June 1, 2020 Edition
Industry News
Christian publishing community invited to NCU webinar tonight: “Challenging the Church: It’s time for the Narrative to Change”
ECPA affiliate Skot Welch, president of Global Bridgebuilders, is a panelist in an important webcast tonight at 7 pm (central time) sponsored by North Central University on the Church’s response to racial injustice. The Zoom webcast, “Challenging the Church: It’s Time for the Narrative to Change,” will also include panelists Dr. Rich Wilkerson, Reggie Dabbs, Kwame Anku, Dr. Antipas Harris, Dr. Scott Hagan, and Dr. Desiree Libengood. North Central is a Christian university located in downtown Minneapolis. Only 1000 spots for the webinar are available so register as soon as possible.
Register at https://northcentral.zoom.us/j/94301123448
Group Publishing lays off dozens of employees
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to the layoff of dozens of employees at Loveland-based Group Publishing, according to company leaders. Thom Schultz, company president, said 62 staff members were notified last week that their positions will be eliminated in July. He said the reduction, about 45 percent of the U.S. staff, is directly due to conditions related to the coronavirus.
Read More...Publishers charge the Internet Archive with copyright infringement
Publishers Weekly — Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, John Wiley & Sons, and Penguin Random House filed a lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York charging the Internet Archive with copyright infringement. The suit asks the court to issue preliminary and permanent injunctions to prevent the IA’s scanning, public display, and distribution of literary works, which it makes available to the public through such businesses as its Open Library and National Emergency Library.
Virtual Summit Series continues this Thursday: "Innovating on a Dime in a Time of Rapid Change” featuring four publishers
ECPA continues its free Virtual Summit Series for members, a weekly Thursday webcast featuring conversations with publishing experts on trends and best practices in the wake of COVID-19. This week’s webinar is, “Innovating on a Dime in a Time of Rapid Change” with Cory Verner (ONE Audio) and Don Nori (Nori Media Group), along with Tim Thornborough and James Burstow (The Good Book Company). These publishers acted quickly and creatively to the crisis and they will be sharing with us how they did it. Even if you cannot make it, register before June 3 to receive the link and recorded session.
IVP donates proceeds from Terence Lester's "I See You" to Love Sinks In campaign for handwashing stations for homeless
In March 2020 as the coronavirus started to spread and experts emphasized the importance of handwashing, Terence Lester, author of IVP’s “I See You” and executive director of the nonprofit Love Beyond Walls, took notice of the homeless population. How would they wash their hands?
Read More...ECPA confirms that all its Fall 2020 events will go online
ECPA has recently confirmed that all its Fall 2020 events will be online. ECPA PubU, originally scheduled in November, will be a series of training webinars throughout September that will serve as a connection point for publishing professionals. In October, ECPA will host webcasts announcing The Christy Award® finalists and winners and a series of Art of Writing training webinars. In November, ECPA will conduct C-Suite Connect, a unique virtual event planned with this unique group of industry leaders with “Connection” at its core, which will replace the annual C-Suite Symposium.
Sign up to receive updates on ECPA PubU Online
Sign up to receive updates on Christy Award events
Sign up to receive updates on C-Suite Connect
NPD’s Kristen McLean on the US Industry: ‘The Market Is Definitely in a Restart’
Publishing Perspectives — Having dropped up to 2.5 million units in its worst ‘acute COVID period’ week, Kristin McLean says the US publishing industry now needs to assess, predict, and harden weak spots for challenges ahead.
Kristen recently presented a Virtual Summit Series webinar for ECPA members on industry market opportunities. To receive a recording, contact ECPA.
The knk Group presents free Thought Leadership webinars
The knk Group announces their 2020 series of Thought Leadership webinars “Four Operational Strategies to increase long term value while reducing operating costs in the New Normal.” It is designed to share strategies for managing your business more effectively in a post-COVID19 environment. Speakers include Howard Fisher, Desmond Higgins, Miriam Warren, Nancy Roberts, Linda Secondari, Kate Warne, Michael Haskell, David M. Hetherington, and Brian O’ Leary. Learn more and register at https://bit.ly/3ev1Nrr.
Product News
Godly women collaborate on timely new book, “Beautifully Distinct,” edited by Trillia Newbell
As our world adjusts to a new normal due to the Coronavirus, Christians have unique opportunities to stand out and represent Christ in everyday life. Whether we’re conversing on social media, searching depleted grocery store aisles, or video chatting with friends about the news or recent movie releases, we are called to engage culture as good witnesses. In "Beautifully Distinct," fifteen godly women share insights, ideas, and encouragement for reflecting Christ in diverse areas of life and culture.
Read More...New interactive digital textbook platform from Zondervan Academic: Enhanced Editions
Zondervan Academic, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, announced today a new digital publishing initiative and ebook format: Enhanced Editions. Developed in partnership with BibleMesh, these groundbreaking resources offer instructors and students a host of new ways to engage with textbooks in the world of Christian higher education—at the same price as the traditional print versions of each text.
Read More...Jesus Calling releases newest devotional, “365 Devotions with Real-Life Stories”
The Jesus Calling brand has touched more than 30 million lives since it was published in 2004. Although it is impossible to know the exact reach and impact of author Sarah Young’s writing, in her newest devotional, "Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions with Real-Life Stories"(June 2), includes true, heartfelt stories from Jesus Calling readers. These individuals share their experiences going through uncertain, sometimes dark times and what the devotional has meant as they find peace and understand the Lord.
Read More...Pastor Tony Merida offers help for strained relationships during COVID-19 in his latest book
A global pandemic, being quarantined with family members and navigating interrupted schedules is a recipe for conflict in many relationships. Pastor and author Tony Merida helps Christians apply biblical principles to their current stressful situations and find more peace in their relationships in his latest book, “Christ-Centered Conflict Resolution: A Guide for Turbulent Times” (B&H Publishing).
Read More...Lexham Press offers free downloads of “Christ and Calamity”
Lexham Press has partnered with Harold L. Senkbeil, reverend and author of the best-selling and award-winning book “The Care of Souls,” to release a new and timely resource, “Christ and Calamity: Grace and Gratitude in the Darkest Valley.” The book, which offers biblical wisdom and encouragement for any type of crisis, including the current COVID-19 pandemic, will be freely available for digital download on June 3 via Lexham Press, a publishing imprint of Faithlife.
Read More...Media Announcements
Authors and prophecy experts wrap up first Prophecy Pros podcast season
The Prophecy Pros Podcast, hosted by Bible prophecy experts Jeff Kinley and Todd Hampson, concluded its first inspiring season with guest and best-selling author Amir Tsarfati. The duo launched the Prophecy Pros Podcast on a mission to empower listeners and reach the upcoming generation with the hopeful message found in Bible prophecy and eschatology.
Read More...Bible Gateway interviews George Barna about Biblical Worldview Survey
The first national survey of the worldview of Americans conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University shows that although seven out of ten consider themselves to be Christian, only 6% actually possess a biblical worldview. Bible Gateway interviewed George Barna (@George_Barna) about the American Worldview Inventory 2020.
Author Dawn Barton on Jesus Calling podcast: Finding joy in tough times
Dawn Barton, author of “Laughing Through the Ugly Cry: …and Finding Unstoppable Joy” ( Thomas Nelson) joins the Jesus Calling podcast to share how she took a leap of faith by leaving the successful business she built to writing about her honest and sometimes raw stories in the hope that readers can also learn how to look for joy during some of their darkest moments.
More…
Other News
INDUSTRY
- Efrem Smith: White Evangelicals Need to Humble Themselves
- How Then Shall We Respond? Book Review: Lee Camp's proposals for how Christians are to engage the powers
- George Floyd Left a Gospel Legacy in Houston
- Jennifer Lopez’s Daughter Debuts with Book on Prayer
- Francis Collins, Physician-Geneticist, Wins 2020 Templeton Prize
- Religion Releases: New Books Embrace the Wisdom of Death
- Religion Book Deals: May 27, 2020
- Religion and Spirituality Books Preview: June 2020
- Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Coronavirus Limits on Church Services
- Celebrating 50 years of THE CROSS AND THE SWITCHBLADE with remastered film
PUBLISHING
- Minneapolis Bookstores Deal With Fire, Vandalism During Chaotic Weekend
- Penguin Classics and others work to diversify offerings from the canon
- We Need Diverse Books grant fund still open for diverse creatives
- Frankfurt Organizers Fine-Tune Upcoming Fair
- S&S, Macmillan, HarperCollins Won't Send Staff to Frankfurt
- Karp Named CEO of Simon & Schuster
- AAP Member-Publishers File Copyright Infringement Suit Against Internet Archive
- Firebrand report on “Watching Data during COVID-19”
- Free BISG webinar tomorrow, June 2: Cybersecurity with Distributed Workforces
- NYT: Fall Is Now Jam-Packed for Book Publishers. That Could Be a Problem.
- Ann Patchett: Bookstores are innovating to stay connected with customers