know
- New U.K. Research Report Emphasizes Metadata as a Key ‘Strategic Asset’
- BISG webinar November 12: Backlist Remediation Approaches
