Books & Such Literary Management announced Mary Keeley’s departure from publishing early today, June 5, 2017.  Keeley has been a part of the publishing industry for nineteen years. She began at Tyndale House Publishers where she worked for eight years, first as a product manager, then as an administrator, and finally as an acquisitions editor for nonfiction. Having helped to produce multiple book projects with Randy Alcorn, Joel Rosenberg, Chuck Colson, Josh McDowell, Gary Smalley, Dianne Matthews, and numerous others, Mary gained a thorough understanding of the entire publishing process.

Her four years at Christianity Today International extended her knowledge of the industry to the world of magazine publishing. There she also spearheaded an author relations initiative for the contributing editors of Leadership Journal.

In 2010, Keeley joined Books & Such Literary Management as an agent. Janet Kobobel Grant, founder and president of Books & Such, said, “I first met Mary when she worked at Tyndale House while I was on a business trip with a client. I still recall how warmly Mary greeted the skittish author, putting her at ease. That approachable, kind, and engaged manner has served her well during her time with Books & Such, too. Her clients and the agents at Books & Such will all have to work hard to adjust to not having her encouragement and upbeat perspective as part of their lives.”

Keeley used her many years in publishing to good effect during her time as an agent, bringing her natural ability to encourage to bear for her clients. She also helped her clients to build their individual brands and to stay on top of the ever-fluctuating publishing trends.

Her fellow Books & Such agents will miss her as well. As Wendy Lawton said, “Mary challenged the rest of us with her ability to keep projects circulating in the industry. At many weekly staff meetings, when each agent reported on the number of proposals sent, Mary’s numbers would top the charts.”

“My years with Books & Such have been the most rewarding of my career. It has been a privilege to work alongside these fellow agents whose integrity, publishing and business expertise, and care for clients is outstanding. I’m honored to have worked with my wonderful clients to help to expand their writing careers. The decision has been a difficult one, but I can’t ignore God’s persistent nudging. I wish all of my colleagues and clients great success in the future.”

For the past year Keeley has felt God nudging her in a new direction, spending more time with her large family and possibly working in local church ministry. After visits to her far-flung adult children and grandchildren, Keeley will decide between various employment opportunities.

Contact:  Janet Kobobel Grant, Books & Such Literary Management
(707) 538-4184  Janet@booksandsuch.com  http://www.booksandsuch.com

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) June 1, 2017 – Worthy Publishing Group is pleased to announce their newest imprint, Museum of the Bible Books, will launch the first of an ongoing series of new titles for the public this fall. The books will be for everyone, from toddlers to scholars, engaging them with the Bible in creative and memorable ways by bringing the compelling history, narrative and impact of the Bible to life.

The launch of Museum of the Bible Books will offer more than two dozen initial releases, from Bibles to children’s books, inspirational titles to coloring journals, historical trade books to coffee table keepsakes. Each book will be available at retail for the book-buying public as well as in the Museum of the Bible’s gift shop and online at musuemoftheBible.org.

“The breadth of the release this fall is extraordinary, and we’re excited to share these titles with everyone,” said Byron Williamson, president and CEO of Worthy Publishing. “The next release of books is already in development, and we look forward to publishing more books that encourage people to explore and engage with the Bible.”

The debut launch this fall will include a wide array of titles, among them:

• Global Impact Bible: See the Bible in a Whole New Light (Oct. 17, 9781945470042) – a four-color Bible that includes over 1,000 illustrated articles and sidebars that explore the impact of the Bible throughout the world.
• 99 Amazing Books and Films Inspired by the Bible (Oct. 17, 9781945470028) – part of a series, this book details stories of how the Bible inspired best-selling books and films from Harry Potter to Hamlet.
• Inspired by the Word: The Bible Through the Eyes of the Great Masters (Oct. 3, 9781945470165) – features 60 of the world’s great works of art depicting full-color biblical scenes, along with commentary from an art historian and inspirational writer to bring each piece alive.
• The Illuminated Psalms Journal (Sept. 19, 9781945470189) – Psalms of the Bible enhanced by illuminated art from ancient manuscripts in the Museum’s Collections to create an exceptional space to reflect and record thoughts and prayers.
• Children of the World Storybook Bible (Oct. 3, 9781945470271) – one of the most innovative new Bibles for children, this book brings 100 Bible stories to life with original artwork from children around the globe.

“This collection of beautiful and insightful books will provide readers with an immersive and personalized experience as they explore the history, narrative and impact of the most influential book in history,” said Cary Summers, president of Museum of the Bible. “We’re excited to extend the Museum experience through these books to people around the world.”

To view the full catalog of books, as well as product details and images, please visit www.museumoftheBiblebooks.com.

Worthy Publishing Group is a privately held, independent voice in inspirational publishing, based in Nashville, TN. Worthy includes five distinct imprints: Worthy Books publishes inspirational works addressing spiritual growth, biblical study, faith and culture, biography, fiction, and specialty Bibles; Museum of the Bible Books is a partnership between Worthy and the Museum, publishing books that reveal the history, narrative, and impact of the Bible; Ellie Claire produces beautifully crafted journals, gifts, and paper expressions; Worthy Inspired publishes felt-need, spiritual growth, inspirational, and devotional books; and WorthyKids/Ideals creates colorful, interactive children’s books, including VeggieTales and Berenstain Bears, for ages 2 to 8.

Museum of the Bible is an innovative, global, educational institution whose purpose is to invite all people to engage with the Bible. In 2017, Museum of the Bible, which aims to be the most technologically advanced museum in the world, will open its 430,000-square-foot nonprofit museum just three blocks from the Capitol in Washington, D.C. A digital fly-through of the Museum is viewable here. A 360-degree hardhat tour of the museum is available here.
Website | www.museumofthebible.org   Twitter | @museumofBible

WESTMONT, IL—Operation World (OW), the ministry behind the definitive global prayer handbook, is pleased to announce the worldwide release of a new, free mobile app.

Millions of Christians have used Operation World resources since the 1960s to pray for the nations, and in 2012, OW partnered with InterVarsity Press when IVP acquired Biblica Books, the original publisher of Operation World. Now in its 7th edition, the prayer handbook covers the entire populated world and includes geographic information, a daily prayer calendar, answers to prayer, challenges for prayer, and more. The OW team hopes that the app will allow an even greater number of people to gain access to this content and join the global prayer movement.

“There is something of ‘God on the move’ that occurs through the united, fervent, sustained prayers of his people that otherwise does not occur,” said Jason Mandryk, author of Operation World. “Imagine the possibilities of what can happen when thousands upon thousands unite together from across the whole earth to lift up the world before him, day after day, nation after nation!”

The app allows users to receive reminders to pray for the “country of the day,” easily retrieve OW research statistics, read in-depth prayer requests and praise reports given for each country of the world, and more.

The Operation World app was developed in partnership with Global Mapping International and Missional Digerati.

“It has been GMI’s great privilege to support Operation World over so many years,” said Jon Hirst, president and CEO of GMI. “Few resources in the history of the church have done more to challenge believers to pray for the nations.”

Download the Android app on Google Play and a version for Apple on the App Store. For more information, go to http://www.operationworld.org/prayer-app.

About Operation World:  Operation World is widely regarded as the definitive volume of prayer information about the world and is the recipient of the ECPA Gold Medallion Award for Excellence in Evangelical Christian Literature.

About Missional Digerati:  Missional Digerati is a Christian non-profit mobile and web application development team dedicated to using technology to deliver the gospel to every nation.

Founded in 1947 as an extension of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, InterVarsity Press serves those in the university, the church and the world by publishing thoughtful Christian books that equip and encourage people to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord in all of life. For more information, visit ivpress.com.

Media contact:  Krista Clayton| 630.734.4013 | kclayton@ivpress.com

AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) announced their finalists for the 2017 Golden Scroll Awards for Publisher, Editor and Fiction Editor of the Year. The winners will be announced at the 2017 Golden Scroll Awards Banquet to be held Tuesday, June 27^th from 11:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Hilton Netherland Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati in conjunction with Unite the CBA Christian International Retail Show.

Honored for outstanding ministry partnerships with their authors, the Golden Scroll Publisher of the Year finalists are Kregel Publications, Leafwood Publishers and Moody Publishers. Non-Fiction Editor of the Year finalists are Hope Lyda of Harvest House Publishers, Steve Barclift of Kregel Publications and Deb Haggerty of Elk Lake Publishing. The Fiction Editor of the Year finalists are Lisa McCaskill of Pelican Book Group (White Rose), Katie Morford of Silver Fern Creative Services, LLC and Ann Tatlock of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas (Heritage Beacon.)

Other awards to be presented at the Golden Scrolls Award Banquet will include the AWSA Nonfiction, Novel as well as Children’s Books of the Year Awards as well as the 2017 Impact Award and the Leading Heart Magazine Awards, the official magazine of AWSA.

Bestseller author Carol Kent will be the keynote speaker with recording artist Ginny Owens delivering the special music and Karen Porter as emcee. Authors Carol Kent and AWSA founder Linda Evans Shepherd will present the awards. Jeanne Gowen Dennis will also perform a parody written by Martha Bolton dedicated to editors and publishers.

The Golden Scroll Awards banquet is open to all authors, editors, publishers, agents, booksellers and other CBA industry professionals. Tickets must be purchased prior to the event. For more information or to register for the banquet, go to www.ScrollAwards.com.

AWSA is an association of over 500 top ICRS women authors who both publish and speak nationally. It is an outreach of Right to the Heart Ministries. See www.AWSA.com.

For more info please contact:  Linda Evans Shepherd at LindaReply@gmail.com or 303-772-2035.