In his first book, Joby Martin, pastor of Church of Eleven22, one of the fastest growing churches in the country, dives deep into scripture and traces the story of salvation by highlighting the seven mountains throughout scripture where God manifests himself.

The Son of God was crucified, died and buried. Doornail dead. He lay in the tomb for three days. Until God the Father, through the Spirit, raised Him to life and He walked out shining like the sun. The Son of God lives and reigns, right this second. In a culture in which history is erased or rewritten at will, the existence of an empty tomb matters. Why?

Because if the tomb is empty – then anything is possible.

As he describes each encounter with God, Martin shows us how the interaction on each mountain laid the groundwork for the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, and shows what God revealed about Himself in the process. He illuminates even familiar passages, unveiling how God’s plan for Christ’s sacrifice is threaded throughout scripture, and shows why Christ’s resurrection—impossible, unbelievable—means that nothing is too hard for our God.  Ultimately, he asks readers, Do you live every day of your life as if the tomb is empty…or as though Jesus is still hanging on that cross?

Written with New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin—a member and elder of Joby’s church—If the Tomb is Empty is an insightful and spiritually rich yet accessible examination of what the miracle of Christ’s resurrection means for all of us.

ISBN: 9781546001508
FaithWords

Carol Stream, Ill. (February 4, 2022) — Tyndale House Publishers (@tyndalehouse) announced today that Audra Haney will publish her book He Is There with Tyndale Kids, to release in March of 2023. In her new “shine a light” picture book, Haney reminds children that God is always with us and we can see his hand in everything around us.

As the host and producer of the popular 5 Minute Mom podcast, Audra has a heart for helping moms and families, so her new book is a perfect extension of her life’s work. Beyond her role in podcasting, she is a broadcast producer and sought-after women’s speaker. Audra’s work has been featured on The 700 Club, CBN.com, and Miracle Living Today. Audra was a recent presenter at the 2019 Blissdom Conference and loves to equip and encourage entrepreneurial women to start their own podcasts. She has over 15 years of media experience and is dedicated to using her expertise to pour into young moms in the trenches.

In sharing about her upcoming children’s book, Audra said, “I’ve been in professional media for over 15 years, including writing and production for the Christian Broadcasting Network and Graham Blanchard Publishing (a small faith-based children’s book company). During my time at Graham Blanchard, I helped cowrite a book for expecting moms/dads, and I so enjoyed the process of writing for adults. However, I’m excited about transitioning to literature and projects for children.”

Tyndale Kids associate publisher Linda Howard shared, “We are excited to be working with Audra on this book. Her podcast, The 5 Minute Mom, is already helping thousands of families. We are thrilled to come alongside her and publish this book with its reminder of how much our heavenly Father cares for us and watches over us!”

Audra Haney is represented by Dave Schroeder at WTA Media LLC, and her upcoming book has been negotiated for world rights.

Contact: For more information or for media inquiries, please contact Katie Dodillet, katiedodillet@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.

 

Saint Louis, MO—The Concordia Publishing House (CPH) Board of Directors announced today that they have unanimously elected Jonathan D. Schultz the 9^th President & CEO of Concordia Publishing House. Schultz has been serving as Interim President and CEO since May of 2021.

“During his tenure as Vice President, and since being appointed Interim President, Jonathan has demonstrated a relentless commitment to the mission and vision of CPH,” said Dr. Mark Bender, Chair of the CPH Board of Directors.  “The Board is confident that Jonathan will lead CPH in a manner that remains fervently committed to the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions. We pray God’s richest blessings upon Jonathan and all who serve at CPH.”

Schultz began his service at CPH in 1998.  As Vice President and Corporate Counsel of CPH, 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. Before arriving at CPH, he and his wife, Sue, served as long-term volunteer missionaries in Guatemala for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS).

“My heartfelt thanks to the Board of Directors for this honor and the confidence you have placed in me by electing me to be the 9^th president of CPH,” said Schultz. “For 152 years, CPH has been the publishing arm of the LCMS.  And I would contend that our mission has never been more critical to the Church and her people than it is now. With a world increasingly hostile to our Christian faith, that redefines truth and seeks to ensnare our youth, the world is often a dark, dark place. But thanks be to God that we are indeed a lighthouse, shining the pure light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this dark world with resources faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.”

Schultz comes from a family with a rich tradition of service to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod through pastoral ministry and Lutheran education. Sue is an LCMS elementary school teacher.

Lutheran education is a key priority for Schultz. For the last two decades 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, and on the Board of Directors of the Lutheran High School Association of St. Louis. 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, 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 with three children: Thomas (and wife, Allison), Mollie, and Abigail. 

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, 314-268-1291, Elizabeth.Pittman@cph.org

(January 24, 2022) – The Parable Group, a leader in Christian retail marketing and analytics, has announced its successful integration of select retail services from Innovative, Inc., a long-standing marketing solutions company serving Christian retailers and publishers for over 35 years.

As a part of the integration, The Parable Group launched 80 new websites for transitioning Signature retailers in January 2022. In addition to the website builds, the faith-based company also completed the integration of Innovative, Inc.’s retail marketing services into their suite of services. 80% of these retail locations now receive Signature promotions—emails and coordinated in-store endcaps—from The Parable Group.

According to Greg Squires, President of The Parable Group, “The successful integration of the Signature retailers is another major milestone in our efforts to serve the industry through collaborative and purposeful innovation. We’re honored to provide Christian retailers with a unified web, email, and in-store merchandising program—allowing their customers to have relevant, frictionless, and helpful shopping experiences across in-store and digital environments.”

The Parable Group’s website platform syncs with over a dozen POS systems, offers customers sophisticated search, integrates with stores’ social media feeds, and allows customers to conveniently reserve items online and pick them up in-store. Retailers have reported increases in pick-up orders after launch and are benefitting from higher-margin sales and greater integration of their web and store strategies.

Signature promotions provided by The Parable Group showcase new releases, bestsellers, and super deals from top Christian publishers—helping to boost foot traffic and sales in participating stores.

The Parable Group helps Christian retailers, publishers, and ministries magnify their mission by connecting them to engaged Christian consumers, pastors, and church leaders. The San Luis Obispo, CA-based data-driven marketing agency and media group has served over 1000 Christian organizations since 1985. For more information, contact sally.ross@parable.com or visit www.parablegroup.com.

Contact: Sally Ross, (805) 329-4020, sally.ross@parable.com

Ada, Mich. (January 25, 2022)— Baker Academic begins the new year by announcing two additions to its acquisitions staff. Anna Moseley Gissing will join Baker Academic as Senior Acquisitions Editor. Brandy Scritchfield has been promoted to Acquisitions Editor.

Anna Moseley Gissing comes to Baker Academic from InterVarsity Press. With degrees from the University of North Carolina, Beeson Divinity School, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, she has served in a variety of educational, church leadership, and editorial roles. Most recently she was an associate editor at InterVarsity Press, where she acquired books from notable authors such as Esau McCaulley, Sandra Richter, Scot McKnight, Christopher Wright, and Carmen Joy Imes.

Baker Academic has also promoted Brandy Scritchfield to Acquisitions Editor. She holds degrees from the University of Valley Forge, Regent University, and Calvin Theological Seminary and has served as Baker Academic Acquisitions Associate for five years. Prior to coming to Baker, she was the coordinator of a university writing center and a freelance editor.

“We are thrilled with these two additions to our acquisitions team,” notes Jim Kinney, EVP of Academic Publishing. “We have admired Anna’s work from afar for a number of years. We now look forward to seeing her insight and expertise applied to serving Baker Academic authors. Brandy’s skill and diligence are well known to both colleagues and authors. She’ll now be applying those skills in an increased level of responsibility. Congratulations to both Anna and Brandy!”

Baker Academic serves the academy and the church by publishing works that further the pursuit of knowledge and understanding within the context of Christian faith.

Contact: Shelly MacNaughton, (616) 450-5560, smacnaughton@bakerpublishinggroup.com

Carol Stream, Ill. (January 28, 2022) — Tyndale House Publishers (@tyndalehouse) announced today that Robin Long, founder and CEO of The Balanced Life, will publish her debut book in 2023 as part of the Tyndale Refresh imprint. The Balanced Life is an online wellness company focused on Pilates workouts, self-care, and nourishment. Robin is a certified Pilates instructor who lives and works in Santa Barbara, California. She is passionate about equipping, strengthening, restoring and rejuvenating women from the inside out. Elle.com lists Robin as one of the best Pilates instructors to follow.

Robin established her online community in 2011, encouraging women to pursue a balanced life while assuring them, “Getting fit and feeling good doesn’t have to be so hard.” Since then, thousands of followers have discovered that her “grace over guilt” approach makes pursuing health and fitness doable and enjoyable. Robin’s online community continues to expand exponentially; her workouts have been viewed more than 10 million times, and she has one million followers engaging with her regularly online.

In her book, slated to release in the fall of 2023, Robin offers women a simple, sustainable approach to getting fit and feeling good, introducing readers to her realistic, proven method of attaining wellness and finding balance that feels like freedom. She has reimagined and experienced an alternative to the typical fitness industry’s message, speaking truth in the wellness space about how to disrupt old habits and make small, impactful changes by listening to and connecting with our bodies.

“One of the many things we love about Robin is her emphasis on progress over perfection, which is exactly what so many of us need today,” says Jan Long Harris, executive publisher of nonfiction at Tyndale House Publishers. “Her book is a perfect fit for our Tyndale Refresh imprint because it combines cutting-edge mind-body fitness, motivational psychology, and spiritual inspiration. It’s going to resonate with many, many readers who desperately want to love their bodies again, who struggle to find time to exercise, and who are looking for a wellness program they can actually enjoy.”

Robin Long’s debut release will be supported by a significant marketing budget as well as a national media tour. Tyndale has acquired world rights, in all languages. Robin is represented by Jenni Burke, Illuminate Literary Agency.

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.

Contact: For more information or for media inquiries, please contact Katie Dodillet, katiedodillet@tyndale.com.

Industry executives and managers to gather in Philadelphia on May 3-4

ECPA to host first in-person Leadership Summit since 2019 on “Elevating Publishing’s Impact” and includes publisher case studies

TEMPE, ARIZ., JANUARY 24, 2022 — ECPA has announced the program and opened early bird registration for its first in-person Leadership Summit since 2019 – to be held May 3-4, 2022 at the Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing and the American Bible Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The conference will feature thought leaders and experts, addressing the industry’s leaders around the theme, “Elevating Publishing’s Impact.” They include:

• Cherie Harder, President of The Trinity Forum
• Eugene Habecker, author of “The Softer Side of Leadership”
• Kristen McLean, Executive Director, The NPD Group
• Dr. Theon E. Hill, Aspen Fellow and Assoc. Professor of Communications, Wheaton College
• Nicole Martin, VP of Church Engagement & Exec. Director of Trauma Healing, American Bible Society
• Stan Jantz, former ECPA president and co-founder of Global Discipleship Alliance
• Paul David Tripp, bestselling author, speaker and pastor
• Matt Baehr, Executive Director, Book Manufacturer’s Institute
• Kelly Gallagher, VP Content Acquitision, Ingram Content Group
• David Hetherington, VP Global Business Development, Books International
• Ben McCoy, Director of inventory and fulfillment operations, InterVarsity Press

“We will have an opportunity to learn from our speakers and from one another, and to glean information that helps us respond to the opportunities and challenges in the marketplace,” states ECPA president Jeff Crosby. “As a former publisher before leading ECPA, I always looked forward to this event and the marketplace intelligence I received through participating in the larger community of publishers.”

In addition, three publisher-led case studies will be presented as concurrent breakout sessions:

Elevating Church Engagement will be led by Bill Craig, senior vice president/publishing & ministry experiences at B&H/LifeWay Christian Resources.

Elevating Voices of Color will be led by Helen Lee, IVP’s Director of Product Innovation, including the Every Voice Now initiative and The Disrupters and Every Voice Now podcasts.

Elevating Customer Interest will be led by Ben Amundgaard, senior director of Bible Study Products at Faithlife, and Jesse Myers, director of original content at Faithlife and publisher of Lexham Press.

ECPA will also host the annual ECPA Awards Celebration, announcing the winners of the 2022 Christian Book Award® program, along with other industry milestones and awards.  The dinner banquet will take place the evening of Monday, May 3rd.  Latasha Morrison, bestselling author of the 2021 ECPA Christian Book of the Year “Be the Bridge” (WaterBrook), will be the keynote speaker.

On May 4, attendees will meet in the nearby headquarters of the American Bible Society, debuting their brand new Faith & Liberty Discovery Center – a “high-tech, high-touch” interactive and immersive museum guiding the visitor in a personal exploration of the relationship between faith and liberty in the American experience.

The ECPA Annual Members meeting will be held on May 4th at the conclusion of the program.

The event is open to ECPA members, with discount pricing for multiple employees and smaller companies.  Visit ECPALeadership.org for full program and speaker information and to register.  Early bird pricing ends on March 18.

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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. ECPA.org.

Contact: Jeff Crosby, President & CEO, jcrosby@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 ext. 101

Carol Stream, Ill. (January 10, 2021) Tyndale House Publishers will release three new gift book products between March 8 and April 5, 2022. The new products—Life Is Sweet, Y’all; Sweet Tea Secrets from the Deep-Fried South; and Come Sit a Spell—aim to bring joy, encouragement, hope, and humor to your every day.

Life Is Sweet, Y’all
Wit and Wisdom with a Side of Sass
“Zip that lip!”
“Don’t be a worrywart!”
Do either of these Mama expressions sound familiar? Life Is Sweet, Y’all is a collection of delightful reflections laced with timeless truths and folksy quips from the past that celebrate the sweet gifts the good Lord provides. Packed with plenty of practical life lessons, helpful household hints, and recipes that Mama used to make, this handy guide to a happy life makes a great gift for any woman who longs for yesteryear. Consider it a slice of heaven topped with a whole lot of love and laughter.

Sweet Tea Secrets from the Deep-Fried South
Sassy, Sacred, Southern Stories Filled with Hope and Humor
Southern humorist Jane Jenkins Herlong brings readers joy and humor with her 50 unusual but true faith-filled stories of growing up in the South Carolina low country. Whether you love Southern ways of life or find them strange and amusing, you’ll be entertained and inspired with warm Southern-fried humor and tried-and-true tips for attaining the best version of yourself. Jane’s 50 stories address specific landmark events along with topics such as fitting into the covered-dish church culture; sacred sisterhood; sassy, seasoned Southern women and why they are drawn to beauty pageant competitions; and much more!

Come Sit a Spell
An Invitation to Reflect on Faith, Food, and Family
Come Sit a Spell takes you back to a time when people’s lives were real and raw, when folks lived full of hard-worn love. Through her personal reflections on growing up in the Missouri Ozarks, Marilyn Jansen reminds us that God’s love comforts and guides us even when the pantry is empty. These stories, based on memories from three generations of kitchens, come fully baked with recipes that just about anyone can master and a list of ingredients that are probably already in your cupboard. Come Sit a Spell is about people and food—not the glamorous kind, but the everyday, love-’em-with-all-you-got kind that is the foundation of country homes across America.

 

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Life Is Sweet, Y’all
ISBN 978-1-4964-5313-6 / Hardcover: $14.99 / March 2022

Sweet Tea Secrets from the Deep-Fried South
ISBN 978-1-4964-5591-8 / Hardcover: $16.99 / March 2022

Come Sit a Spell
ISBN 978-1-4964-5367-9 / Hardcover: $16.99 / April 2022

Tyndale.com

Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Today it is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale has proved to be a faithful guide by helping readers discover the life-giving truths of the Bible. Its mission is to open God’s Word to as many as possible in language they can relate to and understand. Tyndale’s independent and nonprofit status allows the company to follow its founding model, giving a majority of its net income to charitable missions—more than $110 million throughout its history. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers are helping to meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

Contact: Isabella Graunke, isabellagraunke@tyndale.com

January/February Issue Explores the Influence of the Scrolls on Modern-Day Bibles 

BELLINGHAM, Wash., Jan. 11, 2022 – The newly-released January/February issue of Bible Study Magazine, a product of Faithlife, the maker of Logos Bible Software, honors the 75th anniversary of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls with exclusive articles exploring the history of these ancient documents and how they have shaped modern Bible study.

“Most of the Christian world, it seems to me, has heard of these famous pre-Christian scrolls, discovered in the Judean desert. But the story of their discovery and release is actually more dramatic and interesting than most Christians seem to be aware,” said Mark Ward, editor of Bible Study Magazine. “Through this issue, we wanted to both provide a look at the historical significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as answer questions about their impact on the biblical text.”The 56-page magazine provides rich insight from biblical scholars and pastors on the significance of the scrolls, including a cover story on the young evangelical scholar who in 1947 firmly, but gently, pried off of the scrolls the scholarly locks that had kept them from the world.

Much of the anniversary issue is devoted to examining whether the Dead Sea Scrolls indicate that any corruptions or alterations took place within the text of the Hebrew Bible over the a millennium between Jesus and the earliest full Old Testament scrolls. For this reason, Faithlife asked Old Testament scholars to explain the effect the scrolls have on modern English Bible translations and on our understanding of Scripture today.

One of the most fascinating articles in the issue details a missing verse in the acrostic of Psalm 145, in which each verse begins with the successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The “N” of the acrostic is missing in the Masoretic Text, yet when the scroll was discovered in 1956, researchers could confirm for the first time that there was an early Hebrew manuscript that contained the missing verse.

Additionally, Faithlife commissioned a young scholar to review a side-by-side comparison of the Hebrew Bible with the Great Isaiah scroll of Dead Sea Scrolls, specifically identifying in Isaiah 53 any differences from the Masoretic Text that is used for most contemporary Bible translations.

“There are differences, but I think what you’ll find when you look them over is that these differences are not what jump out at you; instead it’s the similarities. Examining word after word and sentence after sentence, we find the two texts exactly the same,” Ward said. “The Bible does not promise perfect manuscript copies of the Bible itself, but we nonetheless have every reason to believe that we possess excellent copies.”

For more information about the 75th Anniversary Dead Sea Scrolls issue of Bible Study Magazine, visit biblestudymagazine.com.

About Bible Study Magazine
Bible Study Magazine is dedicated to helping readers study the Bible with the best tools; it also provides insights from respected Bible teachers, professors, historians, and archaeologists. A non-denominational publication, Bible Study Magazine is a product of Faithlife, which has been using technology to equip the Church to grow in the light of the Bible for 30 years. Faithlife, makers of Logos Bible Software, offers a full suite of church management tools, academic study resources, and smart digital books—all part of its integrated ministry platform that automates tasks and simplifies workflows. For more information, visit Faithlife.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE: To receive a digital copy of the January/February Issue of Bible Study Magazine or to interview Editor Mark Ward, contact Landry Leatherwood at landry@alarryross.com or 972-267-1111.

Media Contact: Landry Leatherwood, 972-267-1111, landry@alarryross.com

Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo, releases Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 16, 2021) – Children begin forming internal biases about race as early as 3 months old, research from the American Psychological Association tells us. It is essential to give parents resources they can trust that come from people of color and present hard truths of history and the challenges still faced alongside celebrations of the progress made, depictions of black joy, and a hopeful vision for tomorrow.

Author and NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Literary Work for Children, Alice Faye Duncan’s upcoming picture book, Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth (January 11, 2022, Thomas Nelson), celebrates the vision and tenacity of activist Opal Lee with a message of hope, unity, joy, and strength.

As an educator of the Civil Rights Movement, Duncan’s writings have highlighted biographies of Black artists and moments seldom told in American History. Her picture books are known to provide context and education regarding the Black struggle for equal rights in America.

A biographical children’s book, Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free features illustrations from New York Times bestselling illustrator Keturah A. Bobo (I Am Enough) and tells the true story of Black activist Opal Lee’s mission to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Told through the voice of Opal Lee, young readers learn about her life as she shares past and present realities with her grandson and his friends at a Juneteenth picnic.

Growing up in Texas, Opal Lee knew the history of Juneteenth, but she discovered that many Americans had never heard of the holiday that represents the nation’s creed of “freedom for all.” Opal Lee learned from her grandfather that Juneteenth celebrated the day the news of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and the freedom of slaves finally reached Texas in 1865, more than two years after the president had declared it.

Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day and Black Independence Day commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement (Juneteenth.com). Duncan’s book is an educational and artistic resource explaining this holiday and Opal Lee’s experience as a child and woman.

“If we don’t keep a record of history, people will say it never happened,” said Duncan. “I wrote the Opal Lee story to help children remember America’s past, so they won’t repeat the same misdeeds.”

Opal Lee would go on to speak up for equality and unity. She became a teacher, a charity worker, and a community leader. At the age of 89, she walked from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C., in an effort to gain national recognition for Juneteenth.

Intended for children ages four to eight, Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free teaches children that:

• all people are created equal
• the power of bravery and using your voice for change
• the history of Juneteenth and what it means today
• no one is free unless everyone is free
• fighting for a dream is worth every difficulty

Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth (ISBN# 9781400231256) is available for preorder wherever books are sold and releases January 11, 2022.

REVIEW COPIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alice Faye Duncan is a National Board Certified Teacher, who writes for young learners. Memory is her motivation. She writes to help children remember important moments from African American history. Her books are celebrated for vivid imagery and lyrical texts that sound like music. Alice’s most popular titles include A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks; Just Like a Mama; Honey Baby Sugar Child; and Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop, which received a 2019 Coretta Scott King Honor Medal. Alice lives in Memphis, Tennessee, where at a young age, her mother nurtured her writing talent with prayer, poetry books, and praise. Learn more at https://alicefayeduncan.com/.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Keturah A. Bobo is an artist and New York Times bestselling illustrator known for creating vibrant images that are relatable and distinguishable. She is passionate about creating art that inspires, uplifts, and advocates for her community. Keturah has received notable praises for her colorful illustrative style that brings the story to life and resonates with the viewer. She graduated with a BFA from Columbus College of Art and Design and lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her family of entrepreneurs. Learn more at https://www.keturahariel.com/. 

About Tommy Nelson
Tommy Nelson® is the children’s division of Thomas Nelson. As a leading provider of Christian content, Tommy Nelson publishes a wide variety of high-quality, enjoyable products that are consistent with the teachings found in the Bible. Tommy Nelson’s award-winning products are designed to expand children’s imaginations and nurture their faith while inspiring them to develop a personal relationship with Jesus. For more information, visit www.tommynelson.com.

Media contact: Natividad Lewis, Publicist, 931.698.9620, natividad.lewis@harpercollins.com