Senior Vice President of Sales Tom Knight announces his retirement; Dan Van Gorp promoted to lead role

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) (September 30, 2020)—HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) and HarperCollins Focus (HCF) today announced a change in its sales organization, with the planned retirement of senior vice president (SVP) of Sales, Tom Knight at the end of the calendar 2020. Dan Van Gorp, current director of Independent Retail Sales, has been promoted to fill this role and will begin working with Knight on a transition plan effective immediately. Van Gorp will oversee the entire organization’s trade sales operations and will sit on the company’s Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to president and CEO, Mark Schoenwald.

Van Gorp began his career with Zondervan in 2003 as an account executive and was promoted to manager of Independent Retail Sales for HCCP when the company integrated with Thomas Nelson in 2012, before moving into his current role. As SVP of Sales, Van Gorp will be responsible for setting the organization’s overall sales goals and growing its footprint in physical and online retail, as well as with book distributors. He will continue developing and maintaining partnerships with key industry stakeholders, authors, agents and staff. Van Gorp will be relocating to Nashville, to be based in the company’s corporate office.

“I am excited about this opportunity and the challenges ahead as we continue to look for ways to partner with retail in providing great content,” said Van Gorp. “It has been a wonderful journey for me which began working in a bookstore. With each new step over the course of my career, I have tried to seek understanding and look for new and innovative ways to share our content.  Over the past few months, I have gained clarity on various nuances of our overall business and the significance that our sales organization has in fulfilling the company’s mission to inspire the world.”

“I am thrilled for Dan to lead the HCCP and HCF sales organization,” says Tom Knight. “He is deeply loyal to the mission, and I believe in his ability to grow and develop new relationships across the business. I am grateful for the past thirteen-and-a-half years and am looking forward to this next stage of life, spending more time with my family.”

Mark Schoenwald commented, “Dan has spent his career working with one of our most dynamic sales channels, spearheading various programs to support our independent retailers and Christian bookstores. He has led a team of sales reps across the country, each with their own unique regional customer perspectives. This experience will translate well into his new role.”

Schoenwald continued, “Tom has accomplished a great deal throughout his tenure, including growing our sales organization to be the largest in the inspirational publishing industry with a diversified global retail network. We will miss him, but we thank him for all he has contributed and wish him well for a healthy and happy next phase of life.”

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: As the world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., comprises the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com and ChurchSource.com.  The company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space.  HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For more information please visit www.harpercollinschristian.com.

About HarperCollins Focus: HarperCollins Focus, LLC owns and operates a collection of publishing imprints, that enlighten and empower readers to transform their hearts and minds, connecting through story, advice, mentorship and community. The company is based in Nashville, TN. For more information please visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com.

Contact: Casey Harrell, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, 615.902.1109
casey.harrell@harpercollins.com

Nelson Books imprint will release a new book line in association with COMPEL

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) (October 1, 2020)—Thomas Nelson, alongside New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst, is launching a new publishing initiative that will mobilize the next generation of women Christian authors, through TerKeurst’s own COMPEL author training program. Recently, TerKeurst posted an initial announcement on her social platforms, as well as released a video with literary agent and manager, Meredith Brock, providing preliminary details about the publishing program.

TerKeurst and Brock will work together to identify and develop authors through their training program, then carefully select manuscripts to be presented to Thomas Nelson in a co-review process. Manuscripts that are further identified as commercially viable will be contracted and managed through Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson. Books will be co-branded Nelson Books and COMPEL.

“This exclusive project will be the first of its kind for Nelson Books,” said Timothy Paulson, vice president and publisher of Nelson Books. “Lysa has been more than a bestselling author to our publishing family. She is a visionary leader who loves to teach others how to reach their goals and dreams of success. Lysa told us she wanted to help her community of women who have such incredible and inspiring messages that deserve to be read. The COMPEL book line is a concept that utilizes the strength of Lysa’s wonderful gift for writing and developing a resonating voice for her ever-growing readership, and the Thomas Nelson editorial, marketing, and distribution expertise to elevate new Christian authors, Bible teachers, and disciples of God’s Word.”

The first COMPEL training opportunity that has been designed for this new initiative—The Book Proposal Boot Camp—begins on October 18th and will be completed in January.  The COMPEL team will then begin their work alongside the Nelson Books team, with a goal to release its first book in the line in 2022.

For more information on COMPEL, go to the www.TheBookProposalBootcamp.com.

About Thomas Nelson: 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, 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: Casey Harrell, Senior Director, Corporate Communications
615.902.1109, casey.harrell@harpercollins.com

WESTMONT, IL— InterVarsity Press is pleased to congratulate art director, David Fassett, for his work on five designs that were chosen for 2020 Top Shelf Book Cover Awards by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). Fassett received the most awards of all the designers represented.

“The InterVarsity Press publishing program encompasses a wildly diverse set of books that call for equally unique design approaches,” Jeff Crosby, IVP publisher, said. “Year after year, David Fassett’s skill set is more than up to the challenges placed before him, as the five 2020 Top Shelf Awards demonstrate. I join all of my IVP colleagues in congratulating him on a job well done and on designs that help open doors to reaching and engaging readers of our trade and academic books.”

Fassett’s winning covers include:

• A Prayer for Orion: A Son’s Addiction and a Mother’s Love by Katherine James
• The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety, and Power by D. L. Mayfield 
• Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why It Matters by Sandra L. Richter
• To Think Christianly: A History of L’Abri, Regent College, and the Christian Study Center Movement by Charles E. Cotherman
• Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery by Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah

Fassett joined InterVarsity Press (IVP) as a marketing designer in 2009 and was promoted to senior graphic designer in 2014. He was appointed to the position of art director in May 2017.

“We are so thankful for David’s creativity and the understanding of each book that he brings to the design process,” said Lorraine Caulton, IVP’s director of creativity and customer engagement. “He is very deserving of these honors, and we are thrilled to celebrate these awards, his gifts, and his hard work.”

ECPA announced the winners of this year’s awards on October 1 during the closing session of Pub U Online. Winning book covers are featured at TopShelfAwards.org.

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – The largest Bible smuggling network in the world is headquartered in Bartlesville, Okla., home to the offices of The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM). Each year, VOM delivers more than one million Bibles into nations where the Word of God is restricted or entirely illegal. Through their new Bible Smuggler product line, which includes a t-shirt, hat and wristband, VOM provides Christian retail customers an opportunity to participate in this global Bible smuggling initiative.

Each product – t-shirt, hat or wristband – purchased from this new line provides VOM’s distribution teams with the financial resources needed to deliver one Bible to a Christian living in a hostile or restricted nation. These teams deliver Bibles at great personal risk to the most dangerous mission fields in the world.

“At VOM, we believe that placing a Bible into the hands of every Christian believer is a task the global body of Christ can accomplish in this generation,” said Todd Nettleton, host of VOM Radio. “Though many nations try to restrict access to God’s Word, we’re finding innovative ways to ensure Christians living in these countries can receive their own Bible. Through these products, every American Christian can be part of this vitally important work.”

Examples of Bible smuggling include:

IRAQ

In 2014, ISIS invaded Mosul and surrounding areas of the Nineveh Plains that had been home to generations of Iraqi Christians, and the Islamists systematically burned churches and Bibles. VOM provided new Bibles to replace those destroyed and provide additional Bibles to Iraqi Christians.

NORTH KOREA

If caught with a Bible, North Korean Christian believers could be sent to a labor camp, or worse. VOM workers launch balloons filled with print Bibles and smuggle digital Bibles into the country through highly-covert operations.

CHINA

In 2018, the government banned the online sale of Bibles, an additional obstacle in a country where printed Bibles were already difficult to obtain. The Communist Party is also working on a new Bible translation intended to inject “Chinese values” into Scripture. VOM workers distribute Bibles to underground churches in every province of China.

CUBA

As the government tightens its control of religious life in Cuba, Christians there fear it will become more difficult to get Bibles. Over the years, VOM has used a variety of ways to bring Bibles into Cuba, including by boat, hand-carrying individual copies and through government-approved shipments.

Through many covert operations like these, VOM continues the legacy of its founder, Richard Wurmbrand, who famously said, “I would not believe in a Bible if it would not be worth it to smuggle it in everywhere even at the greatest risk, and if it would not be worth it to sit ten days and nights alone in the cold in order to be able to read its wonderful pages.”

Learn more about this global Bible smuggling network at VOMBibles.com, and pray for those who risk everything for the opportunity to receive and read illegal copies of the Bible.

To place an order for the Bible Smuggler Resources, please contact Anchor Distributors using the information below:

Anchor Distributors Customer Service:
Phone: 800-444-4484 or 724-334-7000
Email: customercare@anchordistributors.com
International: internationalorders@anchordistributors.com
Fax: 800-765-1960 or 724-334-1200

For further questions, contact VOM BOOKS via email at vombooks@vom.org.

Ada, Mich. (September 22, 2020)—On Saturday, September 19, the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) held a virtual gala to announce the winners of the 2020 Carol Awards.

Four Baker Publishing Group titles received this prestigious award including The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin (Historical Romance), The Gryphon Heist by James R. Hannibal (Mystery/Suspense/Thriller), Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon (Romance), and The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey (Romantic Suspense). ACFW, which is devoted to promoting the craft of writing Christian fiction, created the Carol Awards as a way to recognize the best Christian fiction published within the previous calendar year.

For a complete list of winners, please visit https://www.acfw.com/about/press_room/.

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The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin
(Revell; ISBN 9780800727987; Ebook ISBN 9781493416585; $16.00)

A top American fighter pilot battles the Germans in the air and his past on the ground. Can a Red Cross volunteer help him heal the wounds that tore his brothers apart?

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The Gryphon Heist by James R. Hannibal
(Revell; ISBN 9780800735777; Ebook ISBN 9781493419432; $15.99)

A rookie CIA officer makes a reluctant agreement to work with a former assassin and an elite team of thieves to breach a high-altitude data vault hovering in the mesosphere in the most daring heist ever conceived.

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Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon
(Revell; ISBN 9780800728816; Ebook ISBN 9781493416509; $15.99)

Jeannette Mason swore off relationships of any kind when she moved to Hope Harbor to start a new life—but a single dad with a grieving little girl and an unruly pup may test that resolve.

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The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey
(Bethany House; ISBN 9780764230844; Ebook ISBN 9781493418695; $15.99)

When a Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, Special Agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous assignment yet. Complicating matters is the arrival of investigative reporter Gabby Rowley, who’s on a mission to discover the truth. Can they ignore the sparks between them and track down this elusive killer?

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Baker Publishing Group (Bethany House, Revell, Baker Books, Chosen, Brazos Press, and Baker Academic) is a leading producer of Christian resources that give insight and inspiration to readers worldwide. Our divisions reflect the broadest scope of topics, which includes fiction, self-help, inspiration, professional books, Christian living, and academic titles.

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

Ada, Mich. (September 22, 2020)—In January 2020, Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, launched Beyond the Book, an online book club to connect its books with readers and to foster engaged conversation among people who cherish a great story.

Since the club’s formation, Revell has generated monthly book club picks, offered weekly discussions, and invited authors to participate in the club via Facebook Live events and through guest posts. Bestselling authors Sarah Sundin, Jill Eileen Smith, Ann H. Gabhart, and a number of other authors have made appearances on Beyond the Book. The book club has also offered exclusive giveaways and early access to deals and special promotions.

This fall, Beyond the Book is ramping up to offer a whole new selection of authors and events for readers to enjoy. Revell invites readers to become part of the conversation by joining the hundreds of members already signed up for Beyond the Book.

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, www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

WaterBrook, an imprint of Random House, is delighted to announce the upcoming publication of the first children’s book from New York Times bestselling author Tim Tebow. To be published on January 5, 2021, BRONCO AND FRIENDS: A PARTY TO REMEMBER, is an illustrated storybook for readers ages 3-7. Tebow is a Heisman Trophy winner, multi-sport athlete, the author of several books for adults and teens, and a positive role model known especially for his work on behalf of children with special needs.

In BRONCO AND FRIENDS: A PARTY TO REMEMBER, which will be illustrated by award-winning artist Jane Chapman, Tebow shares a sweet story of animals with different challenges and abilities who work together and discover the joy of embracing each one’s unique qualities. The central character is based on Tebow’s own dog, Bronco. The story, which encourages children to celebrate their individual purpose and design, subtly points to the annual Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom night experience for people with special needs ages 14 and older, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. In 2019, 655 churches from around the world hosted Night to Shine events for approximately 100,000 honored guests through the support of 200,000 volunteers. As Bronco and his friends learn, getting invited to the party is exciting–but bringing your own particular gifts makes it more fun for everyone. For more information, please go to BroncoAndFriends.com.

The Tim Tebow Foundation exists to bring Faith, Hope, and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need.

For rights queries, please contact Denise Cronin, decronin@prh.com.

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

Four-time, Emmy Award winner and New York Times bestselling author encourages little ones to become their dream

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 24, 2020) – Beloved television personality and author Kathie Lee Gifford hopes to inspire children to follow God’s dreams for them in her new children’s book, Hello, Little Dreamer. The book goes on sale wherever books are sold, Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Each child has dreams to discover over their lifetime, and Hello, Little Dreamer helps families celebrate each child’s God-given purpose in the world. Children glow with joy and a sense of security when they know God made them for a purpose. Gifford reminds her young readers that God has been dreaming for them their entire lives. Some dreams reveal themselves quickly while others take time to develop, but each dream adds to the beautiful picture of who a child is meant to be.

With a bright, decorative cover and wonder-filled illustrations from Anita Schmidt, Hello, Little Dreamer helps children rest in God’s love for them. With its affirming message of purpose, Hello, Little Dreamer will encourage any child to trust that they have an amazing role in God’s story.

Hello, Little Dreamer (ISBN # 9781400209262) will be available in hardcover ($18.99) and board book ($9.99) formats.

In addition, Kathie Lee will be releasing a second book, It’s Never Too Late: Make the Next Act of Your Life the Best Act of Your Life (release date Dec. 1, 2020; Thomas Nelson), sharing never-before-told personal stories along with insights, wisdom and inspiration for anyone facing their own life changes.

When Kathie Lee Gifford stepped down as cohost of the fourth hour of the Today show with Hoda Kotb, you might have thought her best days were behind her. It turns out, she was just getting started. As Kathie Lee says, “I’m not retiring; I’m refiring!” But she was just getting started. With her hard-earned wisdom and signature warmth, It’s Never Too Late offers readers insights and inspiration to live out their own dreams, change direction, speak out for what they believe and pursue what truly matters. For more information about It’s Never Too Late, visit www. KathieLeeGifford.com.

About the Author:
Kathie Lee Gifford is the four-time Emmy award winning former co-host of the fourth hour of “TODAY,” alongside Hoda Kotb. After 11 years together, Gifford stepped down from that role to pursue other creative endeavors. The Gifford-Kotb hour had been hailed as “appointment television” by Entertainment Weekly, and “TODAY’s happy hour” by USA Today.

Prior to NBC News, Gifford served as the co-host of “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee” for 15 years, where she received 11 Emmy nominations. In 2015 Gifford was inducted into the Broadcast & Cable Hall of Fame. She has been chosen to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020.

A playwright, producer, singer, songwriter and actress, Gifford has starred in numerous television programs and movies in her 45-year career. She has her own record label and has written several musicals including Broadway’s SCANDALOUS, which received a Tony nomination for Best Actress in 2012.  Gifford also starred on Broadway in “Putting it Together” and “Annie.” In the fall of 2018, she wrapped post-production on “Then Came You,” a film she has written, produced and starred in alongside Craig Ferguson. In April of 2019, she made her directorial debut with “THE GOD WHO SEES” the short film, shot in Israel and based on a song she co-wrote with Grammy-nominated Nicole C. Mullen. The song was nominated for a Dove award.

Gifford authored four NY Times bestselling books including “The Rock, The Road and the Rabbi”, “Just When I Thought I’d Dropped My Last Egg,” “I Can’t Believe I Said That,” and the popular children’s book “Party Animals.” In October of 2018, she released the children’s book, “The Gift That I Can Give” with all proceeds going to Childhelp. She also launched GIFFT, a line of wine with the Scheid Family Vineyards in Monterey, CA.

Gifford lends support to numerous children’s organizations including Childhelp, the International Justice Mission, and the Association to Benefit Children, which spawned Cassidy’s Place and Cody House, named after her two children. She received an honorary degree from Marymount University for her humanitarian work in labor relations.

Gifford is on Twitter and Instagram at @KathieLGifford.

About the Illustrator:
Anita Schmidt lives in Northern Germany surrounded by seven seas. Her passion for drawing began early in life from the moment when she first held a pencil. Since then, Anita went on to study graphic design, but after having two children, she rekindled her passion for illustrating and now can’t stop drawing!

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.

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

First 100 to register to receive Christy Celebration Kit for November 12 winners webcast

Award-winning and bestselling Christian novelists Tessa Afshar, Terri Blackstock, Tracie Peterson, and Cynthia Ruchti will each present a 5-minute devotional as part of the ART OF WRITING WEBINAR SERIES for writers, storytellers, and publishing curators interested in Christian fiction.

They join renown novelists Lisa Wingate, William Kent Krueger, Steven James, Rachel McMillan – along with editors, publishers, and experts in Christian storytelling – to present five webinar intensives, scheduled each Thursday at 7 pm central from October 8 to November 5.  They are:

October 8:

The Power of Story to Change Hearts and Minds with New York Times bestselling authors Lisa Wingate and William Kent Krueger

October 15:

The Essence of Story: Pathway to Transformation with writing coach and award-winning novelist Steven James with devotional by author Tracie Peterson.

October 22:

Tips for Cross-Promotional Strategies with author Rachel McMillan, marketer Thomas Umstattd, and fiction book buyer for Baker Book House, Chris Jager.  Including a devotional by novelist Tessa Afshar.

October 29:

Conversations about Diversity in Christian Fiction with literary agent Jevon Bolden and a panel of editors, authors, and marketers; including a devotional by novelist Cynthia Ruchti.

November 5:

Learning from Fresh Voices with a panel of editors from the named finalists in the First Novel category — on what makes a proposal shine.  Moderated by Art of Writing curator and Bethany House senior fiction publicist, Amy Lokkesmoe.   Bestselling author Terri Blackstock will give a devotional at the start of this session.

 

The series is priced at $79 and the first 100 to register receive a Christy Celebration Kit for the free Winners Webcast on November 12 of The Christy Award program, featuring bestselling authors Chris Fabry, Lisa Wingate, Tamera Alexander, and Steve James.

The Finalist Reveal Webcast with Chris Fabry is scheduled for October 8 at 11 am central.

Registration is required for all events and available at ChristyAwards.com/registration.html.  Recordings will be made available to all who register.

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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. TheChristyAward.com  Facebook.com/ChristyAward  @ChristyAward  IG: @thechristyaward

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

Media contacts:
  Stan Jantz, ECPA President and CEO, sjantz@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 ext. 101
Cindy Carter, ECPA Awards & Recognition Manager, ccarter@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 ext. 103