November 11, 2019 Edition

Industry News

Zondervan announces new Zondervan Thrive non-fiction imprint

Zondervan announced today the launch of Zondervan Thrive, a new non-fiction imprint focused on categories including personal development, fulfillment, health and wellness, self-care, marriage and family, abuse/trauma, anxiety, and personality typologies.

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Devin Maddox promoted to B&H V.P. of Book Publishing

B&H Publishing Group is pleased to announce the promotion of Devin Maddox to the position of V.P. of Book Publishing. His new role involves managing the entire books ministry area, which includes the Christian Living, Leadership, B&H Kids and Women’s product lines, providing strategic oversight and strengthening processes for internal and external partners.

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Thomas Nelson announces Damon Reiss as VP, Publisher for W Publishing

Thomas Nelson announced that Damon Reiss, former senior director for HarperCollins Christian Publishing’s (HCCP) custom and backlist program as well as the Christian bookstore key accounts and distributor channels, will become the v-p and publisher for its non-fiction imprint W Publishing.

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Cokesbury acquires Bibles by the Case and expands reach to churches and ministries

Cokesbury and Bibles by the Case are pleased to announce that an acquisition agreement between the two Christian retailers has been finalized, effective November 1. Cokesbury will continue to operate Bibles by the Case as an independent sales channel, moving forward with the same employees, systems, and vendor partners.

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Milestones

Ten novels named Christy Award® winners

ECPA announced the winners of The Christy Award® in nine fiction categories at the Christy Award Gala held November 6 in Nashville at Lipscomb University. The evening’s program featured award-winning authors Patti Callahan, Becky Wade, and James L. Rubart — and included an inspiring tribute to Janette Oke on the 40th anniversary of her seminal classic, Love Comes Softly (Bethany House).  The event was live-streamed on Facebook.

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ECPA announces 23 winners of Top Shelf Book Cover Design Awards

ECPA announced the winners of the 2019 Top Shelf Book Cover Award during the opening session of ECPA PubU, that featured a keynote by Andrew Peterson. Nashville-based artist Wayne Brezinka helped announce the 23 winning covers among 200 Christian publishing professionals gathered for the event, including industry designers and art directors attending the PubU design track.

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Thomas Nelson wins six 2019 Christy Awards®, including Book of the Year

Thomas Nelson is pleased to congratulate all five of its fiction authors who received Christy Awards, including Patti Callahan for taking home the Christy Award’s top honor – Book of the Year for her novel "Becoming Mrs. Lewis." In addition, Thomas Nelson fiction author and five-time Christy Awardee, James L. Rubart, was inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame for his contribution to the craft.

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Media Announcements

Publishers Weekly gives starred review to Zondervan new release, “Rhythms of Renewal”

In a starred review released online this week, Publishers Weekly called Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons a, “wise account to offer readers help and hope in the midst of what she calls society’s ‘collective panic attack.’” The review goes on to say, “Lyons’s many followers and newcomers alike will find a plethora of actionable ideas in this spirited work.” Rhythms of Renewal released from Zondervan in October and hit the Publishers Weekly and USA Today bestseller lists.

Read the full review…

Captain Tammie Jo Shults, Southwest pilot of crippled Flight #1380 on podcast

Jesus Calling podcast welcomed Captain Tammie Jo Shults, a navy veteran hailed for her ‘Nerves of Steel,’ who shared how she and the flight’s first officer navigated a landing after one of Southwest Flight #1380’s plane engines blew apart in mid-flight, saving 148 people. But before that day, Tammie Jo had spent years overcoming hurdles to achieve her dreams of being a pilot, and discusses how one particular trial in her Navy years may have given her the training that helped her during that fateful flight.  Shults’ book, Nerves of Steel: How I Followed My Dreams, Earned My Wings, and Faced My Greatest Challenge is available from Thomas Nelson.

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Vietnam POW Col. Carlyle Smith Harris on Jesus Calling podcast

When Air Force pilot Col. Carlyle Smith ‘Smitty’ Harris was shot down over Vietnam on April 4, 1965, he had no idea what awaited him in the infamous ‘Hanoi Hilton’ prison.  Col. Harris recently joined the Jesus Calling podcast to share details about the day he was shot down and captured. He goes on to discuss how the Tap Code – a World War II method of communication through tapping on a common water pipe – helped him and other POWs covertly communicate as they endured their darkest days. Harris’ book, Tap Code: The Epic Survival of a Vietnam POW and the Secret Code That Changed Everything is available from Zondervan.

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Bible Gateway interviews Jason Meyer, author of “Don’t Lose Heart”

In a world surrounded by 24-hour news and reminders on social media of tragedy and heartache, it’s easy to fall into the abyss of discouragement and anxiety. Even Jesus followers struggle to hold on to hope. What is the hopeful guidance from God’s Word for times when you feel overwhelmed, defeated, and worthless? How can the Bible help you conquer despair when the past paralyzes, today disappoints, and the future is frightening? Bible Gateway interviewed Jason Meyer (@WePreachChrist) about his book, Don’t Lose Heart: Gospel Hope for the Discouraged Soul (Baker Books, 2019).

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Bible Gateway interviews Mary Jo Sharp, author of “Why I Still Believe”

Critics ask, “Why would anyone become a Christian when there’s so much hypocrisy in the church?” With de-conversion stories being reported, why is it that the church inadvertently produces atheists despite its life-giving message? Does atheism explain the human experience better than Christianity? How can the truth of Christianity matter when the behaviors of some Christians are reprehensible? Bible Gateway interviewed Mary Jo Sharp (@MaryJoSharp), author of Why I Still Believe: A Former Atheist’s Reckoning with the Bad Reputation Christians Give a Good God (Zondervan, 2019).

Read this interview.

Other News