October 26, 2020 Edition
Industry News
IVP announces new initiative to amplify voices of color
InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce a groundbreaking new initiative to continue its reputation as a leader in multiethnic publishing. The Every Voice Now (EVN) initiative features a sizable fund underwritten jointly by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and IVP for the purpose of supporting the development, marketing, and sales of books by authors of color as well as aiding in the recruitment of diverse staff and the deepening of the organization’s cultural competency.
Read More...
The Parable Group launches modern retailer websites and revamps Get It Local Today
The Parable Group, a California-based marketing agency and media group, today unveiled two web-based, data-driven initiatives designed to drive traffic into Christian retail stores—local Branded Websites and a complete revamp of the Get It Local Today website platform.
Read More...
ECPA presents Thursday webinar on Diversity & Inclusion in Christian Fiction
In this Thursday’s Art of Writing webinar, Embolden Media CEO Jevon Bolden, along with Jamie Lapeyrolerie (Senior Marketing Manager of WaterBrook & Multnomah), and writers Tasha Jun and Rachel Kang will give authors guidance on specific, practical questions such as what it looks like to amplify the voices of authors of color, how to be authentic when writing characters of a different racial or ethnic background, and why diverse stories have a staying power beyond the current cultural moment. The session will also include a 5-minute inspirational segment from award-winning novelist Cynthia Ruchti. This fourth session of the five-part weekly webinar series hosted by The Christy Award®, will air this Thursday, October 29 at 7 pm central time.
Next week’s session will talk with editors on how debut novels stood out in the proposal process. The authors of The Christy Award® First Novel finalists are talking via Facebook tomorrow here.
Eerdmans Publishing joins cohort of Christian publishers with IPG Digital Distribution
Independent Publishers Group (IPG) is thrilled to welcome Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., an independent publisher of religious books, to their growing roster of digitally distributed partners.
MetaComet, Firebrand, and IPG present webinar
MetaComet, Firebrand, and IPG will present an exclusive webinar on Wednesday, October 28, 10am to 11am CST — on using technology to improve your publishing operations. The discussion will approach the publishing process from start to finish presenting the real-world challenges small and mid-size publishers face along the way.
More…
Staff Announcements
Nelson Books promotes Mark Glesne and Stephanie Tresner
Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, today announced two promotions within its marketing staff. Mark Glesne will be senior director of marketing for Nelson Books, specifically focusing on Max Lucado and Lysa TerKeurst author brands, and Stephanie Tresner will become a director of marketing for Nelson Books.
Read More...
Paige Allen named new Director of IngramSpark
Ingram Content Group (“Ingram”) announced the hiring of Paige Allen as the new Director of IngramSpark®, Ingram’s award-winning self-publishing platform. Allen most recently served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Horton Group, a web design and digital marketing agency in Nashville, TN, where she worked for four years.
Read More...
Product News
Tyndale House Publishers acquires four novels from bestselling author T. I. Lowe
Tyndale House Publishers has acquired four novels from bestselling author and rising star T. I. Lowe (“Lulu’s Café”). First to release among them is “Under the Magnolias,” a coming-of-age story set in the 1980s on a rural South Carolina tobacco farm and appealing to readers of “Where the Crawdads Sing” and “The Great Alone.”
Read More...
New Growth Press releases new titles in “Good News for Little Hearts” series
Everyone has something they struggle with from time to time, even young kids. The Good News for Little Hearts series helps children apply biblical truth to whatever situations they face. This fall, the popular series is growing with three new releases helping children deal with stress, jealousy, and fitting in.
Read More...
WorthyKids releases “The Giving Manger” to help families start a new Christmas tradition
As the events of 2020 have made us slow down and shift some of our priorities, this year is the perfect time to refocus on the joy of giving and honor the real reason for Christmas: Jesus’ birth. With “The Giving Manger” (WorthyKids), creators and sisters Allison Hottinger and Lisa Kalberer offer a faith-based interactive family tradition that encourages acts of kindness.
Read More...
Paraclete Poetry announces Nikki Grimes' first book of poetry for Fall 2021
Paraclete Press announces the signing of New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes, for her first book of poetry, “Glory in the Margins: Sunday Poems,” to be published in the fall of 2021.
Media Announcements
Lecrae on Jesus Calling Podcast on healing our wounds and restoring our lives
Two time Grammy Award-winning music artist and activist Lecrae Moore recently joined the Jesus Calling Podcast to share how he lived much of his life in a broken, abused environment, and many factors in his life contributed to a lot of emotional trauma that he’d have to learn how to unpack. Curious about who God was, and terrified that Lecrae would be responsible for his own destiny, he looked to Christianity, and as he began to find some healing there, the religious community turned their back on him because his views were different than theirs. Losing faith entirely, Lecrae sought affirmation in all the wrong places, and it wasn’t until he was diagnosed with depression and began seeing a therapist that his heart was softened—and restored—by Jesus. Lecrae’s book, “I Am Restored,” is available from Zondervan.
More…
Bible Gateway interviews Sam Chan, author of “How to Talk About Jesus”
When you try to tell your friends about Jesus, you may have encountered a negative response from them viewing it as being offensive, inappropriate, or insensitive. Studies confirm that the majority of Christians rarely evangelize, worried they might offend their family or lose their friends. How can you build confidence to share your faith? Bible Gateway interviewed Sam Chan (@drsamchan) about his book “How to Talk About Jesus (Without Being THAT Guy): Personal Evangelism in a Skeptical World” (Zondervan, 2020).
Bible Gateway interviews Scott Erickson, author of “Honest Advent”
Have you lost the sense of just how full of amazing wonder Christmas is? Maybe for you, the joy of the season is painfully dissonant with the hard edges of life. Or maybe you feel wearied by the way Christmas has become a polished, predictable routine. Or maybe this sacred divine story is too confusing and feels too far removed from our modern world. Bible Gateway interviewed Scott Erickson (@scottthepainter) about his book, “Honest Advent: Awakening to the Wonder of God-with-Us, Then, Here, and Now” (Zondervan, 2020).
Other News
INDUSTRY
- Luci Swindoll, author & Woman of Faith speaker, has died from COVID-19
- Died: Thomas Howard, Author Who Said ‘Evangelical Is Not Enough’
- PW Names Zondervan and IVP titles among Best Religion Books of 2020
- Author Beth Moore on why she confronts controversial social issues
- Thomas Nelson Pays $3M Judgment to Printing Company (PW subscription)
- PW Call for Information on Religion titles on Women Writing for Women
PUBLISHING
- NPD BookScan: US Market sees 6.4 Percent Growth Through Third Quarter
- Total US printing-writing paper shipments decreased 21 percent
- Frankfurt Book Fair CEO Says Physical Fairs Cannot Be Replaced
- After Digital Conferences, Booksellers See Hybrid Future
- National Book Critics Circle Asks Members to Sign Criticism Equity Pledge
- Penguin Random House to sponsor inaugural Black Literary Publishing Award
- Canadian bookstore chain pledges to stock more books by BIPOC authors
- PRH launches inclusive English Lit campaign
- Center for Fiction Debuts Susan Kamil Award for Emerging Writers
- PW releases Best Books of 2020 list
- PW Call for Information on Social Issues titles on Race, Equality & Diversity
