June 8, 2020 Edition
Industry News
ECPA responds to racial justice crisis with conversation, events, book lists
In the last 90 days, the world has forever changed. Though we may not yet see the lasting impacts of the current global pandemic and culture-wide lament against racial injustice — we do more clearly see the responsibility that publishing, especially Christian publishing, can and must have to inspire hope and offer tools for change.
>> ECPA compiles Christian Book List on Racial Justice
>> Webcast on Thursday: Christian Publishing and Racial Justice
>> PubU Online to feature track on Diversity & Inclusion
Virtual Summit Series pivots to new topic this week: Christian Publishing and Racial Justice
We are in the midst of a second national crisis, one that will not be cured by science. As part of ECPA’s Virtual Summit Series, this week’s webcast will be a conversation on How can publishers speak to the issue of racial justice? A panel of leading voices from the Christian publishing and writing community will offer their perspectives on a way forward to a place of hope, healing, and change. ECPA president Stan Jantz will moderate an important dialogue with Jeff Wright, President & CEO, Urban Ministries, Inc; LaDonna Boyd, President & CEO, R.H. Boyd Publishing Corp.; Trillia Newbell, author of several books and Acquisitions Editor at Moody Publishers; and Skot Welch, Founder and President, Global Bridgebuilders.
ECPA releases June Christian Bestseller Lists: "Relationship Goals" by Michael Todd is #1
The current Top 50 bestsellers list features a new #1 book, Relationship Goals by Michael Todd (WaterBrook), a debut title whose Study Guide is the #3 most bestselling Christian title: Study Guide for Relationship Goals. Michael Todd is the lead pastor of Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Other notable new releases in the Top 50 for June include The Water Keeper by Charles Martin (Thomas Nelson) and Seeing Jesus From the East by the late Ravi Zacharias and Abdu Murray (Zondervan).
IVP offers free Ebooks as part of Resources for Faithful Justice
In an effort to educate and contribute to the discussions, and ultimately the change in our culture, InterVarsity Press has announced that from June 8 through June 12 they will be offering each person one free ebook with a one-time use promo code. The complete list of free titles and the promo code are available at the new web page, Resources for Faithful Justice. IVP has also committed to continue paying the full royalties to the authors of these important books.
Read More...ECPA to extend member benefits to laid off employees through 2020
ECPA will extend member benefits to those laid off from an ECPA member company. This will allow them to receive industry updates, attend ECPA’s virtual events, and continue to connect with others in the industry. In addition, ECPA’s relaunched Career Center now offers a robust Career Services Center for job seekers that includes job search tools, resume resources, career counseling, articles, and more. Please let your HR departments know to direct furloughed or laid off employees to ECPA to get set up as a temporary member for the rest of the year.
The Parable Group shares Christian Bookstore Market Update
Amid the ongoing global pandemic and anti-racism protests—The Parable Group released a Christian Bookstore Market Update providing data and insights into the current sales climate within the Christian retailing industry. Drawing on nightly sales data reported to ParableConnect from January 1 through May 30, 2020, the findings include national U.S. representation across independent Christian retailers from all major marketing groups. ParableConnect receives POS data from over 300 retailers daily.
Read More...Milestones
John Lennox’s “Where is God in A Coronavirus World?” surpasses 100,000 sales in 2 months
The Good Book Company gratefully celebrates the milestone of "Where is God in a Coronavirus World?," by John Lennox, released April 2020, surpassing 100,000 copies sold worldwide. The book has also been translated into more than 25 languages and has been released as a paperback, ebook, and now as an audiobook.
Read More...Baker Publishing Group authors ranked as essential authors by Family Fiction readers
Baker Publishing Group is pleased to announce that twenty-one authors, whose books have been recently published either under the Bethany House or Revell imprint, have been included in Family Fiction’s Top 50 Essential Christian Fiction Authors list for 2020.
Read More...Product News
B&H to release authorized Elisabeth Elliot biography by bestselling author Ellen Vaughn
B&H Publishing is proud to announce the forthcoming release of an authorized biography of one of the most influential Christians of the 20th century, Elisabeth Elliot. In writing “Becoming Elisabeth Elliot,” New York Times bestselling author Ellen Vaughn used Elliot’s private, unpublished journals and candid interviews with her family and friends to paint the adventures and misadventures God used to shape one of the most influential women in modern church history.
Read More...Zondervan releases new research with publication of AI book by John C. Lennox: 2084
Zondervan Reflective, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, today released both new research findings, "The Report on Ethics and Artificial Intelligence," and a new book by John C. Lennox: "2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity."
Read More...DiAnn Mills to donate royalties from E-book series to Sudanese nonprofit organization
Bestselling author DiAnn Mills has chosen to donate all royalties from her Hope of Sudan e-book series to Every Village, a 501(c)(3) organization that distributes solar-powered, handheld radios to Sudanese communities. "Where Tomorrow Leads," book two of the series, will release as an e-book from Tyndale House Publishers on June 9, 2020.
Read More...Media Announcements
Bible Gateway offers free online Bible Study with Max Lucado on “Facing Your Giants”
Hoping to bring a biblical perspective to crisis and personal strife, Bible Gateway will host the six-week free Facing Your Giants Online Bible Study June 15-July 27, 2020 with pastor and bestselling author Max Lucado teaching Bible lessons from the life of David facing Goliath in the book of 1 Samuel.
Read More...Virtual author events offer reader interaction, learning opportunities for Baker Book House
Virtual author events, a thriving new occurrence at Baker Book House due to restrictions caused by Covid-19, have been learning opportunities for the largest independent Christian bookstore in North America. The store has hosted several talks with novelists that have drawn good numbers to the live events and large numbers of viewers in the days following.
Read More...Other News
INDUSTRY
- Author and pastor Tim Keller Asks for Prayers for Pancreatic Cancer
- Romney Joins Evangelical Racial Justice March organized by author/pastor Thabiti Anyabwile
- Hearts & Minds: Books written by people of color on the topic of racism and racial justice
- CT: A Soul Check for White Christians
- National Association of Evangelicals Addresses Racial Turmoil, Calls for Action
- American Bible Society Responds to Trump Photo Op: Scripture Is ‘More than a Symbol’
PUBLISHING RESPONDS TO RACISM
- PW: It's Time for the Book Business to Change
- Social Justice Resources for the Book Business
- Authors Take Publishing's Diversity Issues into Their Own Hands
- Black-owned Bookstores See Waves of Support
- Anti-racist book sales surge in US and Britain after George Floyd killing
- Books About Racism Sell Out at Amazon, B&N
- PW: A Nonfiction Antiracist Reading List
- Children's Authors Spearhead #KidLit Rally for Black Lives
- We Need Diverse Books Steps Up to Help KidLit Community
- WNDB compiles resources on race, equity, anti-racism, and inclusion
- WNDB to award 10 grants of $2000 to unpublished diverse writers & illustrators
- Hachette donates £20k as trade supports Black Lives Matter
- Workers Across Industry Take Collective Action Against Racism
- Authors Push for Transparency with #PublishingPaidMe
- How the Book Business Can, and Must, Build a New Future
PUBLISHING
- Free webinar by The knk Group on June 10: Cloud Technology in Book Publishing
- Print Unit Sales Fell 5.5% Last Week
- PRH becomes latest trade publisher to pull out of Frankfurt
- Hachette, Bloomsbury Won't Travel to Frankfurt
- S&S Offers New Program for Indie Booksellers
- Copyright Takes Center Stage at AAP Annual Meeting
- Coronavirus Impact: Scholastic Adjusts Its Summer Reading Program
- Ingram sees 'huge swing' to print on demand during coronavirus
- COVID-19’s Impact on Millennial and Gen Z Media Habits: How Marketers Should Pivot