Mountain Brook Ink’s Speculative Imprint Celebrates Growth with New Leadership

WHITE SALMON, Wash., NOV. 9, 2021 — Less than two years after publisher Mountain Brook Ink launched the imprint dedicated to Christian and clean speculative fiction, Mountain Brook Fire will be expanding under the guidance of new managing editor Alyssa Roat.

Roat has worked in a wide variety of roles within the publishing industry for agencies, publishers, newspapers and magazines. Dedicated to understanding the industry from every angle, she has been a literary agent, editor, publicist, web manager, freelance writer, author, journalist and marketer and holds a B.S. in professional writing from Taylor University.

Since its beginning in 2014, Mountain Brook Ink (MBI) has published inspirational adult and young adult fiction of all kinds. However, MBI had always been best known for romance and women’s fiction. In December 2019, the publisher launched an imprint specifically dedicated to speculative fiction.

The launch of Mountain Brook Fire came a few months after Roat joined the MBI team in the role of publicity manager. At the time, Roat saw a disconnect in branding with a few speculative titles mixed in with a largely romance and women’s fiction lineup. Pulling on her own background in spec as an agent, editor and as a speculative fiction writer herself, Roat worked with owner Miralee Ferrell to launch and publicize the imprint.

Today, the imprint has expanded, featuring both debut authors and well-known names like bestselling author Bryan Davis. In light of this growth, Roat, a founding element of the imprint, will take over directing operations in the role of managing editor while remaining under the ownership umbrella of Mountain Brook Ink.

“I’m very excited for this new step,” said Roat. “MBF has been close to my heart from the beginning, and I look forward to expanding the company. I’m seeking diverse authors, new ideas, and high concept plots that we can use to reach a wide market.”

While remaining true to MBF’s Christian and clean roots, Roat will be looking to expand further into the general market and leverage her connections in both Christian and general market publishing. She will be seeking adult, young adult and upper middle grade titles and plans to begin attending conferences on behalf of MBF in 2022. Submissions for MBF will re-open January 1, 2022.

Mountain Brook Ink is based out of White Salmon, Washington and owned by multi-published and ECPA bestselling author, Miralee Ferrell. Mountain Brook Ink is a publisher of high-quality inspirational fiction (excluding children’s fiction) that focuses on restoration and renewal. MBI authors have finaled in and won prestigious awards such as the Selah, Christy, and Carol Awards. The company was founded in 2014 and now boasts a roster of 40+ authors and over one hundred titles.

To find out more about Mountain Brook Ink’s publications go to: www.mountainbrookink.com
To find out more about Mountain Brook Fire’s publications go to: fire.mountainbrookink.com

Media Contact: Tim Pietz, tim@mountainbrookink.com
 

 

WHEATON, Ill.—Crossway is pleased to announce that Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers (Crossway, April 2020) has achieved 500,000 units in sales across all formats—print, electronic, and audio.

How does Jesus feel about his people amid all their sins and struggles? Many believe that Jesus loves them begrudgingly, feeling frustrated toward them because of their frequent failures. Yet in the Bible, Jesus describes his heart—the defining and directing center of who he is—as “gentle and lowly” (Matt. 11:29). What does this mean for the Christian? Readers of Gentle and Lowly will find their own hearts encouraged and comforted by the affection that Jesus has toward them.

Ortlund writes, “The cumulative testimony of the four Gospels is that when Jesus Christ sees the fallenness of the world all about him, his deepest impulse, his most natural instinct, is to move toward that sin and suffering, not away from it.”

“At Crossway, the ultimate metric is not how many copies are sold, but rather, how many copies are read and how many lives are changed,” says Justin Taylor, Crossway’s executive vice president of book publishing and book publisher. “That is what is so profoundly encouraging about what God is doing through Gentle and Lowly. Hundreds of thousands of lives are being changed through this work, as Dane wisely and carefully unfolds for us the very heart of Christ for us as sinners who have been saved. We are praying that God would continue to bless the reading—and heeding—of the vision of Christ found in this beautiful book.”

Gentle and Lowly is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats. A companion video study, study guide, and journal are also available from Crossway. The book has received commendations from Paul David Tripp (president of Paul Tripp Ministries and author of New Morning Mercies), Russell Moore (public theologian at Christianity Today), and many others.

“The title of this book immediately evoked within me a sense of longing, hope, and gratitude,” says Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, founder of Revive Our Hearts and True Woman. “The message it contains is a balm for every heart that feels pierced by sin or sorrow—whether from within or without. It is an invitation to experience the sweet consolations of a Savior who moves toward us with tenderness and grace, when we know we deserve just the opposite from him.”

Dane C. Ortlund (PhD, Wheaton College) serves as senior pastor of Naperville Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois. He is the author of Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers and Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners. Dane and his wife, Stacey, have five children.

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, crossway.org

WESTMONT, IL—InterVarsity Press is pleased to announce that sociologist and pop-culture expert Nancy Wang Yuen will be the host for the third season of The Disrupters podcast. With more than two hundred thousand downloads, the next season of the weekly podcast is set to launch on December 2.

Yuen is the author of Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism and coeditor with Deshonna Collier-Goubil of Power Women: Stories of Motherhood, Faith, and the Academy. She serves as an associate professor of sociology at Biola University. She has appeared on PBS, NPR, MSNBC, CBS News, NBC News, BBC World, and Dr. Phil. She is a guest writer at CNN, Elle, Los Angeles Times, NBC, and Newsweek.

Yuen said, “This season of The Disrupters invites a diverse group of believers, many of whom are some of the biggest names in their fields and changing popular culture as we know it. I think listeners will be surprised, challenged, and delighted by how they talk about faith, identity, and their creative work.”

The first two seasons were hosted by Fr. Esau McCaulley, author of Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope, assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, and a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. Interviews with guests like Beth Moore, Sho Baraka, Tish Harrison Warren, Dominique Gilliard, and others focused on a specific disruption—a break, interruption, or disturbance—in the church. This season the focus will move from a negative disruption of the evangelical church to a more positive posture of disruption of the secular spaces. By speaking with guests who are actively living out their faith in places of cultural importance, the third season of The Disrupters will demonstrate how faith can be lived out in peaceable, but nonetheless, disruptive ways to improve the world.

“We loved what Esau McCaulley brought to The Disrupters for the first two seasons, which made the show what it became, a hybrid of theology, biblical studies, and culture that fit him perfectly,” said Helen Lee, one of the executive producers of the podcast. “It has been a gift to have him as our host the first two seasons. But once he stepped down, we became excited about the prospect of disrupting The Disrupters with a new direction for season three, and Nancy Wang Yuen gives us that opportunity. Given Nancy’s unique place at the intersection of popular culture, Asian American identity, and faith, she will bring a fantastic, fresh lens to this season, and we can’t wait to showcase the conversations she is having with guests who you may not have even realized were Christian but whose faith is shaping what millions of people are watching, hearing, and reading. I think this season will both captivate our current listeners and potentially have an evangelistic impact on new listeners as they hear stories of faithful living that will surprise and inspire them.”

Some of the confirmed guests for the third season include:

• Min Jin Lee, author of Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko, a National Book Award finalist and one of the New York Times Ten Best Books of 2017.
• Terence Lester, author of I See You and When We Stand. He is the founder of Love Beyond Walls, a not-for-profit organization focused on poverty awareness and community mobilization.
• Peace Amadi, author of Why Do I Feel Like This? She is a psychology professor, speaker, children’s book author, content creator, and host.
• Gene Luen Yang, American-born Chinese cartoonist whose first graphic novel from First Second Books was a National Book Award finalist. His two-volume graphic novel Boxers & Saints won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and was a National Book Award Finalist.
• Scott Derrickson, the director and screenwriter of The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Doctor Strange.
• Jason Chu, a rapper and activist whose work has been presented on the National Mall in Washington DC and curated in the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs virtual exhibition.

“I look forward to talking with a diverse group of culture movers and history makers who live out their faith in unexpected ways,” Yuen said. “I hope this season’s conversations with people of faith who disrupt culture in creative ways will inspire listeners to do the same. I always do my research and believe in bringing depth and authenticity to every conversation.”

The Disrupters podcast will be available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast distributors. For a sneak peek, check out the trailer for the third season of The Disrupters at ivpress.com/the-disrupters-podcast.

Portland, Oregon—Illuminate Literary Agency announced its fifteen year anniversary as a national literary agency specializing in faith-based and inspirational nonfiction.

The Oregon-based business was founded in 2006 by publishing veteran Don Jacobson, and originally known as D.C. Jacobson & Associates. In 2019, after thirteen years working with agency clients and publishers, Jenni Burke acquired the business from Jacobson, rebranding to Illuminate Literary Agency in 2020.

“From the beginning, we’ve sought to bring innovation and excellence to a uniquely relational business model,” says agency president, Burke. “Today more than ever, our team invests tremendously in helping clients build publishing careers that are not only profitable, but also life-giving and sustainable. By caring for a select group of authors, we are able to plot a course for their long-term success and be available for support every step of the way.”

The Illuminate method has translated into strong partnerships, thriving authors, and impactful books. Five new releases by agency clients were on the ECPA Bestseller Lists for November, and the past 12 months have also seen Illuminate books featured on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and other national bestseller lists. Current Illuminate clients include well known authors such as Jess Connolly, Ruth Chou Simons, Asheritah Ciuciu, Terence Lester, and Allie Casazza.

The agency team is comprised of Jenni Burke, president and literary agent; Tawny Johnson, literary agent; Martin Raz, contracts director; and Kaitlyn Bouchillon, assistant and social media coordinator.

“We are on a mission with our authors and publishers, to light up the world with life-giving messages,” says Tawny Johnson. “Even in times of rapid change in the publishing landscape, we find joy in helping our clients navigate the obstacles and celebrate the victories along the way.”

For more information on Illuminate Literary Agency, visit www.illuminateliterary.com.
Follow on Instagram or Facebook, @IlluminateLiterary.

Laura Barker, VP and publisher WaterBrook and Multnomah, announced that Leslie Calhoun is taking on the role of Associate Editor for WaterBrook’s Ink & Willow line of creative product, effective immediately, reporting to Susan Tjaden, executive editor WaterBrook and Multnomah.

In her previous role as marketing and publicity associate for WaterBrook and Multnomah, Leslie has contributed immeasurably to the success of our imprints, supporting numerous successful campaigns for best-selling and award-winning authors including Kendra Adachi, Jordan Lee Dooley, Andrew Peterson, and Lisa Tawn Bergren. In addition to assisting with marketing and publicity campaigns, she has been an active participant on our inter-departmental product development team for Ink & Willow. Leslie also has been a contributing writer for several Ink & Willow titles, including My Prayer Journey, 40 Days of Intentional Living, Get Outside, and The Daily Bible Project.

WaterBrook and Multnomah are imprints of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.

MetaComet® Systems is delighted to present its cutting edge Royalty Tracker®, a state-of-the-art platform that provides publishers with the highest level of royalty automation available.

The platform combines MetaComet’s 21 years of experience with feedback from over 130 customers and the latest technologies, to make royalty management easier, faster and more intuitive than ever. MetaComet has now onboarded the first users of the revamped platform, who are enjoying major benefits including:

• Rapid and fully automated processing of royalty calculations from sales files, with the capacity to handle millions of transactions every day
• A completely overhauled user interface for intuitive navigation
• Exceptional accuracy of calculations with powerful audit tools for peace of mind
• The fastest implementation speeds available, with one 1,000-title publisher going live in just three weeks
• State-of-the-art reporting features for crystal-clear visibility of royalties and sales
• Seamless integration with other systems and leading payment platforms including NetSuite, Dynamics, QuickBooks, Exactuals and more.

By automating and accelerating every stage of royalty management, Royalty Tracker dramatically reduces the time businesses spend on calculations. It also fosters excellent relationships with royalty recipients, who can access timely, easily understood and fully customized statements online.

Over 30 publishers will be using the new iteration of Royalty Tracker by year-end, using a fast and easy ‘MetaGoLive’ implementation process that requires no technical expertise and is backed by expert support throughout.

David Marlin, President of MetaComet Systems, says: “Our dream has been to achieve push-button™ royalties, and this new platform brings that close to reality. We’re proud and excited to be introducing the benefits of the new Royalty Tracker to our valued clients around the world. We’ve built this new platform from the bottom up, and made multiple aspects better, faster and simpler. MetaComet has always been motivated by the goal of turning royalty management from a laborious chore into a painless procedure, and with the new Royalty Tracker we’re saving businesses more time and money than ever before.”

About MetaComet Systems
MetaComet Systems is a best-in-class provider of royalty management solutions for publishers worldwide. It works with more than 130 publishers of all sizes to provide publishing-specific tools that make every stage of the royalty accounting process more efficient, helping to reduce workload, eliminate errors, generate additional rights income and improve author relations. Beyond its market-leading cloud-based software, MetaComet provides a suite of customer support resources.

For any further information please contact:
Patricia Lady, MetaComet Systems Marketing Manager, email: plady@metacomet.com.

Tim Pietz Takes on Role of Publicity Manager at MBI

WHITE SALMON, Wash., NOV. 8, 2021 — After two years in the role, Alyssa Roat, publicity manager at publisher Mountain Brook Ink, vacated the position to make way for new publicity manager Tim Pietz.

A graduate of Taylor University’s professional writing program with dual degrees in Professional Writing and Strategic Communication, Pietz has previously worked with publishers like Tyndale House, Wheaton Press and Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas as a freelance editor, and has served in marketing capacities at Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Brimstone Fiction.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better successor,” Roat said. “I’ve worked with Tim in various professional capacities over the past few years and know him to be diligent and innovative. I’m excited to see where he takes this role.”

Roat will remain with the company in a new and expanded role that is to be announced. Meanwhile, Pietz will take over operations in publicity for both Mountain Brook Ink and the publisher’s speculative fiction imprint, Mountain Brook Fire.

Mountain Brook Ink is based out of White Salmon, Washington and owned by multi-published and ECPA best-selling author, Miralee Ferrell. Specializing in Christian fiction in a wide variety of genres for adult and young adult audiences, Mountain Brook Ink’s books have received numerous honors in awards such the Selah Awards, the Christy Awards, the Carol Awards, the Realm Awards and many more. To find out more about Mountain Brook Ink’s publications go to: www.mountainbrookink.com.

For more information, please contact: Tim Pietz, tim@mountainbrookink.com

Dale Johnson helps erase the stigma of mental health issues in the church to reveal how the church was designed to be the place to go for help

Greensboro, NC—People in our world are struggling—eating disorders, addictions, depression, marital problems—the list goes on and on. Can the church help or is that an outdated concept that no longer fits modern problems? In The Church as a Culture of Care: Finding Hope in Biblical Community (New Growth Press/October 4, 2021), biblical counselor T. Dale Johnson Jr. explains that the church is still the primary place where those who struggle can receive lasting hope and healing.

“Every aspect of the work of the church is intended to care for souls,” Johnson says. “Preaching, shepherding, one-anothering, church discipline, missionary proclamation, personal obedience—all are intended to awaken or strengthen the soul to live faithfully and peacefully in a war-torn and sin-cursed world.”

Pastors and lay leaders in the church often feel inadequate to address certain needs and are unsure of how to help. Johnson wrote this book to help erase the stigma of “mental health issues” in the church and to present the church as the primary haven for answers to deep-seated human problems. Counselors, ministers, and lay leaders will be empowered to have confidence in God’s purpose for the church, the power of his Spirit, and the sufficiency of his Word for soul care.

Johnson shares that one of his purposes in writing the book is to challenge the current narrative which dismisses the church as an antiquated or unprepared institution for the care of souls. “Many claim that prayer is too simplistic, the Word of God too antiquated, and the Holy Spirit insufficient to help the broken and the needy. But Christians too easily dismiss God’s supernatural resources and his church as a vital means of God’s intended care for disquieted souls. The dismissal of these resources graciously provided to us by our all-sufficient God leaves us dependent upon the insufficient and ever-shifting shadows of earthly wisdom.”

Readers will learn that God has designed every function of the church to be an integral part of soul care. God has provided the church with the necessary resources for us to care well for one another. Prayer, the Word, the work of the Holy Spirit, and Christian community are God’s provisions to lead all of us to Christ—even those with the deepest struggles.

“Historically speaking, the church has been the place where people in need of care received care. Toward that end, Dale Johnson has written a brief but powerful call to the church to reclaim this essential mission,” writes Jonathan D. Holmes, executive director of Fieldstone Counseling. “As a pastor and counselor, I was encouraged and reinvigorated for this important work. If there were any doubts as to the church’s role in this vital work of counseling ministry, look no further than Dale’s excellent primer.”

The Church as a Culture of Care: Finding Hope in Biblical Community
by T. Dale Johnson Jr.
October 4, 2021 / Retail Price: $17.99
Print ISBN 978-1-64507-182-2
Religion/Christian Ministry/Counseling & Recovery

T. Dale Johnson Jr., MDiv, PhD, is the Executive Director of The Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, a national organization that certified biblical counselors to ensure doctrinal integrity and to promote excellence in biblical counseling, and is the regular host of ACBC’s “Truth in Love” podcast. He also serves as the Director of Counseling Programs and Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Johnson previously served as an associate pastor and continues to seek the strengthening of the church by training pastors and members to minister in their local churches. He is the author of The Church as a Culture of Care. Dale and his wife, Summer, live in Kansas City, Missouri with their six precious children. Dale Johnson can be found on Twitter (@TDaleJohnson) and Instagram (@tdalejohnson).

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

CAROL STREAM, Ill. (November 11, 2021)—Tyndale House Publishers (@tyndalehouse) and Church Answers (@churchanswers) have announced the formation of a new ministry partnership aimed at serving and equipping local churches to thrive in their God-given mission. Tyndale and Church Answers share the conviction that the local church is God’s stage for individual and societal transformation. Through this partnership, cutting-edge initiatives are currently in development to supply church leaders with the most up-to-date tools and information to help local congregations flourish in the twenty-first century.

This partnership includes a multi-book, multi-year agreement with bestselling author and church strategist Thom Rainer (@thomrainer), publishing books that cover topics vital to a church’s life and health. Each core book will have an accompanying video curriculum, participant’s guide, and other ancillary books to empower church leaders and inspire church members.

Thom Rainer, founder and CEO of Church Answers, commented, “From a personal perspective, I am so grateful for the confidence Tyndale has placed in me to write books for local churches for the next several years. From Church Answers’ perspective, the alignment is perfect. Tyndale is one of the leading Christian content providers in the world. I am incredibly enthusiastic about the two organizations working together for local churches for the glory of God.”

In addition to the multi-book agreement, the partnership will feature a new Church Answers Resource book series edited by Thom Rainer. These books will focus on key practical issues for the local church and will include some of the leading authors in the genre.

Ron Beers, Tyndale’s Senior VP and Publisher says, “Tyndale is ecstatic about our long-term partnership with Thom Rainer and Church Answers. Thom is a gifted leader, teacher, and communicator whose personal mission aligns perfectly with Tyndale’s. He is so successful and respected among tens of thousands of churches not only because he is a thoughtful and talented writer, but also because he knows perhaps better than anyone the needs and pulse of the church—its leaders and congregants. Working together, we have no doubt we will create tools to serve the church in unique and powerful ways so that we can all participate more fully in the growth of God’s Kingdom for His glory.”

Tyndale and Church Answers will also work jointly on the new ministry site, ChurchAnswers.com. This platform is one of the largest sites in the world focusing on local church ministry.

Founded in Franklin, Tennessee, Church Answers began in 2019 as the continuation of the platform of Thom Rainer. Today the organization reaches two out of three churches in North America and a growing number of churches globally.

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 majority of annual revenue—more than $110 million throughout its history—to charitable missions. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

 Media Contact: Madeline Daniels, madelinedaniels@tyndale.com

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Tyndale and Tyndale’s quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Ministries.

WESTMONT, IL—Brian Zahnd, a popular conference speaker and author of A Farewell to Mars, has signed a contract for two more books with InterVarsity Press. The first of the two books, tentatively titled The Wood Between the Worlds, is scheduled to release in Winter 2023.

“We are so pleased to continue our publishing relationship with Brian Zahnd,” said Elissa Schauer, managing and associate trade editor at IVP. “This next book focuses on the cross—how it helps us understand who God is and how that knowledge can transform our lives. What we appreciate about Brian is that he writes with both empathy and authenticity as he points us toward a genuine faith that can flourish in this age. He is the pastor so many of us need for this moment in time.”

Zahnd’s first book with IVP, When Everything’s on Fire: Faith Forged from the Ashes (November 9, 2021), explores the question of whether it’s possible to hold on to faith in an age of unbelief. Zahnd extends an invitation to move beyond the crisis of faith and helps his readers understand and move toward the journey of reconstruction. In his next book, Zahnd looks to the cross to make sense of God in this age of unbelief. He says that everything that can be known about God is in some way present at the cross.

“The cross of Christ is the wood between the worlds,” Zahnd writes. “There is the world that was and the world to come, and in between those two worlds is the wood upon which the Son of God was hung. As in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, the wood between the worlds is a portal. In this world of sin and death we do not despair, because we believe there is a portal that will transport us to a world where, in the beloved words of Lady Julian, ‘All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.’”

Brian Zahnd is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church, a nondenominational Christian congregation in Saint Joseph, Missouri. He and his wife, Peri, founded the church in 1981. Zahnd is also the author of several books, including Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, Water to Wine, Beauty Will Save the World, Unconditional?: The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness and others.