COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 8, 2017) – Romantic Times Book Reviews has honored author Cindy Woodsmall with the 2016 Career Achievement for Inspirational Fiction. The Awards Ceremony took place on Friday, May 5 at the 2017 RT Booklovers Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. Woodsmall’s most recent novel, Fraying at the Edge, was also a nominee for the Reviewer’s Choice Inspirational Novel of 2016.

View a full list of awards and nominees for the Romantic Times Awards here. The career achievement award honors authors in each genre as a celebration of an entire body of work.

Readers and critics alike praise Woodsmall for how her thoughtful writing honors the Amish community while engaging with deep issues. She is considered one of the nation’s most beloved Amish fiction voices, and was named a top Amish fiction writer by the Wall Street Journal in 2013.

Collectively, Woodsmall has over 2 million copies of her work now in print. Woodsmall has published 18 works of Amish fiction, including seven seasonal novellas. In 2011, she coauthored a work of nonfiction, Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women, with her close Old Order Amish friend, Miriam Flaud. Her previous New York Times best-selling titles include The Winnowing Season, The Harvest of Grace, When the Soul Mends, The Hope of Refuge,and The Bridge of Peace.

“I am thrilled that Cindy Woodsmall’s writing continues to connect with readers,” said WaterBrook Senior Editor Shannon Marchese. “Cindy is a joy to work with, and I count her as a friend as well as a colleague. Our partnership over the years has ministered to me personally as well as to so many of Cindy’s readers.”

WaterBrook will publish the final book in Woodsmall’s CBA best-selling Amish of Summer Grove series, Gathering the Threads, on August 15.

ABOUT WATERBROOK & MULTNOMAH:
WaterBrook & Multnomah Books are imprints of The Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.  Penguin Random House (http://global.penguinrandomhouse.com/) is the world’s most global trade book publisher. It was formed on July 1, 2013, upon the completion of an agreement between Bertelsmann and Pearson to merge their respective trade publishing companies, Random House and Penguin, with the parent companies owning 53% and 47%, respectively.  Penguin Random House comprises the adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction print and digital trade book publishing businesses of Penguin and Random House in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa, and Penguin’s trade publishing activity in Asia and Brazil; DK worldwide; and Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial’s Spanish-language companies in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and Chile. Penguin Random House employs more than 10,000 people globally across almost 250 editorially and creatively independent imprints and publishing houses that collectively publish more than 15,000 new titles annually. Its publishing lists include more than 70 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of the world’s most widely read authors.

For more information on this release, please contact Jessica Lamb at the WaterBrook & Multnomah Publicity Office at 719-268-1915 or jlamb@penguinrandomhouse.com

ASHLAND, Ohio (May 8, 2017) – Larisa Elt has been named director of publisher services at Bookmasters, one of the largest providers of customized book publishing services in the United States.

Elt will lead efforts to service and sell Bookmasters and Baker & Taylor supply chain services with an emphasis on print-on-demand (POD) and third party distribution services.

She will specifically be responsible for working with existing and prospective academic, professional, university, and scholarly press publishers, as well as contributing to Bookmasters’ collaborative sales strategy for its suite of publisher services, which also includes fulfillment and warehousing, eBook distribution and sales, and editorial and design services.

Elt formerly held senior sales and marketing positions with McGraw-Hill Education, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Oxford University Press, and Bloomsbury Continuum.

She will officially begin her new role at Bookmasters on May 15, filling the position formerly held by Elizabeth Scarpelli, now the director of the new University of Cincinnati Press.

“Larisa is a consummate professional with a proven track record in business development, at building customer partnerships, and as a team player who delivers results,” said Ken Fultz, general manager at Bookmasters. “We’re extremely happy to have Larisa as a member of our sales leadership team.”

About Bookmasters
Bookmasters, based in Ashland, Ohio, is one of the largest providers of customized publisher services in the United States. For more than 40 years, Bookmasters has offered services to publishers and authors such as book manufacturing, print sales and distribution, warehousing and fulfillment, eBook sales and distribution, and editorial and design services. To learn more, visit www.bookmasters.com.

Bookmasters is owned by Follett Corporation and is a strategic partner with Baker & Taylor, premier worldwide distributor of books, digital content, and entertainment products.

Media Contact:  Kristen M. Steele, Director of Marketing & PR
419.281.5100 x1410, desk

Ada, Mich. (May 3, 2017)—The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association recently announced the winners of the 2017 Christian Book Awards® during their leadership summit in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This award recognizes the highest quality in Christian books and Bibles and is one of the oldest and most prestigious awards in Christian publishing. 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know by Terry Glaspey won in the Faith & Culture category. For the complete list of winners, please click here.

75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know by Terry Glaspey
(Baker Books; ISBN 9780801017100; ebook ISBN 9781493400461; $29.99)

Some of the greatest painters, musicians, architects, writers, filmmakers, and poets have taken their inspiration from their faith and impacted millions of people with their striking creations. This stunning celebration of 75 masterpieces of art, literature, film, and music paints a portrait of the artists who created them and the faith that made their work come alive. From the Roman catacombs to Rembrandt, from Bach to U2, from John Bunyan to Frederick Buechner, author and historian Terry Glaspey unveils the absorbing true stories behind these masterpieces. By looking through the eyes of these creative artists, readers gain deeper perspectives about the human condition, the Christian story, and their own spiritual lives.

Baker Books publishes books that are relevant, intelligent, and engaging. Our titles cover topics such as personal development, encouragement, spirituality, and relationships.

Baker Publishing Group publishes high-quality writings that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers.

Contact: Lynnae Lubbers
(616)676-9185 x193  llubbers@bakerpublishinggroup.com

CAROL STREAM, Ill. (May 3, 2017) – Tyndale House Publishers announces Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience, ™ a bold new campaign to help communities of believers truly know and understand the Bible.

Participants will use Immerse: The Reading Bible,™ a new six-volume reading Bible developed by the Institute for Bible Reading and Tyndale. This innovative new Bible features today’s most readable Bible translation, the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Each of the six volumes provides the base for an eight- week reading experience.  With one eight-week reading experience in the fall and another in the spring, participants will establish an ongoing three-year rhythm of Bible engagement.

Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience™ is the first initiative from the alliance announced in February between the Institute for Bible Reading (IFBR) and Tyndale House Publishers.  On September 17, more than 2,000 congregations across America will begin reading through Immerse: Messiah over the eight-week period leading up to Advent. Tyndale will announce nationwide start dates each spring and fall, giving churches the opportunity to join other churches across the country, and eventually around the world, reading the Bible.

The Bible in America Study¹ reports that 62% of the people in the communities surrounding our churches would like to read the Bible more. Another study reports 87%² of the people in our churches want help understanding the Bible better. Yet Bible reading is waning.  A decade of research has identified key barriers to Bible reading and engagement. This research has informed the development of Immerse: The Reading Bible and the tools and resources that make up the unique Immerse reading experience.

Recent studies demonstrate that in one generation the number of occasional Bible readers has fallen by 20 percent—the equivalent of 700 people per day. If this trend continues, by 2040 two-thirds of Americans will have no meaningful connection with the Bible. “The statistics show that Bible reading in America is in sharp decline,” says IFBR Director Paul Caminiti. “It’s clear that people are hungry for a fresh experience with the Scriptures, and we’re confident that Immerse will be the spark churches need to get their people interested and engaged in the Bible again.”

Tyndale and IFBR are collaborating with churches to reverse this trend.  Immerse: The Reading Bible features the text of the Bible laid out in a single-column format with chapter numbers, verse numbers, footnotes, and section headings removed.   The design highlights the natural literary structures of each book and uses clear, easy-to-read type allowing the reader to enjoy the words of Scripture in a refreshing new way.

“It’s really both a discipleship and an evangelistic tool. Instead of a Bible study, Immerse will have more of the feel of a community book club celebrating the power of community to provide encouragement and increase enjoyment, motivating readers to complete the journey,” said Jim Steere, Tyndale Director of Partnerships.

To learn more about Immerse, visit ImmerseBible.com or call Sergey Kulik at 1-855-277-9400.

Tyndale House Publishers, founded in 1962, is one of the largest privately held Christian publishers of books, Bibles, and digital media in the world. Tyndale has published many innovative category-leading products such as Life Application Study Bible, The One Year Bible, The Book, The Life Recovery Bible, Hands on Bible, and Inspire Bible. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), the translation of choice for millions of readers. www.tyndale.com

The Institute for Bible Reading is an activist think tank uncommonly focused on providing people tools and frameworks that fundamentally change the way they read the Bible so it can achieve its mission and become that story that defines their lives. www.instituteforbiblereading.org

¹ “The Bible in America: The Changing Landscape of Bible Perceptions and Engagement”, Barna Group, Copyright© 2016
² “Follow Me (Reveal)”, Greg L. Hawkins, Cally Parkinson, Copyright© 2008

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Despite a tough 2016 for Christian stores and the recent demise of a major Christian-store chain, there is good news on the horizon for Christian-product providers, according to the 2017 CBA State of the Industry Report, available this week.

The Conference Board, a New York-based public interest business association, reported key Christian-store customer segments will grow as a percentage of the population, have more disposable income, and could boost print-book sales by $2 billion during the next eight years. Additionally, the NPD Group reports 1.3 million millennial women gave birth for the first time in 2015, adding opportunities for Christian stores who serve young families. The Report devotes sections to millennials, their church habits, and marketing to them.

Structural Obstacles and Counter Strategies

Notwithstanding the good news, the industry’s significant structural obstacles could challenge robust growth, the Report indicates. Christian stores saw a 6 percent sales decline in 2016 over 2015, although the network reported higher transaction averages for the same period. According to CROSS:SCAN data, powered by ParableConnect, 61 percent of reporting stores saw higher transaction averages but less traffic to capitalize on the good sales and service.

While declining store traffic is a major contributor to the sales decline, Christian stores also lack strong omnichannel capabilities that enable them to connect with consumers online, where most early shopping occurs. Increasingly, retailers need to effectively present brand and product offerings both online and in store, because that’s how customers are shopping, according to research summaries presented in the Report.

CBA’s CROSS:SCAN data program gathers actual sales data from stores for weekly CROSS:SCAN reports. Reporting stores are primarily independent single or small-chain stores.

The Report indicates that 60 percent of Christian-store respondents have less than 5 percent of total sales from online or ecommerce transactions, 25 percent don’t attempt to sell online, and 20 percent don’t have a website.

However, responding retailers said social media, company websites, and email marketing are top marketing-investment increases planned for 2017. Mobile marketing ranked at 1.9 on a scale of 5, just above radio and print advertising.

The report summarizes several leading research findings regarding the new customer “purchasing journey,” or how people learn about products, research them, and then decide where and how to buy. It also outlines recommended retail strategies to compete against Amazon and big-box discounters based on national consumer and retail research.

Included research in the Report indicates that for the foreseeable future—and despite the rise of e-commerce rates—85 percent of all retail sales will continue to be through brick-and-mortar stores. Stores overall will be smaller as sales and marketing by retailers move online and the role of the store changes.

20 new stores, but a net loss of 25

In a separate survey included in the State of the Industry Report, the industry saw a net loss of 25 stores, which represents less than 1 percent of the total network composed of primarily traditional Christian stores that have more than 75 percent Christian-product inventory plus other industry stores with smaller Christian-product ratios.

In an analysis based on comparisons from several Christian-supplier customer lists, CBA store data, and phone calls to confirm store-opening dates, the industry saw 45 stores close, but also saw 20 new stores open.

The report is free to CBA retailer members and survey participants, with a nominal charge to nonmembers and suppliers. Order from the CBA website: www.CBAonline.org/research.

CBA, the Association for Christian Retail
CBA is the leading association for providers of Christian products to reach all people. It supplies vital connections, information, education and encouragement to Christian resource providers.

Contact: Sharon Roberts, sroberts@cbaonline.org

Introduces Believers to Effective Ways to Defend Their Christian Faith

Grand Rapids, Mich., May 5, 2017 — Since its release in 2009, Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by apologist and radio host Gregory Koukl has engendered a devoted following and has sold over 100,000 copies.

Now Zondervan has partnered with Koukl to create the Tactics Study Guide with DVD (on sale May 9). In this new curriculum, Koukl demonstrates how to get in the driver’s seat in discussions about faith, keeping any conversation moving with thoughtful, artful tact. Readers will learn how to maneuver comfortably and graciously through the minefields, stop challengers in their tracks, turn the tables and—most importantly—get people thinking about Jesus with conversations that look more like diplomacy than D-Day.

“‘Tactics’ changed my life.” That’s exactly what people tell me, over and over again, every place I go,” says Koukl. “And I believe them, because the tactical approach changed my life, too. I’m confident this course will do the same for you.”

Drawing on extensive experience defending Christianity in the public square, Koukl demonstrates how to:

• Initiate conversations effortlessly
• Present the truth clearly, cleverly, and persuasively
• Graciously and effectively expose faulty thinking
• Skillfully manage the details of dialogue
• Maintain an engaging, disarming style even under attack

“Followers of Christ need to be equipped to communicate with those who do not speak their language or accept their source of authority,” says Stanley N. Gundry, SVP and publisher, Zondervan. “Tactics has done just that since 2009, and we are pleased to offer this new study guide and DVD to help Christians have a game plan to communicate the truth with confidence and grace.”

The Tactics Study Guide with DVD are available for purchase separately, together, or in a kit along with the softcover Tactics book. To learn more, visit www.zondervan.com/tactics-study-guide-with-dvd.

Gregory Koukl holds MA degrees in both apologetics and philosophy. He’s spoken on over 70 university campuses and hosted his own radio talk show for 27 years defending “Christianity worth thinking about.”  Greg is founder and president of Stand to Reason (str.org) and serves as adjunct professor of Christian apologetics at Biola University.

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.

Contact:  Trinity McFadden, Senior Manager of Publicity
616-698-3514 | trinity.mcfadden@harpercollins.com
Nathan Kroeze, Marketing Manager
616-698-3593 | nathan.kroeze@harpercollins.com