WESTMONT, IL—Two IVP Kids titles have been named finalists for the first annual Jerry Pinkney Children’s Book Awards. Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit and The Celebration Place are two of five finalists in the religion category.

The Jerry Pinkney Children’s Book Awards are sponsored by the National Black Book Festival (NBBF) and were established in honor of the late Jerry Pinkney, a world-renowned children’s book illustrator. Nominated titles for the award must be copyrighted in 2021 or 2022 and be either written by an African American author or have an African American theme.

Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit was written by Esau McCaulley and illustrated by LaTonya Jackson. This IVP Kids book tells the story of Josey, who is spending the day with her dad, getting her hair braided at Monique’s Beauty Shop, and picking out a new red dress for Pentecost Sunday. In the process, she learns to celebrate the differences she sees all around her as part of God’s plan for his creation.

Benjamin Watson, author of Under Our Skin and The New Dad’s Playbook, said, “God has created beauty in diversity. But in a world that can be uniquely unkind to our Black girls, I have known the responsibility and privilege of intentionally celebrating their inner and outer glory. In Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit, Esau McCaulley reminds me of deep conversations with my own beautiful daughters, appreciating their differences, affirming God’s love, and telling them they are valuable beyond measure. This message is for today.”

The Celebration Place: God’s Plan for a Delightfully Diverse Church was written by Dorena Williamson and illustrated by Erin Bennett Banks. Told in a delightful rhyme, this colorfully illustrated children’s book also includes tools to help parents engage in conversation about the book’s theme of God’s vision for justice and unity.

Natalie Grant, singer, songwriter, and cofounder of Hope for Justice, said, “Dorena has such a beautiful yet compelling way of writing about these most important topics of justice and unity. Yes, The Celebration Place will inspire children to walk this message out better than the generation before them did. But I also believe it will help challenge the parents, teachers, and leaders of these children that it’s not too late to do the same.”

The award winners in each category will be announced on October 22 at the 2022 National Black Book Festival in Houston. At that time, a grand prize winner will also be announced and receive a $250 grand prize.

More information about the Jerry Pinkney Children’s Book Awards is available at www.jerrypinkneybookawards.com

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

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

New Masterful Suspense From New York Times Bestselling Author Jerry B. Jenkins: Dead Sea Conspiracy Book 2 in the Dead Sea Chronicles Series

“Jerry B. Jenkins is not only my dad (and my hero), but he’s also the writer of dozens of books I’ve devoured. I know you’re going to love his latest novel, Dead Sea Conspiracy.”
-Dallas Jenkins, Creator/Director, The Chosen

NASHVILLE, TN—Readers looking for a master storyteller will find none better than best-selling author Jerry B. Jenkins. The thrills continue in his new release, Dead Sea Conspiracy, the second novel in his Dead Sea Chronicles.  Readers will be excited to continue the journey of archeologist Nicole Berman, who they met in Dead Sea Rising, when she was preparing for her first dig in Jordan. In Dead Sea Conspiracy, the adventure ramps up, as Nicole is awarded a permit to dig in Saudi Arabia. Being the first woman to do so only increases the pressure, and as the dig continues the stakes are raised as she finds what she believes to be the key to unifying the three major religions.  Jenkins adds another layer, a parallel story where readers are launched back into ancient Ur, and the story of young Abram—who will become the father of nations.  Readers will be eager to figure out what ties together these parallel story lines.

“The challenge, and the joy, of being a novelist is that I get to, in essence, be the characters I invent and write about,” Jenkins says. “In the case of Dead Sea Conspiracy, I loved being a late-thirties woman archaeologist with two earned doctorates – about as far from my daily reality as one could get. But in alternating chapters, I also got to be the father of Old Testament patriarch Abraham from four millennia ago – again, except for gender, eons from my own identity. The fact that my character (Terah) had a son whose life literally intersected with Noah’s sons allowed me to imagine the boy talking with a man and his wife about their experiences on the ark.  That the contemporary story and the ancient one resonates with each other makes this novel complex and, I hope, compelling for the reader. I had great fun with it and believe the message is timeless. “

Just in time for the perfect late summer read, in Dead Sea Conspiracy fans of Jenkins and new fans alike will come along on the adventure of a lifetime. Readers will also love reading about Abram, and will quickly figure out why the parallel story is so important to the times we live in.  From the Prelude, which covers Dead Sea Rising, to the Postlude, which readers will not want to miss, Jenkins has done it again in Dead Sea Conspiracy, sharing his amazing ability to entertain, educate, and challenge through the power of story.

Jerry B. Jenkins‘ books have sold more than seventy million copies. Twenty-one of his titles have reached the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. The phenomenally bestselling Left Behind series inspired a movie starring Nicolas Cage. Jenkins has been featured on the cover of Newsweek and his writing has appeared in Time, Reader’s Digest, Guideposts, and dozens of other periodicals. He owns the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, coaching thousands of aspiring writers in both fiction and nonfiction. Jerry and his wife, Dianna, have three grown sons and live in Colorado. More information can be found at www.JerryJenkins.com.

Dead Sea Conspiracy
Jerry B. Jenkins
Worthy Books
ISBN13:  9781546014225
August 23, 2022, Hardcover
320 pages, $15.99

Media Contact: Jeane Wynn, 918-630-9695, Jeane@wynnwynnmedia.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Kregel Publications is pleased to announce that On Purpose by Julie Zine Coleman has won the AWSA Golden Scroll Awards Book of the Year for 2022.

On Purpose is a serious study of the verses in the Bible that are often interpreted to demarcate the role of women in the church, at home, and in the workplace. Each chapter focuses on a single passage, considering what it meant to the original recipients, understanding each author’s intent, and applying the passage’s true meaning in today’s cultural setting.

“Julie Coleman’s On Purpose is a delightful contribution to the growing resources for women called to, and gifted for, Christian leadership. It is at once biblically faithful, academically sound, gracious toward those with whom she disagrees, and accessible to a broad readership. The timeless principles she draws from the ancient texts are indeed good news for today’s church.”  — Ronald W. Pierce, professor of biblical and theological studies at Biola University

The Golden Scroll Awards were announced at the Golden Scroll Banquet on Sunday, August 14, at the Lexington Convention Center in Lexington, KY.  For more information, visit AWSA.com.

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.

Contact: Kregel Publicity Department, 616-451-4775, publicity@kregel.com, www.kregel.com

 

Restoration Is One of God’s Specialties

New Bible study of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah helps readers see God faithfully at work in the messiness of life

Greensboro, NC—The story of Ezra and Nehemiah plays out against a backdrop of ruins. There’s a ruined city, a ruined house of worship, ruined homes—and a ruined life with God. As is often the case in our own lives, the wreckage was largely their own fault. They and their ancestors acted foolishly, unfaithfully, and godlessly. Their path to rebuilding, at its core, was a journey back to God.

In Ezra and Nehemiah: Rebuilding What’s Ruined (New Growth Press/August 15, 2022), Iain M. Duguid leads readers in a study that encourages them to return to the God who is always faithful, even when it seems as if everything has fallen apart.

Duguid dives into lamenting sin, facing opposition, worshipping faithfully, and battling discouragement. This study will renew participants’ joy in the Lord and encourage them to turn away from their own way and toward God, ultimately discovering Jesus is the one who rebuilds and brings new life where there is ruin and decay.

“The Book of Ezra-Nehemiah shows us the rebuilding of Jerusalem in three phases, each with distinct leaders and conducted in the face of stiff opposition. Each leader accomplishes a significant goal in the restoration of God’s people, through God’s strength, but even at the end, the people are left short of full redemption from exile, and every accomplishment remains threatened,” Duguid explains. “People tend to make heroes out of Ezra and (especially) Nehemiah, who they then want to model themselves on, but they miss the bigger picture of how these books point us to Christ. Only Jesus can provide the perfect leadership necessary to restore the fortunes of the Lord’s people and complete their redemption.”

Each of the ten lessons in Ezra and Nehemiah: Rebuilding What’s Ruined includes rich discussion questions, exercises, and articles to encourage deep examination of the text for one-to-one discipleship, small group, or large group settings. The study will help set realistic expectations for the work of God in a fallen world, distinguishing between the “now” and the “not yet.”

“The vital message the book of Ezra-Nehemiah had for its original readers and has for us today is that ‘success’ is not the measure of a ministry—faithfulness is,” shares Duguid. “God remains faithfully at work in and through us in the messiness of life and ministry in this fallen world, and small triumphs should be celebrated even when so much sin and brokenness continue to be evident in our lives and our churches. But our calling is to obey God in our daily callings, regardless of the outcome.”

Michael Horton, a professor at Westminster Seminary California writes, “Rebuilding ruins seems like a pretty relevant topic right now. We look at our world, society, family, church, and ourselves and can see both a lot of work God has done and work he hasn’t finished yet. More important than all of this, though, is how Iain Duguid points us to Christ, revealing the message of these transitional prophets in the light of God’s unfolding plan. Read, mark, and inwardly digest this wonderful study of God’s Word.”

Ezra and Nehemiah: Rebuilding What’s Ruined is part of The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible series published by New Growth Press in partnership with Serge. Each book in the series examines how the gospel story is revealed throughout both the Old and New Testaments. The other two new releases in the series are Isaiah: Good News for the Wayward and Wandering by Jonathan Gibson and 1 Peter: Life as an Outsider by Robert H. Thune. For a full list of studies and authors, including releases in The Gospel-Centered Life for Students series, visit newgrowthpress.com.

Ezra and Nehemiah: Rebuilding What’s Ruined
Study Guide with Leader’s Notes
The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible Series
by Iain M. Duguid
August 15, 2022/ Retail Price: $16.99
Print ISBN 978-1-64507-244-7
Religion/Biblical Studies/Bible Study Guides

Iain Duguid is a professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary. He received his PhD at the University of Cambridge in 1992, his MDiv at Westminster Theological Seminary in 1989, and his BSc at the University of Edinburgh in 1981. He also served as a missionary in Liberia, West Africa before attending Westminster and planted churches in Oxford, England, Fallbrook, CA, Grove City and Glenside, PA.  He’s the author of Ezekiel and the Leaders of Israel, Esther & Ruth, Daniel, and Song of Songs in the Reformed Expository Commentary, as well as Jonah: Grace for Sinners and Saints, among many other titles. Ezra and Nehemiah: Rebuilding What’s Ruined is his second book in the Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible series. His first, Jonah: Grace for Sinners and Saints, was a finalist in the ECPA’s 2020 Christian Book Awards. Duguid and his wife, Barbara, have been married for more than thirty years and have six adult children.

Serge is an international missions organization that sees God weaving together the frayed edges of our tattered world with His goodness, creating something beautiful. Their work consists of sending and caring for missionaries, mentoring and discipling ministry leaders around the world, and developing gospel-centered resources—such Sonship and The Gospel-Centered Life—for on-going gospel renewal. Learn more at serge.org.

For review copy and interview information, contact:
Audra Jennings – audra@newgrowthpress.com – 903.874.8363

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What Others Are Saying:

“This format is just what so many small groups have been looking for to study, discuss, and apply the Bible together. Dr. Duguid’s sound insights and questions on the text, combined with an interactive way to go about applying this to real life, make this no-homework-required guide to these important Old Testament books a real winner.”
~ Nancy Guthrie, Author; Bible teacher

“When Jesus said that the entire Old Testament was actually about him, he even meant the story and struggles of the returning exiles in Ezra and Nehemiah. You might wonder how that could possibly be true, written as it was hundreds of years beforehand. In this illuminating but also deeply personal study, Iain Duguid will help you see the context of these books and then also place them within a communal study that you’ll embark on as you find Jesus even there. I was personally encouraged and edified by this study, and I’m sure you will be, too.”
~ Elyse M. Fitzpatrick, Author of Finding the Love of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation

“Broken people, who inhabit a world ruined by past sins and present miseries, need repentance, courage, and hope. These come only from God’s grace. That’s the story of Judah’s returning exiles, and the story of our lives. This engaging, heart-searching guide for small groups points us through Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Ezra, and Nehemiah to Jesus, who alone heals our brokenness.”
~ Dennis E. Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology, Westminster Seminary California

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Suggested Interview Questions:

• The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible series examines how the gospel story is revealed throughout both the Old and New Testaments. How does the rebuilding of the temple in Ezra and Nehemiah point to Jesus?
• What are some of the themes that run throughout these two Biblical books?
• Ezra and Nehemiah were considered one book in Bible times. What gets lost when we don’t study them together?
• Why do American Evangelicals gravitate to Nehemiah’s leadership and ignore Ezra?
• Ezra and Nehemiah were two men considered leaders in the rebuilding of the temple and wall, but you say the book is really a story of ordinary men and a community of God’s people at work. What can we learn when we look at the collective whole of those involved in the rebuilding?
• Even if these two men weren’t the heroes of the story, what are some positive characteristics they possessed that are good to model in our own lives?
• Many who were involved in the rebuilding were disappointed that the temple didn’t measure up to the grandeur it was before. How does this parallel our modern-day discouragement over the progress of God’s work in our personal lives and in our churches?
• How is our vision of being successful in our calling different from God’s version of success?
• It’s easy to become discouraged when we look around and see how far the world has turned from God. What encouragement can we gain from this study especially when it comes to facing the opposition around us?
• You write about how the Israelites celebrated the various feasts of their religious calendar during the process of rebuilding. What can those celebrations remind us about worship today?
• How does Nehemiah 13 stand apart from the rest of the entire narrative of the book? What is the takeaway from that chapter?
• What are the elements of each lesson, and how is the study designed to be used?
• Your Ezra and Nehemiah study is a part of the Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible series. What other studies are available in the series?

Ada, Mich. (August 9, 2022)—Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce that The Healing of Natalie Curtis has been selected as a finalist in the 2022 WILLA Literary Awards for Historical Fiction.

Women Writing the West (WWW), which is a nonprofit association of writers and professionals who write and promote the Women’s West, underwrites and presents the nationally recognized award on an annual basis. The WILLA Literary Award acknowledges “the best in literature, featuring women’s or girl’s stories set in the North American West.” Awards will be presented at the WWW Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on October 20-22.

The Healing of Natalie Curtis by Jane Kirkpatrick (Revell; ISBN 9780800736132; Ebook 9781493431786; $16.99) Musician Natalie Curtis is broken by strict training and a lost love. After encountering Native American music, she is determined to save these ancient songs which are being silenced by the government. In doing so, Natalie steps inside the space between the notes to discover something she’d forgotten—music powerful enough to heal. Based on a true story.

Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling and award-winning author of 40 books, including The Healing of Natalie Curtis, Something Worth Doing, One More River to Cross, Everything She Didn’t Say, All Together in One Place, A Light in the Wilderness, The Memory Weaver, This Road We Traveled, and A Sweetness to the Soul, which won the prestigious Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Center. Her works have won the WILLA Literary Award, the Carol Award for Historical Fiction, and the 2016 Will Rogers Gold Medallion Award. Jane divides her time between Central Oregon and California. Learn more at www.jkbooks.com.

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, publishes books that help bring the Christian faith to everyday life. Whether through fiction, Christian living, self-help, marriage, family, or youth books, each Revell publication reflects relevance, integrity, and excellence.

Contact: Karen Steele, (616)676-9185 x100, ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com

Available in over 100 countries and accessible through Online Streaming and the Study Gateway App on Mobile Devices and Smart TVs

(Nashville, Tenn.) August 10, 2022— Study Gateway, a leading video Bible study streaming service, today revealed its fall 2022 schedule of studies from Harper Christian Resources, the curriculum imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. This inspiring group of bestselling Christian authors, pastors and Bible teachers are debuting more than 50 new videos from eight different study series by Max Lucado, Megan Fate Marshman, John Eldredge, Anne Graham Lotz, Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright, Sarah Jakes Roberts, Lysa TerKeurst, Kathie Lee Gifford, Rabbi Jason Sobel, and Shauna Niequist.

“We’re honored that the best lineup of authors and Bible teachers from Harper Christian Resources is coming to Study Gateway. These are their most anticipated video studies of the new season.” said John Raymond, v-p and publisher of Harper Christian Resources.

Kate Johnson, senior v-p of direct-to-consumer at HarperCollins Christian Publishing added, “We’re thrilled to give people worldwide a sneak peek of Study Gateway’s newest studies. Every subscriber can experience these new releases thirty days before the in-store on-sale date—Study Gateway is only place where people get this early access.”

Study Gateway’s study streaming subscription service provides unique pricing levels and subscriptions plans starting at just $7.95 per month—all with a seven-day free trial.

The complete lineup of new video Bible studies making their debut on Study Gateway this fall:

• Max Lucado’s Help is Here: Finding Fresh Strength and Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit (Aug. 17 release). Watch trailer here.
• Megan Fate Marshman’s John: A Beautiful Word Bible Study (Aug. 31 release). Watch trailer here.
  
• John Eldredge’s Resilient: Restoring Your Weary Soul in these Turbulent Times (Sept. 14 release). Watch trailer here.
• Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright’s Jesus Followers: Real-Life Lessons for Igniting Faith in the Next Generation (Sept. 21 release). Watch trailer here.
• Sarah Jakes Roberts’ Woman Evolve: Break Up with Your Fears and Revolutionize Your Life (Sept. 28 release). Watch trailer here.
• Lysa TerKeurst’s Good Boundaries and Goodbyes (Oct. 19 release). Watch trailer here.
• Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel’s The God of the How and When (Nov. 2 release). Learn more here.
• Shauna Niequist’s I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet (Nov. 16 release). Learn more here.

For more information and to view Study Gateway’s expanding list of available studies, visit StudyGateway.com and see the full list of supported devices.

ABOUT STUDY GATEWAY
Study Gateway is the dedicated direct-to-consumer streaming service from HarperCollins Christian Publishing and is the streaming home for video Bible studies produced by Harper Christian Resources. The subscription service offers commercial-free streaming of exclusive original studies, plus a growing library of children’s videos, Christian events and webinars, and other short-form content.

Ada, Mich. (August 10, 2022)—Baker Books is pleased to announce the signing of a multi-book, multi-year partnership with bestselling author Matt Chandler.

“We’re thrilled to share a vision with Matt and to join him on a mission to build up the body of Christ,” says Brian Vos, Executive Editor at Baker Books.

Chandler’s agreement with Baker includes two trade books, video studies, study guides, and other books for the church with the first release scheduled for fall 2023. Chandler is represented by Yates & Yates.

“The men and women at Baker are biblically serious, full of life, and exceptional at what they do,” says Chandler. “I’m extremely excited to be partnering with them to encourage and call up the people of God in this unique moment of history.”

Matt Chandler is Pastor of The Village Church in Flower Mound, TX and President of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network. In Matt’s nearly 20 years at The Village, he has seen the congregation grow from 168 people to over 16,000. Chandler is the bestselling author of eight books, including To Live Is Christ, The Mingling of Souls, and The Explicit Gospel. He lives with his wife, Lauren, and their three children.

Baker Books has a vision for building up the body of Christ through books that are relevant, intelligent, and engaging.

Contact: Holly Scheevel, hscheevel@bakerpublishinggroup.com, (952) 829–2555

WESTMONT, IL—Christian Resources Together (CRT) has released the finalists for its 2022 awards, and IVP is pleased to announce that Feathers of Hope by Sharon Garlough Brown is one of three books shortlisted for the CRT Fiction Book of the Year.

CRT, based in England, provides support, fellowship, training, and business opportunities for those working within the United Kingdom Christian retail and supply trade. Winners of the 2022 CRT Awards will be announced on October 13 at an awards celebration at Sandown Park in Surrey, England. Winners will also be featured in CRT’s Together magazine.

Feathers of Hope details the story of Wren Crawford and her great-aunt, Katherine Rhodes, who prove to be companions in both sorrow and hope. In this sequel to Shades of Light and Remember Me, fans of the Sensible Shoes Series will not only be able to attend Katherine’s final retreat sessions at New Hope but will also encounter old and new friends along the way.

Elizabeth Musser, author of The Swan House and The Dwelling Place, said, “In Feathers of Hope, Sharon Garlough Brown brilliantly portrays mental illness in a gentle and heartbreaking way as young Wren continues on her path toward healing from deep depression. We also glimpse the bare humanity of Wren’s great-aunt and housemate, Katherine Rhodes, as she navigates her impending retirement from directing the New Hope Retreat Center. Feathers of Hope tells a story of shedding the old to bring forth the new, giving hope to all of us who are confronted with our deep humanity and sinfulness after days or decades of our own sacred journey. A poignant, deeply personal, and relevant story for such a time as this.”

Sharon Garlough Brown is a spiritual director, speaker, and cofounder of Abiding Way Ministries, providing spiritual formation retreats and resources. She is the author of the bestselling Sensible Shoes Series, which includes spiritual fiction novels Sensible Shoes, Two Steps Forward, Barefoot, An Extra Mile, and their study guides. A graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, Brown has served on the pastoral staff of congregations in Scotland, Oklahoma, England, and most recently West Michigan, where she copastored with her husband, Jack, for many years. In March 2013 her book Sensible Shoes was named one of television personality Kathie Lee Gifford’s “favorite things.”

Voting for the CRT Awards is overseen by Christian Resources Together (CRT) in conjunction with the Booksellers Association-Christian Booksellers Group (BA-CBG), the Christian Suppliers Group (CSG), Kingsway CLC Trust (KCLCT), and Eden.co.uk together with suppliers and retailers.

For a list of IVP award winners, visit ivpress.com/award-winners.

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

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Good Book Company celebrates its 25th year of publishing Explore Bible notes. The 100th issue of this quarterly publication will be released in September 2022.

This daily devotional, which was a foundational product in the early years of The Good Book Company, has included contributions from esteemed Bible teachers like Tim Keller, Albert Mohler, Rachel Jones, and Michael Kruger. The notes are available in print and through the Explore app.

Tim Thornborough, the editor of Explore and founder of The Good Book Company, says about the anniversary:

“It’s good to celebrate milestones, but to look back with humility and gratitude at what God has done for us, in us, and through us. Explore notes started when an ordinary local church pastor approached us and asked for help to continue something that he had started by writing and publishing plain-speaking, well-applied Bible notes to encourage young Christians from a summer camp he ran.

Now 100 issues later, these quarterly Bible notes are used around the world on paper and in digital form by 20,000 or more people every day as they search the Scriptures and respond to the voice of God as he speaks to them through his living word. What a privilege it is to write and edit material that speaks into that intimate space where people commune with God, search for guidance, and pour out their heartfelt needs before the Lord in prayer.”

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

ABOUT THE EDITOR
Tim Thornborough is the founder of The Good Book Company. He is series editor of Explore Bible-reading notes, and has contributed to many books published by The Good Book Company and others. Today his role as the Executive Vice President of Rights includes working on editorial projects, managing the rights team, and leading on many other aspects of company development. Tim is part of a church-planting team leading Grace Church, New Malden in south-west London. He is married to Kathy and has three adult daughters.

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.

Bloomington, Minn. (August 9, 2022)—Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce that the Kiss of Death chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA) has selected The Barrister and the Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson as the winner of the 2022 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense in both the Published Mainstream Mystery/Suspense category and as an overall winner of the Published category. The award presentation took place on July 28 at the RWA National Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

RWA, a nonprofit trade association whose mission is to advance the professional and common business interests of career-focused romance writers, is comprised of many chapters. The Kiss of Death chapter of RWA, founded in 1992 for mystery and thriller fans, underwrites and presents this award for excellence in mystery and suspense on an annual basis. The Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense is named for Daphne du Maurier, the author of Rebecca, a suspense novel that is a precursor to today’s romantic-suspense novels. The writing contest is for published and unpublished authors of mystery, suspense, and thrillers.

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson (Bethany House; ISBN 9780764212369; Ebook 9781493431502; $15.99)  As a barrister in 1818 London, William Snopes defends the poor against the powerful—but that changes when a struggling heiress arrives at his door with a mystery surrounding a missing letter from the king’s regent and a merchant’s brig. As he digs deeper, he learns that the forces arrayed against them are even more perilous than he’d imagined.

Todd M. Johnson has practiced as an attorney for over thirty years, specializing as a trial lawyer. A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota Law School, he also taught for two years as an adjunct professor of international law and served as a U.S. diplomat in Hong Kong. He is the author of The Deposit Slip and lives outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife and daughter. He can be found online at authortoddmjohnson.com.

Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is part of the largest independent Christian book publisher and seeks to uplift readers’ families, faith, and free time with our library of industry-leading fiction and bestselling, Christ-centered nonfiction.

Contact: Anne Van Solkema, (616) 676-9185 x152, avansolkema@bakerpublishinggroup.com