Lion Hudson to Benefit from Personalized Service and Industry Expertise

ASHLAND, OH, June 14, 2021 – Baker & Taylor Publisher Services (BTPS), a leading provider of sales and fulfillment services to book publishers, is pleased to announce the signing of a full-service sales and distribution agreement with the SPCK Group, effective July 1, 2021 – US/CAN only.

The SPCK Group is the one of the world’s leading Christian publishers, formed following the acquisitions of IVP UK and, more recently, Lion Hudson by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, a publisher founded in 1698. All three lists will be available from BTPS under this arrangement.

Lion Hudson (www.lionhudson.com) is a renowned Christian publisher that features an extensive list of award-winning books for adults and children under several imprints, including Lion Books, Monarch Books, Lion Scholar, Lion Fiction, Lion Children’s Books, and Candle Books. Their mission is to “see literature that challenges, encourages, and leads people to God, whatever their background,” with titles that cover a full spectrum of faith-based publishing, including Bible reference, history and biographies, leadership resources, children’s illustrated Bible stories and Bible reference, and picture books. They are a CBA publisher and member of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge (SPCK) Group.

Inter-Varsity Press UK (IVP UK, www.ivpbooks.com) is an evangelical Christian publisher spun out of the Christian Union movement in the United Kingdom. Its mission is to publish Christian books that are true to the Bible and that communicate the gospel, develop discipleship and strengthen the church for its mission throughout the world. Its strengths include Bible reference and commentaries, and Christian living. IVP UK also publishes academic titles under the Apollos imprint.

SPCK Publishing (www.spckpublishing.co.uk) has been publishing Christian books since the 17^th Century and these days is best known for its work with such authors as N.T. Wright, Rowan Williams, and Richard Rohr. SPCK aims to publish the very best Christian books in a range of genres, including theology, biblical studies, Bibles and children’s. SPCK Publishing also publishes spiritual fiction titles under the Marylebone House imprint.

“This new partnership with BTPS is a significant step for the SPCK Group in ensuring availability of all our titles in North America and growing the sales of our authors. We know that there is significant untapped demand in the USA and Canada for many titles from the Lion Hudson, IVP UK and SPCK lists, and we are excited about working with BTPS to both fulfill this demand and raise awareness further,” said Sam Richardson, CEO of SPCK Group.

“We are honored and privileged to partner with the SPCK Group, including Lion Hudson, IVP UK and SPCK Publishing, whose solid reputation for incredible adult and children’s books is known worldwide for helping people grow in the Christian faith,” said Randy McKenzie, Sales Manager of BTPS’s Christian Division.

About BTPS:  Baker & Taylor Publisher Services (BTPS) is a leading provider of economical services and solutions to book publishers, with a robust worldwide reach to all trade, Christian, and other book markets. BTPS services include sales and distribution, book manufacturing and inventory management, and third-party logistics. A division of Follett, BTPS collaborates with client publishers who benefit from Follett and Baker & Taylor’s positions as major suppliers of public libraries, K-12 school markets and higher education outlets. For more information, please visit www.btpubservices.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Baker & Taylor Publisher Services, Matt Warner, 419-564-4931  matthew.warner@baker-taylor.com

 

Worthy Books is delighted to announce the release of SATISFIED: Finding Hope, Joy, and Contentment Right Where You Are by Alyssa Bethke on Tuesday, June 15

Warm-hearted collection of relatable essays with recipes and photos, inviting women to embrace the ordinary and cultivate beauty in their lives.

Touching on topics like fear, worry, dissatisfaction, anxiety, and body image, Alyssa Bethke walks you through issues that rob you of your joy and helps you recognize them for what they are: distractions.

With all of its expectations and contradictions, this world can take a major toll on us. Be skinny, but not too skinny. Work and hustle but stay home and be a good mom. Be wild and free while tidy and pure. Love your husband but be independent.

In Satisfied, Alyssa Bethke shares a compelling collection of relatable essays that will help you embrace and cultivate beauty in your life. Along with healthy recipes and cozy home images, Satisfied will provide you with the knowledge that you are not alone in your fight to be fulfilled. Alyssa shows you the ways in which you are enough–not only for those around you, but for yourself.

Alyssa Bethke is a mother of three children, Kinsley, Kannon, and Lucy, and a dog named Aslan. She and her husband, Jeff Bethke, live in Maui, and are bloggers, YouTubers, and hosts of The Real-Life podcast. Jeff and Alyssa are the New York Times bestselling authors of Jesus > Religion and It’s Not What You Think and Love That Lasts. They are passionate about encouraging and strengthening families at familyteams.com a program that brings families together with the idea of becoming a team.

Media contact:  Katie Robison (Broaddus)| Senior Publicist | Hachette Nashville | C: 917.538.1417 

[NASHVILLE, TENN., June 14, 2021—] B&H Publishing announces the forthcoming release of former head football coach at the University of Georgia and the University of Miami Mark Richt’s first book Make the Call: Game-Day Wisdom for Life’s Defining Moments (August 31, 2021, B&H Publishing).

With endorsements from Bobby Bowden, John Maxwell, Jon Gordon, Dabo Swinney, Tony Dungy and Tony Evans, “Make the Call” reveals some crucial moments in Richt’s life, from his time as a player, through his years as an assistant coach and head coach, 35 years in all on some of the biggest stages of college football. He shares his experiences both on and off the field, gives wisdom for life and leadership and encourages readers to make what he believes is the most important call of all.

“This book is about my greatest (and not so great) football and life memories and about the decisions I’ve made along the way,” Richt said. “But it’s also about a chance for you to make the call yourself, at your own moments of truth.”

Throughout his career, Richt’s teams won two Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships, five SEC division titles and one Atlantic Coast Conference division title. He was a two-time SEC Coach of the Year (2002, 2005), the 2017 ACC Coach of the Year and the winner of the national 2017 Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award.

After retiring from the University of Miami, Richt became a football analyst for ESPN’s ACC Network, in addition to doing many speaking engagements and charity work throughout the year.

“I don’t know if we’ve heard of a greater impact a coach has had on his players than Coach Richt,” said Devin Maddox, Publisher for B&H. “Mark Richt is a spiritual difference maker, and we are proud partners in his ministry.”

B&H is promoting the preorder campaign for “Make the Call” beginning June 15. For more information, visit makethecallbook.com.

Mark Richt is the former head football coach of the University of Georgia Bulldogs and University of Miami Hurricanes and a longtime assistant coach for the Florida State University Seminoles. He is currently a football analyst for the ACC Network. Mark and his wife Katharyn are the parents of four adult children and two grandchildren.

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,” No. 1 CBA bestseller “I Am a Church Member,” as well as the newly-revised Christian Standard Bible (CSB) version.

Contact:  Jenaye White, jenaye.white@lifeway.com

Iron Stream Media is pleased to announce seven finalists for the 2021 Selah awards across four categories. Winners were announced June 2, 2021, at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. According to Contest Director Eva Marie Everson, this year’s Selah Awards received the highest number of entries ever. That makes this announcement all that much sweeter.

Finalists are as follows:

Directors’ Choice Awards Fiction Finalists

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

Directors’ Choice Awards Devotional Finalists

• Soul Strong, 7 Keys to a Vibrant Life – Lucinda Secrest McDowell
• The Christmas Promise, A Journey from Cradle to Crown – Margie Williamson

Christian Life Finalists

• Enjoy Today, Own Tomorrow – Laine Lawson Craft, Ascender
• Faith Wins – Adam Groza, New Hope

General Fiction Finalist

• Outbound Train – Renea Winchester, Firefly Southern Fiction

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. Limited supply of giveaway copies available for special events and interviews. Books can also be ordered through your distributor or visit www.newhopepublishers.com.

WESTMONT, IL— InterVarsity Press is pleased to introduce Bethany Olsen as the associate digital sales director and to announce several promotions and one new hire.

Olsen is a native of Washington state and holds a bachelor’s in music and a master of business administration from Western Washington University. Most recently, she was director of partnership engagement at Childcare International, a child sponsorship agency based in Bellingham, Washington.

“I have gotten to know Bethany over the past five years as she was our contact at a previous firm. Our collaboration with Bethany resulted in significant year over year growth. She consistently asked good questions about process and our content. Needless to say, I was very pleased when she applied for the digital sales director position,” said Justin Paul Lawrence, director of sales and marketing for IVP. “It is not often that talent of Bethany’s caliber comes available. She has a comprehensive knowledge of the publishing landscape and a keen business acumen. I have no doubt that she has a bright future at IVP and in the industry at large.”

The IVP editorial team has announced several changes to its department as well. Rebecca Carhart, assistant project editor, has been promoted to associate project editor. Cindy Bunch, director of editorial, said, “We are grateful for her good work in this role for the past three years and are especially grateful for how she capably handled the editorial and scheduling processes for the IVP Signature Collection.”

Rachel Hastings, who has worked as an assistant project editor, will also serve as an associate project editor. Bunch said, “Rachel has quickly proven herself invaluable to the trade team, both working with authors and solving problems on a daily basis.” 

Paloma Lee, IVP’s rights coordinator, will now be the rights specialist. Ellen Hsu, senior manager for rights and contracts, said, “Paloma is doing excellent work supporting our licensing work and has taken on additional responsibilities, including becoming IVP’s primary contact for Spanish and Portuguese language licensing. We look forward to seeing how she will continue to help IVP’s books reach broader audiences.” 

The print production department welcomed Ethan Lunow as the print production coordinator. Lunow has an undergraduate degree from John Brown University (BA in history, minors in business administration and New Testament Greek) along with graduate degrees from Wheaton College Graduate School (MA in Christian history, MA in historical theology).

Karen Savella Stallard joins IVP and the creative and customer engagement team as the part-time multimedia copywriter. Stallard has a background as an immigration lawyer with a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Illinois-Chicago and a juris doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

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

Iron Stream Media is excited to announce seven finalists in two Serious Writer Contests. Serious Writer is a club of writers and literary agents with a goal of providing free and affordable education as well as providing networking opportunities for authors of clean Christian books. Finalists will be announced June 30, 2021.

Book of the Year Semifinalists for books published January through December 2020:

• Say Yes by Britt Mooney
• Strength of a Woman Devotional by Lauren Crews
• Dakota Peace by Megan Kinney

Book of the Decade Contest for books published January through December 2020:

• Lake Surrender by Carol Grace Stratton
• Pursuing Prayer by Penny Cooke
• The Cheesehead Devotional Hall of Fame Edition by Judy DuCharme
• The Cheesehead Devotional Kickoff Edition by Judy DuCharme

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.

Limited supply of giveaway copies available for special events and interviews. Books can also be ordered through your distributor or by emailing orders@ironstreammedia.com.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Relationship Goals, Michael Todd, CRAZY FAITH is an invitation to step out of a lackluster life of lazy faith and step into the adventurous, unpredictable, and purposeful life of crazy faith.

Based on the viral sermon series of the same name that has been viewed over 10M times, this message challenges readers to stop watching the life of faith from the sidelines, to step out of excuses and fear, and to step into the big, bold future God has for them.  To be released September 21, 2021 by WaterBrook as a hardcover publication.

World rights to CRAZY FAITH were acquired by Editorial Director Andrew Stoddard from Alex Field at The Bindery.

Rights queries, please contact Denise Cronin, decronin@prh.com

WaterBrook is an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

 

(Nashville, TN) June 1, 2021—Thomas Nelson announced today Janet Hill Talbert will become the new executive editor for Nelson Books, a nonfiction imprint of the publishing group, beginning June 14, 2021. Talbert is a publishing veteran, having worked in the industry for 25 years, with most of her tenure in senior-level editorial roles.

Talbert spent 22 years at Doubleday serving in various editorial roles, including vice president and executive editor. During her time at the company, she edited seven New York Times bestsellers including the #1 New York Times bestselling book The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell. While at Doubleday, she also launched Harlem Moon, a paperback imprint and division of Broadway books.

She most recently served as senior editor for Guideposts Books and Inspirational Media, where she edited the devotionals Mornings with Jesus and Pray a Word a Day, as well as oversaw licensing for Bibles and non-fiction titles.

As executive editor for Nelson Books, Talbert will lead the imprint in identifying, acquiring, and developing industry-leading voices, reporting to Tim Paulson, v-p and publisher of Nelson Books.

Paulson commented, “Janet has a rare mix of deep experience in New York trade publishing as well as a heart for our faith-filled messages. We are thrilled to have her editorial expertise on our team.”

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 multiples formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

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

The Cultural Commentators and Comedians Will Release Satirical Book on Culture, Wokeness, and Leftism

Washington, D.C.—Salem Books today announced a major deal with the editors behind The Babylon Bee, a conservative Christian satire site known for its satirical commentary on politics, current events, and well-known figures. Often referred as the evangelical Christian spin-off of The Onion, The Babylon Bee is best known for its tongue-in-cheek commentary of culture, and for making jokes at the expense of progressives and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, and Christians and atheists alike.

Known as the “most popular Christian satire website,” The Babylon Bee has been featured by Fox News, the New York Times, and Reuters. In typical satirical fashion and akin to the humor of its popular website, The Babylon Bee presents its latest satirical sensation: The Babylon Bee Guide to Wokeness, set for release in October 2021.

Salem Books Publisher Tim Peterson says, “For years, I have been one of the eight million people who turn to The Babylon Bee each month for entertainment. I’ve laughed out loud at their reports, and sometimes even said, ‘Oh my gosh. Did they really just write that?’ So publishing a book with Editor in Chief Kyle Mann and Managing Editor Joel Berry will be a career highlight. We expect sales will be robust.”

The Babylon Bee Guide to Wokeness focuses on how to “become woke” and how to become a Leftist in disguise: you must choose your pronouns, blame everyone else for your problems, and show the world how great you are by virtue-signaling on social media.

The Babylon Bee are also the creators behind How to Be a Perfect Christian (Multnomah, 2018) and The Sacred Texts of The Babylon Bee, Volume 1 (The Babylon Bee, 2020).

The Babylon Bee is represented by Steve Laube of the Steve Laube Agency in Phoenix, Arizona.

Salem Books is the evangelical Christian imprint of Regnery Publishing, a Salem Media Group Company. Founded on biblical principles, Salem Books seeks to enrich the lives of Christians and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus to the world through the written word.

Salem Media Group is America’s leading multimedia company specializing in Christian and conservative content, with properties comprising radio, digital media and book, magazine, and newsletter publishing.

Contact: Katie Anderson, Katie.Anderson@SalemBooks.com

‘Pastor Pod’ Provides Ability to Work From Anywhere with Ease

BELLINGHAM, Wash., June 2, 2021 – Faithlife, the makers of integrated ministry products including Logos Bible Software, will give one church leader the ultimate Pastor Pod, a fully refurbished Vintage 1966 Aristocrat Lo-Liner travel trailer. Designed as a quiet place for prayer, study, and sermon preparation, the Pastor Pod is the epitome of a social distancing tool.

Completely renovated with a new interior, the Pastor Pod is fully stocked with pastoral resources and mobile, allowing pastors to work from any location whether the woods, the beach or simply the driveway.

“Sometimes as a pastor, you need a quiet space to work distraction-free, especially after the last year,” said Bob Pritchett, Faithlife Co-Founder and CEO. “The Pastor Pod is the perfect solution for having a personal workspace and maintaining socially distanced precautions. It’s fully loaded with everything a church leader needs to prepare a sermon, have a video meeting, enjoy a cup of coffee, take a nap, or just get away from the kids for a few well-deserved minutes!”

The Pod is equipped with a ProArt display monitor on an adjustable arm, a charging station, a Keurig-Mini coffee maker, a microwave, mini-fridge, hot plate, space heater, sink and butcher block surface and a pull-out bed. Additionally, the Pod owner will receive a 10-volume pastoral library from Lexham Press, Logos Preaching Suite, Picturing Scripture devotional and art book, The Proclaim Guide to Beautiful Church Presentations book and a stack of ministry-focused magazines and coffee mugs.

Faithlife will give the Pastor Pod to a deserving leader on June 30. To be considered, simply watch a short video about Faithlife’s newest integrated ministry product, Faithlife Equip, and fill out the post-video form.

Enter to win the Pastor Pod at faithlife.com/pastor-pod.

About Faithlife
Faithlife, based in Bellingham, Washington, with offices in Arizona and Mexico, has been using technology to equip the Church to grow in the light of the Bible for 30 years. Since 1992, Faithlife has developed a full suite of church management tools, academic study resources, smart digital books, and Logos Bible Software, all part of its integrated ministry platform that automates tasks and simplifies workflows. For more information, visit Faithlife.com.

Media Contact: Kristin Cole, 972-267-1111, kristin@alarryross.com