(Nashville, TN) July 23, 2021—Thomas Nelson today announced Jennifer Smith as the v-p of marketing for Nelson Books, a nonfiction imprint of the publishing group.

Smith has nearly 20 years of trade publishing experience in both Nashville and New York City and has launched hundreds of books to the New York Times bestsellers list. She spent nearly 13 years at Simon and Schuster, serving as a v-p and director of publicity and marketing before launching her own literary consulting business in 2017, where she worked with publishers, authors, and agents across the United States and Australia. She has worked with bestselling authors including Dave Ramsey, Phil Robertson, Sadie Robertson, Karen Kingsbury, Stephen King, former President Jimmy Carter, Joan Rivers, and former first lady Laura Bush.

She received a military medal of excellence in 2013 for work she did to bring authors to United States military bases and helped develop the undergraduate publishing degree program at Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where she served as an adjunct professor for the program.

As v-p of marketing for Nelson Books, Smith will lead the marketing and brand strategies for the imprint, as well as take an active role in acquisitions and author development.

“We’re so pleased to have Jennifer join the Nelson Books team,” said Timothy Paulson, v-p and publisher for Nelson Books. “She brings deep industry experience and proven success with a wide range of books and authors. I look forward to how her leadership will expand our reach into new markets and up-level our work with authors and agents.”

For more information about Nelson Books visit www.thomasnelson.com/nelsonbooks/, or follow @nelsonbooks on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

Contact: Chelsea Taff, Manager, Corporate Communications, 615.902.2137 Chelsea.Taff@harpercollins.com

Carol Stream, IL – July 23, 2021 – What does it mean to live out our faith in a digital world? How are Christian leaders and creatives using social media to share the Good News? These are the themes explored in Viral Jesus, a new podcast from Christianity Today about communication and the power of social connections.

In each episode, communications scholar Heather Thompson Day takes her listeners on a deep dive with ministry leaders, content creators, and social media influencers to find out how they’re making their faith go viral.

“There are so many opinions and ideas swirling around social media that it’s easy to think we’ll never have anything worthwhile to say,” says Thompson Day. “But what if we could learn from Christian influencers who are really good at knowing how to connect online? That’s what Viral Jesus is all about.”

For Viral Jesus’s inaugural episodes, Thompson Day has assembled a dynamic array of guests including theologian and Reading While Black author Esau McCaulley; English professor and culture critic Karen Swallow Prior; and comedienne, blogger, and prolific YouTuber Kristina Kuzmič. Topics covered range from building community naturally to using TikTok as a tool for discipleship. The first episode, featuring McCaulley, is called “Tweeting While Black.”

Beyond the Twitter tips and Instagram insights found in the conversations on Viral Jesus, Thompson Day also draws from her expertise as a professor of communication at Colorado Christian University (and soon Andrews University) to show real-life examples of communication theory in practice.

Adds Thompson Day: “The goal of Viral Jesus is for all Christians to hear from people they respect on how you build online community, but more specifically I hope this podcast will also be a resource to church and ministry leaders as they navigate social media engagement.”

Christianity Today’s vice president of strategic partnerships, Ed Gilbreath, says Viral Jesus is the first of several new podcasts in development from CT’s Big Tent Initiative, “which is a focused effort to help CT reach and represent more of the racial, ethnic, and generational diversity of God’s church.”

Viral Jesus’s trailer and first episode with Esau McCaulley are available now, with new episodes releasing every Wednesday. Find it at ChristianityToday.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever listeners get their podcasts.

Listeners also can join the Viral Jesus conversation on social media by following Heather Thompson Day @HeatherTDay and @CTmagazine on Twitter.

Find Viral Jesus and other original podcasts from CT at https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/.

Christianity Today is an acclaimed and award-winning media ministry that elevates the storytellers and sages of the global Church. Each month, across a variety of digital and print media, the ministry carries the most important stories and ideas of the kingdom of God to over 4.5 million people all around the planet.

Contact: Ed Gilbreath, 630.384.7288 egilbreath@christianitytoday.com

NASHVILLE, TN—July 26, 2021—Over 80 million people watched Mary Katherine Backstrom (MK) explain how she accidentally hugged a stranger to thank him for washing the windows on her car, after all it was Christmas and she thought he was in the spirit of Christmas…he wasn’t…he was actually cleaning his own car!

One thing is for sure, we all have HOT MESS moments, but MK shares hers and in that she has created an amazing community! In HOLY HOT MESS (Worthy Books, August 3, 2021, ISBN: 9781546015499), MK opens up her world, sometimes it’s heart-breaking and other times hilarious but it’s always real and relatable. She shows readers that it’s okay to celebrate exactly where they are right now and how God uses each “mess” in our lives to bring us closer to Him…holy, hot mess and all.

A lot of people struggle with the concept of being holy. But the fact is, even the hottest of messes are being shaped—right now—into Jesus’ likeness. In this book, Mary Katherine shares the sometimes hidden evidence of God’s work in her life and shows you that it’s okay to embrace the hot messes.

Holy Hot Mess is separated into three parts:

• You Are Messy (Identity and Parenting)
• They Are All a Mess (Love and Friendship)
• Being a Hot, Holy Mess (Faith)

The book will cover all of the topics that plague our hearts every day with raw honest truth with a side of laughter. MK invites you into her story as a friend, encouraging you to embrace the hot messes in your life because you are the person God created you to be.

Mary Katherine Backstrom is an award-winning author and influencer, best known for her viral videos and candid writing on family, faith, and mental illness. She has been featured on Today Show, CNN, and New York Times—but her friends and family are most impressed with her one-time appearance on Ellen. MK resides in Alabama with her husband, children, two dogs, and a cat. When she isn’t writing, MK is active in her church, her community, and her favorite Mexican restaurant.

Libreria Editrice Vaticana utilizes print-on-demand and distribution services through Ingram’s Lightning Source. For further global reach, the publisher also utilizes Ingram’s Global Connect program, allowing them to manage global distribution from one platform with improved availability of their titles in international markets.

“Ingram means presenting ourselves and our books to Catholic people who are outside of Italy. We can now be much more available and present outside of the Italian language market than when we were only going through traditional channels of distribution. So, for us you are an important distributor, more than just a printer,” said Andrea Tornielli, Editorial Director of the Dicastery for Communication.

About Libreria Editrice Vaticana | www.libreriaeditricevaticana.va/en

About Ingram Content Group | www.ingramcontent.com
The world is reading, and Ingram Content Group (“Ingram”) connects people with content in all forms. Providing comprehensive services for publishers, retailers, libraries and educators, Ingram makes these services seamless and accessible through technology, innovation and creativity. With an expansive global network of offices and facilities, Ingram’s services include digital and physical book distribution, print-on-demand, and digital learning. Ingram Content Group is a part of Ingram Industries Inc. and includes Ingram Book Group LLC, Ingram Publisher Services LLC, Lightning Source LLC, Ingram Library Services LLC,  Tennessee Book Company LLC, Ingram Content Group UK Ltd. and Ingram Content Group Australia Pty Ltd.

Media Contact: Ingram: Helen Stroheker, 615.321.3110, helen@tsgnashville.com 

Grand Rapids, Mich. (July 13, 2021) — Zondervan today announced Laura Bartlett as the new associate publisher for its Bibles team, which publishes multiple Bible translations: the New International Version (NIV), New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), and the Amplified Bible (AMP).

Bartlett is an 18-year Christian publishing veteran, most recently serving as director for three Kregel imprints: Kregel Academic, Kregel Ministry, and Kregel Classics. In this role she successfully launched the 45-volume Kerux Commentary series, while acquiring new projects and leading a team of editors and marketers. Prior to this, she spent eight years serving in various roles on the Tyndale Bibles team. Bartlett holds a Master of Arts in theology from Wheaton College.

As associate publisher, Bartlett will manage multiple product lines within the Zondervan Bible publishing program; ideate, develop, and acquire new Bible products; and work alongside the editorial director to lead and grow the editorial team.

“Laura’s unique blend of Bible and academic publishing experience, broad industry relationships, and business management skills make her a natural pick for this role,” said Melinda Bouma, v-p and publisher, Zondervan Bibles. “Her proven ability as an agile publishing leader who is passionate about quality, biblical content excites me as she joins this industry-leading team!”

For more information about Zondervan Bibles, visit www.zondervan.com/bibles/ or follow @zondervanbibles on Facebook and Instagram.

Zondervan, a worldwide leading Christian publisher of books and Bibles, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Its publications include a variety of Bible translations for all ages; books in different genres and subject areas for the general reader; curriculum for individual and group Bible study; books for children and young adults; academic resources including textbooks and reference books; ministry resources; and books on faith and culture. Zondervan is based in Grand Rapids, MI. For more information, visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact: Chelsea Taff, Manager, Corporate Communications, 615.902.2137 Chelsea.Taff@harpercollins.com

Lake Mary, FL—The Awaken the Dawn movement took the nation by storm in 2017 where nearly four million participated around the world through live streaming and almost 50,000 gathered in person at the National Mall to pray and worship together. David Bradshaw, the founder of this exceptional movement, has taken the movement to the next level by writing a book by the same name, Awaken The Dawn: An Adventure In Hosting Jesus’ Presence And Discovering Your Part In The Story (Charisma House, ISBN-13: 978-1-63641-006-7), to give insight on the founding of the movement, the wisdom he has gained from it, and to encourage others to go deeper in their relationship with Christ.

“Jesus’ way of changing the world is surprising and exhilarating and certainly the opposite of the systems of the world,” Bradshaw writes. “…Jesus is still writing the story of how He brought awakening and transformation in the earth. And I pray that as you read what God has done so far, you will be inspired to discover the part you were made to play.”

Bradshaw’s book acts as a way to inspire all generations to pray, not just as part of a checklist of chores, but for the great love of the God we are praying to. “Prayer is not about prayer,” Bradshaw writes. “We pray because we believe in the One we are speaking to and that He loves to answer us. We believe He moves at the sound of our voice. As soon as prayer becomes about prayer and we forget that we are talking to an actual person—the One with eyes like blazing fire—we’ve lost the plot.”

Awaken the Dawn chronicles more than the outward movement of people congregating together—it champions the inward work that Christ wants to do in the heart of every single person, and how He alone is worthy to be praised and given the glory. Revival is coming to America, and David Bradshaw’s new book is set to become a part of that revival.Awaken the Dawn is released by Charisma House, which publishes books that challenge, encourage, teach, and equip Christians.

For additional information, including a free sample chapter of Awaken the Dawn, visit https://charismahouse.com/awaken-the-dawn-by-david-bradshaw/

Stay in touch with David Bradshaw:
Website: awakenthedawn.org
Instagram: @awakenthedawnmvmt
Facebook: @awakenthedawnmvmt

DAVID BRADSHAW is the founder of the Awaken the Dawn (ATD), a national organization that is mobilizing a new Jesus movement in America with a call to worship, prayer, and evangelism in hundreds of tent gatherings, including on college campuses. In 2017 ATD gathered tens of thousands to the National Mall in Washington, DC, for 24/7 worship and prayer. Bradshaw is building a decentralized network of “praying communities” across the nation. In 2009 he pioneered an expression of day-and-night prayer and worship in Fredericksburg, Virginia, called the Prayer Furnace, and he serves as lead pastor of Awakening Community Church. He has traveled extensively both nationally and globally. He and his wife, Ashley, have five children.

Title: Awaken the Dawn: An Adventure in Hosting Jesus’ Presence and Discovering Your Part in the Story
Retail: $18.99 | Release Date: Now Available | ISBN-13: 978-1-63641-006-7 | E-book ISBN: 978-1-63641-007-4 | Audio Download: 978-1-63641-008-1 | Binding: Trade Paper | Size: 5.5” x 8.25” | Page Count: 208 | Hometown: Fredericksburg, VA | BISAC Category: RELIGION/Christian Ministry/ Discipleship

To interview David Bradshaw or for a review copy of Awaken the Dawn, please contact lklosterman@tkomarketing.net or chelsey@tkomarketing.net. 

Media Contacts:  TKO Publicity
Linda Klosterman, lklosterman@tkomarketing.net
Chelsey Dickson, chelsey@tkomarketing.net

 

Refugees on the Run: The Imagination Station Series #27

Carol Stream, Ill. (July 14, 2021)—Focus on the Family, in alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, released Refugees on the Run, #27 in the Imagination Station series, on June 8, 2021.

With over 1 million copies sold, the Imagination Station series continues with cousins Beth and Patrick in Lithuania during World War II. There they meet Leza, a young Jewish girl. With the Nazis on their way to Lithuania, Leza and her family need to flee the country or risk becoming prisoners, but the travel papers they need are nearly impossible to get. Their one hope is Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who can issue the documents if he chooses to defy orders from Japan.

This installment remembers the courage of Chiune Sugihara, who, at great personal risk, helped thousands of Jews flee Europe during World War II by issuing necessary travel documents, allowing them to travel to safe destinations.

The Imagination Station series, a spin-off of the beloved Adventures in Odyssey audio dramas, teaches history and a biblical worldview through time-travel adventure stories. Every book includes a secret word puzzle; readers then head to TheImaginationStation.com to enter their answer and unlock a prize.

Refugees on the Run is coauthored by Chris Brack and Sheila Seifert. Brack is a published author of stories, crafts, and short nonfiction. Seifert is the director of parenting content for Focus on the Family magazine, a content strategist for its online parenting channel, and the book review editor for PluggedIn.com.

Refugees on the Run by Chris Brack and Sheila Seifert
ISBN: 978-1-58997-995-6| Hardcover: $9.99 | June 2021
FocusontheFamily.com | Tyndale.com

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.

Focus on the Family, which reaches about 38 million people in 120 countries, is a global faith-based ministry that helps families thrive. Tyndale House Publishers is pleased to partner with Focus on the Family to help provide trusted resources for strengthening believers in their faith and sharing the gospel; building resilient marriages that reflect God’s design; equipping parents to raise their children with a thriving faith; advocating for the preborn, orphaned and life at every stage; and engaging the culture through a biblical worldview. Visit Focus at FocusontheFamily.com or on Facebook and Twitter.

 

WESTMONT, IL—With the July 27 release of Belonging, IVP’s newest LifeGuide Bible Study by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship staff member Deborah Meyer Abbs, the press continues its yearlong 75th anniversary celebration by telling the story of its history as a publisher and leader in Bible study. For over three decades of its seventy-five-year history, IVP’s LifeGuide Bible Studies (LBS) have sold more than fifteen million copies of nearly 150 titles. IVP is also celebrating its seventy-five years by releasing the IVP Signature Bible Studies, eleven Bible studies based on select iconic and bestselling books from throughout its history.

Cindy Bunch, associate publisher and director of editorial at IVP, has worked on developing IVP Bible studies since 1990. She said, “The LifeGuide Bible Studies went through a major revision some years ago, so I’ve had time with every guide in the series. While the LifeGuide series is the most enduring and comprehensive, covering Bible books and key themes from Scripture, we publish a variety of other Bible study series. We have two series that incorporate commentary material from well-known authors: John Stott Bible Studies and N. T. Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides. The Bible studies that are a part of the IVP Signature Collection are an update of the bestselling Christian Basics Bible Study Series. More than a discussion guide to the related book, each one explores a core Bible text. We are also adding new volumes to the series as we release the Signature Collection books.”

As an extension of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF), an interdenominational Christian campus ministry founded in 1941, IVP’s history with Bible study is closely tied to its outreach on college campuses. In the early 1940s, Jane Hollingsworth brought her experience with Bible study to IVCF. As millions of men went to war in Europe and Asia, many jobs were filled by women—like Jane, who was recruited by Stacey Woods to join IVCF campus staff in 1942. A Wheaton College graduate, Jane had been trained in inductive Bible study at the Biblical Seminary in New York. She brought this passion to her campus work with InterVarsity. Ultimately, Woods wanted InterVarsity to be a Bible movement, and Hollingsworth brought the practical skills needed to make this a reality.

In the book Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.: An Anecdotal History of InterVarsity Press, 1947-2007, coauthors Andrew T. Le Peau and Linda Doll wrote, “After traveling extensively, visiting students on many campuses, Jane told her boss, ‘The students want to study the Bible, Stacey, but they don’t know how. They need some materials.’”

“Well, Jane, write some!” replied Stacey with his usual bluntness. And so she did.

IVP’s first inductive Bible study guide was published in 1943. It was titled Discovering the Gospel of Mark and was written by Jane Hollingsworth.

Le Peau and Doll wrote, “From the very beginning, three emphases came together in IVP’s first homegrown publication: the value of books written by IVCF staff, the importance of Bible study, and the equal worth of books written by men and women—emphases that would sound again and again in the decades to come.”

Jack Kuhatschek, who spearheaded the work on the first LifeGuide Bible Studies, recalled approaching IVP’s publisher at the Urbana Missions Conference in 1979 and asking why, since inductive Bible study was InterVarsity’s strength, they had so few Bible Studies. The publisher replied that Bible studies did not sell well. “Ironically, three years later I was asked to become IVP’s first Bible study editor,” Kuhatschek said. IVP launched the first seven LifeGuides in 1985, and they almost immediately became the top-selling series in the industry. By 2004 more than ten million LifeGuides were in print.

Kuhatschek edited every LifeGuide in the series until he left IVP in 1990. He also wrote eleven LifeGuides, as well as How to Lead a LifeGuide Bible Study (with Cindy Bunch). He said, “IVCF has always had a missional focus, and it’s encouraging to know that these guides have helped people around the globe to deepen their knowledge of both the Bible and the Lord.”

Dale and Sandy Larsen, who have written nearly fifty Bible studies for IVP over the past three decades, said, “One thing has never changed: IVP editors insist that we write Bible study questions that compel readers to think. No obvious fill-in-the-blank answers are allowed! IVP Bible studies are designed to build believers’ assurance that they can understand and apply the Word of God for themselves.”

Bunch said, “IVP Bible studies offer the consistent value of focusing on one Scripture passage—generally just one chapter. The open-ended questions take group members through a process of observation, interpretation, and application.

This allows everyone in the group to just show up, open their Bibles, and explore a passage together. No homework required!”

In addition to writing twelve LifeGuide Bible Studies, including their forthcoming LifeGuide, Gratitude: Giving Thanks in Life’s Ups and Downs (January 2022), the Larsens have been instrumental in writing a number of the 75th anniversary IVP Signature Bible Studies. Dale said, “John Stott’s book Basic Christianity was instrumental in leading Sandy to faith in Christ while she was in college. What an honor it has been for us to write a study guide to go along with that book, as well as other study guides in the John Stott Bible Studies series. The forthcoming IVP 75th Anniversary Signature Collection will introduce a new generation of readers to classic Christian books and authors such as Stott. We’ve been pleased to contribute to the Signature Bible Studies and in the process renew our own familiarity with these enduring works.”

Pastor Douglas Connelly, who has written twenty LifeGuides, was first recruited by Kuhatschek to write the Daniel LifeGuide more than thirty years ago. He said, “The most fulfilling part of writing the Bible study guides has been to see how God has used them in so many places with so many people. I met a missionary from Estonia several years ago, and I gave him some of my books and LifeGuides. The guide on the Gospel of John happened to be on top of the pile. He looked at me in surprise and said, ‘Did you write this?’ When I said yes, he told me somewhat sheepishly that he had translated that study guide into Estonian so he could use it with a small group of men he was discipling. I was humbled that he found it so valuable that he would use it to train emerging leaders in the Estonian church.”

Connelly added, “When I think of the people who have used my study guides in English—and then add all the others who have used them as the guides have been translated around the world—it makes me feel grateful that God would use a struggling soul like me to touch so many lives and hearts. I’ve deeply appreciated the commitment of InterVarsity Press to produce excellent Bible studies in many different formats. Only eternity will reveal the lives and families and marriages and hearts that have been changed because searching people encountered the living Word through the study guides that IVP has produced.”

Contact:  Krista Clayton, 630.734.4013  kclayton@ivpress.com

(Nashville, TN) July 15, 2021—Thomas Nelson today announced Daniel Marrs as the new associate publisher for Nelson Books, a nonfiction imprint of the publishing group.

In this role, Marrs will lead the editorial strategy for Nelson Books, overseeing the editorial process and helping to shape the acquisitions strategy for the imprint. He will also manage and develop the editorial production team.

Marrs is a seasoned publishing leader, having served most recently as the v-p and editorial director for Ave Maria Press and prior to that, as the publisher for Thomas Nelson Bibles. While at Thomas Nelson, he spearheaded the launch of the New English Translation (NET), implemented the Comfort Print initiative across all Thomas Nelson Bible products, and worked with bestselling authors Max Lucado and John MacArthur on crafting Bible products with their unique commentary.

Marrs holds a Doctor of Philosophy in theology and ethics with minors in church history and philosophy from Baylor University. In addition, he earned a Master of Arts in theology with minors in biblical studies and philosophy from Talbot School of Theology, and a Bachelor of Arts in English literature with a minor in education from Shepherd University.

“We are so pleased to welcome Daniel back to Thomas Nelson and have him move into this leadership role for Nelson Books,” said Timothy Paulson, v-p and publisher for Nelson Books. “Daniel’s unique blend of publishing experience, theological expertise, and strong relational skills make him the perfect fit for this role. I look forward to how he will take our team’s editorial work to the next level.”

For more information about Nelson Books visit www.thomasnelson.com/nelsonbooks/, or follow @nelsonbooks on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

Contact:
Chelsea Taff, Manager, Corporate Communications, 615.902.2137  Chelsea.Taff@harpercollins.com