November 26, 2018 Edition
Industry News
ECPA posts Christian Bestseller Lists for November and October
The ECPA bestsellers lists are back! After some time off while NPD BookScan moved its data to a new platform, ECPA is pleased to post both the November and October Bestseller lists. November’s list boasts six new titles in the top 10. They are: Racing to the Finish by Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Thomas Nelson); two Christian living titles by nationally known pastors, Overcomer by David Jeremiah (Thomas Nelson) and Next Level Thinking by Joel Osteen (FaithWords); an inspiring love story, Cole and Sav by Cole and Savannah LaBrant (Thomas Nelson); a lifestyle book on getting clutter out of your life, Cozy Minimalist Home (Zondervan); and a novel by one of America’s premiere fiction writers, When We Were Young by Karen Kingsbury (Howard Books).
In October, 14 new titles debuted in the Top 50 bestseller list, with Letters to the Church by Francis Chan (David C Cook) at #3.
Shari Black hired as senior director of marketing for Specialty Publishing division
HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) announced that Shari Black has joined the organization as senior director of marketing for the Specialty Publishing division. Black offers over 20 years of key account sales and marketing experience implementing long-term strategic plans, as well as leading cross-divisional teams with companies such as Warner Bros. Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, and Walmart. In these roles, she has worked on bestselling brands such as LEGO, Mattel, DC Comics, J.K. Rowling, Toy Story, and Tarzan. As senior marketing director for HCCP’s Specialty Publishing division, Black will cultivate author and agent relationships, as well as create strategic marketing plans for Thomas Nelson gift, Zondervan gift, and Tommy Nelson titles. She will also spearhead key projects across the division.
Read More...Top Shelf Book Cover Award submissions to open December 1st for 2019 program
The industry’s book cover award program, Top Shelf, will open the submission period for the 2019 program on December 1st. Ongoing submissions will be accepted through August, 2019. Nominations are $59 each for books and Bibles published by an ECPA member and released for public sale between June 2018 – August 2019. This year, 21 covers were chosen as the year’s best designs.
For more information, visit TopShelfAward.org.
Build pre-publication buzz through NetGalley: Free webinar on December 13
Join NetGalley for a free webinar on Thursday, December 13 for ECPA members. Learn more about how to use NetGalley to build pre-publication buzz, gain data insights to drive strategies, and reach early influencers who will help give your titles the enthusiastic launch they deserve! The webinar will explain NetGalley’s discounted program for ECPA members.
Milestones
‘About My Mother’ memoir from Mike Rowe’s mom hits New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestseller lists
A humorous memoir by 80-year-old Peggy Rowe, "About My Mother" (November 13, Forefront Books) hit three major bestseller lists over the weekend appearing at #8 on the New York Times, #6 on Wall Street Journal and #16 on USA TODAY. “It’s such an honor to work with Peggy Rowe,” said Jonathan Merkh, founder and publisher of Forefront Books. “The strength of her humor and storytelling has captivated America.”
Read More...Media Announcements
Bible Gateway interviews John Paine, author of “The Luckiest Man”
How can a terminal diagnosis lead to experiencing God’s intimate, comforting, tangible presence? At middle age, John Paine thought he knew what it meant to have a relationship with God. But his journey into true, mystical intimacy with God began when a neurologist diagnosed him with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Bible Gateway interviewed John Paine about his book, The Luckiest Man: How A Seventeen-Year Battle with ALS Led Me to Intimacy with God (Thomas Nelson, 2018).
Bible Gateway interviews Sally Lloyd-Jones, author of “The Jesus Storybook Bible”
The Jesus Storybook Bible has reached a milestone of two million copies sold. A Bible like no other, it invites children (and adults) to join in the greatest of all adventures: to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God’s great story of salvation—and at the center of their own story too! Bible Gateway interviewed New York Times bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones (@sallylloydjones) about her book, The Jesus Storybook Bible (Zonderkidz, 2017).
Other News
- PW plans Religion Books Preview: deadline is December 5
- Activism on the Rise as Religion Scholars, Publishers Meet
- B&N to Open Up to 15 Stores in 2019
- B&N Cuts Q2 Losses as Comp Sales Improve
- Binc to Launch Annual Giving Tuesday Program
- At Guadalajara International Book Fair: 300 Spanish Publishers
- A new generation of African-American book publishing professionals share their thoughts on the state of the industry