Evangelical Christian Publishers Association names Lysa TerKeurst’s Embraced devotional as Christian Book of the Year®

(Nashville, TN) May 3, 2019—HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) is honored to have both its publishing groups, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, recognized by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) at the 2019 Christian Book Awards.

During its annual Leadership Summit in Chicago, IL, ECPA announced the 2019 recipients of their Christian Book Awards. Lysa TerKeurst was awarded the night’s top honor when Embraced: 100 Devotions to Know God is Holding You Close (Thomas Nelson) was named the 2019 Christian Book of the Year. Nabeel Qureshi was posthumously honored when his book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: Third Edition with Bonus Content, New Reflections (Zondervan) won in the Audio category.

HCCP was also recognized with three Platinum Sales Awards, which are awarded to titles that surpassed one million copies sold. Recipients for 2019 included Mark Batterson’s Circle Maker (Zondervan), Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids (Thomas Nelson), and Bob Goff’s Love Does (Thomas Nelson).

“It’s an honor to have our authors and publishing teams recognized by the ECPA for their efforts to reach readers around with world with meaningful content,” says Mark Schoenwald, CEO and president of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. “We are proud to partner with authors like Lysa who help further our mission to inspire the world with content that honors Jesus Christ.”

“To have Nabeel’s work honored by the ECPA is a testament to the legacy he left by sharing the powerful story of his conversion from Islam to Christianity,” says Stanley N. Gundry, senior v-p and publisher for Zondervan Reflective. “It’s a privilege to continue to steward his message and allow his witness for God to live on through his writing.”

Additionally, David Moberg, senior v-p and group publisher for HCCP, was honored with the ECPA Chair Award for the outstanding contributions he has made to the industry throughout his career. Moberg plans to retire this year, effective at the end of June.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., comprises both Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups in addition to Olive Tree Bible Software.  The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space.  Also home to BibleGateway.com, the world’s largest Christian website, and FaithGateway.com, an online community dedicated to helping people grow in their faith. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN with additional offices in the U.S. and Mexico.  For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.

The Agustin Agency and Author Bárbara Palacios—Miss Universe Titleholder—Partner with Art College to Provide Rare Publishing Opportunity for Young Artists

Nashville, Tenn.—The Agustin Agency, a global literary agency that connects authors with audiences around the world, along with author and Miss Universe titleholder Bárbara Palacios presented a $1,000 scholarship to Nossi College of Art alumnus Mikal Barker on Friday, April 26.

Barker received the scholarship as the winner of an illustration contest initiated by The Agustin Agency to find an illustrator for Palacios’ upcoming children’s book series. In addition to the scholarship, Barker’s art will be included in Palacios’ book proposal, providing him a unique opportunity to have his work in front of major publishers.

“I’m a firm believer in supporting young people with these types of programs,” said Lluvia Agustin, who founded The Agustin Agency in July last year and represents Palacios as her literary agent. “When you win something, big or small,” she continued, “it boosts your self-esteem.” Agustin, who spent twenty years in the publishing industry before launching her own agency, said she is passionate about helping young people advance in their field. “It’s a way of giving back,” she said.

Nossi All Access, a program at Nossi College of Art that connects students with professional opportunities, worked with Agustin and Palacios to facilitate the contest. All illustration majors and alumni were invited to submit sketches and fully executed illustrations to exhibit how they would portray the characters and themes in Palacios’ children’s series that focuses on how to overcome obstacles and embrace who you truly are.

“This is a great opportunity for our students and recent graduates to work on a project of this size and importance,” said Cyrus Vatandoost, executive vice president of the college. “Through our Nossi All Access program, Nossi College gives students a glimpse into real-world timelines and deadlines, so they can compete in the professional world.”

The quality of Barker’s work stood out to Palacios, who said she was drawn to Barker’s use of color and his portrayal of the characters.

“When I saw Mikal Barker’s art, it brought tears to my eyes,” said Palacios. “I thought, ‘Yes, that’s it. They will fit my stories.’”

Agustin hopes to be able to carry out more contests like this, giving young artists a chance to illustrate for books or book proposals.

“More than the scholarship money, simply winning a contest like this can have a huge impact on a young artist” Agustin said. “The agency and I represent some of the best authors we know, and we are committed to empowering the artists and writers of the future.”

The Agustin Agency is a literary agency that utilizes a comprehensive set of services that gets authors the results they deserve. They work with publishers all over the world to get their books translated and distributed internationally. The Agustin Agency focuses on the quality of the content first and because of that approach, they are able to prepare proposals for publishers that are really worth their time and attention. To learn more, visit TheAgustinAgency.com.

Nossi College of Art offers professional, creative associate and bachelor’s degrees in Web & Interactive Design, Graphic Design Media, Photography, Video & Film and Commercial Illustration.

Bárbara Palacios is a speaker, a published author, the host of the podcast El Universo de Inspiración, and the winner of the Miss Universe contest of 1986.

Media inquiries: Lluvia Agustin, Info@TheAgustinAgency.com, 615-562-1036

PHOTO (from left):  Libby Funke Luff, Media Manager Nossi College; Kendall Whiteside, Communications Coordinator; Mikal Barker, Artist and Alumnus; Miss Universe Title Holder Barbara Palacios; Lluvia Agustin, General Director The Agustin Agency;  Cyrus Vatandoost, Executive Vice President of Nossi College

Uhrichsville, OH—New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter has reached another historic milestone in her decades-long writing career. With the help of her bestselling new Prayer Jars series, she has officially exceeded the 11 million mark in copies sold.

Brunstetter is undeniably one of the most prolific authors in both the Christian and mainstream markets with a published book list that exceeds 100 titles. A number of her works have frequented the nation’s most prestigious bestseller lists including the NY Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, ECPA, and more. Most recently, The Hope Jar, book 1 in her Prayer Jars series, has remained on the ECPA fiction bestsellers list 8 months straight since its August 2018 release.

Considered a leading expert on Amish culture, Brunstetter has used her vast research of Amish life and her many friendships with practicing Amish to create true-to-life stories that give her readers a refreshing taste of the simple life. In addition to her writing talents, much of Brunstetter’s success can be attributed to her accurate portrayal of the Amish and her deep connection and dedication to her readers.

June 2019 will mark the simultaneous release of two brand-new Brunstetter books. The Brides of the Big Valley, co-authored with family members Jean and Richelle Brunstetter, is a three-in-one collection that takes place in a real, but virtually unknown Amish community in Pennsylvania called the Big Valley. Also releasing in June is an Amish themed cookbook titled Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook, which includes authentic Amish recipes for events and gatherings.

Please join Barbour Publishing in recognizing this wonderful achievement by posting a note of congratulations on Wanda’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/WandaBrunstetterFans.

To learn more about Wanda E. Brunstetter, visit her website: www.wandabrunstetter.com.

Media Contact: Shalyn Sattler, ssattler@barbourbooks.com, 740.922.6045 X 109

[NASHVILLE, TENN., April 29, 2019—] According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an approximate 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and over 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias¹.

B&H will release “Coffee with Mom: Caring for a Parent with Dementia” from pastor and author Mike Glenn, a book about Glenn’s mother’s fight with dementia and his constant struggle of wanting to help her but not always knowing how (June 1, 2019, B&H Publishing).

During her four-year battle with Alzheimer’s and dementia, Glenn often had morning coffee with his mother in the nursing home. He published quotes from their sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking conversations on Twitter and found that his stories deeply resonated with others going through similar journeys with their loved ones.

Glenn says writing “Coffee with Mom” was one of the ways he dealt with his own grief, but he also wrote it in hopes that readers walking a similar journey will find a few laughs, realize they’re not alone and find the courage to do the best they can.

“I wrote ‘Coffee with Mom’ because my mom is funny and tough. Growing up with her made me the man I am; taking care of her was the most difficult and joyful experience of my life,” Glenn said. “She continued to fashion me into the man she wanted me to be, even when she was too sick to make sense of it all. Come on the journey with my mom, and you’ll find your own journey there as well.”

Glenn is the senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, Tenn., which has grown to a church with eight campuses and more than 11,000 members under Glenn’s leadership since 1991. He is the author of two books, “In Real Time” and “The Gospel of Yes.”

B&H is supporting “Coffee with Mom” with a targeted media campaign, trailer video and digital content offerings. For more information, visit bhpublishing.com.

“Caring for an aging parent, and their caregivers as well, is an issue we don’t discuss with one another nearly often enough,” said Devin Maddox, Trade Book Publisher for B&H. “Mike’s journey has been an encouragement to so many, letting us know we are not alone.”

Mike Glenn is the senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, Tenn.. Under his leadership since 1991, the church has grown to a church with eight campuses and a membership of over 11,000. He graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. Glenn has written two books, “In Real Time” and “The Gospel of Yes,” and writes frequently on his blog, MikeGlennOnline.com, and for Patheos.com. He is married to Jeannie, his wife and best friend of 37 years. They have twin sons, Chris (Deb) and Craig (Nan), and three granddaughters, Mackenzie, Rowen and Brooklyn.

B&H Publishing Group, an imprint of LifeWay Christian Resources, is a team of mission minded people with a passion for taking God’s Word to the world. Because we believe Every Word Matters® we seek to provide intentional, Bible-centered content that positively impacts the hearts and minds of people, inspiring them to build a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. Among our print and digital releases for the trade, church and academic markets, titles include“The New York Times” No. 1 bestsellers “The Love Dare” and “The Vow,” No. 1 CBA bestseller “I Am a Church Member,” as well as the newly-revised Christian Standard Bible (CSB) version.

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1. Source: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures

Peabody, Massachusetts, April 23, 2019:  Christianbook.com is honored to have been awarded the 2018 Bizrate Insights Circle of Excellence Platinum Award, which recognizes excellence in customer service and satisfaction among the nation’s online retailers.

Bizrate Insights, a Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; Meredith.com) company and one of the largest sources of consumer-generated reviews of online retailers in the United States, announced the winners of its 19th annual Bizrate Circle of Excellence Award on March 12, 2019. The distinction recognizes retailers that received outstanding online customer satisfaction scores across a one-year period, determined by millions of verified online buyers. Christianbook.com earned the highest distinction, the Platinum Award. The Platinum Award designation is awarded to retailers that achieved the highest scores among members of the Circle of Excellence across all eight key performance indicators – Overall Satisfaction, Product Selection, Check-out, Ease of Finding, Repurchase Intent, Product Met Expectations, Customer Support and Satisfaction, and On-Time Delivery. Christianbook.com is among an elite group of online retailers who have achieved Platinum status multiple times, this being the 18^th Platinum Award for the company.

“We’re thrilled to receive this award, and we’re extremely grateful for our customers and for their continued feedback and support. The comments we receive from Bizrate Insights are a valuable resource for improving our overall customer experience,” said Ray Hendrickson, President/CEO of Christianbook. “This Circle of Excellence Award demonstrates our commitment to delivering the highest level of customer service, and the fact that we’ve been able to achieve Platinum level for 18 of the 19 years that this award has been presented is a tribute to our great staff and the exceptional service they provide to our customers on a daily basis.”

In 1978, two teenage brothers started Christian Book Distributors, Inc., which would become the world’s largest distributor of Christian products. Through its online presence, Christianbook.com, and 65 unique catalogs, the company offers the lowest possible prices and maintains an inventory exceeding 500,000 items. The wide selection includes books, Bibles, DVDs, music, homeschool resources, toys and games, gifts, academic resources, and church supplies. Christianbook.com provides additional information on its website, including author profiles and interviews, detailed product descriptions and excerpts, music clips, articles, reviews, specialized search engines, and video content. The company provides not only great value but also exceptional customer service and support. In addition to receiving the Bizrate Circle of Excellence Platinum Award for 18 years, Christianbook is also an eight-time recipient of the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award. Employing over 500 people from the surrounding communities, Christianbook is a proud supporter of the City of Peabody and many local charities.

For more information, please contact Bridget Timmins at (978) 573-2201 or btimmins@christianbook.com

[NASHVILLE, TENN., April 24, 2019—] B&H Publishing is proud to announce the acquisition of bestselling author, poet and speaker Jackie Hill Perry for her second adult trade book.

Perry’s first book, “Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been” (September 2018, B&H) was No. 98 on ECPA’s Top Selling Books of 2018 list, received the First-Time Author award from The Gospel Coalition’s Book Awards for 2018 and was featured in international media outlets such as “The 700 Club,” Refinery29, “Christianity Today,” FamilyLife Radio, “RELEVANT Magazine” and many others. The audiobook, released by Christianaudio, is a finalist in the ECPA Christian Book Awards.

Perry’s second book will focus on God’s promises in Scripture and is currently slated for publication in the fall 2020 publishing cycle. Perry is also set to release her first Bible study with LifeWay Women this October, entitled “Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today’s Culture.”

“‘Gay Girl, Good God’ did more than I thought it would. What encourages me most is that it is doing all that I prayed for it to do,” Perry said. “People are seeing themselves rightly in light of who God has revealed Himself to be and for that reason, I’m excited to create a resource that prayerfully will do the same.”

Perry is an internationally-sought after speaker, headlining top conferences and gatherings such as The Gospel Coalition’s National Conference, LifeWay Women’s Abundance, Propel Women’s Active and at Harvard University and other universities. Perry’s work has been featured in “The Washington Times,” “The 700 Club,” Desiring God and The Gospel Coalition, and her poems and teachings have reached nearly 2.5 million hits on YouTube. She is signed to Humble Beast Records and her most recent album, “Crescendo,” released in May 2018.  She and her husband Preston co-host the top-charting podcast “Thirty Minutes with the Perrys.”

“Jackie’s voice, whether spoken or written, is unlike any other, and the success of ‘Gay Girl, Good God’ reflects how powerful that voice is in book form,” said Jennifer Lyell, V.P. of Book Publishing and Merchandising. “We are eagerly anticipating the release of her next book and know that readers will again be drawn in by the perspective and presentation that only Jackie can bring to the page.”

Perry’s contract was negotiated by her literary agent, Austin Wilson of Wolgemuth & Associates, with worldwide rights. For more information, visit bhpublishinggroup.com.

Jackie Hill Perry is a writer, poet, and artist whose work has been featured in “The Washington Times,” “The 700 Club,” Desiring God, The Gospel Coalition and other publications. Since becoming a Christian in 2008, she has been compelled to use her speaking and teaching gifts to share the light of the gospel of God as authentically as she can. At home she is a wife to Preston and mommy to Eden and Autumn.

B&H Publishing Group, an imprint of LifeWay Christian Resources, is a team of mission minded people with a passion for taking God’s Word to the world. Because we believe Every Word Matters® we seek to provide intentional, Bible-centered content that positively impacts the hearts and minds of people, inspiring them to build a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. Among our print and digital releases for the trade, church and academic markets, titles include “The New York Times” No. 1 bestsellers “The Love Dare” and “The Vow,” No. 1 CBA bestseller “I Am a Church Member,” as well as the newly-revised Christian Standard Bible (CSB) version.

Ada, Mich. (April 24, 2019)—Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less (Baker Books; ISBN 9780801075261; Hardcover; $26.99) by Michael Hyatt has landed on multiple Bestsellers lists since its release on April 9, 2019.

• #1 in Hardcover Business on the Wall Street Journal list for the week of April 13
• #11 on Publishers Weekly Hardcover Nonfiction list for the week of April 13
• #12 on The Washington Post Nonfiction list for the week of April 14
• #34 on the USA Today list for the week of April 14

In Free to Focus, Michael Hyatt reveals nine proven ways to win at work to be free to succeed at the rest of life: health, relationships, and more. He helps readers:

• redefine work so it works for them
• filter tasks and commitments
• cut out the nonessentials
• eliminate interruptions and distractions
• set boundaries that protect focus and drive results
• leverage time and energy for maximum productivity
• build momentum for a lifetime of success

Michael Hyatt is the former chairman and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, now part of HarperCollins. He is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of several books, including Your Best Year Ever and Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. Michael’s blog is ranked by Google in the top one-half percent of all blogs, with 500,000 unique visitors a month and readers in more than two hundred countries.

Baker Books publishes books that are relevant, intelligent, and engaging. Our titles cover topics such as personal development, encouragement, spirituality, and relationships. www.BakerBooks.com

Contact: Brianna DeWitt, (616) 676-9185 x395, bdewitt@bakerpublishinggroup.com

A Powerhouse Father-Daughter Writing Team Delivers the Suspense Dekker Fans Love 

Ada., Mich.—For the first time ever, New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker and his Christy Award–winning daughter, Rachelle Dekker, have joined forces to deliver a supernaturally infused suspense novel that will take readers to the edge of reason in The Girl behind the Red Rope (ISBN: 9780800736538; Ebook ISBN: 9781493419562; 336 pages; hardcover; $24.99; September 2019).

This gripping tale spans the generations and will appeal to a broad audience as Ted and Rachelle combine their creative and unique insights into an action-packed narrative that grapples with the underlying element of fear and how this crippling emotion holds us hostage. The Girl behind the Red Rope moves readers beyond boundaries and rules that imprison us to freedom that can only be found through grace.

Ted Dekker has stated that his greatest desire is for readers to encounter the spiritual truths hidden in his captivating story lines. Now this transgenerational team continues the quest of helping readers understand ultimate freedom and their true identity in Christ in this spellbinding new saga.

Ted Dekker is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels, with over ten million copies sold worldwide. He was born in the jungles of Indonesia to missionary parents, and his upbringing as a stranger in a fascinating and sometimes frightening culture fueled his imagination. Dekker’s passion is simple—to explore truth through mind-bending stories that invite readers to see the world through a different lens. His fiction has been honored with numerous awards, including two Christy Awards, two Inspy Awards, an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, and an ECPA Gold Medallion. In 2013, NPR readers nationwide put him in the Top 50 Thriller Authors of All Time. Dekker lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Lee Ann.

Rachelle Dekker is the Christy Award–winning author of The Choosing, The Calling, and The Returning in the Seer series. The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle was inspired early on to discover truth through the avenue of storytelling. She writes full-time from her home in Nashville, where she lives with her husband, Daniel, and their son, Jack. Connect with Rachelle at
www.rachelledekker.com.

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

 

Ada, Mich. (April 25, 2019)—Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce that Irene Hannon has reached a significant sales milestone. Hannon began publishing with Revell in 2009 with her book Against All Odds.  Now ten years later, she has written 21 books under the Revell imprint with over one million copies sold.

Hannon is an award-winning author of more than fifty novels and is ranked as one of the top romantic suspense authors. Her novels, which are written in both the contemporary romance and romantic suspense genres, include the bestselling Private Justice series, the Men of Valor series, and her most recent Code of Honor series. Hannon is also well known for her standalone works set in the charming coastal town of Hope Harbor. Her newest novel, Driftwood Bay (Revell; ISBN 9780800728816; ebook 9781493416509; paper; 368 pp; $15.99), released April 2, 2019.

Irene Hannon has been honored with three coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America and she is a member of that organization’s elite Hall of Fame. Her many other awards include National Readers’ Choice, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers’ Choice, Booksellers’ Best, Carols, and Reviewers’ Choice from RT Book Reviews magazine, which also honored her with a Career Achievement award for her entire body of work. In addition, she is a two-time Christy Award finalist. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.

Jennifer Leep, executive vice president of trade publishing, stated, “It has been such a privilege for us to work with Irene Hannon on so many wonderful novels over this past decade. Irene has a true gift for capturing readers’ imaginations and encouraging their hearts with redemptive stories that provide the kind of hope and inspiration we all need. We look forward to continuing our journey together for many years to come.”

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.

Baker Publishing Group publishes high-quality writings that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers.

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