(Carol Stream, Illinois, USA)– The coronavirus pandemic’s impact on global publishing and bookselling has been severe, but authors and publishers are seeking creative means to reach online readers and develop new strategies to stay afloat. Christian publishing leaders from seven nations, including China and Italy, gave updates and prayed for each other in MAI’s online “Global Townhall Prayer Meeting” with participants from 24 nations on March 31.

“For Christians this situation is a mirror to see and know ourselves better, to rely on God more,” reflected Larry Liu, general manager of Eight Blessings Communications in Beijing. Obtaining an ISBN in China and gaining approval for any Christian title was always challenging, but the process abruptly halted during the pandemic. Liu’s team seized the opportunity to launch audio books and a weekly online curriculum to help parents answer kids’ difficult questions.

In Africa where the pandemic is just hitting, “most Christian publishers don’t offer ebooks or online products, so book sales will suffer,” said Rose Birenge of Kenya, director of partnerships for Biblica Africa. With 60 percent of Africans living below the poverty line, a lockdown means immediate distress due to lack of food and other basics. “Pray for the Church to be the hands, feet and heart of Jesus at this moment,” she asked.

Latin American publishers are also hampered by an inability to deliver books without bookstores or churches open, says Ian Darke, coordinator of Letra Viva, a network of 30-some Christian publishing houses in Spanish-speaking Latin America. He asked prayer for a large consignment of Bible commentaries heading to Cuba and Venezuela to bless readers there.

In North America, where more than 50 percent of sales for many Christian publishers comes from Amazon, which has dramatically trimmed its ordering books until April 21 or later, the impact of the global health crisis has been severe, said Jeff Crosby, publisher of Intervarsity Press USA and Board chair of ECPA.  As sales slow following Amazon’s

focus on health and home necessities over books, the temporary closure  of Barnes & Noble and most Christian bookstores, many Christian publishing staff throughout the country fear for their jobs and wages.  All but eight of IVP’s 90 employees are working remotely or not at all—if their jobs don’t allow it, Crosby noted, requesting  prayer for publishers to honor their staff, authors and customers with all decisions that may need to be made.

Lebanese publishers were already reeling from the nation’s economic crisis. With 50 percent inflation before the coronavirus hit, Sawsan Tannoury had to cut staff wages at Dar Manhal al Hayat publishing house in Beirut. But bright spots exist: only two months ago the publisher launched an ebookstore on Kindle. And Syrian refugee families are finding hope via Christian publications and Bibles included with food boxes.

Filipinos describe their island nation as a social-media capital, so authors and publishers are busy creating daily resources for online readers.  A free weekly ebook, a prayer guide, downloadable kids’ activities, children’s storytelling and video messages from authors comprise #RejoiceInHope, the social-media campaign launched by OMF Literature, Philippines.

“Pray for books, ‘our little missionaries,’ that are now in many households nationwide,” said Yna Reyes, publishing and communications director. “May our books be used by the Holy Spirit to encourage those who are anxious, give hope to those in distress, and draw our fellow Filipinos to the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Other writers and publishers echoed Reyes’ desire to find opportunities to spread God’s love in a time of despair. “What you’ve shared makes me feel less alone in the fight,” said Daniela Benevelli, editorial and copyright manager of La Casa della Bibbia in Italy, the world’s deadliest hotspot of the pandemic.  The Italian publisher has partnered with Samaritan’s Purse by sending a Christian book, a DVD and New Testaments to a field hospital for COVID-19 patients in the hard-hit northern region.

“It was an honor to have been with you all today from across the world,” Crosby wrote the other speakers after the online meeting. “You, your companies, teams and countries will remain in my heart and my prayers throughout the journey still ahead of each of us.”

“I think every attendee came away with a much clearer understanding of how the pandemic is impacting global Christian publishing and of the importance of prayer for the various ministries at this critical time,” said MAI President John Maust.  “We all felt part of the greater whole, a sense of unity with other Christian communicators around the globe.”

Watch a video of the online meeting, “At Such a Time as This: MAI global townhall prayer meeting.”

For photos or further details, email mai@littworld.org.
Connect with MAI: littworld.org, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.

At ChristianAudio, an RBmedia company, we’ve responded in several ways to meet listeners’ needs during this time while fulfilling our mission of publishing and selling audiobooks that promote spiritual growth and inspire Christians to think about God, themselves, and the world.

• In mid-March, we posted a blog highlighting several resources to help audiobook listeners find peace and fight anxiety in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. We discounted these resources from ChristianAudio to help consumers out during this time, as well. https://blog.christianaudio.com/find-peace-and-comfort-in-these-audiobooks/
• Launching Friday April 3^rd, our Free Audiobook of the Month will be Don’t Lose Heart by Jason Meyer (Baker Publishing).
• In addition to giving this audiobook to listeners as part of our ongoing program which features a free new title each month, we’ve discounted a number of other related, encouraging resources to less than $5 per audiobook.
• During April, we’ll also feature a special message on our blog from author Jason Meyer about finding our refuge and strength in Christ.

All of these resources and more can be found at www.ChristianAudio.com starting Friday, 4/3.

New York, NY, April 2, 2020 – In uncertain times, Goodwill Rights Management [www.goodwillrights.com], headquartered in New York City, is re-launching its newsletter –Advance! – to help provide hope and increase communication among global Christian publishers.   More than before, there is a need for publishers to communicate and provide examples of leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.  This enlightening and useful newsletter for publishing professionals is sent out twice monthly to inspire growth and boldness in this season of chaos and concern.

In the most recent issue of Advance!, Stan Jantz, President of Evangelical Christian Publishers Association was interviewed to share words of practical wisdom and encouragement for the publishing community.

In coming editions of Advance!, Goodwill Rights will provide news on titles focusing on current issues for immediate publication, recommend vendors serving our industry, and profile members from the global publishing family portraying mission advancement despite COVID-19.

There will also be an opportunity for companies part of the publishing industry to introduce essential products or services to the global audience of publishing professionals in cooperation with Goodwill Rights.

“Publishing has been our ministry and passion for over 24 years,” noted Goodwill Rights CEO Carl Dobrowolski.  “We are excited about continuing efforts to encourage Christians with hope and, in some ways, help lead our community to faith, confidence and joyful growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

To subscribe to Advance or to learn more about Goodwill Rights, send an email to info@goodwillrights.com.

Contact: Frank Gomez, info@goodwillrights.com

CHICAGO, IL — Independent Publishers Group (IPG), which serves hundreds of small publishers around the world, is keeping their Chicago-based warehouse open as it falls within the guidelines for essential business during the “shelter-in-place” order issued by Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker in response to COVID-19. The physical office remains closed, with all office staff now shifted to working remotely.

A strategic crew will be in place at IPG’s warehouse, running in split shifts to eliminate any overlap between team members. IPG remains vigilant in taking recommended steps to comply with OSHA and CDC standards of social distancing, cleaning and sanitizing.

“IPG will remain open through these hard times as our obligation is to protect the businesses of the publishers we distribute and to support the national supply chain,” said Joe Matthews, CEO of IPG. “The health and wellness of our partners and employees remains of utmost importance, and steps are being taken to guard all areas of IPG’s book business. Books are an essential part of American life.”

Additionally, to support the readers, booksellers and publishers they serve globally, IPG is happy to announce the following promotional initiatives:

• Effective immediately, IPG will be offering a 30% discount site-wide for most of their products
• IPG is extending a 30% e-book discount to public and school libraries through OverDrive, 3M Bibliotheca, Baker & Taylor, Mackin, Follett, Vitalsource and Redshelf
• IPG’s publishing partners are supporting consumers, parents and students with virtual author events and digital resources
• All of IPG’s catalogs, including front-list and special categories, will be available as digital editions and can be found at ipgbook.com or on Edelweiss
• To accommodate publishers whose print runs may have been disrupted, IPG is optimizing their digital print program and manufacturing books to order

“As an indie distributor, our job is to support our publisher partners at every turn of the business,” said Annette Hobbs Magier, VP, Marketing and Publicity. “We’re agile enough to pivot our marketing and publicity efforts so that our publisher’s titles continue to be visible to consumers in a changed consumer landscape.”

For questions about IPG’s distribution and publishing services, as well as the relevant promotions during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit www.ipgbook.com or follow IPG on Twitter (@ipgbooknews) and on Instagram and Facebook (@ipgbook).

About Independent Publishers Group:  Independent Publishers Group was established in 1971 and 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 publishers with academic and professional, Spanish-language and general trade nonfiction and fiction titles.

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

WESTMONT, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce that four IVP titles have been recognized as finalists in the twenty-second annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

As part of its mission to discover, review, and share the best books from university and independent publishers, Foreword Magazine Inc. hosts an annual awards program each year. Finalists represent the best books published in 2019. After more than two thousand individual titles spread across fifty-five genres were submitted for consideration, the list of finalists was determined by Foreword’s editorial team. Winners will be decided by an expert team of booksellers and librarians—representing Foreword’s readership—from across the country.

IVP books were chosen as finalists in the following categories:

Body, Mind & Spirit (Adult Nonfiction)

The Gift of Wonder: Creative Practices for Delighting in God by Christine Aroney-Sine

Like many of us, Christine Aroney-Sine had spent many years with an image of God who was “a very serious, workaholic type of God.” And even when her theology told her this was not true, she struggled to live into this new way of thinking. What she needed was a childlike spirituality.

In The Gift of Wonder, Aroney-Sine, online host of the Godspace community, invites us to pay attention to childlike characteristics that have the power to reshape us. Each chapter addresses a childlike characteristic to embrace, including delight, playfulness, imagination, awe and wonder, love of nature, the ability to live in the present, and much more.

Ecology & Environment (Adult Nonfiction)

The End of Hunger: Renewed Hope for Feeding the World edited by Jenny Eaton Dyer and Cathleen Falsani

Twenty-five years ago, 23.3 percent of the world’s population lived in hunger. Today that number has dropped to 12.9 percent—giving rise to the renewed hope that what once seemed unthinkable is now within reach. The challenges are great, but the fight to eliminate malnutrition and hunger is one we can win.

The End of Hunger brings together activists, politicians, scientists, pastors, theologians, and artists on this urgent topic. Here is a comprehensive picture of the current situation—the latest facts and figures are presented alongside compelling stories, both from those engaged in the fight against hunger and from the hungry themselves. Here too are clear steps for action by individuals, families, churches, and communities.

Multicultural (Adult Nonfiction)

Hermanas: Deepening Our Identity and Growing Our Influence by Natalia Kohn Rivera, Noemi Vega Quiñones, and Kristy Garza Robinson

God calls Latinas to lives of influence. He created his Latina daughters to partner with him, but many have heard cultural messages that make them doubt their adequacy. These coauthors share their own journeys as Latinas and leaders. They find mentorship in twelve inspirational women of the Bible including Esther, Rahab, Mary, and Lydia, who navigated challenges of brokenness and suffering, being bicultural, and crossing borders. The insights here will help any who seek to empower Latinas in leadership.

Political and Social Sciences (Adult Nonfiction)

Revolution of Values: Reclaiming Public Faith for the Common Good by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove explores how religious culture wars have misrepresented Christianity at the expense of the poor, and how listening to marginalized communities can help us hear God’s call to love and justice in the world. He highlights people on the frontlines of issues ranging from immigration policy and voting rights to women’s rights and environmental stewardship. Through these narratives, readers encounter a recovery of values that upholds the dignity of all people.

In the next three months a panel of volunteer librarians and booksellers will determine the winners in each category based on their experience with readers and patrons. Winners in each genre—along with Editor’s Choice Prize winners and Foreword’s INDIE Publisher of the Year—will be announced June 17, 2020.

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com.

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

Nashville, Tenn. (March 24, 2020) — Thomas Nelson today announced Jessica Wong as the executive editor for Nelson Books, a nonfiction imprint of Thomas Nelson.

Wong has spent a total of seven years in editorial at Thomas Nelson, beginning her career in 2007 as an editorial assistant and returning in 2014 as a senior acquisitions editor. In this role she served as the editorial leader for top industry author brands including Lysa TerKeurst (Uninvited, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, and forthcoming book, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget) and Jen Hatmaker (Of Mess and Moxie and forthcoming book, Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire).

In her new role as executive editor, she will continue to lead the editorial strategy for these major author brands, as well as help create continuity and top quality across the team to attract and retain leading authors.

“I am thrilled for Jessica to take the helm as our team’s executive editor,” said Tim Paulson, v-p and publisher for Nelson Books. “I look forward to discovering new ways that Jessica can help lead us as a team, as her current leadership plays a crucial role at Nelson Books and, to a greater extent, all of the Thomas Nelson publishing imprints.”

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.

March 25, 2020 – After several months reading and discussing sixty-three outstanding entries, judges Mark S. Burrows, Luci Shaw, and Jon M. Sweeney are pleased to announce the winners of the First Paraclete Poetry Prize.

First Prize winner is Laura Reece Hogan of Calabasas, California, for her manuscript, Litany of Flights. In addition to being a talented poet, Hogan holds both J.D. and M.A. degrees. She is also a Third Order Carmelite.

Second Prize winner is Amy Bornman of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for her manuscript, There Is a Future: A Year of Daily Midrash. Bornman is a small business owner and a new poet, aged 26.

Judge Luci Shaw, an award-winning poet herself of many decades, says: “It was a pleasure to read and review so much profoundly good poetry. This gives me hope for the world, that we can express ourselves through poetry in a way that heals the disjuncture we are experiencing. ‘Distancing’ can be overcome, and hope and beauty can be celebrated.”

Both winners will be published by Paraclete Poetry – Laura Reece Hogan in Fall 2020, and Amy Bornman early in 2021.

Scroll down to read the title poem from the First Prize-winning manuscript.

For more information, please contact Publicist Rachel McKendree at  rachelm@paracletepress.com or 1-800-451-5006, ext. 301.

---

Litany of Flights
by Laura Reece Hogan, from the forthcoming collection Litany of Flights

First, the winged movement, steady, forward. Scrub jays in flitting

progress, hawks in predator glide, a ringing up, a knife-sharp slope

 

down. Second, the effortless type, wind-splayed, motionless pinions

in thermal recline, as the Psalmist says, blessings breeze his love even

 

in sleep. Third, the hungry, against the gale, the destination singular

and the sun dipping crimson. Fourth, the metallic, business or pleasure.

 

Fifth, the whirring kind, all hummingbird. A picnic, apples and chocolate

in the garden with roses, both flower and child. You miss it when it’s gone.

 

Sixth, a baffling flight of stairs, winding upward, passage and yet vehicle,

spiraling to unseen landings—hope courses in the kaleidoscopic lights.

 

Seventh, soar to the sun. Eighth, melt in bitter hubris. You know the story.

Ninth, escape. A flight out of Egypt, a path through the sea cleared by

 

divine hand. The times you ran, the times you were left behind in lament.

Tenth, only rotting in the belly of a whale tames your stubborn turn from

 

Nineveh. Eleventh, flights of despair and of yearning, two sides of one

letting go, hard-earned release back into the wild, unbound by expectation,

 

featherlike. Twelfth, in a moment, caught up high by the Beloved, the one

making all things work together, wings, body, arch, air—caught up, like the

 

Shulamite bride, to regions beyond aeronautical wisdom, transported in joy.

See, he says, the painful paring of your hollow bones has made you light.

Grand Rapids, Mich., March 2020 – Today, Zondervan Bible Group, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, announced the Adventure Bible brand has surpassed 10 million units sold.

Created in 1989 by Dr. Larry Richards, The Adventure Bible is the best-selling children’s Bible in the country. Materials are written at a 3^rd grade reading level for developing readers, so that all children can share and understand God’s Word. Its features bring the stories and concepts of Scripture to life.

“Zondervan has worked hard to make this special Bible friendly for early readers. The quality and trustworthiness of the features are of the highest standard, scholarship and creativity,” said Sue Richards, wife of Adventure Bible creator, Dr. Larry Richards. “Each volume is so colorful and attractive. Kids are excited to dig in and learn that the Bible is fascinating and speaks to all people whatever their age!”

Adventure Bible milestones include:

• June 1989 – The Adventure Bible releases for the first time in full NIV text.
• August 1994 –Adventure Bible is updated to The New Adventure Bible.
• July 2000 – The New Adventure Bible receives an update and the NIrV translation is added.
• July 2008 – The New Adventure Bible is updated to its current edition.
• February 2010 – It is released in Spanish for the first time.
• July 2014 – It is released in the NKJV translation.
• September 2018 – The first Adventure Bible Polar Exploration Edition is released.
• May 2020 – The Adventure Bible will release for the first time in the NRSV translation.

“As the current stewards of this important brand, we love to see kids get excited about reading their Bible regularly creating a lifelong love for God’s Word,” says Kevin Traub, senior marketing director, Zondervan. “One of my favorite aspects of this is hearing from current ministry leaders who read the Adventure Bible as a child and now use it in their ministry to teach the next generation.”

The Adventure Bible brand was expanded in 2013 and now includes Bibles, devotionals, Bible stories, I Can Read (early reader books) and apps. It is recommended more than any other Bible for kids by Christian schools, churches, and families.

“Our core commitment is to offer beautiful Bibles, in multiple translations, for all ages and stages. We are thrilled to fulfill that vision by publishing the Adventure Bible in multiple translations (NIV, NIrV, NKJV, with the NRSV arriving soon and an additional translation offering to be announced soon),” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Zondervan Bibles. “With our ability to expand the Adventure Bible audience to more families by providing it in their translation of choice, we celebrate the ten million lives changed and eagerly anticipate millions more young lives impacted for years to come.”

Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications.  Zondervan, 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, Mich. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact: Amy Bigler, Senior Manager of Publicity, 616-698-3514 amy.bigler@harpercollins.com

 

WESTMONT, IL — The Center for Disability and Ministry (CDM) at Western Theological Seminary and IVP Academic have announced that they will be partnering together to cobrand a series of books about disability and practical theology. Dr. Benjamin T. Conner and Dr. John Swinton, internationally renowned leaders in disability studies, will serve as coeditors for the series. 

Jon Boyd, editorial director for IVP Academic, said, “We were privileged to publish Ben Conner’s own book Disabling  Mission, Enabling Witness with IVP Academic in 2018. The more I learned about the research, teaching, and community outreach programs he and Western Theological Seminary have been building, the more interested I’ve been to deepen our partnership. The chance to collaborate on books about disability and practical theology is a perfect fit.”

Western Theological Seminary has been on the front end of the conversation about disability and ministry for many years. The seminary developed the first Friendship House, a residence where young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities shared life with seminary students. They also initiated a graduate certificate in disability and ministry, and a disability and ministry doctor of ministry program.

Conner said, “The time seemed right to pursue a publishing partnership to amplify the work done through and stimulated by the CDM, and both John and I felt that IVP Academic would be the best partner because of their commitment to the academic conversation and their capacity to distribute the work.”

The cobranded series provides a platform to share the research and conversations generated by the CDM and the related work of other scholars and authors. Using practical theology as a basic framework for understanding in addition to being targeted to congregations, this book series will seek to initiate a series of conversations around key issues in disability theology with a view to increasing knowledge, creatively and faithfully impacting Christian practice.

Boyd said, “Our new partnership puts us on a really exciting road, I think, allowing both the Center for Disability and Ministry and IVP Academic to do what we each do best, but to envision greater things than we could on our own.”

Conner added, “We hope that this partnership between the CDM and IVP Academic will provide the perspectives and resources necessary for supporting churches to become more inclusive of both the gifts and challenges that the human experience of disability can bring for shaping congregations for faithful ministry to all people.” 

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

Dr. John Townsend, a nationally-known leadership consultant, psychologist, and New York Times bestselling author of Boundaries and People Fuel, has launched a weekly Facebook Live event called “Tools for Living in Crisis.” The first event aired Thursday, March 26. Townsend is answering questions and providing practical tips and helpful solutions to help others make it through these challenging days. Future events will be held over the next several weeks on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The events can be accessed at www.facebook.com/events/230794464971305/.

Townsend also recorded an interview with Jen Hatmaker on maintaining boundaries with those you love, which will air on Jen’s For the Love Podcast on Monday, March 30, as part of her Quarantine Queens (and Kings!) bonus series. This series is meant to provide people with tactical ways to care for themselves and their families through the pandemic.