rush-to-press
The Week's News in Christian Publishing
  • Industry News
  • Milestones
  • Media Announcements
  • Product News
  • Other News

Lisa Sharon Harper journeys into her family’s past to understand how race broke the world

Ada, Mich. (October 27, 2020)—Lisa Sharon Harper has signed a new contract with Brazos Press to publish Fortune. Brazos has exclusive world rights and the project was agented with Howard Yoon of the Ross Yoon Agency. The book is slated to release in the fall of 2021.

Thanks to DNA testing and archives, Lisa Sharon Harper has spent three decades learning about her family history, discovering the hopes and dreams of ancestors whose legacies would otherwise be lost to history. In Fortune, Harper introduces readers to various family members who spanned 10 generations of U.S. history to highlight how their lives and futures were shaped by various oppressive public policies. Their stories become a window into ways that American ideas, customs, and laws oppressed millions of people of African and indigenous descent; spanning the Northeast, the South and the Caribbean islands. Harper connects their stories to the biblical concept of reparation, which is fundamentally about repair. Harper argues that reparation is not only about a dollar amount or figuring out which individuals to blame, but about an entire community or nation repenting of the “fundamental decision to order society according to racial human hierarchy.” Beyond naming the problem, Harper uses the final section of the book to cast a vision of truth-telling, repentance, and peace-building. In this way, Fortune is both memoir and prophetic teaching, deeply personal but also accessible to anyone interested in addressing the legacy of racism in the U.S.

Lisa Sharon Harper is a leading Christian speaker and activist. With a master’s in human rights from Columbia University, she served as chief church engagement officer for Sojourners, where she led campaigns on immigration reform and racial justice. She is founder of Freedom Road, LLC, a consulting group dedicated to helping groups do justice more justly. Harper organizes the annual Ruby Woo Pilgrimage for Christian women. Her work has been featured in the New Yorker, Relevant magazine, the Huffington Post, and on Rick Warren’s website, PurposeDriven.com. Her leadership has been honored by the Center for American Progress, La Raza, and the National Black Women’s Roundtable.

“Fortune feels like the book that Lisa Sharon Harper was born to write,” said Katelyn Beaty, acquisitions editor for Brazos Press. “Our team is honored to partner with Harper to deliver this urgent call to remember our nation’s sins rightly so that we can collectively work for repair. We anticipate that this book will bear much fruit in the church, nation, and world.”

Brazos Press publishes books that creatively draw upon the riches of the Christian story to deepen our understanding of God’s world and inspire faithful reflection and engagement.

Contact: Shelly MacNaughton, (616)450-5560 smacnaughton@bakerpublishinggroup.com

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
2 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
3 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
4 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
5 LIVING FEARLESS
JAMIE WINSHIP
6 HOLY SPIRIT
DAVID DIGA HERNANDEZ
7 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
8 THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
JOHN MARK COMER
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
10 IMAGINE HEAVEN
JOHN BURKE
View All
1 SINCERELY, STONEHEART
EMILY WILSON HUSSEM
2 SLOW BURN
DAWNCHERE WILKERSON
3 BLESSED ARE THE SPIRALING
LEVI LUSKO
4 EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE
KYLE IDLEMAN
5 THE FIGHT FOR US
REBEKAH LYONS AND GABE LYONS
6 NEVER GIVE UP
MAX LUCADO
7 THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME
DENISE HUNTER
8 JESUS LISTENS LARGE TEXT WITH FULL SCRIPTURES
SARAH YOUNG
9 UNLOCK YOUR DELIVERANCE
KATHRYN KRICK
10 TWO SECONDS TOO LATE
DANI PETTREY
View All
1 WHERE SECRETS LIE
COLLEEN COBLE AND RICK ACKER
2 THE SUMMER OF YES
COURTNEY WALSH
3 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
4 WHEN CRICKETS CRY
CHARLES MARTIN
5 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
6 VANISHED
DAVID JEREMIAH WITH SAM O'NEAL
7 THE HIDDEN PRINCE
TESSA AFSHAR
8 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
9 A LINEAGE OF GRACE
FRANCINE RIVERS
10 WHAT NOT TO DO ON VACATION
RACHEL MAGEE
View All
1 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
2 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
3 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
4 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
5 LIVING FEARLESS
JAMIE WINSHIP
6 HOLY SPIRIT
DAVID DIGA HERNANDEZ
7 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
8 THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
JOHN MARK COMER
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
10 IMAGINE HEAVEN
JOHN BURKE
View All
1 THE ACTION BIBLE
SERGIO CARIELLO
2 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
3 THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
SALLY LLOYD-JONES
4 GREAT AND SMALL PRAYERS FOR BABIES
PAMELA KENNEDY
5 THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
JOANNA GAINES
6 THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BIBLE
JANICE EMMERSON
7 GOD GAVE US YOU
LISA TAWN BERGREN
8 MOSTLY WHAT GOD DOES IS LOVE YOU
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE
9 THE BIGGEST STORY BIBLE STORYBOOK
KEVIN DEYOUNG
10 WHEREVER YOU GO, I WANT YOU TO KNOW...
MELISSA B. KRUGER
View All
1 THE HARBINGER: A GRAPHIC NOVEL
JONATHAN CAHN
2 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
BEN STUART
3 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
4 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
5 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
6 GOD IS WITH YOU EVERY DAY
MAX LUCADO
7 THE CASE FOR CHRIST STUDENT EDITION
LEE STROBEL WITH JANE VOGEL
8 FLOURISH
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
9 OUTDATED
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
10 INTERCESSORY PRAYER
DUTCH SHEETS
View All
1 THE GOSPEL STORY
MARY WILEY
2 ONE-MINUTE INSIGHTS FOR MEN
JIM GEORGE
3 365 READ-ALOUD BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES
DANIEL PARTNER
4 KNOW YOUR BIBLE
PAUL KENT
5 ONE-MINUTE INSPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN
ELIZABETH GEORGE
6 3-MINUTE DEVOTIONS FOR MEN
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
7 BIBLE PROMISE BOOK - KJV
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
8 199 PROMISES OF GOD
PUBLISHING, BARBOUR
9 77 MEMORY VERSES EVERY KID SHOULD KNOW
CHRISTIAN ART KIDS
10 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST JOHN
View All
1 KJV GIANT PRINT FULL SIZE BIBLE
CHRISTIAN ART PUBLISHERS
2 ESV CHURCH BIBLE
CROSSWAY
3 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE, Hardcover
ZONDERVAN
4 KJV LARGE PRINT PERSONAL SIZE REFERENCE BIBLE
HOLMAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS
5 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, GREY
RAECHEL MYERS AND AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS
6 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
7 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
8 ESV STUDY BIBLE
J. I. PACKER, MARK DEVER AND JOHN PIPER
9 NLT LARGE PRINT PREMIUM VALUE THINLINE BIBLE, Brown
TYNDALE
10 ESV JOURNALING BIBLE
CROSSWAY BIBLES
View All
1 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 ESV ECONOMY HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS
CROSSWAY
3 NIV LARGER PRINT HOLY BIBLE, ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
4 ESV LARGE PRINT ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
5 NLT LARGE PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY OUTREACH EDITION
TYNDALE
6 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
7 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
8 NIV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Pink
ZONDERVAN
9 NIV OUTREACH BIBLE STUDENT EDITION
ZONDERVAN
10 NLT ECONOMY TEXT BIBLE
TYNDALE
View All
1 English Standard Version
2 New International Version
3 King James Version
4 New Living Translation
5 New King James Version
6 Christian Standard Bible
7 Reina Valera
8 New International Reader's Version
9 Nueva Version International
10 New American Standard Bible
View All
1 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR EDICION REVISADA
GARY CHAPMAN
2 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
3 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO
RICK WARREN
5 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
6 EL PODER DE LA MUJER QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
7 JESUS TE LLAMA
SARAH YOUNG
8 EL DESAFIO DE 30 DIAS DE ORACION PARA HOMBRES
JESS MACCALLUM
9 DESTINADO AL EXITO
DANTE GEBEL
10 VIVIENDO SU VOLUNTAD
SEBASTIAN FRANZ
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro tapa dura
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE, Caoba
LUIS ANGEL DIAZ-PABON
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Rosa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
6 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Turquesa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
7 RVR1960 SANTA BIBLIA EDICION PORTATIL CON CREMALLERA
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
8 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA LETRA SUPERGIGANTE CON CIERRE
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE APUNTES
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL CON INDICE
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
View All
1 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
3 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
4 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
5 DEVOCIONALES DE 3 MINUTOS PARA HOMBRES
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
6 UN HOMBRE CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
JIM GEORGE
7 JESUS SALVA AL MUNDO
VIDA
8 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
9 ESTRESATE MENOS, ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
10 3:16 EVANGELIO DE JUAN
MAX LUCADO
View All

Upcoming Events

ECPA webinar: Communicating Appreciation in the Workplace
August 8 | 10 am central
ECPA Asia Rights & Export Fair
September 1-2, 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand
ECPA C-Suite Symposium
September 7-9, 2025 | Tucson, Arizona
The Christy Award® Finalist Reveal Webcast
September 19 | 10 am central
ECPA PubU Online
Oct 31 through Nov 14, 2025

Career Center

Marketing Manager, Trade NonFiction
Baker Book House Company, Ada, Michigan (Hybrid)
Senior Designer
Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois
ECPA LOGO
submit icon

Submit a News Item

Submit industry related news releases to rushtopress @ecpa .org for consideration. Rush to Press is sent every Monday and eligible releases must be received by end of day Friday prior to the Monday’s publication.

announce icon

Career Posts

To announce a job opening in Rush to Press, post it first at the ECPA Career Center and your announcement will appear in the next issue.

subscribe icon

Subscribe

To receive Rush to Press, along with other industry updates from ECPA, please follow the instructions here to create or modify your ECPA community profile. To subscribe to Rush to Press without using a profile, subscribe here.

unsubscribe icon

Unsubscribe

If you would like to be removed from the Rush to Press distribution list, please edit your ECPA profile preferences or email info @ecpa .org.

advertise icon

Advertise

If you would like to reach over 3,300 industry subscribers and media contacts each week, consider advertising in Rush to Press. Contact sponsorship @ecpa .org for more information.

More news at RushtoPress.org. #RushtoPress @ECPA
This is a publication of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For more information about ECPA, contact info@ecpa.org or visit ECPA.org.
Copyright © 2025 · ECPA