NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 2024—Zondervan Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, proudly announces Gary Thomas’s award-winning book, When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People (978-031-034-6760), has surpassed 100,000 copies sold across print, digital, and audio formats (including Spanish).
Webster Younce, vice president and publisher of Zondervan Books, remarked, “Reaching this milestone is a wonderful indication of the ongoing impact of Gary’s work. We are proud to be his publishing partner as he continues to create rich, transformative, life-giving material addressing marriage, parenting, and spiritual formation, among other areas.”
When to Walk Away, published in October 2019, draws from biblical and modern stories to equip readers to handle toxic people and live true to their God-given purpose. Using experience from years serving as a pastor, Thomas offers biblical and applicable takeaways for learning the difference between difficult and toxic people, how to find refuge in God when feeling attacked, and how to discern when to walk away from a toxic situation. Additionally, he equips readers to keep a tender heart in unhealthy relationships and encourages them to grow their inner strength and invest in reliable people. He encourages readers to realize that saying no to bad patterns means saying yes to the good work God has planned for them.
When to Walk Away has been highly praised by endorsers such as Focus on the Family president Jim Daly, New York Times bestselling authors Jennie Allen and Jefferson Bethke, and John Townsend, New York Times bestselling author of the Boundaries series and founder of the Townsend Institute for Leadership and Counseling. Townsend says, “Gary Thomas has done a masterful job of showing us how and when to confront toxic people in the right way, how to guard one’s heart, and, most importantly, when to walk away. His comprehensive treatment of the many times Jesus chose to leave a person or a situation provides overwhelming encouragement and help in learning to love well, truth well, and behave well. Highly recommended.”
In addition to its sales milestone, When to Walk Away was the winner of the 2020 Resource of the Year Award from Outreach Magazine in the Counseling and Relationships category.
Gary Thomas has authored twenty books that have together sold more than two million copies. His next title is tentatively slated for release in fall 2025.
For more information or for media inquiries, please contact Amanda Woods at amanda.woods@harpercollins.com.
Gary Thomas’s writing and speaking draw people closer to Christ and closer to others. He is the author of twenty books that together have sold more than two million copies and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. These books include Sacred Marriage, Cherish, Married Sex, and the Gold Medallion-award winning Authentic Faith. Gary holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Western Washington University, a master’s degree in systematic theology from Regent College (Vancouver, BC), and an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Western Seminary (Portland, OR). He serves as a teaching pastor at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
Zondervan is a HarperCollins company and part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Zondervan is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian communications. The company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional information, please visit zondervan.com.
Contact: Amanda Woods, Publicity Director, Zondervan Books, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Amanda.Woods@HarperCollins.com
