August 24, 2026 Edition

Christian Book Award® submissions open September 1st with new category

ECPA will open submissions for the 2027 Christian Book Award® program on September 1, introducing a new award category and a refined category name that reflect the breadth and growth of today’s Christian publishing landscape. ECPA publishers may submit eligible titles for consideration in 13 categories, including the new Relationships: Marriage, Family, and Parenting category.

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MetaComet releases free white paper on publishers’ business strategies post Anthropic settlement

The $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement is the rarest thing in publishing: an unencumbered, one-time infusion of capital. MetaComet’s new, free, white paper provides a practical framework and five specific investment priorities for publishers to convert a windfall, however large or small, into years of compounding returns.

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Nominations open through September 18 for PubU Emerging Leaders program

There’s still time to recommend a promising professional for the PubU Emerging Leaders program, with nominations open through September 18. The program invests in the next generation of Christian publishing leaders through a scholarship to attend ECPA PubU in Nashville on November 4-5, along with exclusive Emerging Leaders sessions developed by Andrea Garcia (Tyndale House), and a year-long mentorship with an experienced publishing professional.

Learn more and submit a nomination

PubU Marketing track equips publishers for today's discovery challenges

Helping readers discover Christian books has never been more dynamic—or more complex. That’s the focus of the Marketing Track at ECPA PubU 2026, where six sessions will equip publishing professionals with practical strategies for audience growth, discoverability, and reader engagement. Led by Robin Bermel, Backlist & Brand Director at PRH Christian Publishing, the track features experienced marketing practitioners addressing today’s most pressing opportunities:

Beyond the List: Building Better Reader Relationships with Segmentation Intelligence — Daniel Cordell (Tyndale House Publishers)

Audience Curation and Growth through the Seeker Lens — Davina Powell (Ingram Content Group)

From Exposure to Connection: Reaching Audiences That Matter — Alisse Goldsmith-Wissman (Random House Publishing Group)

What AI Says About Your Books When You’re Not in the Room: Discoverability in the Age of GEO & AI Search — Rob Annese (Cook Media Group)

Global YouVersion Trends and What They Mean for Your Authors and Content — Justin Tarsiuk (YouVersion)

Imprint-Led Newsletters: Building an Owned Audience on Substack — Pete Ford (Apricot Services)

The PubU Marketing Track is one of five peer-led training tracks, including Editorial, Sales, Design, and Production & Operations held November 4–5 in Nashville, offering attendees practical ideas and immediately applicable strategies from professionals shaping today’s Christian publishing marketplace.

Learn more and register at early bird rates at ECPAPubU.org.