December 19, 2022, New York, NY — Reflecting the significant changes in publishers’ needs, brought about by advances in technology and hastened by COVID, Nord Compo has launched a completely revamped website.  The new website features Oyez!, a new business unit dedicated to the production of high quality audiobooks in English, French and Spanish.  Working for dozens of publishers, Oyez! has created hundreds of audiobooks in multiple genres, including readalongs (enhanced epubs with audio and word highlighting) for children’s books.

The new site devotes an entire section to Nordsoft, Nord Compo’s custom software division.  Recently created, Nordsoft has developed customized SaaS platforms for multiple mid-sized to large publishers to speed up prepress production, lower costs, and power publishers’ B2C efforts.  Per Denis Desmet, Managing Director of Nordsoft, “Recent advances in digital technology have put online automated typesetting, layout and B2C file delivery platforms affordable for mid-sized publishers, helping to even the playing field”.

Headquartered in northern France, Nord Compo is a 50-year-old, 500-person provider of prepress, digital, editorial, design and audiobook services to book publishers all over the world.

For more information, visit www.nordcompo.com.

Brings New Focus on Storytelling in all Forms of Media

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Dec. 15, 2022—David C Cook announced today that former DreamWorks Animation executive Rick Rekedal will join the team as chief creative officer. For more than 145 years, David C Cook has provided resources to help bring God’s word to people everywhere. Rekedal brings expertise that will enable David C Cook to harness the power of story to reach a new generation with life-changing messages of hope and inspiration.

Rekedal’s award-winning career includes more than 20 years at DreamWorks Animation, where he served as chief creative of global franchises, head of licensing and interactive gaming, and head of online production. Past properties Rekedal has worked on include Trolls, Kung Fu Panda, The Prince of Egypt, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron and How To Train Your Dragon, as well as Dreamer, Saving Private Ryan, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and more.

“The power of story never changes; but new formats, platforms and media are always changing. We want to reach people with the inspirational story of God’s Word right where they are,” Rekedal said. “Gen Alpha is coming fast and will be the largest generation in history by 2025, with 1 billion-plus strong. One of my favorite verses is Luke 18:1: ‘And then Jesus told them a story.’ Using the power of story, we have the opportunity to bring the ‘Greatest Story Ever Told’ to new generations all around the world.”

David C Cook recently created the role of chief creative officer to help shepherd all new storytelling efforts at David C Cook Publishing in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Integrity Music in Nashville, Tennessee. Rekedal will oversee new project development, as well as lead efforts toward innovation in new platforms.

“Storytelling is at the foundation of our ultimate goal at David C Cook, spreading the good news of the gospel.” said John Aden, CEO of David C Cook. “We’re excited for the role Rick will play in helping us use the power of story to reach a new generation.”

Past awards for Rekedal include two Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards; two Annie Awards for Best Animated Videogame; Toy of the Year; Family Board Game of the Year; and Action Figure of the Year. In addition to his corporate experience, Rekedal created and co-authored the comic book series Shapes, and several books, including One Small Step, a story of recovery inspired by his family. He currently serves as senior fellow for storytelling at Belmont University and is president of StoryCrate (thestorycrate.com), helping maximize brands and original story projects for the audiences that most need them.

About David C Cook
David C Cook is a global nonprofit ministry equipping individuals and church leaders with vital learning and worship resources. David C Cook’s desire is for individuals and faith groups to experience the transforming power of the gospel through music and media that fit the culture, language and spiritual needs of their communities.

David C Cook was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1875 by David Caleb Cook, a businessman who began publishing pamphlets on lessons and songs that equipped local churches for ministry to children displaced by the Great Chicago Fire. Over the years, David C Cook has grown from a Sunday school curriculum publisher to one of the world’s largest providers of dynamic and relevant media, as well as music designed to equip the global church and individuals with creative, Christian content.

CONTACT:  Katherine Epp, 678.360.9894

Ada, Mich. (December 13, 2022)—On Tuesday, December 13, Christianity Today announced their list of winning titles for the 2023 Book Awards, which included a Brazos Press title: You’re Only Human by Kelly M. Kapic.

In addition to this winning title, three Brazos Press titles were named a finalist in their category, and two Brazos Press titles received an award of merit.

Every year Christianity Today reviews numerous titles and compiles a list of books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture. Robert N. Hosack, executive acquisitions editor at Baker Academic and Brazos Press, says, “The success of Brazos Press in this year’s CT Book Awards is a tribute to its leadership, devoted staff, and acquisitions editors who are tuned into issues of our cultural moment.” To view the complete list of winning titles, please visit Christianity Today’s 2023 Book Awards.

Theology (popular)

You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News by Kelly M. Kapic
(ISBN 9781587435102; Ebook ISBN 9781493435258; $24.99)
God doesn’t need you to meet all the needs, know all the answers, or to be superhuman. As Christians, we often confuse our creaturely limits with sin, sadly distorting many aspects of our lives. God just desires you to be a faithful human creature whose finitude fosters freedom, joy, growth, and community.

Bible and Devotional (Finalist)

Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms by Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt
(ISBN 9781587435461; Ebook ISBN 9781493435319; $19.99)
Rediscover the rich treasures of the Psalms—through free-verse prayer renderings of their poems and hymns—as a guide to personal devotion and meditation.

Christian Living/Spiritual Formation (Finalist)

How to Inhabit Time: Understanding the Past, Facing the Future, Living Faithfully Now by James K. A. Smith
(ISBN 9781587435232; Ebook ISBN 9781493438624; $24.99)
Popular speaker and award-winning author James K. A. Smith helps Christians and the church develop a sense of “temporal awareness” that is attuned to the texture of history, the vicissitudes of life, and the tempo of the Spirit. Smith shows that awakening to the spiritual significance of time is crucial for orienting faith in the twenty-first century.

Culture and the Arts (Award of Merit)

The Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints by Jessica Hooten Wilson
(ISBN 9781587435249; Ebook ISBN 9781493435340; $24.99)
An award-winning author shows that holiness means being radical in our ways of imagining the future, imagining each other, and imagining God, and that reading works of great literature can help us cultivate an imagination that moves us toward holiness.

Culture and the Arts (Finalist)

Reading Black Books: How African American Literature Can Make Our Faith More Whole and Just by Claude Atcho
(ISBN 9781587435294; Ebook ISBN 9781493437009; $19.99)
Pastor and teacher Claude Atcho demonstrates that reading about Black experience, as shown in the literature of great African American writers, can guide us all toward sharper theological thinking and more faithful living.

Politics and Public Life (Award of Merit)

Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community by Bonnie Kristian
(ISBN 9781587435621; Ebook ISBN 9781493438532; $24.99)
A seasoned journalist shows how the truth crisis in America is straining our relationships, hurting our minds, polluting our politics, and damaging our Christian discipleship.

 

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

Contact: Shelly MacNaughton, (616) 450-5560, smacnaughton@bakerpublishinggroup.com

MEMPHIS, TN. December 2022 — End Game Press is proud to announce that their recent children’s book, Fly High: Understanding Grief with God’s Help (End Game Press, Oct. 4, 2022, $19.99, 9781637970508), was recently named as a finalist in Christianity Today’s 2023 Book Awards. Titles were chosen for their significant impact to most likely shape evangelical life, thought, and culture.

While adults are most often able to verbalize how they feel, many children lack the vocabulary and understanding to explain their emotions. During difficult seasons, books can help shape the way children process and internalize life-changing events, and End Game Press is committed to publishing books that address these felt needs for families.

In EGP’s recent picture book, Fly High: Understanding Grief with God’s Help, best-selling author Michelle Medlock Adams and Grief Counselor Janet K. Johnson partnered together to write a book for children experiencing loss and grief. This story follows a young sister and brother who love watching a mama cardinal care for her babies, until the unthinkable happens – the mother bird dies. The siblings go through various stages of emotions associated with grief as they learn to laugh, love, and hope again.

Fly High teaches readers it’s okay to have the feelings they are having, and each new day holds the promise of a new beginning. There are two versions of this book—one with faith-based language for use in churches and Christian organizations, and one with nonreligious language for use in school settings, counseling offices, and hospitals. In addition to the story, the book includes discussion questions and words of encouragement for parents to talk through with their children.

“When children suffer loss or grief there are not always good resources to hand them,” says Victoria Duerstock, founder of End Game Press. “Whether it’s the loss of a family member, a pet, or a friend, having tools to walk children through the grieving process is essential.”

You can find the full list of titles included in Christianity Today’s 2023 Book Awards at www.ChristianityToday.com.

About the Authors

Michelle Medlock Adams is an award-winning journalist and best-selling author of more than 100 books with over 4 million copies sold. She has earned more than 90 industry awards from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Hoosier State Press Association, and the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards to name a few. She and her husband, Jeff, share their home in Southern Indiana with a miniature long-haired dachshund, a rescue Greyhound/Lab mix, and two cats.

Janet K. Johnson is a pastor, mentor in spiritual formation, author, freelance writer, and speaker whose passion is helping others draw closer to God in all of life’s situations. She finds joy in the ordinary things of life and knows it is God’s love that has sustained her on her life’s journey, especially through her times of grief. Janet is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. 

About End Game Press
Launched by award-winning author Victoria Duerstock in 2020, End Game Press is a traditional publishing house where ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things. End Game Press puts authors first, educating them on the entirety of the publishing process, and providing them with the needed training to be successful. With a goal to create beauty and cultivate community, End Game Press publishes fiction, nonfiction, and children’s titles into both general and Christian markets. Learn more at www.endgamepress.com.

Media Contact: christina@endgamepress.com

CAROL STREAM, Ill. (December 19, 2022)—Tyndale fiction is pleased to announce that Count the Nights by Stars by Michelle Shocklee is the Christianity Today 2023 Book Award winner in the fiction category. According to its website, Christianity Today selects “the books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture.”

Count the Nights by Stars is Michelle Shocklee’s second novel with Tyndale, following on the heels of Under the Tulip Tree. This historical time-slip novel explores how two women, connected across decades by an old scrapbook, uncover the truth behind an unsettling tragedy that took place at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897.

In response to this honor, Jan Stob, acquisitions director, shared, “We are so proud to partner with Michelle Shocklee in publishing her award-winning novel, Count the Nights by Stars. We knew she could strike a chord with readers by the strong response to her first novel with us, Under the Tulip Tree. Her stories are always well-researched and bring fresh light to issues that are both heartbreaking and current. I couldn’t be more pleased!”

Shocklee’s books tell stories set in Nashville, Tennessee. Count the Nights by Stars features events around the state’s 1897 centennial celebration with a second story line in 1961 during the growing Civil Rights Movement, as well as the waning years of the historic Maxwell House Hotel and its fascinating and tragic history. A reviewer for Publishers Weekly said, “Shocklee masterfully weaves mystery and romance in this spellbinding study of the horrors of xenophobia and the bravery of those who stand up to it. This is a timely and expertly crafted tale.”

A complete list of award winners can be found on Christianity Today’s website: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/december-web-only/christianity-today-2023-book-awards.html. For media information on Count the Nights by Stars, visit https://mediacenter.tyndale.com/p/count-the-nights-by-stars/9781496459930.

Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Today, Tyndale is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale’s mission is to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible in language that they can relate and respond to. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), and offers nonfiction books that equip readers with Christ-centered insight, counsel, and life-improving stories. In addition, Tyndale publishes fiction from fresh new voices and celebrated authors alike, capturing the imagination of millions of readers. With a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing future generations, Tyndale also publishes children’s products that make God’s Word and wisdom come alive. Tyndale’s independent status allows it to follow its founding model, giving a substantial portion of annual revenue—millions of dollars per year—through corporate donations and the work of Tyndale House Foundation. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

Four Additional Crossway Titles Earn Distinction

December 16, 2022, WHEATON, Ill.—Crossway is excited to announce that Overcoming Apathy: Gospel Hope for Those Who Struggle to Care by Uche Anizor has been named Book of the Year in Christianity Today’s 2023 Book Awards.

Overcoming Apathy takes a fresh look at the widespread problem of apathy and its effect on spiritual maturity, offering practical, biblical advice to break the cycle. This short book is an excellent resource for those struggling with apathy and parents, mentors, and friends who want to support someone in need. “It’s a worthy choice for CT’s Book of the Year,” writes Matt Reynolds, Christianity Today’s books editor. “Across the board, the judges who read and evaluated it commended Anizor for putting his finger on a problem that routinely flies under the radar, even as it sinks so many of God’s people into a spiritual quagmire.”

Justin Taylor, Crossway’s executive vice president of book publishing, writes, “We give thanks to God that Uche Anizor’s first book with Crossway has been recognized as Christianity Today’s Book of the Year. As a gifted theologian and teacher, Dr. Anizor has given the church a real gift with this book, helping us to diagnose and address the problem of spiritual apathy toward the things of God. We offer him hearty congratulations on the occasion of this well-deserved recognition.”

Four additional Crossway titles received awards and honorable mentions within their categories:

• No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions (Crossway, February 2022) by Matt Rhodes, winner in the Missions and Global Church category
• The Dragon and the Stone (The Dream Keeper Saga Book 1) (Crossway, May 2022) by Kathryn Butler, award of merit in the Young Adults category
• Why Believe?: A Reasoned Approach to Christianity (Crossway, June 2022) by Neil Shenvi, finalist in the Apologetics and Evangelism category
• Scribes and Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible (Crossway, October 2022) by John D. Meade and Peter J. Gurry, finalist in the Bible and Devotional category

The Christianity Today Book Awards are presented to books in fifteen different categories, including Theology, Christian Living and Spiritual Formation, and Biblical Studies. According to Christianity Today’s website, winners are nominated for their “capacity to awaken slumbering souls, whether they ring out with theological wisdom, literary beauty, pastoral warmth, or everyday encouragement.”

Founded in 1938, Crossway is a not-for-profit global Christian publishing ministry that publishes gospel-centered, Bible-based content to honor our Savior and serve his church. Crossway seeks to help people understand the all-encompassing implications of the gospel and the truth of God’s word—for all of life, for all eternity, and for the glory of God alone. Crossway is the global publisher of the ESV® (English Standard Version®) Bible, more than 1,000 Christian books, and an extensive list of gospel literature. For additional information, visit crossway.org.

Contact: Lauren Susanto, lsusanto@crossway.org

December 2022 | Bellingham, WA — This month, Lexham Press received six recognitions in Christianity Today’s 2023 Best Book Awards list.

Two titles won Award of Merit in their respective categories:

• Jesus and Gender: Living as Sisters and Brothers in Christ by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Eric Schumacher (Christian Living / Spiritual Formation). This book shows how Jesus’s example speaks to all areas of our lives as men and women and helps bring unity rather than power plays.
• Faith in the Wilderness: Words of Exhortation from the Chinese Church, edited by Hannah Nation and Simon Liu (Missions / Global Church).

Four other titles were finalists in their categories:

• On Earth as in Heaven by Peter J. Leithart (Church / Pastoral Leadership)
• Justification by the Word by Jack D. Kilcrease (Academic Theology)
• Uncommon Unity by Richard Lints (Politics and Public Life)
• Virtuous Persuasion by Michael Niebauer (Missions / Global Church)

Lexham Press also celebrates other award wins from 2022.

Southwestern Journal of Theology Book Awards named Christian Theology by Adam Harwood “Book of the Year” and A Bond between Souls: Friendship in the Letters of Augustine by Coleman Ford also won an award in the Discipleship/Spiritual Formation category.

Northern Lights Book Awards awarded the FatCat children’s book series the winner of their Best Series category.

American Book Fest named three books as 2022 Best Book Award finalists in the Children’s Religious category—The Apostles’ Creed: For All God’s Children, The Lord’s Prayer: For All God’s Children, and The King of Christmas: All God’s Children Search for Jesus.

Earlier this year, The Lord’s Prayer: For All God’s Children won the 2022 Gold Moonbeam Children’s Book Award in the Religion category.

Todd R. Hains, Associate Publisher of Acquisitions and Development, commented, “We love our books and authors, and so we’re always delighted to see that our books resonate with others.”

To learn about Lexham Press, visit lexhampress.com.

Media: Lindsay John Kennedy – Publicity Strategist – lindsay@lexhampress.com

Praise for FatCat series swells

December 2022 | Bellingham, WA — Praise for the FatCat series swells.  Northern Lights Book Awards awarded the FatCat series winner of the Best Series category and American Book Fest named three FatCat books 2022 Best Book Award finalists in the Children’s Religious category—The Apostles’ Creed: For All God’s Children, The Lord’s Prayer: For All God’s Children, and The King of Christmas: All God’s Children Search for Jesus.

Earlier this year, The Lord’s Prayer: For All God’s Children won the 2022 Gold Moonbeam Children’s Book Award in the Religion category.

January 2023 sees the release of the next FatCat book: The King of Easter: Jesus Searches for All God’s Children. The book reminds children of Jesus’s power to save. In The King of Easter, FatCat follows Jesus— from his birth to the cross, resurrection, and beyond—as Jesus seeks and saves the lost. Characters from the Gospels and Acts join in the procession. The Ten Commandments: For All God’s Children is currently in production.

The FatCat series emphasizes the church’s catechism—the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments. These teach and unite Christians across traditions and generations. To keep the catechism approachable and fun, the series features a character named FatCat (“cat” being short for “catechism”). FatCat, a striped gray feline, can be found throughout the book’s pages, learning along with the readers. Each book includes a family devotional and suggested scriptures for further reading.

For more about FatCat, visit http://www.lexhampress.com/FatCat

Media: Lindsay John Kennedy – Publicity Strategist – lindsay@lexhampress.com

CHARLOTTE, NC – Christianity Today has announced The Air We Breathe by Glen Scrivener and Who Am I and Why Do I Matter?, written by Chris Morphew and illustrated by Emma Randall, as winners of the 2022 Christianity Today Book Awards. The Air We Breathe is also a winner in The Gospel Coalition 2022 Book Awards.

The Air We Breathe (The Good Book Company, June 2022) won the award in the Apologetics & Evangelism category for both the 2022 Christianity Today Book Awards and The Gospel Coalition 2022 Book Awards. Author Glen Scrivener is an evangelist and the Director of Speak Life, an organization that exists to share the love of Jesus through creative communication. His book  was also awarded an ECPA Top Shelf Cover Award.

Who Am I and Why Do I Matter? (The Good Book Company, March 2022) won the Young Adults category for the Christianity Today Awards. Chris Morphew is also the author of other books in the Big Questions series, including What Happens When We Die? and Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?. Who Am I and Why Do I Matter? also recieved an honorable mention in the Rooted’s 2022 Book Awards: Best New Books for Teenagers, and a nomination in the Christian Resources Together Award in the Young People category.

Additionally, Read This First by Gary Millar won the Best Book For Teenagers Award from Rooted’s Book Awards. Queen Elizabeth II, a kids’ biography by Alison Mitchell, also received a nomination for the Christian Resources Together Award in the Children category).

The Air We Breathe written by Glen Scrivener
This is a book for both believers and skeptics—giving Christians confidence to be open about their faith and showing non-Christians the ways in which the message of Jesus makes sense of their most cherished beliefs.

Who Am I and Why Do I Matter? written by Chris Morphew, illustrated by Emma Randall
In this warm, empathetic book, author Chris Morphew shows children how to embrace and enjoy their identity as those loved by God and made in his image

For media inquiries and access to promotional assets, contact: publicity@thegoodbook.com.

ABOUT THE GOOD BOOK COMPANY
Founded in 1991, The Good Book Company (TGBC) is an international Christian publisher. Their Bible studies, books, devotionals, videos, tracts, evangelistic courses, and training materials are used throughout the English-speaking world, and in translation in over 35 languages worldwide. Everyone at TGBC is passionate about the Lord Jesus, His word, His church, and His gospel of grace. They create and publish biblical, relevant, and accessible resources that will encourage Christians to keep going, keep growing, and keep sharing their faith.

Ada, Mich. (December 16, 2022)—On Tuesday, December 13, Christianity Today announced their list of winning titles for the 2023 Book Awards, which included a Baker Academic title: Jesus and the God of Classical Theism by Steven J. Duby.

In addition to this winning title, two Baker Academic titles were named a finalist in their category, and two Baker Academic titles received an award of merit.

Every year Christianity Today reviews numerous titles and compiles a list of books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture. To view the complete list of winning titles, please visit Christianity Today’s 2023 Book Awards.

Theology (academic)

Jesus and the God of Classical Theism: Biblical Christology in Light of the Doctrine of God by Steven J. Duby
(ISBN 9781540967114; $50.00, Ebook ISBN 9781493420575; $55.00)
This work of serious dogmatics by a Reformed theologian explains why Christology should be connected to a robust doctrine of God.

Apologetics/Evangelism (Award of Merit)

Is God a Vindictive Bully?: Reconciling Portrayals of God in the Old and New Testaments by Paul Copan
(ISBN 9781540964557; Ebook ISBN 9781493437993; $27.99)
Leading apologist and scholar Paul Copan examines challenging Old Testament texts, placing them in their larger historical and theological context to help readers reconcile the seemingly disconnected natures of God portrayed in the Old and New Testaments.

Biblical Studies (Finalist)

The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary by David F. Ford
(ISBN 9781540964083; Ebook ISBN 9781493432271; $52.99)
One of the world’s leading Christian theologians invites readers into a fresh, profound encounter with Jesus through the Gospel of John in this comprehensive theological commentary.

History/Biography (Finalist)

A History of Contemporary Praise & Worship: Understanding the Ideas That Reshaped the Protestant Church by Lester Ruth and Lim Swee Hong
(ISBN 9780801098284; Ebook ISBN 9781493432547; $44.99)
Two worship experts provide the first comprehensive history of Contemporary Praise & Worship, offering insight into where it began and how it reshaped the Protestant church.

Theology (academic) (Award of Merit)

Trinitarian Dogmatics: Exploring the Grammar of the Christian Doctrine of God by D. Glenn Butner Jr.
(ISBN 9781540962232; Ebook ISBN 9781493436491; $29.99)
This introduction draws on the breadth of the Christian tradition to present a biblically grounded, globally informed, and conceptually precise account of the doctrine of the Trinity.

 

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

Contact: Lydia Gustafson, (616) 676-9185 x347, lgustafson@bakerpublishinggroup.com