Ada, Mich. (Nov. 24, 2021)— Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce it recently signed a two-book deal with Ally Henny, a popular speaker and thought leader on race, cultural identity, and faith.

Her first book, scheduled for a Summer 2023 release, is tentatively titled I Won’t Shut Up. In her debut book, Henny profoundly details her experience as a self-described “loud Black woman,” as she illuminates what it means to fight for one’s true identity amid cultural pressures to stay small, silent, and in line.

“I am looking forward to working with Baker Books to help bring my ideas to a broader audience,” said Henny. “The team understands what my audience expects from me and will help me create a work of art that will liberate, convict, and move people to transform our world.”

Henny is represented by agent Trinity McFadden at The Bindery Agency.

“Ally is a singularly gifted communicator and Baker Books recognizes her as a leader of this essential conversation, as she empowers those who have experienced racism to assert one’s voice and presence unapologetically, against cultural conditioning that rewards those who keep silent,” said Stephanie Duncan Smith, senior editor, Baker. “We are honored to partner with her in this bold message.

Ally Henny holds a master of divinity (2020) from Fuller Theological Seminary, with an emphasis in race, cultural identity, and reconciliation and a BS in psychology from Missouri State University (2008). She has been writing about race, identity, culture, and racial conciliation on Twitter, her personal Facebook page, and on her blog, The Armchair Commentary, since 2014. She is vice president of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, where she also writes about Black liberation, Black motherhood and other topics related to the Black experience.

As Fast As Her: Dream Big, Break Barriers, Achieve Success debuts Jan. 18, 2022, prior to the Winter Olympics; Foreword by Billie Jean King

November 10, 2021, Grand Rapids, MI — Olympic team captain and star for the U.S. Women’s Hockey team Kendall Coyne will release As Fast As Her: Dream Big, Break Barriers, Achieve Success (Zondervan) on January 18, 2022, just prior to the 2022 Winter Olympics. In this inspiring book, gold medalist Coyne will share the grit and determination it took to break down barriers and achieve her dreams against tremendous odds, while encouraging young people to follow their passions and never give up.

As a child growing up in Chicago, Coyne chose hockey skates instead of figure skates and tried out for boys’ teams, often facing challenges simply due to her gender. But Kendall had a passion and a dream — as well as the skills — so instead of slowing down, she sped up, going on to win Olympic gold and a place at the NHL’s All-Star Weekend. She is now a developmental coach for the Chicago Blackhawks and is currently training in Minnesota for the upcoming Winter Olympics taking place early February 2022 in Beijing.

“I am so fiercely proud of this book, as I want to reach youth with the message that they can face obstacles and grow into strong individuals who remain courageous no matter what road they are on,” says Coyne. “I absolutely love being an advocate and a mentor. Sharing my heart with young people and fans in this book is a dream come true.”

“Kendall’s story is the ultimate ‘girl power’ story, allowing her to bring a lot of attention from fans and media to the role of women in ice hockey. We are thrilled to be partnering with her, and we know many young people will be inspired by her story of perseverance,” says Zonderkidz VP and Publisher Megan Dobson. “Kendall shared with us how she looked for books on women’s hockey when she was a girl – and could only find one or two – so we are so happy to help make her dreams possible to inspire the next generation.”

As Fast as Her explores how Kendall held on to her dream, overcame her insecurities and naysayers, and pushed herself past barriers to achieve her goals. Kendall shares:

• stories that illustrate the lessons she’s learned, and how to apply them for success
• encouragement to help young people know they are good enough — to fit in, to find and follow their passions, and to fight for the rights and opportunities they deserve
• why it’s important to give back and create lasting change for others, especially when it comes to equity in sports and the wider world
• her personal trials and triumphs, inspiring readers to discover what excites and exhausts them—and help them to be as relentless in achieving their own goals

Mentor and sports icon Billie Jean King will provide the foreword to the book. Full-color behind-the-scenes pictures and personal photos will also be featured in this hardcover jacketed YA non-fiction book for ages 13 and up (Zondervan, $24.99, 9780310771135).

About Kendall Coyne:

• She is a currently an active professional athlete and coach for the Chicago Blackhawks. She won a silver medal in the 2014 Olympics, a gold medal in the 2018 Olympics and is training for the 2022 Olympics.
• Kendall was named the Most Powerful Woman in Hockey by Sportsnet Canada last year.
• She was the New England High School Player of the Year and was named the top female ice hockey player in the U.S. her senior year in college. Now as team captain of Team USA, she takes a vocal lead in this sport, advocating for women and equity in sports.
• She is married to Super Bowl champion and NFL player Michael Schofield and resides in the Chicago area, in her and her husband’s hometown.
• Find more about her at kendallcoyne.com and on Twitter @KendallCoyne, Facebook KendallCoyne26 and Instagram @KendallCoyne26.

Zondervan is a world-leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications. Zondervan, as part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, MI. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Media Contact: Jessica Westra, Director of Publicity, Zondervan YA, Jessica.westra@harperpcollins.com, 616.403.6628

 

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EARLY ENDORSMENTS OF AS FAST AS HER

“What Kendall Coyne is doing for the sport is not just about her — it’s not even just about her team. She is changing people’s perspectives about what a woman can accomplish. In As Fast As Her, she shares her mission of empowerment, showing all readers how they can open the door to whatever they love and confidently walk through.”
Manon Rhéaume, the first woman to play in the NHL, Olympic medalist and speaker

“I met Kendall when she was seven years old, when she first had a dream to play hockey in the Olympics. It was a thrill to watch her grow into an elite athlete and achieve her dream of winning gold. On top of that, she shocked the sports world by proving she is as fast as the best men’s players in the world. Kendall is an incredible leader, a huge advocate for the game, and the perfect role model for the younger generation. This is a must-read story.”
Cammi Granato, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Olympic medalist and NHL pro scout

“When I first met Kendall Coyne back when she was a young, excited fan, I had no idea what an amazing player and person she’d become. In the years since, I’ve been amazed by Kendall’s focus on becoming the best she can be, her drive to make her mark on the sport and achieve her goals, and her dedication to helping young people grow and see the possibilities in themselves — including her fight to create a better future for women in hockey. Throughout As Fast As Her, as she shares the challenges and obstacles she’s overcome in her career, Kendall offers a powerful message to any young person who is chasing their dream or working to make their voice heard: Don’t let anyone tell you no, and fight for the respect you deserve with everything you have. In the end, I came away an even bigger fan of Kendall, and hope this book inspires a new generation to follow in her footsteps.”
Chris Chelios, three-time Stanley Cup Champion and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame

“Kendall Coyne is one of the most impactful athletes ever to lace up a pair of skates. While she is best known for her explosive speed, what I admire most about her is her fierce determination, fearlessness and work ethic. Not every athlete — no matter how gifted — possesses the mental toughness to show up on a big stage. In addition to showing up for Team USA on the international stage numerous times, Kendall’s clutch performance at the 2019 NHL All-Star Skills Competition was a shining example of thriving under intense pressure. That lap was a barrier-shattering moment for the women’s hockey world, and only someone like Kendall could have pulled it off. Every athlete and sports fan — no matter your age, gender, or favorite sport — will be able to enjoy and learn something from Kendall’s story of overcoming obstacles, constantly pushing herself to greater heights, and rising to the occasion when called upon.”
Patrick Burke, Senior Director of Player Safety for the NHL

“As Fast As Her is sure to inspire, as Kendall is a leader and role model both on and off the ice. As a professional, I have had the honor to work with her to create the ‘Golden Coynes’ program to welcome youth girls into our great game and help them keep playing. As a mom to my ten-year-old daughter, Amelia, I’ve seen the impact Kendall has made in helping her to set goals and dream BIG!”
Annie Camins, Chicago Blackhawks Senior Director, Youth Hockey

 

 

 

 

 

WESTMONT, IL— InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to congratulate creative director, David Fassett, for his work on eight designs that were chosen for the 2021 Top Shelf Book Cover Awards by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).

“The creative talent represented in the covers that won this year is impressive,” said Lorraine Caulton, IVP’s director of creativity and customer engagement. “IVP is honored to be a recipient, many times over this year, through the work of creative director, David Fassett. He is an outstanding talent, strong collaborator, and fun person to work with.”

Fassett joined IVP as a marketing designer in 2009, was promoted to senior graphic designer in 2014, and then appointed to the position of art director in May 2017. This fall he was named IVP’s creative director. Fassett said, “I think a book cover should truthfully and clearly communicate the gist of the book in a way that is visually compelling with the goal of moving the intended reader to pick up the book (or click on it). The cover should also serve as a visual reminder of the experience that the reader had with the book.”

Fassett’s 2021 Top Shelf award-winning covers include:

• Charitable Writing: Cultivating Virtue Through Our Words by Richard Hughes Gibson and James Edward Beitler III
•  The Doctrine of Creation: A Constructive Kuyperian Approach by Bruce Riley Ashford and Craig G. Bartholomew
•  Forty Days on Being a One (Enneagram Daily Reflections series) by Juanita Campbell Rasmus
•  “Here Are Your Gods”: Faithful Discipleship in Idolatrous Times by Christopher J. H. Wright
•  Mixed Blessing: Embracing the Fullness of Your Multiethnic Identity by Chandra Crane
•  No Longer Strangers: Finding Belonging in a World of Alienation by Gregory Coles
•  Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry into the News by Jeffrey Bilbro
•  Voices and Views on Paul: Exploring Scholarly Trends by Ben Witherington III and Jason A. Myers

The ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Award program recognizes design excellence in the Christian publishing industry. Submissions for this year’s awards represented a record-breaking year of wide participation among thirty-five publishing houses and imprints. Judges have the freedom to choose as many top designs as they feel are worthy from the submission pool. They selected a record number of thirty winners. This is the fourth year in a row that the number of winners has exceeded the previous years’ selections.

ECPA announced the winners of this year’s awards on November 12 during the closing session of Pub U Online. Winning book covers and judges’ comments are featured at TopShelfAward.org.

(Colorado Springs, CO)—What does publishing in crisis look like? Ask Gökhan Talas and his wife, who publish the only Christian magazine in Turkey, the country in which three of their publishing colleagues were tortured and killed in 2007. Or, there’s Joseph Benjamin, whose Christian magazine grew out of his response to a massive earthquake in his native Gujarat, India, in which 20,000 people were killed. And, of course, there are the Christians trying to keep their publications alive and responsive in the midst of a pandemic.

In crises like these, rumors abound and Christians struggle to determine the truth in order to respond biblically. Christian journalists and publishers have a responsibility to seek and publish the truth. But, it isn’t aways easy in the midst of a crisis to discover the truth. That’s the purpose of the Crisis Publishing Initiative, a program founded by Magazine Training International in 2016, with the first international conference in Hungary in 2017.

The purpose of the first conference—and the second one to be held June 26-29, 2022, in Mundelein, IL, in the Chicago suburbs—is to give Christian journalists the tools they need to discover and communicate the truth responsibly. Christian journalists from 25 countries attended the first conference and the second conference is expected to draw Christian journalists from as many countries.

Conference sponsors include the Evangelical Press Association, Tyndale Foundation, Christianity Today, and the Humanitarian Disaster Institute.

The mission of Magazine Training International is to encourage, strengthen, and provide resources to Christian magazines as they seek to build the church and reach their societies for Christ. Over the last 32 years, MTI offered 70 conferences, courses, and seminars in East/Central Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. In addition to courses and conferences, MTI provides online courses and workshops, free e-books, training videos, course manuals in a dozen languages, and other print digital, audio, and audio-visual materials in resource center on MTI’s website.  More information is available on our website and Facebook.

Media Contact:  Sharon Mumper, President, (719) 598-9743 semumper@magazinetraining.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Media Contact: Tim Pietz, tim@mountainbrookink.com
 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Founded in 1938, Crossway is a not-for-profit global Christian publishing ministry that publishes gospel-centered, Bible-based content to honor our Savior and serve his church. Crossway seeks to help people understand the all-encompassing implications of the gospel and the truth of God’s word—for all of life, for all eternity, and for the glory of God alone. Crossway is the global publisher of the ESV® (English Standard Version®) Bible, more than 1,000 Christian books, and an extensive list of gospel literature. For additional information, visit crossway.org.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some of the confirmed guests for the third season include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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