WHEATON, Ill.—Crossway is pleased to announce that Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers (Crossway, April 2020) has won the 2020 WORLD Magazine Accessible Theology Book of the Year. Megan Hill’s A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local Church (Crossway, May 2020) was awarded honorable mention in the same category.

“It’s a great honor for Crossway books to show up in WORLD Magazine’s Accessible Theology Books of the Year list—a category near and dear to the heart of our publishing program,” commends Justin Taylor, Crossway’s executive vice president of book publishing and book publisher. “Dane Ortlund’s Gentle and Lowly is a beautiful book about our beautiful Savior, and we are grateful to see the ways in which God is using it to encourage his weary people with the heart of Christ. WORLD rightly describes Megan Hill’s honorable mention book, A Place to Belong, as ‘a love letter to the Church.’ Has there ever been a better time for an extended meditation on how to love the beautiful place where reconciled sinners can most deeply belong? We give thanks to God for these authors, these works, and the ways in which he is using them in the lives of his people.”

WORLD Magazine’s national editor, Jamie Dean, writes of Gentle and Lowly, “Perhaps a boiled-down way to think about what Ortlund expresses: If we are in Christ, God doesn’t just tolerate us. He welcomes us. He doesn’t only love us. He likes us. That’s what it means to be His friend. Ortlund makes it clear this is only possible because Jesus suffered God’s wrath for sin on the cross. In that way, the book is an uncommon volume that could speak deeply to two very different groups of readers: mature Christians already familiar with God’s grace and non-Christians wondering about a God of both wrath and love.”

In Gentle and Lowly, Ortlund takes readers into the depths of Christ’s very heart for sinners, diving into Bible passages that speak of who Christ is and encouraging readers with the affections of Christ for his people. His longing heart for sinners comforts and sustains readers in their up-and-down lives.

With rich theology and practical direction, Hill’s A Place to Belong invites readers to experience the local church in light of the Bible’s testimony. Considering nine biblical terms for the church—such as beloved, brothers and sisters, saints, and gospel partners—Hill equips Christians to love and serve one another. New Christians and mature believers alike can find learning to love the local church as one of their greatest privileges and highest joys.

Dean writes, “Megan Hill has written a love letter to the church in A Place To Belong. With many Christians separated from public gatherings for weeks or months this year, this book might cause a craving for casserole-laden tables in fellowship halls—not for the pasta salad, but for the feast of fellowship in Christ. Hill reminds readers that in a complex world, God carries out His mission and purpose in simple ways: Ordinary worship by ordinary people gathered in ordinary places.”

WORLD Magazine’s 2020 Books of the Year awards 25 books in five categories that editor in chief Marvin Olasky say “contribute to understanding big controversies and great divides, including creation-evolution battles in science, racial and religious splits in American society, and times of war and revolution in our past.”

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

 

Experienced Freelancers Offer Help for Working at Home

Grand Rapids, Mich.—Working at home is the new order of the day, but doing so it’s easy. Now four experienced freelance writers, who have each worked at home for years, offer their best advice on navigating this new way to work. The Joy of Working at Home: Embracing the Freedom, Avoiding the Pitfalls ($2.99, Credo) offers a comprehensive look at how to work best at home. The book is available on Kindle.

“This guide offers readers advice on everything from setting up office space to tackling technology, from setting boundaries to keeping mentally healthy,” said Tim Morgan, coauthor and director of the Journalism Certificate Program at Wheaton College (Illinois).

The three other coauthors are Ann-Margret Hovsepian, a Canadian freelance writer and author of Restore My Soul: A Coloring Book Devotional Journey; Ann Byle, author of Christian Publishing 101 and writer for Publishers Weekly who lives in West Michigan; and Randy Petersen, author of more than 50 books who lives in the Philadelphia area. Together the four authors have more than 75 years of experience working at home.

This practical manual comes at the right time as the pandemic forces many to work from home and as the benefits of working from home become evident. Readers will discover:

• Best practices for a useful workspace
• Tools for managing time and tasks
• Advice on staying healthy, professional and productive
• Tips for setting boundaries
• Help for blending work and family

“We can help you navigate working at home because we’ve done so for years and know both the joys and the struggles,” said Byle, who has been a freelance writer for 23 years.

“There is much to be gained by working at home. We want you to embrace the freedom in brings, while avoiding the pitfalls that can hinder your best work,” said Petersen.

For more information, contact Ann Byle at annbyle@gmail.com or 616-389-4436.

CHICAGO, IL— Independent Publishers Group (IPG) is launching several marketing campaigns and sales specials to support bookstores and readers ahead of the holiday shopping season.

“For nearly 50 years, IPG has prided itself on serving and being a part of the independent bookseller and publishing communities,” said Joe Matthews, IPG’s CEO. “This year has not been easy on any of us in the publishing industry, and we are hoping that with these sales and programs we can help readers and bookstores in what will hopefully be the best months of 2020.”

In conjunction with the American Booksellers Association’s (ABA) Indies First and Small Business Saturday campaigns, IPG will be offering a 50% discount on trade titles to booksellers who place orders directly through ipgbook.com or their IPG independent rep, using prom code IPGF20. The special applies to frontlist and backlist titles, and can be used on three separate orders over $100 before the end of the year.

On the direct-to-consumer side, IPG is launching the “Give Books This Holiday Season!” campaign through their website, where a 40% discount is offered on all orders, valid now through December 31, 2020, with promo code IPGHOLIDAY40. This discount is available to orders of any size, on all formats, and across all IPG lines.

Similarly, IPG’s publishing division, comprised of Chicago Review Press and Triumph Books, is offering a 50% discount on all titles through their websites chicagoreviewpress.com and triumphbooks.com, with promo codes SEASONSGREETINGS and HOLIDAYCHEER, respectively. These discounts are across titles and formats, and available now through December 31, 2020.

For ebooks, IPG is running a Holiday Reading Mega Sale across publishers with titles selling for $3.99 and under at major retailers including Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Amazon, and others. These sales are focused on holiday and winter themed titles, cooking, entertaining, crafting, and fiction, and the sales run through December 31, 2020.

About Independent Publishers Group (IPG):  Founded in 1971, IPG was the first organization specifically created for the purpose of marketing titles from independent presses to the book trade. Today, IPG’s wide reach into the book market includes distribution of both print and e-books from a wide array of publishers, digital printing and traditional publishing. With consistent growth year over year, IPG’s success has come from supporting and encouraging the growth of its publishing partners in the United States and worldwide. IPG was acquired by Chicago Review Press in 1987, and this acquisition formed the parent company Chicago Review Press, Inc., which now owns Chicago-based indie publishers Chicago Review Press and Triumph Books.

Contact: Alisse Goldsmith-Wissman, Publicity Manager, 312.337.0747  agoldsmithwissman@ipgbook.com

Nashville, Tenn., November 23, 2020 – Thomas Nelson Publishing today announced Rosie Rivera has signed a one-book contract with W Publishing Group. God Is Your Defender: Learning to Stand After Life Has Knocked You Down will share how Rivera leans on God in the midst of life’s hurts while also grappling with the strong desire for justice. Simultaneously released in Spanish by Grupo Nelson, God Is Your Defender is planned for release in June 2021.

Rivera is represented by Beth Davey of Davey Literary & Media. World rights were acquired.

“Rosie’s life reads like a movie script,” said Stephanie Newton, associate publisher, W Publishing Group. “While she has endured tragedy, heartbreak, success, and love, it is clear that God serves as the central character in her life. W Publishing Group is honored to bring her experiences and learnings to all people who have been hurt and long for peace.”

“At Grupo Nelson, we’re thrilled for the opportunity to work with Rosie Rivera on her next book,” said Cris Garrido, vice president and publisher, Grupo Nelson. “The combination of personal stories and practical Biblical truth will resonate well with her large audience as well as with new ones that will find hope and empowerment.”

Rosie Rivera is an author, entrepreneur, and the testamentary executor of Jenni Rivera Enterprises, as well as an international speaker, author and an influential public figure. Rosie uses her platform to lift up, motivate, and give hope to sexual abuse victims as a survivor and counselor. Rosie has co-hosted the top Spanish morning shows such as Despierta America and Un Nuevo Dia. She cohosts a marriage podcast called The Power of Us on Revolver Podcast with her husband, Abel Flores. The couple live in Lakewood, California, where they raise their three children.

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

Contact: Allison Carter, Director of Publicity, W Publishing, 615-902-2143, Allison.Carter@harpercollins.com

WESTMONT, IL—Jay Y. Kim, author of Analog Church, has signed a contract with InterVarsity Press to release a second book, Analog Christian, in Spring 2022.

Ethan McCarthy, associate editor for IVP, said, “Jay’s first book, Analog Church, was released in March 2020, just as churches across the land were suddenly forced to grapple with its themes in new ways. What’s at stake in our trade-offs between digital and analog forms of church? What has the church lost in its acquiescence to our thoroughly digital culture? What finally makes the church the church? We’re so pleased to partner with Jay again on this new foray into the conversation–a conversation that’s taking on an ever-increasing sense of urgency in these days of isolation and Zoom.”

Kim said, “The digital age is dangerously undoing some of the most critical components of discipleship to Christ. Following Jesus in any particular era of human history has always posed challenges unique to that particular era and its particular cultural moments and mediums. It is no different in the digital age. The moments and technological mediums we’re experiencing and utilizing today have the potential to undo much of the work of Christ in us, if we continue to live unaware and unresponsive.”

In Analog Church Kim asked questions about how the digital age and its values might be undoing critical elements of what it means to be the church. Kim said, “In Analog Christian, a follow-up of sorts, I intend to ask the same question from a discipleship point of view. Specifically, as the digital age moves us toward discontentment, fragility, and foolishness, how are followers of Jesus to respond? What is the theological basis for living in creative resistance to the forces and ethos of our day? How might Christians cultivate contentment, resilience, and wisdom, in practical ways to not only survive but thrive as we navigate our unique moment in history?”

Kim is pastor of teaching and leadership at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California. He also serves on the core leadership team of the ReGeneration Project and cohosts the ReGeneration Podcast. He lives in Silicon Valley with his wife and two children.

IN THESE TURBULANT TIMES, JOEL OSTEEN TEACHES HOW TO EMPTY OUT THE NEGATIVE, AND CREATE A LIFE FILLED WITH JOY AND PEACE!

#1 New York Times bestselling author and the Senior Pastor of America’s largest church, Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, invites readers to let go of the negative and focus on the positive to make room for JOY in his new book, Empty Out the Negative: Make Room for More Joy, Greater Confidence, and New Levels of Influence (FaithWords/Hachette Book Group, November 10, 2020).  More than 10 million viewers watch his weekly inspirational messages through television, and over 60 million people connect with Joel through his digital platforms worldwide

We often go through life without even realizing all of the negative thoughts we have that are weighing us down until we feel paralyzed by Guilt…Resentment…Doubt…Worry. All can take their toll, mentally and physically. Once we allow these things in, they begin taking up all of the space for the good things that should belong there. Imagine your life is like a container. You were created to be filled with joy, peace, confidence, creativity. But if you allow worry, shame, and other negativity in, it pushes out good thoughts.

“The reason some people are not young and strong—I don’t mean just young physically, but young in spirit, vibrant and passionate about life—is because they’re filled with the negative. Worry will make you weak. Living stressed out will make you old, give you

Empty Out the Negative wrinkles, and take your passion. Being bitter, angry, and resentful will shorten your life..” —Joel Osteen, Empty Out the Negative

You control what you think about, what you choose to allow in. Every morning when you wake up, you need to empty out anything negative from the day before. Empty Out the Negative will help you disregard the ridiculing voices in your head and fill your spirit with positivity.

Santa Rosa, CA – Books & Such Literary Management authors were well represented among the select novelists who received Christy Awards during the November 12, 2020 virtual awards event. Of the nine category winners, three were Books & Such authors. Kristy Cambron’s novel, The Painted Castle (represented by agent Rachelle Gardner), received a Christy Award in the Historical Romance category. Robin W. Pearson (represented by agent Cynthia Ruchti) took top honors in the First Novel category for A Long Time Comin’. The evening was capped by the announcement that Books & Such author Amanda Dykes’ Whose Waves These Are (represented by agent Wendy Lawton), was not only a Christy winner in the General Fiction category, but was also named Book of the Year for 2020.

In total, Books & Such Literary Management authors occupied 9 of the 29 finalist positions, which included these winners of Christy Awards.

Book of the Year author Amanda Dykes says, “If I told you the story behind the months leading up to the writing of this book. . . if I told you I was ready to lay down my pen for good, that words would not come. . . that my heart felt too broken to offer anything, and yet God somehow allowed me to be a part of this story by letting that brokenness give way to a story of hope. . . you’d see that ‘impossible is where the miracles happen’ was my anthem. I am grateful beyond words to the ECPA and the Christy Award program for this very deep honor, and pray that it might help this story of healing and redemption—Whose Waves These Are—bolster hearts this year.”

The Christy Award®, named for the celebrated and beloved novel Christy, written by Catherine Marshall, honors excellence in Christian fiction.

Books & Such Literary Management was founded in 1996. The agency’s tagline—Distinguishing Literature—conveys the spirit of the group of six agents. Books & Such’s focus remains on high-quality writing and manuscripts that make important contributions to society’s ongoing conversations.  Books & Such Literary Management

Ada, Mich. (November 13, 2020)—On Thursday, November 12, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced the 2020 Christy Award winners in a virtual webcast. Three Baker Publishing Group authors were recipients of this prestigious award including Amanda Dykes, whose debut novel Whose Waves These Are (Bethany House; ISBN 9780764232664; E-book ISBN 9781493418787; $14.99) received the 2020 Christy Book of the Year Award. Whose Waves These Are also won a Christy Award in the General Fiction category.

The powerhouse father-daughter writing team of Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker also received a Christy Award in the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller category for their book The Girl behind the Red Rope (Revell; ISBN 9780800739034; E-book ISBN 9781493419562; $14.99).

The Christy Award® was established in 1999 as a way to honor excellence, imagination, and creativity for works of fiction written from a Christian worldview. ECPA assumed administration and ownership of The Christy Awards in 2017 and continues to work toward growing the unique opportunity of fiction in the Christian publishing industry. For the complete list of winners, please visit https://www.christyawards.com/finalists-winners.html.

Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, seeks to uplift readers’ families, faith, and free time with our library of industry-leading fiction and bestselling, Christ-centered nonfiction.

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, publishes books that help bring the Christian faith to everyday life. Whether through fiction, Christian living, self-help, marriage, family, or youth books, each Revell publication reflects relevance, integrity, and excellence.

Contact: Karen Steele, (616) 676-9185 x100, ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com

CAROL STREAM, Ill.—November 13, 2020—Tyndale House Publishers is pleased to announce that two Tyndale fiction titles and authors have won 2020 Christy Awards (ChristyAwards.com). The Christy Award celebrates excellence in the art of Christian fiction and honors the power of faith in story.

On November 12, 2020, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced the winners of the 2020 Christy Award in an online gala, hosted by award-winning novelist Chris Fabry.

Tyndale House Publishers’ authors and titles were awarded as follows:

• First Novel:  A Long Time Comin’, Robin W. Pearson
• Historical:  The Medallion, Cathy Gohlke

Jan Stob, senior director of Tyndale fiction, shared, “We are thrilled that Cathy Gohlke and Robin W. Pearson have been recognized with a Christy Award in their respective categories. We are honored to publish these talented women, who are skilled at telling poignant stories that reflect God’s light and love.”

For more information on Tyndale fiction titles, please visit tyndalefiction.com.

The Christy Award® is the foremost award honoring and promoting excellence in Christian fiction since 1999, and is named for Catherine Marshall’s novel Christy, which has sold over 10 million copies since its publication in 1967. ECPA assumed ownership and administration of the award in 2017 to focus and grow the unique opportunity of fiction in Christian publishing. ChristyAwards.com

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international nonprofit 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

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.

Ada, Mich. (October 27, 2020)—Lisa Sharon Harper has signed a new contract with Brazos Press to publish Fortune. Brazos has exclusive world rights and the project was agented with Howard Yoon of the Ross Yoon Agency. The book is slated to release in the fall of 2021.

Thanks to DNA testing and archives, Lisa Sharon Harper has spent three decades learning about her family history, discovering the hopes and dreams of ancestors whose legacies would otherwise be lost to history. In Fortune, Harper introduces readers to various family members who spanned 10 generations of U.S. history to highlight how their lives and futures were shaped by various oppressive public policies. Their stories become a window into ways that American ideas, customs, and laws oppressed millions of people of African and indigenous descent; spanning the Northeast, the South and the Caribbean islands. Harper connects their stories to the biblical concept of reparation, which is fundamentally about repair. Harper argues that reparation is not only about a dollar amount or figuring out which individuals to blame, but about an entire community or nation repenting of the “fundamental decision to order society according to racial human hierarchy.” Beyond naming the problem, Harper uses the final section of the book to cast a vision of truth-telling, repentance, and peace-building. In this way, Fortune is both memoir and prophetic teaching, deeply personal but also accessible to anyone interested in addressing the legacy of racism in the U.S.

Lisa Sharon Harper is a leading Christian speaker and activist. With a master’s in human rights from Columbia University, she served as chief church engagement officer for Sojourners, where she led campaigns on immigration reform and racial justice. She is founder of Freedom Road, LLC, a consulting group dedicated to helping groups do justice more justly. Harper organizes the annual Ruby Woo Pilgrimage for Christian women. Her work has been featured in the New Yorker, Relevant magazine, the Huffington Post, and on Rick Warren’s website, PurposeDriven.com. Her leadership has been honored by the Center for American Progress, La Raza, and the National Black Women’s Roundtable.

“Fortune feels like the book that Lisa Sharon Harper was born to write,” said Katelyn Beaty, acquisitions editor for Brazos Press. “Our team is honored to partner with Harper to deliver this urgent call to remember our nation’s sins rightly so that we can collectively work for repair. We anticipate that this book will bear much fruit in the church, nation, and world.”

Brazos Press publishes books that creatively draw upon the riches of the Christian story to deepen our understanding of God’s world and inspire faithful reflection and engagement.

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