June 24, 2019 Edition
Industry News
Bibles threatened by US trade war with China, Christian publishers warn
Christianity Today — HarperCollins, Tyndale, and others warn Trump administration that 25-percent tariff hike will make God’s Word harder to get—and could cause some translations to be discontinued. Although books have escaped earlier tariff hikes by the Trump administration, the latest proposed round—a 25-percent tariff on $300 billion of Chinese goods—includes Bibles and Christian books.
The industry was featured in the news this past week in several articles about this issue. Here are a few:
- Bloomberg: Publishers Plead With Trump: No China ‘Bible Tax’
- Financial Times: US business urges Trump to end China trade war
- RNS: China tariffs could lead to a ‘Bible tax’ in the US
DoJ sues to block merger of country's two biggest printers
Publishers Weekly: The Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois seeking to block Quad’s proposed acquisition of LSC Communications. Last fall, Quad announced its intention of acquiring LSC, a move that would unite the country’s two largest printers.
Sessions and Speakers announced for ECPA PubU, November 5-6 in Nashville
The 2019 Brain Trust, the committee of publishing leaders developing the upcoming PubU program, are busy identifying topics and securing speakers for the upcoming PubU — held November 5-6 at Lipscomb University in Nashville — in order to provide the industry with relevant training in the hottest publishing topics. Speakers and sessions already confirmed include:
- Mimi Chan (Goodreads) on “The Future of Reader Engagement” in the READER ENGAGEMENT & PUBLICITY track
- Eric Nevins (podcaster) on “The Podcasting Puzzle” in the DIGITAL MARKETING track
- Sarah Rubio (Tyndale) on “How Editors Can Acquire Diverse Books” in the EDITORIAL track
- Bradley Metrock (Score) on Implementing Voice-First Technology in the DATA, DELIVERY & WORKFLOW track
- Micah Kandros (photographer, designer) on “Capturing Light” in the DESIGN track
- The EMERGING LEADER track will debut on day one of PubU and will feature 5-6 mini-sessions for those newer to the industry.
Early bird registration and more information at ECPAPubU.org.
Registration opens for Art of Writing and Christy Award Gala events on November 6
Registration is now open for The Art of Writing conference and The Christy Award™ Gala, both following PubU on November 6. The Art of Writing conference will feature a session with Lysa TerKeurst on “Reaching the Heart of Readers” and a James Rubart Writing Academy workshop. Other sessions include “Casting Novel Characters Using the Enneagram” and a panel of publisher marketing pros sharing their secrets. The Christy Award Gala will feature bestselling authors Patti Calahan (Becoming Mrs. Lewis), James Rubart (The Man He Never Was), and Becky Wade (True to You). More exciting program details will be announced soon for these events for writers, publishers, and fiction enthusiasts.
Register at ChristyAwards.com.
ECPA’s conference for industry C-level executives set for September 22-24
Registration is now open for the ECPA C-Suite Symposium, held September 22-24 in Boston. The annual industry gathering will focus on the theme, “Anticipating the Future: Developing a strategy for leading innovation” and will feature Skot Welch, a a premiere innovation strategist with Global Bridgebuilders. Skot will facilitate a series of discussions on “The Three-Box Solution,” a framework leaders are using to meet the performance requirements of their existing business while dramatically reinventing it. Other program topics will include “Anticipating the Future of the Church” with Nancy Beach, “Anticipating the Future of Paper and Book Manufacturing” with Matt Baehr, and others.
Early bird registration and more information at ECPACsuite.org.
Staff Announcements
HarperCollins Publishers hires Roberto Torres as General Manager for HarperCollins Mexico
HarperCollins Publishers announced Roberto “Bobby” Torres as its new general manager for HarperCollins Mexico. As general manager for HarperCollins Mexico, Torres will lead day-to-day operations, focusing on sales and distribution of Spanish-language product throughout Mexico and aide in the company’s focus of growing its presence in adjoining Latin American markets.
Read More...Milestones
ECPA issues first Bronze Award for “The Road Back to You” for more than 250,000 sold
InterVarsity Press is the first recipient of the ECPA Bronze Sales Award for its title, “The Road Back to You” by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, for exceeding 250,000 in sales.
ECPA recently added the new level to the ECPA Sales Achievement Awards. The Bronze Award for 250,000 in sales will abide by the same rules as the Gold (500,000), Platinum (1 million), and Diamond (10 million) sales award levels, with the addition that the Bronze Award will only be eligible for titles published January 2000 or later.
PW spotlights Revell author Irene Hannon: Celebrating the Power of Love to Transform Lives
The bestselling author of 21 romance novels for Revell, Irene Hannon, has sold more than one million books in the past 10 years, and her publisher is celebrating.
Media Announcements
Louie Giglio discusses "Not Forsaken" on The 700 Club
Bestselling author and Passion movement founder Louie Giglio was an in-studio guest on CBN’s The 700 Club television show on June 19 to discuss his latest book “Not Forsaken: Finding Freedom as Sons & Daughters of a Perfect Father.” CBN reporter Wendy Griffith interviewed Giglio about how Christians can better understand the character of God as a perfect father who will never forsake them. (Photo courtesy of The 700 Club.)
Jordan Lee Dooley, author of “Own Your Everyday,” at Baker Book House on July 23
Baker Book House will host author Jordan Lee Dooley for a night of inspiration and laughter as she shares her new book “Own Your Everyday!” Jordan will be appearing July 23 at 7pm at Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Michigan to present her book and discuss the life-enhancing topics addressed in it. RSVP at bakerbookhouse.com/events.
Bishop T. D. Jakes joins the Jesus Calling podcast
Bishop T. D. Jakes has seen his ministry soar to great heights, speaking in front of thousands and touching many more lives through his various ministries. Bishop Jakes recently joined the Jesus Calling podcast and shared, with such compassion and understanding, his personal experience with life’s “crushing” moments and how we can reconcile those difficult times with God’s promise that He will work all things together for our good. Bishop Jakes’ book, “Crushing: God Turns Pressure into Power” is available from FaithWords/Hachette.
Legendary Worship Leader Don Moen on podcast: Helping People Experience God’s Presence
The Jesus Calling podcast team is thrilled to welcome legendary worship leader and writer Don Moen, who shares some of the life events that steered him toward being one of the forerunners of the praise & worship movement and what he’s personally learned along the way. Moen’s book, “God Will Make A Way: Discovering His Hope in Your Story” is available from Thomas Nelson.
Bible Gateway interviews Luis Palau, author of “Palau: A Life on Fire”
At the age of 83 in January 2018, international bilingual Christian evangelist Luis Palau was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. That startling revelation was the impetus for him to reflect on his adventure-filled life of trusting God from his humble beginnings on the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to filling stadiums and declaring the good news of Jesus Christ with tens of millions globally and personally counseling world leaders. How as a teenager, he heard Billy Graham speak and decided to follow in his steps. Bible Gateway interviewed Luis Palau (@LuisPalauLive) about his book, “Palau: A Life on Fire” (Zondervan, 2019).
Bible Gateway interviews Patrick Morley, author of “The Christian Man”
What are the major issues facing Christian men and how should they be addressed from a biblical point of view? How should a Christian man avoid the pitfalls of life; lead a more balanced life; have a deeper walk with God; be an attentive husband; become a difference-making dad; overcome lust? Bible Gateway interviewed Patrick Morley (@patrickmorley) about his book, “The Christian Man: A Conversation About the 10 Issues Men Say Matter Most” (Zondervan, 2019).
Product News
B&H acquires singer-songwriter and bestselling children’s author Ellie Holcomb for follow-up children’s book
B&H Publishing Group is proud to announce the re-signing of renowned singer-songwriter and now bestselling children’s author Ellie Holcomb. Holcomb’s first book, “Who Sang the First Song?” spent several months on the ECPA juvenile bestseller list and was a finalist for the Christian Book Award® in the children’s category. Holcomb’s next release will be a children’s board book, tentatively titled “Don’t Forget to Remember.” The book is slated for release March 2020 and again features the spectacular art of Kayla Harren, who illustrated “Who Sang the First Song?”.
Read More...Other News
- The Book Industry Speaks Out Against China Tariffs
- AAP to Trade Commission: Tariffs on China Will ‘Wreak Havoc’ on Publishing
- Forbes: How The Paper Shortage Has Affected Book Publishing
- NPD Market Research Says Children’s Books Up, In Overall Flat Market
- AAP: Adult Trade, Kids' Sales Up in First Quarter
- AAP Issues Its Annual 2018 StatShot Look at the US Publishing Industry
- Book Comps Fell 3.9% at B&N in Fiscal 2019
- B&N Posts a Profit in Fiscal 2019 Despite Sales Decline
- BISG: What's New in EPUB 3.2?
- New Reader Survey Urges Publishers, Libraries to Close Their Data Gap
- Joy Harjo Named U.S. Poet Laureate
- Book-Sharing Startup in Mexico: ‘Publishers Love Us - We Buy Books’
- Free download: Publishing Perspectives’ Magazine on African Publishing