Ada, Mich., March 24, 2022— Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce the acquisition of four devotions and one children’s book from bestselling author and host of LIFE Today, Sheila Walsh.

Walsh is an award-winning author known for her inspirational Christian books, including Holding On When You Want to Let Go, Praying Women, and It’s Okay Not to Be Okay. Walsh has sold over 5 million books. Her new line of devotionals will include an Advent devotional, releasing in fall 2023. “I am honored and excited to broaden and expand my publishing relationship with Baker publishing, sharing their vision to build up the Body of Christ,” says Walsh.

“Sheila Walsh has been a flagship author at Baker Books for five years, and we’re thrilled to continue our partnership and offer a more robust publishing program,” says Rebekah Guzman, Editorial Director of Baker Books. “Sheila writes transformative content that meets readers where they’re at and her books continue to reach a broad audience and change lives around the world. We look forward to building on our success together by adding new devotional and children’s products in the future.”

Sheila Walsh is represented by Shannon Marven, Dupree/Miller & Associates.

Baker Books has a vision for building up the body of Christ through books that are relevant, intelligent, and engaging. Learn more at www.BakerBooks.com.

Sheila Walsh is a powerful communicator, Bible teacher, and bestselling author with more than 5 million books sold. She is the author of It’s Okay Not to Be Okay, Praying Women, and the award-winning Praying Girls Devotional. She is cohost of LIFE Today with James and Betty Robison, with more than 100 million potential viewers each day. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, Barry, and their two pups, Tink and Maggie. They have one son, Christian, who is in graduate school.

Contact: Holly Scheevel, hmaxwell@bakerpublishinggroup.com

The Inkwell Chronicles series debut scheduled for September 2022

(Nashville, TN) – WorthyKids, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, is excited to announce a new partnership with debut author J.D. Peabody to release an exciting fast-paced middle grade fantasy series, The Inkwell Chronicles. Book 1 of the series, The Ink of Elspet, is set to release in September 2022, with book 2 following in 2023.

“I began this project as a labor of love,” says Peabody. “It’s been my way of paying tribute to the books that captured my imagination when I was young. Hopefully, another generation will have as much fun reading this series as I have had writing it.”

In the first book of the series, siblings Everett and Bea discover a curious pen with magical Ink that opens their eyes to impossible magic, formidable allies, and dangerous villains who are determined to destroy everything they hold dear. It’s a knock-your-socks-off debut tied together with a moving message—that powerful change can be achieved by just one creative mind, one open heart.

“When I first read the manuscript for The Ink of Elspet, I was struck by the richly imaginative world J.D. Peabody had built,” says Melinda Rathjen, senior editor at WorthyKids. “The story read like a movie script and was bursting with action, humor, and heart. I felt the same way I had reading A Wrinkle in Time for the first time—utterly captivated.”

Perfect for fans of The Silver Arrow and the Bookwanderers, as well as fans of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, this classic battle of good and evil can be enjoyed by ages 8–12—and anyone who loves fantasy. The series debut will be supported with a national publicity campaign, trade and consumer advertising, bookstagram tour and influencer outreach, and school & library promotions. Follow along with the Inkwell Chronicles on social media at #FindTheInkwells.

Author J.D. Peabody has been honing his storytelling skills since childhood, in contexts as varied as advertising, song lyrics, screenplays and sermons. He and his wife live in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest. J.D. is also the author of the upcoming book for grown-ups entitled, Perfectly Suited.

WorthyKids is an imprint of Hachette Nashville, creating colorful and engaging books from board books to middle grade for ages 1 to 12.

Ada, Mich. (March 25, 2022)— Foreword Reviews magazine recently announced the finalists for the 2021 INDIES Book of the Year Awards. Three Brazos Press titles were chosen as finalists, all in the Adult Nonfiction Religion category. The titles are Heavy Burdens by Bridget Eileen Rivera, Reparations by Duke L. Kwon and Gregory Thompson, and The Making of Biblical Womanhood by Beth Allison Barr.

As part of its mission to discover, review, and share the best books from university and independent publishers, Foreword Reviews hosts an annual awards program. Teams of librarian and bookseller judges from across the country are currently deciding the winners. Winners in each genre will be announced on June 16, 2022.

Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church
by Bridget Eileen Rivera
(Brazos Press; ISBN 9781587434839, Ebook ISBN 9781493432677, $19.99p)
Provides an honest account of the ways LGBTQ people experience discrimination in the church, helping Christians grapple with hard realities and empowering churches across the theological spectrum to navigate better paths forward.

Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair
by Duke L. Kwon and Gregory Thompson
(Brazos Press; ISBN 9781587434501, Ebook ISBN 9781493429578, $24.99c)
This book articulates the church’s responsibility for the deep racial brokenness at the heart of American culture, investigates the Bible’s call to repair it, and offers a vision for the work of reparation at the local level.

The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth
by Beth Allison Barr
(Brazos Press; ISBN 9781587434709, Ebook ISBN 9781493429639, $19.99p)
A trusted historian shows that “biblical womanhood” isn’t biblical but arose from a series of clearly definable historical moments, and presents a better way forward for the contemporary church.

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

The author of bestselling Christian living book Gentle and Lowly is back to help us plough even further into the depths of Jesus’s grace. This time his target audience is surprising: obedient Christians.

In Surprised by Jesus (April 1, 2022), Ortlund argues that we all have “law-marinated hearts.” That deep down we want to resist God’s grace, instead conforming our lives to a moral framework, playing by the rules, meeting a minimum standard.

We rightly recognize our inadequacy and feel safer this way. But it’s exhausting and Jesus has so much more for us.

Written in Ortlund’s signature pastoral tone, he helps us to see our need to be surprised by Jesus and for him to defy all our expectations. “Left in neutral, all of us tend to slide away from the wonder of the gospel,” Ortlund says. “My aim in this book is to help us cherish the gospel.”

Dane Ortlund is senior pastor of Naperville Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois. He is the author of the bestselling book, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. Dane and his wife, Stacey, have five children.

Evangelical Press is an imprint of 10Publishing, a division of 10ofthose.com. Our passion at 10Publishing is to publish quality Christian resources that are biblical, accessible, affordable and point to Jesus.

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Quotes from the book:

“Like a bad back that needs to return repeatedly to the chiropractor for straightening out, our understanding of Jesus needs to be straightened out over and over again as our poor spiritual posture throws our perception of him out of line — domesticating him and conforming him to our image, rather than transforming us into his image.”

“However much we may pay tribute to grace with our lips, our hearts are so thoroughly marinated in law that the Christian life must be, at core, one of continually bathing our hearts and minds in gospel grace.”

“This book is a call to embrace the flooding liberations of the gospel all the way down — not the decaffeinated grace that pats us on the hand, ignores our deepest rebellions, and doesn’t change us, but the high-octane grace that takes our conscience by the scruff of the neck and breathes new life into us with a pardon so scandalous that we cannot help but be changed.”

“Jesus doesn’t crowbar us into change. He surprises us into change. Keeping the rules no more extinguishes the sin in our hearts than buckets of gasoline extinguish the flames in our fireplace.”

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5-star reader reviews

“Life shattering” • “See afresh the amazing grace of Jesus Christ” • “You’ll love the real Jesus more by the end of this book.” • “Had me leaping for joy”

 

NEW IMPRINT WILL FOCUS ON NONFICTION TITLES BY AND FOR COURAGEOUS WOMEN

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (March 25, 2022) – David C Cook has announced a new imprint, Esther Press, which will publish diverse voices that encourage and equip women to walk courageously in the light of God’s truth. A portion of Esther Press sales will be invested in women’s ministry partnerships around the globe. Susan McPherson, who leads the new imprint, has already acquired three titles set to release in 2022 with nine more titles lined up for 2023.

David C Cook CEO John Aden says: “David C Cook wants to empower women to flourish as confident disciples of Jesus and leaders in their communities. I am so excited to introduce Esther Press, which will amplify women’s voices while offering a foundation of faith deeply rooted in God’s Word.”

“For years, I have dreamed of establishing a line of books and resources laser-focused on encouraging and equipping women to be committed disciples of Jesus who are eager to serve others in their homes, churches, and communities.” says Susan McPherson, Acqusitions Editor and Women’s Community Lead for David C Cook. “Esther Press is that dream realized.”

Esther Press has announced three new titles for release in fall 2022:

Stand in Confidence by Amanda Pittman (September)

Amanda is is a proud wife and mother of two, author, ministry leader, speaker, and entrepreneur. She is founder of Confident Woman Co., a ministry that uses online challenges, groups, live events, & more to equip women to stand confidently upon the finished work of Jesus. Amanda will keynote at 2022 She Speaks Conference. ConfidentWomanCo.com  IG: @amandapittman  Podcast: Confident Woman

Take Back Your Joy by Nicole Jacobsmeyer (October)

Nicole has a passion for helping women walk in victory, joy, and faith in the face of trials, sorrow, and suffering. Nicole and her husband have four children and reside in North Carolina. Nicole spends her spare time sharing her faith and encouraging women on her blog, podcast and lifestyle website.

NicoleJacobsmeyer.com  IG: @nicole.jacobsmeyer  Podcast: Embracing Chaos

Follow God’s Will by Brittany Ann (October)

Brittany is a bestselling author, speaker, and founder of a popular Christian living website which has been featured by CBN, Christian Post, Crosswalk, and more. Brittany is married to a godly husband, and together they have three adorably energetic children. EquippingGodlyWomen.com  IG: equippinggodlywomen    Podcast: Equipping Godly Women

In 2023, Esther Press will publish new works from popular speakers and authors including:

• Lisa Whittle
• Lina Abujamra
• Rebecca Dotson George
• Rachael Gilbert
• Laura Krokos
• Erica Renaud
• Katy McCown
• Natalie Runion
• Cynthia Yanof

Esther Press is an imprint of David C Cook which publishes biblical resources by and for courageous women. With a focus on transformation, Esther Press encourages and equips women to walk courageously in the light of God’s truth for such a time as this. Esther Press partners with ministries around the world to equip, encourage, and disciple women. Esther Press – David C Cook

David C Cook is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping the global church with leadership, discipleship, and worship resources to help Christians grow in faith and pass it along to the next generation. To find out more about David C Cook and global ministry outreach, please visit www.davidccook.org.

Ada, Mich. (March 28, 2022)— Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce it recently signed a book deal with Sibil Fox and Robert Richardson, known as Fox and Rob, a popular New Orleans based couple with an Oscar-nominated Amazon Original documentary about their lives and love as an incarcerated family.

“Fox and Rob are a living testament to radical love,” said Stephanie Smith, senior editor, Baker. “The more our team learns about their unforgettable story, the more we are blown away—and readers are next. Baker Books is honored to partner with them in bringing the fullness of their story—in their own alternating voices, in striking detail—to readers everywhere.”

Their first book, scheduled for a February 2023 release, is tentatively titled TIME: The Untold Story of the Love That Held Us Together When Incarceration Kept Us Apart.

Fox and Rob are represented by agent Caitlyn Hoyt of Creative Artist Agency.

“We are ecstatic about the opportunities that lie ahead in our partnership with Baker Books to bring our untold story behind the Oscar-nominated Amazon original documentary, TIME, to the world,” said Fox and Rob. “Like Baker Books, the cornerstone of our success for decades has been family. And when families unite, something extraordinary happens.”

Affectionately known among their peers as FoxandRob, Sibil Fox and Robert Richardson, endured and survived 21 years as an incarcerated family. FoxandRob have touched the lives of millions worldwide as the subjects of the Oscar nominated Amazon Original documentary, TIME. They believe that to be free is to free others. Through their social justice initiative, PDMNOLA (Participatory Defense Movement New Orleans), they have committed their lives and resources to bringing not only greater awareness but sustainable solutions to families suffering from the hardships associated with crime and punishment. These high school sweethearts are the proud parents of six sons and reside in New Orleans.

Baker Books has a vision for building up the body of Christ through books that are relevant, intelligent, and engaging. We publish titles for lay Christians on topics such as discipleship, apologetics, spirituality, relationships, marriage, parenting, and the intersection of Christianity and culture. We also publish books and ministry resources for pastors and church leaders, concentrating on topics such as preaching, worship, pastoral ministries, counseling, biblical reference, and leadership. Learn more at www.BakerBooks.com.

Contact: Kelli B. Smith, (616) 676-9185 x394, ksmith@bakerpublishinggroup.com  

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Kregel Publications is pleased to announce that five titles have been recognized as finalists in the 24th annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

Family & Relationships: Views from the Spectrum by Ron Sandison
Religious Fiction: The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady by Sharon J. Mondragón
Historical Fiction: Dusk’s Darkest Shores by Carolyn Miller
Romance: Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong
Roots of Wood and Stone by Amanda Wen

Views from the Spectrum, by Ron Sandison, offers a remarkable inside look at the intersection of faith and autism for parents longing to connect their children with God’s love. As a thriving adult with autism himself, Ron Sandison is determined to educate the world on the gifts and talents autism can cultivate–even when they differ from our expectations of typical success.

Sharon Mondragón makes her debut with The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady, a “charming tale of knitting, faith, and change” (Publishers Weekly) that beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ.

Dusk’s Darkest Shores, by Carolyn Miller, is the first book in the new Regency Wallflowers series and follows Mary Bloomfield as she tries to help a returning war hero whose dreams have been plunged into darkness.

In Husband Auditions, by Angela Ruth Strong, Meri Newberg is tired of being single and decides to follow the advice of a 1950’s magazine on “ways to get a husband.” With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, this novel offers a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating.

Amanda Wen’s Roots of Wood and Stone is a split-time novel that shows how our actions ripple for generations. Garrett Anderson is just looking to clean out his mother’s house, but the old diaries he finds will send historical museum curator Sloane Kelley on a heart-wrenching journey through the past.

Winners in each genre–along with Editor’s Choice Prize winners and Foreword’s INDIE Publisher of the Year–will be announced on Foreword’s website on June 16, 2022.

Kregel Publications is an evangelical Christian publisher that aims to develop and distribute–with integrity and excellence–trusted, biblically based resources that lead individuals to know and serve Jesus Christ.

WESTMONT, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce that six IVP titles have been recognized as finalists in the annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

As part of its mission to discover, review, and share the best books from university and independent publishers, Foreword Reviews hosts an annual awards program each year. Finalists represent the best books published in 2021. More than 2,500 entries spread across 55 genres were submitted for consideration. The finalists were determined by Foreword’s editorial team. Winners are now being decided by teams of librarian and bookseller judges from across the country.

IVP books were chosen as finalists in the following adult nonfiction categories:

Autobiography & Memoir

When Thoughts and Prayers Aren’t Enough: A Shooting Survivor’s Journey into the Realities of Gun Violence

Taylor Schumann survived a school shooting, yet she was left with permanent wounds, both visible and invisible. Weaving her own incredible story into a larger conversation about gun violence in America, Taylor shares another painful truth: Christians have largely been silent on this issue. With compassion and honesty, she encourages readers to join her in taking action for a safer future.

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Body, Mind & Spirit

The Journey Toward Wholeness: Enneagram Wisdom for Stress, Balance, and Transformation

In a world of constant change and complexity, how can we achieve lasting transformation in our lives? Using the wisdom of the Enneagram, expert teacher Suzanne Stabile opens the concept of three Centers of Intelligence: thinking, feeling, and doing. When we learn to manage these centers in relation to our Enneagram number, we open a path to reducing fear, improving relationships, and finding wholeness.

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Grief/Grieving

Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep

Framed around a nighttime prayer of Compline, Tish Harrison Warren, author of the award-winning Liturgy of the Ordinary, explores themes of human vulnerability, suffering, and God’s seeming absence. When she navigated a time of doubt and loss, the prayer was grounding for her. She writes that practices of prayer “gave words to my anxiety and grief and allowed me to reencounter the doctrines of the church not as tidy little antidotes for pain, but as a light in darkness, as good news.”

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History

We the Fallen People: The Founders and the Future of American Democracy

The success and survival of American democracy have never been guaranteed. Arguing that we must take an unflinching look at the nature of democracy—and therefore, ourselves—historian Robert Tracy McKenzie explores the ideas of human nature in the history of American democratic thought, from the nation’s Founders through the Jacksonian Era and Alexis de Tocqueville.

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Political and Social Sciences

Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry into the News

When we read the news, we are not merely informed—we’re also formed. In this refreshing call to put the news in its place, Jeffrey Bilbro helps us gain a theological and historical perspective on the nature and very purpose of news. Offering an alternative vision of the rhythms of life, he suggests thoughtful practices for media consumption in order to cultivate healthier ways of reading and being.

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Religion

The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, and Community

Desire and beauty go hand in hand. But both our craving to be known and our ability to create beauty have been marred by shame and trauma, collapsing our imagination for what God has for us. Weaving together neuroscience and spiritual formation, psychiatrist Curt Thompson presents a powerful picture of what it means to be human.

Winners in each genre—along with Editor’s Choice Prize winners and Foreword’s Independent Publisher of the Year—will be announced June 16, 2022.

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com.

Contact: Krista Clayton, 630.734.4013, kclayton@ivpress.com

She Reads Truth Bible Becomes Holman’s Best-Selling CSB Bible to Date

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 18, 2022) – Holman Bibles announces that the She Reads Truth Bible has topped 500,000 units sold, making it Holman’s highest-selling CSB Bible to date. The Bible released in 2017 in partnership with She Reads Truth™, an online Bible reading community connecting more than one million women via its website, mobile app and social media platforms. The She Reads Truth Bible, one of the first Bibles published in the Christian Standard Bible^® (CSB) translation, was awarded an ECPA Gold Milestone Sales Award in 2021.

“The She Reads Truth™ community has embraced and championed this study Bible since day one,” says Andy McLean, Publisher, Holman Bible and Reference. “The She Reads Truth Bible is literally helping hundreds of thousands of women engage meaningfully with Scripture, and we are confident that its impact will continue to grow in the years to come. It is a privilege to partner alongside of them and their impactful ministry.”

“Working with the She Reads Truth team to tell the story of this beautifully unique setting for God’s Word has been a fantastic journey,” comments marketing strategist Eric Mullett. “The wonderful reality is that interest in the
She Reads Truth Bible continues to thrive, with its website (SheReadsTruthBible.com) hitting a new milestone of more than one million unique visits plus exceptional ad performance.”

Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams, the founders of She Reads Truth^™ and co-editors of the She Reads Truth Bible, are encouraged to see this Bible reaching so many women. “We are rejoicing to see women spending time in God’s Word and growing in their affection for Scripture. Every design and study element within The She Reads Truth Bible was intended as an invitation to engage with the beauty of God’s Word.”

The She Reads Truth Bible features a variety of study tools, design elements and devotional aids and is available in multiple formats:

• 66 illustrated key verses
• 35 full-color timelines
• 20 full-color maps
• 11 full-color charts
• Reading plans for all books of the Bible
• One-year Bible reading plan
• 66 detailed book introductions
• Key verse list
• Carefully curated topical index
• Wide margins for journaling and notes
• Smyth-sewn binding
• 189 devotional readings from She Reads Truth^™ founders & contributors
• Available in linen, LeatherTouch, leather and indexed formats

She Reads Truth^™ is a worldwide community of women who read God’s Word together every day. Founded in 2012, She Reads Truth invites women of all ages to engage Scripture through daily reading plans, online conversation led by a vibrant community of contributors, and offline resources created at the intersection of beauty, goodness, and truth. Learn more at SheReadsTruth.com or on socials at @shereadstruth.

Raechel Myers is the founder and CEO of She Reads Truth, He Reads Truth, and Kids Read Truth. A reluctant writer but lover of story, she delights in the evidence of God’s beauty, goodness, and truth in everyday life. Raechel and her husband live in Nashville, Tennessee, with their two children.

Amanda Bible Williams is co-founder and chief content officer of She Reads Truth, He Reads Truth, and Kids Read Truth. A lover of words and the Word, Amanda spends her days reading and leading, writing and editing, and explaining that her maiden name really is Bible. She lives with her husband and their four children in a lively farmhouse just south of Nashville, Tennessee.

The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) is a highly trustworthy, faithful translation that is proven to be an optimal blend of accuracy and readability. It’s as literal to the original as possible without sacrificing clarity. The CSB is poised to become the translation that pastors rely on and Bible readers turn to again and again to read and to share with others.

Holman Bibles is the oldest Bible publisher in North America, publishing high quality Bibles and reference resources that are trustworthy, accessible, and useful for the pursuit of lifelong discipleship. Print and digital releases include the She Reads Truth™ Bible, the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible, the Tony Evans Bible Commentary, and the Rainbow Study Bible. Holman Bibles is a subsidiary of B&H Publishing Group.

Media Contact: Jana Muntsinger, 832.247.9308, Jana@mmpublicrelations.com

Elk Lake Publishing, Plymouth, MA, announces Mark Alan Leslie’s novel, A Cause Most Splendid: The Battle for the Bible, has won the American Family Associations’ Best Novel of the Year.

In the March edition of AFA Journal, Editor Randall Murphree writes: “Master storyteller Mark Alan Leslie is back again with an engaging and informative historical novel … that advances Leslie’s reputation as one of today’s most gifted Christian novelists.”

The book, based on the life of Common Sense and Congressional Journal Publisher Robert Aitken, shows that if history teaches anything it is that religious freedom isn’t always free and some men and women must risk all to preserve it.

In 1776 the Royal Family owned the copyright to the Bible and anyone printing Bibles without their permission faced death or imprisonment. With American troops calling for more copies of God’s Word, Aitken and his family took that risk and, to do so, had to avoid British troops hunting them down.

Publisher Deb Haggerty says, “A Cause Most Splendid tells one of those Revolutionary War-era stories not commonly known but of utmost importance to the patriot cause.”

Leslie has published several other books with Elk Lake including the three-book Thrill of the Hunt series, The Crossing—about the KKK activity in Maine, The Last Ayilah, and Torn Asunder.