Grand Rapids, Mich., September 2017 – Chrystal Evans Hurst’s debut solo book, She’s Still There: Rescuing the Girl in You (August 8, 2017) has sold 50,000 copies in the first month of its release. The book hit the Publishers Weekly August Religion Bestseller’s List at #2 and the ECPA Christian Bestseller’s List at #4 for September 2017.

The marketing campaign for She’s Still There included a robust launch team and was selected for the Proverbs 31 online bible study, which kicked off this month on September 5^th and more than 58,000 participants have registered. The publicity campaign garnered interviews with top podcasts, national Christian television and radio, including Wake Up! with Erica Campbell and SIRIUS XM, along with coverage in Simple Grace magazine.

She’s Still There is both a memoir and a manifesto that outlines how to live the lives we were meant to live. Hurst shows readers that no matter where we are and where we’ve been, those young aspirations that originally defined our true selves are still buried deep inside our hearts, waiting to be revived. By asking probing questions and including supplemental materials such as worksheet assessments, chapter-recapping sections called “Reflections for the Rescue,” and more, Hurst pushes readers to look inward and rediscover gifts and passions––then begin cultivating them.

Chrystal Evans Hurst is a dynamic speaker, worship leader and writer. Through her blog Chrystal’s Chronicles, regular contributions to Proverbs 31 Ministries, a thriving social media platform and conferences across the country, Chrystal reaches hundreds of thousands of women with honest stories and fierce encouragement. She’s the bestselling author of She’s Still There and co-author, with her father Tony Evans, of Kingdom Woman. A mom to five, Chrystal lives outside of Dallas, Texas, with her husband Jessie. For more information, please visit www.ChrystalEvansHurst.com.

Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications.  Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Mich.  For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi Coming in March 2018

(Nashville, Tenn.) September 20,  2017—As a lifetime student of Scripture, Kathie Lee Gifford has been traveling to Israel since she was 17 years old. In a continuation of that love for this astounding land of faith, Kathie Lee will release The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi (ISBN# 9780785215967) on March 6, 2018, with the W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson.

With a father who was Jewish, Kathie Lee has always felt what she calls “a deep resonance in my very being for the Jewish people and the Land of the Covenant—Israel.” But it wasn’t until Gifford started studying the original texts in Hebrew and Greek and actually hiking the land herself, along with teachers who taught the messianic rabbinical way, that she finally found what her soul had been longing for.

As Kathie Lee shares her transformative experiences, readers will also be introduced to her teachers on the journey — Ray Vander Laan, Rod Van Solkema, and Rabbi Jason Sobel, a Messianic Jewish Rabbi who has been opening hearts and minds around the world for years with his historical analysis and eye-opening revelations. The book will paint actual locations within the Holy Land with a personal narrative and pictures from Kathie Lee’s journey. In addition, each chapter ends with Rabbi Jason taking the reader into a deeper understanding of Hebrew culture, language, and heritage.

“Israel is my favorite place in all the world because it’s the land where it all started; it all happened here,” said Kathie Lee. “I believe that something profound happens when one follows along the ancient paths in the actual places that Jesus taught, healed, lived, died, was resurrected and ascended into Heaven. I want to share my journey and ultimately, my hope is that readers will understand the difference between knowing about God and really knowing God.”

“Audiences all over the world have benefitted from Kathie Lee’s faith and wisdom for decades—not to mention her incredible wit and warmth,” said Daisy Blackwell Hutton, vice president and publisher of the W Publishing Group. “Now Kathie is using those same gifts to help readers experience the Bible and the Holy Land in a way that goes far beyond a traditional ‘Sunday school’ approach to studying God’s Word.”

About Thomas Nelson:  Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

Contact: Becky Melvin
Tel: 615.902.1211  email: becky.melvin@harpercollins.com

Murfreesboro, TN — AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) announced the winner of the 2017 Golden Scroll Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening banquet of the Munce Group’s Fall Christian Product Expo at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Honored for his lifetime of excellence of ministering the word of God, the Golden Scroll Lifetime Achievement Award went to Dr. Charles Stanley, 84, the senior pastor of First Baptist Church Atlanta, the two time President of the Southern Baptist Convention, the best-selling author of forty books and the founder of In Touch Ministries with television and radio shows as well as the In Touch devotional magazine discipling millions around the globe.

Linda Evans Shepherd, the founder of AWSA presented the award. Shepherd asked those gathered, “What is Dr. Stanley’s secret? In his personal biography, he explains that he models his ministry according to this message from Paul to the Ephesians, ‘Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God’s mighty kindness and love.’”

To the applause of the audience, Dr. Stanley later quipped, “I’m not finished yet!”  He also shared how a Christian retailer had helped him purchase a leather-bound, Thompson Chain Reference Bible when he was a young man, ready to enter seminary.  He said, “Little did this Christian retailer know the impact this Bible would have on my life and ministry.”

Dr. Stanley went on to praise Christian booksellers of the Munce Group for being on the front lines as they served God.

Linda Evans Shepherd shared, “It was wonderful to present our award to a man who has impacted millions for Christ. It was a joy to see Christian authors and booksellers give tribute to this great man who has done so much for the Kingdom of God.”  For more information about AWSA see www.AWSA.com.

Photo: Dr. Charles Stanley, Linda Evans Shepherd CEO of Right to the Heart Ministries and Founder of AWSA, Karen Porter President of the AWSA Steering Committee

For more information on this story, please contact Linda Evans Shepherd at LindaReply@gmail.com.

(BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) September 21, 2017—New Hope^® Publishers welcomes Paul Hawkins as director of sales and marketing. Hawkins was born and raised in Mississippi and earned a master’s degree from Mississippi State University. He brings much experience in the field of sales and development of strategies for brand awareness and development.

“I am inspired by the heart for service behind New Hope Publishers. I am humbled by the opportunity to continue working in a field I love while joining hands with others whose hearts are focused on serving the Lord, His people, and carrying the gospel to those who still need to hear,” comments Hawkins. “What a gift it is to be in a position that combines my passions.”

“We’re ecstatic to have Paul on board. He is a great man of God,” comments John Herring, CEO of New Hope Publishers. “Paul will be working closely with our New Hope partners and will foster new relationships to extend the mission of New Hope.”

Ramona Richards, New Hope’s associate publisher adds, “Paul is a part of the expanding and vital future for New Hope, along with the rest of our team. He brings a new vision for the sales and marketing direction for the company, and his heart is as much grounded in our ministry as in our products. I’m looking forward to seeing all he can do.”

Hawkins’s passion for God’s Word and the message of the gospel will serve to propel the work of New Hope authors even further into the marketplace.

The mission of New Hope^® Publishers is to challenge readers to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God. A division of Iron Stream Media, New Hope’s books have received critical acclaim and won several awards. In 2009 and 2015, New Hope was chosen as publisher of the year by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA). Representing more than 70 authors and more than 200 individual works, New Hope is a member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) and is located in Birmingham, Alabama.

Paraclete Press has signed Bert Ghezzi, bestselling author, popular editor, and author of more than twenty books, to a new edition of a book first published a generation ago. The Angry Christian sold 60,000 copies in its original run twenty-five years ago, and is set to be reissued in April of next year, with a foreword by Brandon Vogt. 

Phrases such as “culture of anger” have come to describe much of our world today. Both Press and author suspect that Ghezzi’s book is much needed. Early endorsers for the new edition include Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap, Archbishop of Philadelphia; Dr. Ray Guarendi; and Fr. Dwight Longenecker, who writes, “In this practical and pastoral little book, Bert Ghezzi walks us through a guidebook on anger, showing how anger is God’s blessing not his curse. When the energy of anger is directed properly, God’s power to heal and transform ourselves and our world is unleashed.” Says Ghezzi, “I placed The Angry Christian with Paraclete because I knew that they would get it into the hands of many readers.”

Paraclete has also inked a deal with Henry L. Carrigan, Jr. for Fifteen Spirituals that Will Change Your Life. Carrigan has worked in publishing for more than twenty years, including at Publishers Weekly and Baker Books, before his current work as a music journalist. As Carrigan says, “Music touches people’s hearts in deep and enduring ways that words often fail to do.” Paraclete saw in this title an antidote to the uncertainty and anxieties that many face today. The faith, hope, and love that these songs evoke will carry readers to a place beyond themselves where they connect with others and with God. Carrigan says, “I am excited to be working with Paraclete again: I am grateful for the vision they have of publishing thoughtful books.” Fifteen Spirituals will publish in September 2018.

For more information, contact Sr. Antonia Cleverly, srantonia@paracletepress.com, (508) 255-4685 x 329

CAROL STREAM, Ill.— September 22, 2017— Tyndale House Publishers is pleased to announce that five Tyndale fiction titles and four authors have been nominated for the 2017 Christy Awards™ (www.ChristyAwards.com). The Christy Awards™ celebrate excellence in Christian fiction and honor the power of story.

On September 21, 2017, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced the finalists for the 18th annual Christy Awards™. Winners will be announced on November 8 at the Christy Award Gala at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., hosted by bestselling Christian authors Chris Fabry, Karen Kingsbury, and Andrew Peterson.

Tyndale House Publishers has five titles in the running for a 2017 Christy Award™, across four categories, as follows:

General Fiction:

• The Promise of Jesse Woods by Chris Fabry
• The Undoing of Saint Silvanus by Beth Moore

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller:

• Without Warning by Joel C. Rosenberg

Short Form:

• Looking into You by Chris Fabry

Visionary:

• The Alliance by Jolina Petersheim

Karen Watson, publisher of Tyndale Fiction, shared, “We are humbled and honored to have five of our titles and four of our authors as finalists for this prestigious award. We will be present at the gala on November 8, cheering them on.”

For more information on Tyndale fiction titles, please visit www.tyndalefiction.com.

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international nonprofit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. ECPA.org

The Christy Award™ is the foremost award honoring and promoting excellence in Christian fiction since 1999, and is named for Catherine Marshall’s novel, Christy, which has sold over 10 million copies since its publication in 1967. ECPA assumed ownership and administration of the award in 2017 to focus and grow the unique opportunity of fiction in Christian publishing. ChristyAwards.com

Tyndale House Publishers, founded in 1962, is the world’s largest privately held Christian publisher of books, Bibles, and digital media. Tyndale has published many New York Times bestsellers. The largest portion of its profit goes to the nonprofit Tyndale House Foundation, which makes grants to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world. Tyndale was founded to publish Living Letters, which later comprised part of The Living Bible, a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible that became a global publishing phenomenon. Tyndale now publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), the translation of choice for millions of people.

Contact: Katie Dodillet
katiedodillet@tyndale.com  630.784.5275

GRAPEVINE, TX:  Significant achievements in the world of Christian Fiction were acknowledged at the 2017 ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Awards Gala at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center during the annual ACFW conference on September 23, 2017. Among the honorees were author and writing instructor Jerry Jenkins, recipient of the 2017 ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award.

ACFW CEO Colleen Coble says, “Among the titles that instantly come to mind in the long list of Jerry Jenkins’ books is the Left Behind series with Tim LaHaye, a series that impacted both the Christian and general markets and countless readers. Many readers report that their faith was awakened or reawakened by that series,” says Coble. “But there’s so much more to the story of the impact Jerry Jenkins has had in the Christian Fiction community.”

Also honored for their contributions to Christian Fiction and to ACFW were:

• Mentor of the Year—Lynette Eason
• Agent of the Year—Tamela Hancock Murray (The Steve Laube Agency)
• Editor of the Year—Sarah Rische (Tyndale House Publishers)
• Volunteer of the Year—Cheryl Wyatt
• Member Service Award Recipient—Gail Gaymer Martin

Representatives from many facets of the industry—publishers, editors, agents, the press, libraries, bookstores, reviewers, bloggers, publicists, specialty providers, and both veteran and aspiring novelists—gathered during the conference, which culminated with the Awards Gala.

The 2017 CAROL AWARD winners for excellence in Christian fiction published in the previous calendar year by category are:

Contemporary

The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), editor Amanda Bostic

Historical

Like a River From Its Course by Kelli Stuart, Kregel Publications, editors Dawn Jackson and Janyre Tromp

Historical Romance

The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof, ACFW QIP (Qualified Independently Published), editors Denise Harmer and Karen Swanson

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), editors Amanda Bostic and Natalie Hanneman

Novella

The Doctor’s Woman (The Courageous Brides Collection) by Michelle Griep, Barbour Publishing, editor Becky Germany

Romance

A Season to Love by Nicole Deese, Waterfall Press, editors Amy Hosford and Kristin Mehus-Roe

Romantic Suspense

Always Watching: A Novel (Elite Guardians) by Lynette Eason, Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing, editor Andrea Doering

Short Novel

Restoring Christmas: A Novel by Cynthia Ruchti, Worthy Inspired, editors Pamela Clements and Jamie Chavez

Speculative

The Long Journey to Jake Palmer by James L. Rubart, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), editors Amanda Bostic and Erin Healy

Debut

You’re the Cream in my Coffee by Jennifer Lamont Leo, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, editor Kathryn Davis

The 2017 GENESIS CONTEST winners for unpublished novels by category are:

• Contemporary—Carrie Padgett  – Harley Taps Out
• Historical—Kendy Pearson – Kanawha Winds
• Historical Romance—Rachel Scott McDaniel – The Red Canary
• Mystery/Suspense/Thriller—Diane M. Campbell – Point Blank
• Novella—Tari Faris – Something About Him
• Romance—Andrea Michelle Wood – Feel the Music
• Romantic Suspense—Darlene L. Turner – Stolen Vows
• Short Novel—Sharon J. Mondragon – The Heavenly Hugs Prayer Shawl Ministry
• Speculative—Rick Rosenkranz – Luminarium
• Young Adult—Kerry Johnson – The Golden Orb

Throughout the year, ACFW instructs, informs, and inspires storytellers, and works to build relationships within the industry among those who create, publish, talk about, sell, and promote Christian Fiction.

ACFW is a professional organization devoted to the craft of Christian Fiction. ACFW’s mission is to empower Christian novelists by inspiring them to join with God in the creative process, training them in the craft, and educating them in the publishing industry. For more information about ACFW, contact acfwrelations@acfw.com or www.acfw.com.

Find this release in its entirety at http://www.acfw.com/about/press_room

William R. Barbour, Jr., beloved family man and friend, passed away on Tuesday, September 12^th at the age of 95.  He was born in NYC, the son of Mary Alice and William R. Barbour, Sr. on March 2, 1922 and was raised in the Bronx.  After graduating from the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Bill attended Michigan State University  Shortly after World War II broke out, he joined the US Army Air Corp and received flight training at Valdosta, Georgia and Avon Park, Florida.  He was assigned as co-pilot of a B-17 bomber and was deployed to Britain where he flew many day and night missions over Germany.

At the end of World War II, Bill joined the Fleming H. Revell Company, a major publisher of Evangelical Christian books.  After 39 years of service, he retired as President of Revell in 1983.  During his publishing career, he worked with many best-selling authors, including Peter Marshall, Dale and Roy Rogers, Eddie Arnold, Chuck Colson, Marabel Morgan, Francis and Edith Schaeffer, Corrie Ten Boom and many others.  He was elected President of the (ECPA) Evangelical Christian Publishers Association during his time with the Revell Company.

The Barbours lived in Bergen County, New Jersey for over 30 years and were active members of their communities and churches.  In 1981, Bill and Mary acquired a unit at Shell Point Retirement Community in Fort Myers, Florida and in 1988, Shell Point became their residence.  The family is grateful for the excellent care and compassion Bill received in the years he spent in this wonderful community.  They were active members of the Village Church for many years.

Bill and Mary enjoyed their condo on Sanibel Island, which they shared generously with countless guests over 20 years.  They also frequently traveled to visit family and friends far and wide.  Bill wrote two books and co-authored a third with Mary.  They had numerous adventures through international home exchanging and took advantage of local boating and fishing opportunities.  On the home front, Bill was known to make a delicious shrimp gumbo, and homemade bread was his signature hospitality gift for birthdays and special occasions.

Bill leaves behind his devoted wife of nearly 66 years, Mary Munsell Barbour, his beloved brother, Hugh, and sister-in-law, Eva Barbour, and his three adult children, Bruce (Karen), Betsy, and Alan (Elizabeth).  Bill was also blessed to have nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Bill will be greatly missed by all who love him, and his legacy lives on in so many ways.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests a contribution to The Walter Hoving Home (WalterHovingHome.org) in Bill’s memory.

Nashville, Tenn. (September 25, 2017) – Top podcast host Jamie Ivey announced the launch of the presale campaign for her first book at “The Happy Hour Live” September 8 and 9.  If You Only Knew: My Unlikely, Unavoidable Story of Becoming Free will release January 30, 2018 from B&H Publishing Group.

Ivey is best known for her podcast, “The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey,” which consistently ranks as one of the top Christian podcasts. Ivey’s loyal listeners have already made the presale campaign a success and committed to promote the book leading up to publication.

Those who pre-order the book will receive 20% off from Waterloo Style and five entries to win a two-day getaway for two to Green Acres with travel included, a dinner with the Iveys, and a basket of Ivey’s favorite things. Ivey also invited fans to join her launch team by pre-ordering the book and applying online to join the exclusive team.

In If You Only Knew, Ivey shares her backstory – a story of failure, mistakes, redemption, and ultimately finding freedom in Christ – in the humorous, authentic style that her podcast listeners know and love. She hopes that as women read If You Only Knew, they will join her in owning their stories and becoming vulnerable about their lives, so that “Jesus’ grace and mercy take center-stage.”

In addition to hosting “The Happy Hour,” Ivey writes and speaks to women all over the country. Since she began podcasting in 2014, “The Happy Hour” has been downloaded over eight million times as listeners tuned in to hear Ivey chat with influential guests from around the world.

B&H is supporting the release of If You Only Knew with a robust marketing campaign, national publicity and advertising, and promotion at “The Happy Hour Live” events in Austin, Texas. The book is available for pre-order until November 1, prior to the holiday season. For more information, visit www.ifyouonlyknewbook.net.

Jamie Ivey believes we are all on this journey of life together and we need each other to get to the end. Through her blog and podcast, “The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey,” she uses a raw and intimate approach to connect with her audience. Jamie’s prayer and hope is for God to use her words to encourage and show others that they are not alone, while constantly pointing them to Jesus. She is mother to four kids and wife to Aaron. Jamie loves reading, date nights, Mexican food, and traveling the world with her family.

B&H Publishing Group, an imprint of LifeWay Christian Resources, is a team of mission-minded people with a passion for taking God’s Word to the world. Because we believe Every Word Matters^® we seek to provide intentional, Bible-centered content that positively impacts the hearts and minds of people, inspiring them to build a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. Among our print and digital releases for the trade, church, and academic markets, titles include The New York Times No. 1 bestsellers The Love Dare and The Vow, No. 1 CBA bestseller I Am a Church Member as well as the newly-revised Christian Standard Bible (CSB) version.

Colorado Springs, Colorado (September 25, 2017)—The founders of The Babylon Bee, a widely popular Christian website known for its satirical take on Christian culture, have signed an agreement with Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, to publish How to Be a Perfect Christian: Your Comprehensive Guide to Flawless Spiritual Living, releasing May 1, 2018.

Kendall Davis, Associate Editor at WaterBrook and Multnomah, acquired world rights to the work in print and digital formats from Andrew Wolgemuth of Wolgemuth & Associates.

“The Babylon Bee offers a refreshing and hilarious take on modern, American Christianity,” says Davis. “Getting to partner with the witty, whip-smart team at the Bee is an editorial dream, and we’re so excited to put this funny and important book into the marketplace.”

Originally launched in March 2016, The Babylon Bee has quickly grown to be a favored source of humor for Christians with more than 400,000 social media followers and over 45 million page views in its first year. The site humorously satirizes cultural Christianity in the format of satirical news articles as a means of calling readers back to a more biblically rooted understanding of their faith.

Available for pre-order, How to Be a Perfect Christian will expand on this popular humor through chapters on specific aspects of Western Christianity, covering topics such as looking spiritual online and finding the perfect church. Readers will find the familiar dry, relatable style of the website expanded into essay-style chapters. The trademark voice of The Bee invites readers to laugh at the idiosyncrasies of the modern Christian experience while challenging them to consider problematic aspects of their own faith.

For more information on How to Be a Perfect Christian, visit waterbrookmultnomah.com or http://babylonbee.com/book/

WaterBrook and Multnomah are imprints of The Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, is dedicated to its mission of nourishing a universal passion for reading by connecting authors and their writing with readers everywhere. The company, which employs more than 10,000 people globally, was formed on July 1, 2013, by Bertelsmann and Pearson, who own 53 percent and 47 percent, respectively. With nearly 250 independent imprints and brands on five continents, Penguin Random House comprises adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction print and digital English- and Spanish-language trade book publishing businesses in more than 20 countries worldwide. With over 15,000 new titles, and close to 800 million print, audio and eBooks sold annually, Penguin Random House’s publishing lists include more than 60 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of the world’s most widely read authors.

Contact: Beverly Rykerd, VP/Publicity Director
brykerd@penguinrandomhouse.com  (719) 268-1935