WESTMONT, IL—As part of its Best Books of 2020, Publishers Weekly has selected The #MeToo Reckoning: Facing the Church’s Complicity in Sexual Abuse and Misconduct by Ruth Everhart as one of the best religion books of the year.
The PW website posting says, “Everhart, a Presbyterian pastor, uses her own chilling story of sexual abuse to ground this resonant call to action for Christian communities to reject patriarchal systems and end widespread sexual abuse within American churches. Everhart’s voice is bold, and the many shocking statistics she cites bolster her affecting appeal for change.”
Al Hsu, senior editor for IVP, said, “When I saw the proposal for Ruth Everhart’s The #MeToo Reckoning, I knew that this was a prophetic word for us today. I was struck by her courage in telling her story and the strength of her no-holds-barred takedown of the religious power structures that have aided and abetted abusers. I am thrilled at this PW recognition, and I pray that the reckoning will continue to bring justice and healing to survivors. Congratulations, Ruth!”
Everhart shines a light on the prevalence of sexual abuse and misconduct within faith communities. She candidly discloses stories of how she and others have experienced assault in church settings, highlighting the damage done to individuals, families, and communities. In addition to addressing issues such as patriarchy and purity culture in the church, Everhart instructs religious leaders on what they can do to help pave a better way forward.
In an interview with PW in November 2019, Everhart said, “I didn’t choose to write about this; it happened to me. I wrote about my sexual assault in hindsight after 35 years of life in ministry and realizing that very few people were writing about such assaults from a faith perspective. I got so many messages from people; I heard so many stories. I wanted to broaden the lens out of personal story to larger themes, using other people’s stories and scripture. I didn’t have to go find a single story. They all came to me.”
The #MeToo Reckoning also received a starred review from PW that said, “These case studies are painful but particularly instructive, and Everhart argues ‘we must examine the system that allowed a predator to thrive and hide,’ specifically patriarchal church structures that concentrate more on ‘healing’ than on justice. She calls for churches to make the decisions required for them to become safe places, such as developing a formal system for victims or witnesses of abuse to come forward. Everhart’s unsparing analysis will be helpful for both ministers and lay readers who are concerned about sexual abuse.”
Everhart is an author, speaker, and pastor who has served Presbyterian (PCUSA) churches for more than twenty years. She has written for publications such as the Christian Century, Sojourners, and the Washington Post, and is the author of Chasing the Divine in the Holy Land and the Christianity Today award-winning memoir Ruined.
For a complete list of IVP books honors visit ivpress.com/award-winners.
Contact: Krista Clayton | 630.734.4013 | kclayton@ivpress.com
The 2020 Seoul International Book Fair ended on the 25th. However, The Korean Publishers Association announced that major online exhibitions, lectures, and conversation programs of the book fair will be available on the official website and YouTube until the end of this year.
Nashville, Tenn. (October 27, 2020)—HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) and HarperCollins Focus (HCF) today announced Brad Hill’s promotion to director of audio sales.
Everyone has something they struggle with from time to time, even young kids. Certain situations and circumstances can lead to big feelings that are hard to handle, but it’s never too early to learn how to turn to Jesus when things get hard. The Good News for Little Hearts series helps children apply biblical truth to whatever situations they face. This fall, the popular series is growing with three new releases helping children deal with stress, jealousy, and fitting in.
Each of these stories help children process challenging situations through a biblical lens. Instead of moralism, each book focuses on the grace and hope we have in Jesus, not an ability to change on our own. Each character depends on Jesus and, in turning to him, lives by faith.
Nashville, TN (October 7, 2020) — Ingram Content Group (“Ingram”) announced the hiring of Paige Allen as the new Director of IngramSpark®, Ingram’s award-winning self-publishing platform.
CAROL STREAM, Ill. (October 21, 2020)—Tyndale House Publishers (@TyndaleHouse) has acquired four novels from bestselling author and rising star T. I. Lowe (Lulu’s Café). First to release among them is Under the Magnolias, a coming-of-age story set in the 1980s on a rural South Carolina tobacco farm and appealing to readers of Where the Crawdads Sing and The Great Alone. A May 2021 publication is planned. Under the Magnolias is a gritty, yet tender and uplifting tale, reminding us that a great story can break your heart . . . then heal it in the best possible way. This stand- alone novel will be followed by the Palmetto Summer romance trilogy, expected in 2022 and expanding upon the author’s Publishers Weekly star-reviewed Carolina Coast series.
The first of the four newly acquired novels to release, Under the Magnolias, introduces readers to Austin Foster, who is barely a teenager when her mama dies giving birth to twins, leaving her to pick up the pieces while holding her six siblings together and doing her best to stop her daddy from retreating into his personal darkness.
Nashville, TN — The true spirit of Christmas often gets lost in busyness of the season. As the events of 2020 have made us slow down and shift some of our priorities, this year is the perfect time to refocus on the joy of giving and honor the real reason for Christmas: Jesus’ birth. With The Giving Manger (WorthyKids/ October 13, 2020/ISBN: 9781546034223/ $39.99), creators and sisters Allison Hottinger and Lisa Kalberer offer a faith-based interactive family tradition that encourages acts of kindness.
(October 22, 2020) – The Parable Group, a California-based marketing agency and media group, today unveiled two web-based, data-driven initiatives designed to drive traffic into Christian retail stores—local Branded Websites and a complete revamp of the Get It Local Today website platform.
WESTMONT, IL-InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce a groundbreaking new initiative to continue its reputation as a leader in multiethnic publishing. The Every Voice Now (EVN) initiative features a sizable fund underwritten jointly by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and IVP for the purpose of supporting the development, marketing, and sales of books by authors of color as well as aiding in the recruitment of diverse staff and the deepening of the organization’s cultural competency.
Nashville, Tenn. (October 23, 2020) – Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, today announced two promotions within its marketing staff. Mark Glesne will be senior director of marketing for Nelson Books, specifically focusing on Max Lucado and Lysa TerKeurst author brands, and Stephanie Tresner will become a director of marketing for Nelson Books.
Stephanie Tresner joined the company in 2008, serving in various marketing and brand management capacities for Thomas Nelson. Throughout her tenure, she has spearheaded innovative marketing campaigns for New York Times bestsellers including Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis, Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst, A Serial Killer’s Daughter by Kerri Rawson, Scary Close by Donald Miller, A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans, and I Said Yes by Emily Maynard Johnson.




