Iron Stream Media was honored to attend the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and receive several awards. The Directors’ Choice Awards are given to past conference attendees and faculty with books published in the prior year.

We are thrilled to have won the following 2021 Directors’ Choice Awards:

Directors’ Choice Awards – Fiction

• Grave Consequences – Third Place
  Debra DuPree Williams
• Abigail’s Secret – Finalist
  Marilyn Turk

Directors’ Choice Awards – Devotional

• Soul Strong – 2nd Place
  Lucinda Secrest McDowell

The Selah Awards are given to recognize excellence in Christian publishing for authors published the prior year. We are excited to have received the following Selah Awards:

Selah Awards – Christian Life

• Faith Wins – 2nd Place
  Adam Groza
• Enjoy Today, Own Tomorrow – Finalist
  Laine Lawson Craft

Selah Awards – General Fiction

• Outbound Train – 1st Place
  Renea Winchester

Perkins Named BRMCWC Assistant Director
As an award-winning author as well as teacher, speaker, and editor, Edwina Perkins gives back to her writing community in numerous ways. Perkins, managing editor of our Harambee Press imprint, has served as the Mentoring Coordinator for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and has been named Assistant Director. She has served on the Word Weavers Orlando Leadership Team and now serves with the Word Weavers International Advisory Committee.

2021 Yvonne Lehman Award
We are so happy that Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas (LPC) founder Eddie Jones and Iron Stream Media Managing Editor Cindy Sproles were awarded the 2021 Yvonne Lehman Award for helping others answer God’s call to write. Lehman, who passed away earlier this spring, was a beloved writing coach and founder of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

Iron Stream Media derives its name from Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”  This sharpening describes the process of discipleship, one to another. Iron Stream Media provides a variety of solutions for churches, missionaries, and nonprofits that include in-depth Bible study curriculum, Christian book publishing, and consultative services. Iron Stream Media is the home of New Hope Publishers, Iron Stream Books, Ascender Books, LPC Books, and New Hope Kidz. Through the popular Life Bible Study and Student Life Bible Study imprints, they also provide web-based, full-year and short-term Bible study teaching plans as well as printed devotionals, Bibles, and discipleship curriculum.

Book these authors as guest speakers or for book signings by contacting Kim McCulla at kim.mcculla@ironstreammedia.com. A limited supply of giveaway copies is available for special events and interviews. Books can also be ordered through your distributor or by calling 888-811-9934.

Carol Stream, IL — June 21, 2021 – Christianity Today has added a nascent publication and digital community, Ekstasis, into its media ecosystem to further its joint pursuit of Beautiful Orthodoxy—communicating the truth, goodness, and beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Christianity Today’s president and CEO, Timothy Dalrymple, explains that “Ekstasis revives the Christian imagination, offering artful contemplation that nurtures the soul, and illuminates a path that leads through beauty and awe to a profound and joyous faith in Jesus Christ. In a clamorous and contentious age, we view Ekstasis as a kind of digital cathedral, a sanctuary from the noise, a place that captures our attention through loving art and luminous words.”

Ekstasis Founder Conor Sweetman created the publication and community in 2016 to reach fellow believers with work that slants toward the triumphant and glorious aspects of life in Christ, framed through life, the arts and literature.

Sweetman shares, “There are so many excellent, inspired artists and writers at work today. Ekstasis wants to draw them together in a unique way to enjoy, influence and galvanize one another in faithfulness to Christ while immersed in the intellectual and creative life. Whether poet, photographer, painter, writer, musician or simply a patron of the arts, there is an exciting part to play in these ecstatic times.”

Along with an annual publication, Ekstasis features a thriving digital community where both young and old generations of believers are seeking new ways of pressing into the depths of what it means to follow Jesus.

The newest print issue, Ekstasis Issue 8, releases this week. This issue, along with several of the most recent issues, are now available to order at https://www.ekstasismagazine.com/buy-magazine. The most recent digital content is available at https://www.ekstasismagazine.com.

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: Cory Whitehead, 630.384.7223  cwhitehead@christianitytoday.com

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Good Book Company is excited to announce the launch of a new book about prayer, written by J.D. Greear.  Entitled Just Ask: The Joy of Confident, Bold, Patient, Relentless, Shameless, Dependent, Grateful, Powerful, Expectant Prayer, this book aims to help Christians discover that praying is a delight, not a duty (The Good Book Company, August 2021).

The number of adjectives in the subtitle reflects the way J.D. uniquely highlights the freedom Christians have to be real and honest, excited and humble as they approach God in prayer. We are invited to pray both patiently and expectantly, with dependence on God and with boldness. These concepts are brought out vividly as Greear walks readers through common questions and misconceptions about prayer in his characteristic clear, honest, and witty manner before walking readers through the Lord’s Prayer and then giving specific and practical tips for a real, realistic, and exciting prayer life.

Greear explains, “In Just Ask, I am trying to present a vision of prayer—and of God—that is deep in theology but practical enough for a middle schooler. The older I get in ministry, the more I realize that perhaps the most effective thing I can do for the church is mobilize it to pray. As Andrew Murray said, ‘The one who mobilizes the church to pray will do more for the Great Commission than any other.’”

In the Foreword, Paul Miller, author of the bestselling The Praying Life, says of Just Ask, “Greear tackles and answers some of the hard questions about prayer, but he doesn’t get stuck in a morass. He channels the simplicity of Jesus telling his disciples to become like little children.”

That reflects J.D. own prayer for his book on prayer: “I pray that through this book, in part, what was said of Enosh’s generation would be said of ours, ‘And in that day people began to call on the name of the Lord.'”

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J.D. Greear is the pastor at The Summit Church and was the 62nd president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is married to Veronica and they have four children. J.D. is the author of several books including Gospel, Above All, and Searching for Christmas.

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.

Holman Bibles Partners with the Lockman Foundation for NASB Specialty Bibles Releasing Spring 2022

Nashville, TN (June 18, 2021) — Holman Bibles, a division of B&H Publishing, has announced a partnership with the Lockman Foundation to produce a line of Bible resources in the New American Standard Bible (NASB) 2020 text. Homan Bible’s first two NASB specialty Bibles are scheduled to release Spring 2022.

“The Holman Bible team is excited to partner with the Lockman Foundation to onboard the NASB translation into our publishing portfolio,” says Andy McLean, Publisher, Holman Bible and Reference. “By publishing certain text and specialty Bibles with the NASB translation, we are afforded another opportunity to not only expand our mission of placing God’s Word into the hands and hearts of people, but also the chance to provide another translation that complements our other translation offerings. We know there are many readers who appreciate the translation philosophy of the NASB and the place it occupies on the translation spectrum, falling into the tradition of a more literal, word-for-word translation.”

The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation is widely accepted by pastors, professors, and ministry leaders as one of the most literal translations of the Bible, using a formal equivalence translation philosophy. This method translates word-for-word from the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts as frequently as possible, making it a reliable choice for studying and teaching God’s Word.

Holman Bible’s NASB Bible resources will feature the NASB 2020 updates, with the first Bible releases set for spring 2022. Included in the initial list will be the NASB Large Print Personal Size Reference Bible and the NASB Super Giant Print Reference Bible. These Bibles will continue Holman’s commitment to sophisticated construction and cover design, with features including:

• Smyth-sewn durable binding
• Two-column text format
• Robust end-of-page cross-reference system
• Topical subheadings
• Footnotes
• Words of Christ in red
• Ribbon marker for easy referencing between pages
• Concordance
• Presentation page for gift-giving
• Full-color maps
• 16-point print size (Super Giant Editions)
• 11.25-point print size (Large Print Editions)

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 CSB Tony Evans Study Bible as well as the Tony Evans One Volume Commentary, The She Reads Truth Study Bible, and the Rainbow Study Bible with over 3 million copies sold. Holman Bibles is a subsidiary of B&H Publishing Group.

B&H Publishing Group, an imprint of LifeWay Christian Resources, is a team of mission-minded people with a passion for taking God’s Word to the world. Because we believe Every Word Matters® we seek to provide intentional, Bible-centered content that positively impacts the hearts and minds of people, inspiring them to build a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. Among our print and digital releases for the trade, church, and academic markets, titles include The New York Times No. 1 bestsellers The Love Dare and The Vow, #1 CBA bestsellers I Am a Church Member and Fervent as well as the newly-revised Christian Standard Bible (CSB) version.

Media Contact: Pamela Muntsinger, 615-294-5073, Pamela@mmpublicrelations.com

June 21, 2021 — WHEATON, Ill. — It is with great appreciation for the lives and ministry of Lane and Ebeth Dennis that the Crossway Board of Directors announces that Lane and Ebeth will be stepping down from their current positions as CEO and CoCEO, and that Josh Dennis will be confirmed as Crossway’s new President and CEO at the next Crossway Board Meeting on August 13, 2021.

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors, Dr. Paul House, Crossway Nominating Committee Chair, noted, “Throughout his nineteen-year tenure at Crossway, Josh Dennis has demonstrated outstanding leadership, creativity, fiscal responsibility, and humble collegiality.” Most importantly, Dr. House stated, “Josh exhibits Christian character in his conversations, demeanor, marriage, parenting, church life, and friendships. With his godly character, and his in-depth knowledge and extensive experience in publishing,” Dr. House noted further, “the Crossway Board is confident that Josh is the Lord’s choice to lead Crossway for the next generation.” Josh was previously appointed by the Board as Crossway President in summer of 2019. At the upcoming August Board Meeting, he will be confirmed as both President and CEO, marking the culmination of an extensive Nominating Committee process that was initiated more than three and a half years ago.

Although Lane and Ebeth will be stepping down as CEO and CoCEO this August, Lane will continue to serve as Chairman of the Crossway Board and as an Executive Advisor for the ESV Bible and Ministry, and Ebeth will continue to serve as a Crossway Board Member.

“I am so thankful for my parents,” Josh writes, “as they have given most of their adult lives in service of the Lord in Christian publishing ministry—more than fifty years for my father, including the forty-plus years of my parents working together since co-founding Crossway in 1978. Under their vision and leadership,” Josh notes, “we’ve seen God provide in ways we never could have imagined. For decades, they have sought to be faithful by doing the ‘Lord’s work in the Lord’s way,’ seeking to do what is right before the Lord.”

As Dr. Lane Dennis emphasizes, “In the tragic turmoil of our times, the crucial thing at this moment is to remain faithful to the calling and vision that is at the heart of Crossway—that is, to be a living demonstration of the hope and truth and the beauty of the gospel throughout Crossway’s publishing ministry. Over this last decade in particular,” Lane noted, “it is remarkable to see how this vision and calling have flourished and expanded under Josh Dennis’s leadership of the Crossway executive team—with the global growth of the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible; with the massive digital footprint of the ESV Bible worldwide; and with the growth of print book publishing—increasing, for example, over thirty-six percent during this last Covid pandemic year. So it is with our great appreciation that Ebeth and I are deeply grateful to the Crossway Board of Directors for their confirmation and appointment of Josh Dennis as President and CEO of Crossway—to ‘transmit the treasure’ entrusted to Crossway for the next generation.”

Crossway is a not-for-profit publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Good News was founded by Josh’s grandparents, Clyde and Muriel Dennis, in 1938, with an emphasis on writing, designing, publishing, and distributing gospel tracts and other Christian literature. More than forty million gospel tracts were distributed annually in the mid-1940s. Envisioned as an extension of that ministry, Crossway was established by Lane and Ebeth Dennis in the fall of 1978. The first four Crossway titles, published in early 1979, included Knowing Man (by Dr. J. I. Packer), Heroes of the Faith (by Sherwood Wirt), A Christian Manifesto (by Dr. Francis Schaeffer), and Complete Works (also by Schaeffer, published in 1984).

Today, Crossway publishes over 1,000 book titles, in 100 languages worldwide, by more than 700 authors—all of which exemplifies Crossway’s commitment to reach the ends of the earth through “Gospel-Centered Publishing.” In addition, Crossway works with more than 270 ministry partners in over 180 countries to print and distribute gospel-centered resources around the world. Over twenty million copies of the ESV Bible are given away annually through ministry partners, and more than 250 million print Bibles have been published and distributed since the ESV was first published in 2001. Each year, nearly four billion chapters of the ESV Bible are accessed for free digitally around the world. Gospel tracts continue to be an important part of Crossway’s ministry, with an estimated twenty million tracts distributed annually.

Reflecting on the future of Crossway, Josh Dennis notes: “By God’s grace, Crossway has remained faithful to my grandparents’ and my parents’ original vision over the past eighty-three years to publish gospel-centered literature. This vision has expanded in remarkable ways through the publication of hundreds of authors and the ESV Bible. Our vision and calling now is to remain faithful to the ministry entrusted to us—in the words of our mission statement, to help people ‘understand the massive 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.’”

Contact: Lauren Susanto, lsusanto@crossway.org, crossway.org

Becky Monds named associate publisher, Laura Wheeler named acquisitions editor, and Jodi Hughes named senior editor

(Nashville, Tenn.) June 17, 2021 — HarperCollins Christian Publishing announced today the promotions of Becky Monds to associate publisher, Laura Wheeler to acquisitions editor, and Jodi Hughes to senior editor for the company’s fiction program, which publishes titles under the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan brands.

Monds is an industry veteran, joining the company thirteen years ago as an editorial assistant and serving in various editorial capacities, most recently as editorial director before being promoted to associate publisher for the Fiction Group. She has edited Christy Award winners including The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron and The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings, as well as New York Times bestseller The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson.

As associate publisher, Monds is responsible for managing and developing the editorial staff, working with authors, overseeing the publishing schedule for all fiction products, and managing the brands for both Thomas Nelson and Zondervan fiction titles.

“Becky is beloved by her authors for her insightful editorial guidance, by her direct reports for her care and encouragement of them as whole people, and by coworkers for her willingness to be a team player and good corporate partner,” said Amanda Bostic, v-p and fiction publisher for HarperCollins Christian Publishing. “Our whole team relies on her wisdom, her instinct, and her gracious spirit, and I could not be more thrilled to formalize the leadership she has already been providing for our team.”

Wheeler, the new acquisitions editor for the fiction team has worked in publishing for ten years, having served in editorial roles at Abingdon Press and Hachette Book Group before joining the company in 2018. In this new role, Laura is responsible for acquiring and editing 12-15 novels per year as well as building and maintaining relationships with authors and agents.

Bostic remarked, “Laura’s instincts for developing stories and for recognizing trends in the market, her capacity to juggle multiple projects without flinching, and her ability to foster strong internal and external relationships have all proven that she is more than ready to take on this new role as acquisitions editor.”

Hughes, recently promoted to senior editor, has been with the company for ten years and has held multiple editorial roles for the fiction team. As senior editor, Hughes will continue to manage editorial functions which includes overseeing metadata and serving as a line editor.

“Jodi has been a valued member of our team since day one,” said Bostic. “Her attention to detail has served her well as she has managed our titles and our metadata, and as she has developed into a trusted and valued line editor. We are so excited to be able to recognize her ongoing contributions with this well-deserved promotion.”

For more information about HarperCollins Christian Publishing’s fiction books, please visit tnzfiction.com, or follow @tnzfiction on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

HarperCollins Christian Publishing:  The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. comprises the Thomas Nelson, Zondervan and HarperChristian Resources publishing groups and imprint, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com, StudyGateway.com and ChurchSource.com. The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space. Bible Gateway is the world’s largest Christian website with more than 20 million unique visitors each month. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. with additional offices in the U.S. and Mexico. For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.

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

WESTMONT, IL—Starting this month IVP kicks off its seventy-fifth anniversary by starting a yearlong celebration of books and authors that have shaped culture, affected the church, and changed lives.

Linda Doll, who coauthored (with Andrew T. Le Peau) Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.: An Anecdotal History of InterVarsity Press, 1947–2007, wrote, “One of the helpful emphases of the postmodern age is the reminder that if we are to look forward, we first have to look back. If we are going to know where we are going, we have to know where we have been.”

The history of twentieth-century evangelicalism cannot be understood apart from the authors and books that shaped it. Leading figures and IVP authors such as evangelist Rebecca Manley Pippert, apologist Francis Schaeffer, theologian J. I. Packer, and pastor-scholar John Stott helped a generation of church leaders to think more biblically. Landmark books such as Ron Sider’s Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, James W. Sire’s The Universe Next Door, and Your God Is Too White by Columbus Salley and Ronald Behm challenged Christians to engage the world around them.

Throughout the coming yearlong celebration IVP will look at where the press has been by sharing monthly stories about how individual books and authors have started and led historical discussions concerning missions, apologetics, spiritual formation, science, social justice, theology, politics, women in ministry, and more.

“InterVarsity Press occupies a unique place in the Christian world—one that I believe is essential in a time when we are more divided than ever. IVP books offer diverse and sometimes intentionally contradictory positions,” said Cindy Bunch, associate publisher and director of editorial for IVP. “Sometimes we joke that our books make everyone mad at one time or another—but we are actually quite serious about our role in maintaining a broad publishing program. We welcome a variety of readers rather than drawing hard lines that keep people inside and outside the boundaries. IVP authors encourage readers to dive deeper into Scripture, culture, science, theology, justice, and more, while always keeping our eyes on Christ. We value the life of the mind and at the same time we call readers to an ever-deepening spiritual journey. The qualities named in the tagline ‘Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.’ capture our desire to reach readers in a holistic way.”

In celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary, IVP is releasing special editions of select iconic and bestselling books from our history. Between fall of 2019 and fall of 2023, IVP is releasing Signature Collection editions of twenty-seven books and thirteen Bible studies that represent a wide range of authors, topics, and genres.

Stan Jantz, president and CEO of the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association (ECPA), said, “For seventy-five years InterVarsity Press has published compelling books that bring honor to Christ by cultivating the mind while simultaneously stirring the heart. My first encounter with InterVarsity came while I was in college through brilliant authors such as Os Guinness and Becky Pippert, who are still writing great books for—you guessed it—InterVarsity Press. Not content to rest on past success, this innovative publisher continues to discover and publish first-rate authors for new generations. That’s the mark of a great publisher. That’s the mark of InterVarsity Press.”

Since 1947, IVP has been publishing thoughtful Christian books that shape both the lives of readers and the cultures they inhabit. Times may have changed in those seventy-five years, but nothing has changed about how IVP books and authors speak boldly into the urgent issues of the day and provide timeless tools for spiritual growth and thoughtful engagement with academia.

Jon Boyd, editorial director for IVP Academic, said, “IVP has always known that a crucial part of our mission is to speak the language of academia—in its own terms, asking its pressing questions, and then bringing to bear fresh light from Scripture and Christian thought. Many of our trade books do that too, of course, but serving the university world is the central raison d’être of the IVP Academic imprint. These days we’re publishing more academic books than ever, spanning more fields than ever, by authors from more institutions and traditions than ever, serving more needs of readers than ever (from historical fiction to encyclopedias, literary essays to specialized monographs)—all for the sake of being part of a renewal of Christian life and thought in and through the world’s universities, seminaries, and colleges.”

Speaking into important cultural moments throughout the decades—from the halls of academia to the church pulpit to the public forum—IVP has served as a conversation partner for Christians wishing to deepen their personal faith, understand a biblical view of the world around them, and engage with that world faithfully. IVP and its books have not only addressed a particular moment in history, they’ve also spoken timeless truths across generations.

“In the course of its seventy-five years of publishing, InterVarsity Press has grown from an original focus on making Bible study, discipleship, and worldview resources available to a student ministry to becoming one of the most trusted sources of Christian thought and practice for people in the church, the academy, and the world,” Jeff Crosby, IVP publisher, said. “As the people who compose IVP enter the next chapter of its history, I am confident that the organization will continue to not only fulfill its unique and strategic mission in the world but will expand and refine it. The world desperately needs the kind of publishing that InterVarsity Press has been committed to curating since its inception. I’ve been privileged to be associated with IVP throughout my career as a longtime bookseller and, since 1998, as an employee. No other publisher has shaped my understanding of Christian faith and practice as much.”

Watch for more information about IVP’s seventy-fifth anniversary on ivpress.com and facebook.

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

CPH Board of Directors made the announcement at quarterly meeting

Saint Louis, MO—The Concordia Publishing House (CPH) Board of Directors met June 10-11, 2021, for their annual strategic planning meeting. During the meeting, the Board announced that they have unanimously appointed Jonathan D. Schultz Interim President & CEO of Concordia Publishing House, following the retirement of Bruce G. Kintz.

“Jonathan’s long tenure of creditable service as Vice President/Corporate Counsel at CPH has equipped him for this new area of responsibility and leadership,” said Dr. Mark Bender, Chair of the CPH Board of Directors.  “We pray God’s continued blessings upon Jonathan and all who serve at CPH.”

Schultz has served CPH as Vice President and Corporate Counsel of Concordia Publishing House since 1998. In this role, he worked closely with the Board of Directors, coordinating all legal activities of the corporation, and directing the Human Resources and Contracts/Rights/Permissions departments. Prior to arriving at CPH in 1998, he and his wife, Sue, served as long-term volunteer missionaries in Guatemala for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

“I’m honored to be entrusted with the leadership of CPH at this moment in our history,” said Schultz. “CPH has a rich heritage of equipping the Lutheran church with scripturally sound resources. As we look to the future, CPH will continue to have a relentless focus on our mission. I look forward to the opportunities we have to collaborate with our LCMS partners for the sake of the Gospel.”

Lutheran education is a priority for Schultz, who comes from a family with a rich tradition of service to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod through pastoral ministry and Lutheran education. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Lutheran High School Association of St. Louis. From 2003-2014, he held various leadership positions on the Board of Directors of Christ Community Lutheran School, a Presidential Blue Ribbon School serving more than 600 students and their families. Schultz also currently serves as Chair of the Board of the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, a $100- million foundation that is committed in the name of Jesus Christ to seeing the improved care of hurting people in the greater St. Louis region. In addition, from 2007-2018, Schultz served in various leadership positions on national nonprofit boards. Schultz is a graduate of Concordia University Chicago and Loyola University School of Law.

The Lord has blessed Schultz and his wife, Sue, an LCMS elementary school teacher, with three children: Thomas (and wife, Allison), Mollie, and Abigail. They currently reside in St. Louis, Missouri.

The CPH Board of Directors has begun the process of identifying the next President & CEO of Concordia Publishing House.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Jonathan Schultz, please contact Elizabeth Pittman, Sr. Manager, Public Relations, at Elizabeth.pittman@cph.org.

About Concordia Publishing House
Concordia Publishing House (CPH) is the publishing arm of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. For more than 150 years, CPH has been providing individuals, churches, and schools with products that are faithful to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. From books and Bibles to church supplies, curriculum, and software, CPH offers more than 10,000 products to support the proclamation of the Gospel worldwide. Visit CPH online at cph.org.

CONTACT: Elizabeth Pittman, Public Relations, 314-268-1303, Elizabeth.Pittman@cph.org

Bloomington, Minn. (June 15, 2021)—Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce the signing of a new contract with Ashlee Gadd, author of The Magic of Motherhood. 

Gadd’s new book will help mothers joyfully pursue creativity in the margins of motherhood. It’s an uplifting reminder that art and motherhood can—and should!—coexist.

“We can mother and create,” Gadd says. “These roles are not in competition with one another, but actually complement each other. Pursuing both simply requires a little bit of … well, creativity.”

The book is scheduled to release in Spring 2023, in time for Mother’s Day. With a beautiful, giftable format, the book will feature photos, journaling prompts, creative exercises, as well as Gadd’s thoughtful writing.

“We are delighted to partner with Ashlee and showcase not only her wisdom but her creativity,” said Jennifer Dukes Lee, nonfiction acquisitions editor at Bethany. “So many moms are wanting to create, but can’t figure out how to fit creative pursuits into their busy lifestyles. As a creative myself, this is the book I wish I’d had ten years ago. Now, it’s our pleasure at Bethany to partner with Ashlee in serving this generation of creative moms.”

Gadd added: “So many mothers buy into the narrative that pursuing creativity is selfish, or a luxury, rather than viewing it as a vital part of who God designed us to be. When we make space for our creative gifts to shine, we allow ourselves, our families, and the culture at large to benefit from that flourishing. My hope and prayer for this book is that God will use it to ignite sparks in weary mothers who are sitting on their God-ordained creative gifts, simply waiting for a nudge to use them.”

Jenni Burke at Illuminate Literary Agency brokered world rights.

Ashlee Gadd is the founder of Coffee + Crumbs, launched in 2014. She and her team published their first book, The Magic of Motherhood, in 2017. Ashlee lives in Sacramento, California, with her husband and three children. When she’s not writing or vacuuming Cheerios out of the carpet, she loves making friends on the Internet, eating cereal for dinner, and rearranging bookshelves.

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

Contact: Rebecca Schriner, 952-829-2512, RSchriner@BakerPublishingGroup.com

Featuring online courses in Design, Editorial, Marketing, Production & Operations,
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – plus the debut of the PubU Children’s Book Summit

Industry leaders known as the “Brain Trust” will develop the program

TEMPE, ARIZ., JUNE 21, 2021 – ECPA’s annual Fall training program – ECPA PubU – will continue as an online event in 2021, delivering expert training and networking for the industry this November.  The ECPA PubU Online program will present over 25 webinars in several training tracks:  Design, Editorial, Marketing, Production & Operations, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion the week of November 8-12.

With the overwhelming success of PubU as a robust virtual event in 2020, combined with the continued uncertainty of travel for frontline publishing professionals throughout 2021, we decided to present PubU as a virtual experience again this year,” said ECPA president Stan Jantz. “We’re excited because we will reach more people in our industry with a wider variety of creative and practical sessions than ever before.”

The program will also include a day-long Children’s Book Summit on November 3^rd led by Tyndale House associate publisher for Children and Youth, Linda Howard; and developed by children’s literature consultant and author, Dr. Mary Manz Simon.

ECPA PubU will continue its Emerging Leader mentorship program, offering scholarships to up-and-coming industry leaders, with an emphasis on under-represented voices in the industry.  Helen Lee, Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives for InterVarsity Press, will direct that program.  PubU will also continue its emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with a track led by Jevon Bolden (EMG) and Maila Kim (IVP).

Associate publisher of Moody Publishers Randall Payleitner and Jerri Helms, VP of digital marketing and analytics at HCCP, will lead the “Brain Trust” of industry leaders who are charged with developing the content and recruiting the speakers for this program.  Serving with Randall and Jerri on the 2021 PubU Online Brain Trust are:

DESIGN TRACK:
David Fassett, Art Director, InterVarsity Press | Design

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION TRACK:
Jevon Bolden, CEO, Embolden Media Group
Maila Kim, Marketing Manager, InterVarsity Press

EDITORIAL TRACK:
Amanda Cleary Eastep, Senior Developmental Editor, Moody Publishers
Connor Sterchi, Managing Editor, Moody Publishers

MARKETING TRACK:
Jenaye (White) Merida, Marketing and Publicity Specialist, B&H Publishing Group
Jamie Lapeyrolerie, Senior Marketing Manager, WaterBrook and Multnomah

OPERATIONS & PRODUCTION TRACK:
Kathy Krenzien, Director of Operations, Gateway Publishing
Bradley Isbell, Chief Operating Officer, Iron Stream Media

CHILDREN’S BOOK SUMMIT:
Linda Howard, Associate Publisher for Children and Youth, Tyndale House Publishers
Dr. Mary Manz Simon, Children’s market analyst and author

EMERGING LEADERS CONSULTANT:
Helen Lee, Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives, InterVarsity Press

“I’m so delighted to be working with this group,” expressed Randall Payleitner.  “The expertise, years of experience, and strategic thinking going into this program will make it worth the investment—10x! It’s never been more important for us to learn with and from each other as we all consider what our new “normal” looks like in 2021 and beyond. This event is an awesome step for anyone in Christian publishing, but especially anyone newer in their career or their individual role.”

Each track’s sessions will occur on one full day, during the week of November 8-12.  For one registration price, attendees will have access to all content, recordings, and networking opportunities through the Whova online conference platform.  The Top Shelf Book Award winners webcast will be the closing event on November 12.

For more information about the program, Brain Trust, and to receive program updates when they’re made available, visit ECPAPubU.org.

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The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. For more information about ECPA: info@ecpa.org ECPA.org @ECPA

ECPA PubU has delivered training, connection, networking and inspiration to the industry’s frontline practitioners since 2004.  Industry leaders develop the program to invest in the expertise of their colleagues, and train up the next generation of leaders.  For more information, visit ECPAPubU.org.

Media contact:  Stan Jantz, ECPA president/CEO, sjantz@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998