Washington, DC; July 20, 2018 – The Association of American Publishers (AAP) issued its 2018 StatShot Annual Report today which found, among other things, that the U.S. book publishing industry generated an estimated $26.23 billion in net revenue for 2017, representing 2.72 billion units. All figures represent publishers’ net revenue from tracked categories (trade, higher education course materials, preK-12 instructional materials, professional books, and university press), in all formats, from all distribution channels. These are not retailer/consumer sales figures.

Publisher revenue for trade books (fiction, non-fiction and religious presses) were flat (0.3%) increasing by $45 million in 2017 over 2016. Since 2013, publisher revenue for trade books increased by around $820 million.

StatShot Annual is based on a unique methodology that combines annual data submitted by publishers, along with market modeling, to estimate the total size of the U.S. publishing industry. It is a different report than AAP’s monthly statistics reports, which track publisher revenue comparatively on a month-to-month basis. Below is a top-level summary of the data, but the entire report is available for purchase.

Publisher Revenue in Billions

Some highlights from the report:

• Non-fiction books for adults is the category with the largest growth for publishers, with a 5.4% increase in publisher revenue from 2016 to 2017. Since 2013, revenue for the category has grown 28.4% to $6.18 billion. Nearly 150 million more adult non-fiction books were sold in 2017 than in 2013.
• Publisher revenue for adult fiction declined slightly, by -1.2% to $4.38 billion. From 2013 to 2017, this category saw only one year of revenue growth (2015).
• Both fiction and non-fiction books for children and young adults saw more units sold in 2017 than in 2016, up 1.1% and 4.4% respectively. Over the past five years (2013 – 2017) publisher revenue for children’s and YA fiction has grown by 11.3% to $3.67 billion and non-fiction has declined by -2.3% to $652 million.
• Downloaded audio remained the fastest growing format, with 28.8% year-over-year growth from 2016 to 2017 and 146.2% growth over the past five years (2013 – 2017).
• More than 1 billion paperback books were sold (more than any other format in 2017) comprising 36.9% of books sold in all categories.
• For the first time publisher sales to physical and online retail channels were approximately equal at $7.6 billion and $7.5 billion respectively in 2017. Within online retail channels, 43.2% were print formats, 27% were eBooks, 16.3% were instructional materials, 10.5% were downloaded audio, and 3.1% were physical audio or a different format.
• Revenue from higher education was flat (0.5%), revenue from pre-K-12 and professional books declined in 2017 by -2.9 and -0.7% respectively.

About StatShot Annual:

AAP member and non-member publishers provided data in response to a 2018 statistical survey that covers revenue and units by categories, channels, and formats. Survey participants in StatShot Annual may not be the same as those who participate in AAP’s monthly surveys. Since the annual survey does not include all known industry publishers, estimates are used for publishers who do not participate directly in data collection. These estimates are based on sales data included in company financial reports, trade and news media reporting, government filings, BooksinPrint, press releases, third party research services, and private sources.

StatShot Annual Distribution:

Participants receive a complimentary copy of the full StatShot Annual Report. Otherwise, the report is available for purchase here. For more information about the report, email Syreeta Swann at sswann@publishers.org.

About AAP

The Association of American Publishers (AAP) represents the leading book, journal, and education publishers in the United States on matters of law and policy, advocating for outcomes that incentivize the publication of creative expression, professional content, and learning solutions. As essential participants in local markets and the global economy, our members invest in and inspire the exchange of ideas, transforming the world we live in one word at a time. Find us online at www.newsroom.publishers.org or on twitter at @AmericanPublish.

Media contact: Marisa Bluestone / 202-220-4558 / mbluestone@publishers.org

July 17, 2018, Atlanta, GA—A recent nationwide study by Barna Group and author Jack Alexander concluded that 83% of Christians do NOT believe that mercy is their individual responsibility, but rather the responsibility of churches and non-profits. Yet, when surveyed, the pastors of churches overwhelmingly thought that the recipients of mercy should be the poor and victims in distress rather than people who have hurt us or society. By a factor of more than 5:1, pastors and Christians thought that those who are incarcerated and those who have wronged us personally were less deserving of their compassion. 

“The foundation of Christianity is that we are all sinners in the eyes of God,” says Alexander. “As Christians, we should have a passion for showing mercy to these people, but the data in this study is not showing that.” Alexander goes on to say, “Even in Matthew 25: 40, Jesus identifies himself with a prisoner when he said, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ As Christians, we need to have an uncompromised view of who deserves mercy.”

Releasing on July 31, Alexander’s book, The God Impulse: The Power of Mercy in an Unmerciful World (Baker) reexamines scripture, discovering a pattern of God’s impulse towards us; one that offers mercy and healing at every turn – without sacrificing the truth and no matter the circumstance.

The full findings of the Barna-Alexander study on Mercy and Forgiveness will be released in March 2019 in a new book, providing a fuller picture of Christians’ and Protestant pastors’ perspectives and practices in these areas. Meanwhile, Alexander’s book provides a realistic assessment of where our churches and our society fall short in extending true biblical mercy, and how Christians can learn and practice God’s impulse to “see, go, do and endure.”

About Jack Alexander
Businessman, entrepreneur, theology student, and author, Jack Alexander, is the chairman of The Reimagine Group with a wealth of experience in a wide variety of businesses. A previous recipient of an Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year Award, he is a regular speaker, coach, and advisor. He and his wife, Lisa, live in Atlanta. They have three grown sons and five grandchildren.

Contact:  Karen Campbell Media, Inc.  616-309-4390  www.karencampbellmedia.com

Nashville, TN (July 17, 2018) — HarperCollins Christian Publishing has shipped more than 650,000 copies in the product family of Max Lucado’s Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World (September 2017, Nelson) in just nine months. Strong sales continue as the title nears the one-year mark.

Authored by “America’s Pastor” Max Lucado, Anxious for Nothing has impacted thousands of readers over the last nine months:

• Lucado penned multiple op-eds, addressing anxiety in light of breaking news, via USA Today, Fox News, Christian Post, CBN News, and more.
• Multiple appearances on national bestseller lists including Amazon, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and CBA.

Max Lucado’s next book, Unshakable Hope: Building Our Lives on the Promises of God (Thomas Nelson) releases August 2018. The new book describes the twelve scriptural promises on which Lucado has built his life and ministry. An Unshakable Hope pre-sale campaign runs through August 7, and a special launch event is set for August 6 at the Museum of the Bible (Washington, DC). Confirmed national media interviews for the Unshakable Hope book launch include Fox & Friends, Dave Ramsey Radio, Relevant Podcast and Guideposts Magazine. More at www.UnshakableHopeBook.com.

With more than 130 million products in print, Max Lucado is America’s bestselling inspirational author. His writings have been shaped into bestselling books, videos, devotionals, songs, greeting cards, booklets, Bible studies, commentaries and theatrically-released movies. Lucado has been featured on countless national media outlets including The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, NPR’s All Things Considered and Fox & Friends. Max and his wife of over 35 years, Denalyn, call San Antonio, Texas, home. Max has served the people of Oak Hills Church since 1988. More at www.maxlucado.com

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, Tenn. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

Contact: Jana Muntsinger, MMPR  jana@mmpublicrelations.com  281-251-0480
For review copies of Anxious for Nothing and Unshakable Hope

From US Navy pilot to American hero

(Nashville, Tenn.) July 18, 2018 –W Publishing Group, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, has acquired rights to a memoir by Captain Tammie Jo Shults, the airline pilot of Southwest Flight 1380 who made an emergency landing of her Boeing 737 after an engine exploded in midair, shattering a passenger window.

The North American rights were acquired by Daisy Blackwell Hutton, vice president and publisher of W Publishing, in a pre-empt from Mel Berger at William Morris Endeavor, along with CMG Worldwide. This book is scheduled for release in October 2019 and will be Tammie Jo’s first book. 

With nerves of steel, Captain Shults safely landed Southwest 1380 with only one engine in Philadelphia earlier this year. She will tell the story of how a young girl growing up on a ranch in New Mexico went on to become one of the first female F-18 Hornet pilots in the US Navy, braving rejection and discrimination with the strength she found in her faith. 

Captain Shults is one of a small percentage of female pilots in the commercial airline industry. According to 2016 data from the Federal Aviation Administration, just 6.33% of commercial pilots are women. The passengers of Southwest 1380 applauded Shults for her “guidance and bravery in a traumatic situation” and called her a “true American hero.”

“We believe that Tammie Jo’s inspiring story has powerful reach far beyond the headlines heralding her calm and courage during the Southwest Airlines incident,” said Hutton. “It is a deeply human story that touches broadly on questions about how the choices we make and the things we value coalesce into the people we become. Tammie Jo’s story also dovetails powerfully with the cultural conversation around women’s strength and tenacity as we pursue our dreams.”

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, 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: Becky Melvin  615.902.1211  becky.melvin@harpercollins.com

July 19, 2018 — San Diego, CA – The largest pop-culture entertainment event in the world, COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: SAN DIEGO 2018 kicked off last week with an attendance of more than 125,000 per day with hundreds of thousands more attending related events in downtown San Diego.  

The CHRISTIAN COMIC ARTS SOCIETY is honored to partner with Brentwood Studios & the Aetherlight MMO to deliver top talent, projects, and compelling events open to all Comic-Con attendees.

The Christian Comic Arts Society hosted three events as part of the official Comic-Con programming, and exhibited throughout the convention in the Small Press area #P-08.  Courtesy of Brentwood Studios and Tyndale House Publishers, Con attendees received a copy of book one in “The Delusion” Young Adult novel series by Laura Gallier available at the CCAS events while supplies last. 

Comic-Con events included:

• Friday 07/20/2018, 8:30-10:00 pm, Christian Comic Arts Society Mixer in Room 26AB

  Featured: Bryan Mero (Spirit Knight), Tim Cleary (Aetherlight MMO), Dan Lynch (“BibleForce”), Eric Jansen (Foursquare Mission Press), Geoff Strout (Faithful Creative), moderators Scott A. Shuford (FrontGate Media) and Joe Queen (Geeky Guys for God) and more.  Join the Christian Comic Arts Society as they partner again with Geeky Guys for God for the 10th annual mixer. This is an opportunity for Christian professionals, fans, artists, and writers to intermingle, socialize and network.  There will be a trivia game and prizes will be awarded to those attendees who know their geek trivia.

• Saturday 07/21/2018, 7:00-8:00 pm, Spiritual Themes in Comics in Room 4

  Featured: David Walker (Luke Cage), B. David Walters (Electropunk), Tim Cleary (Aetherlight MMO), Travis Hanson (Beanleaf Press), Buzz Dixon (Serenity), Jessica Tseang (Comic Book Historian) and Kyle Keene (Moderator). With spiritual themes central to comic book related movies such as “Black Panther” and “Wonder Woman” and animated movies like Pixar’s “Coco”, panelists will explore how the spiritual themes central to these stories reflect the reality of the spiritual beliefs of the cultures featured.  They will also explore how spiritual depictions in movies, comic books, fantasy, and science fiction impact the society. Always a lively discussion, this will mark the 21st year that the Christian Comic Arts Society has hosted the Spiritual Themes in Comics panel at San Diego.

• Sunday 07/22/2017, 10:00-11:00 am, Christian Comic Arts Society in Room 28DE

  Featured: Sergio Cariello (Action Bible), Scott Zambelli (Topps – Transformers), Jackson Fong (Baptist Church), Carmi Greene (actress), and Ralph Miley (CCAS President). Join the Christian Comic Arts Society along with Geeks4God, and Geeky Guys for God as we celebrate the Open Meeting of the CCAS on Sunday morning.  Christian professionals in the entertainment industry will discuss their faith and how it influences them in their professions, their decisions, and the creative process.

Also, as in years past, CCAS featured book signings and giveaways throughout the weekend at their booth, #P-08.

For more information on the Comic-Con International: San Diego, go to http://www.comic-con.org.

ABOUT CHRISTIAN COMIC ARTS SOCIETY
Christian Comic Arts Society (CCAS) was formed in 1984 to locate and link Christians interested or active in the comic book/graphic novel medium. CCAS sponsors comic industry activities at various comic conventions across the country, and Alpha Omega, the APA of Christian comics.  The goal and purpose of CCAS is to support Christian professionals, hopefuls and enthusiasts within the Comic Book and related industries by providing opportunities for: 1. The sharing of the Christian message and our Christian faith, primarily within and through the comic book industry and art form. 2. Mentoring, training, friendship and networking. 3. The collaboration on and creation of visual storytelling. The CCAS is governed by a volunteer board which includes Ralph Miley (New Creation,) Holly Knevelbaard (Illustrator,) Clint D. Johnson (“FaithWalker”,) Luis Serrano (“Samson The Nazirite”,) and Scott A. Shuford (FrontGate Media) along with numerous volunteers from the comic industry and the Church. For more information on the Christian Comic Arts Society, go to www.ChristianComicArts.com, Facebook.com/ChristianComicArts, or Twitter.com/ChristianComics.

ABOUT BRENTWOOD STUDIOS
Started in 2008 by former VeggieTales executives, Brentwood Studios partners with producers and content owners to develop new ideas, and manage brands that kids love and parents appreciate. Leveraging experience, creative, and strategic thinking, Brentwood Studios works with our partners to create new products and advance licensing, strategic alliances, distribution, sales, and marketing. Brentwood is led by Bob Starnes, Brock Starnes and Dan Lynch who joined the team in 2016. Dan most recently served as Publisher and Founder at B&H Kids, a division of Lifeway and prior as VP/Publisher for TommyNelson. Brentwood Studios is based in Franklin, Tennessee. http://www.brentwoodstudios.net

For more information or interviews, please contact: 
Lori Heiselman – FrontGate Media, 714-553-5181  Lori@FrontGateMedia.com 

(July 19, 2018) – After strong testing results to drive traffic and sales, the official launch of the web-based Christian store-supporting platform, Get It Local. Today! is slated for September 1, 2018. The platform offers shoppers receiving promotional emails from publishers—or shopping on publisher websites—the option of buying products at local Christian stores as an alternative to Amazon and big-box retailers.

Get It Local. Today! is free to retailers and publishers. The program is a cooperative effort among CBA, The Covenant Group, and The Parable Group, and is endorsed by the Logos Association, Bookstore Manager and Signature Websites.

Retailers can join hundreds of other indie stores to build out a strong nationwide and industry-wide network to provide buy-local opportunities and promote Christian stores.

More than 15 leading publishers have committed to post the Get It Local. Today! badge on their corporate websites and emails to help drive direct-to-consumer sales to local Christian stores. A handful of publishers, including HarperCollins Christian, Baker Publishing, and Barbour Publishing, participated in the successful testing phase by sending test emails to their customer lists.

“It has been tremendously helpful to share with prospective participant retailers that virtually every publisher we have spoken with has been overwhelmingly supportive and excited about this program.” said Chuck Wallington, president of Covenant Group. “On behalf of the several hundred Christian retail stores (and still growing weekly!) that now form the Get It Local. Today!  network, we appreciate all publisher support and look forward to creating customer interest and traffic and connecting your offerings with those in our local areas.”

It’s not too late for Christian retailers to enroll—many retailers signed up while attending UNITE following a push from CBA President Curtis Riskey during the “Future of the Industry” breakfast. Simply click here. It only takes about five minutes to include your store and get set up for data reporting to let customers know the product is in stock at your store.

CBA, the Association for Christian Retail, is the global trade association for Christian-product providers and distributors. It supplies vital connections, information, education, and encouragement to help Christian resource providers reach all people.

Covenant Group provides a host of retail marketing services and promotional tools for leading independent Christian retailers.  Their offerings currently include both print and digital catalog programs, branded e-commerce websites, in-store merchandising materials and more.

The Parable Group is a privately owned multi-service Christian marketing agency based in San Luis Obispo, CA. Since 1985, we’ve served over 1,000 Christian brands; including retailers, publishers, churches, non-profits, film studios and more. Today, we pair decades of Christian consumer data with proven business practices, cutting-edge digital technologies, and thoughtful design to drive measurable results for those we serve.

Contact:  Sally Ross  Tel. (805) 329-4020  Email: sally.ross@parable.com

WHEATON, Ill. (July 23, 2018)—Enclave, the speculative imprint of Gilead Publishing, has announced new series contracts with established authors Sharon Hinck and Ronie Kendig. The official announcement came this weekend during Realm Makers, a Christian speculative fiction writers conference held in St. Louis, Missouri.

Three-time Carol Award winner Sharon Hinck is best known for her four-part series “The Sword of Lyric” (Enclave). The first book, The Restorer, is a genre-blending adventure of a soccer mom in an alternate reality. Her new fantasy series, “Dancing Realms,” is scheduled for release in June 2019 with Hidden Current.

Award-winning author Ronie Kendig is known for her military suspense stories covering dangerous missions and intense action, but she also has a passion for speculative fiction. Enclave published her first fantasy trilogy, “Abiassa’s Fire” (2015-2018), and plans to release the first book in Kendig’s newly signed, science fiction series, The Droseran Saga, in fall 2019.

“We are excited to continue working with these talented authors who are part of the Enclave family, and we expect great things for our upcoming season,” said Steve Laube, publisher of the Enclave imprint for Gilead Publishing.

About Gilead Publishing
Gilead Publishing is a new company started in 2016 whose purpose is to publish great fiction, which inspires and encourages readers through its imprints: Gilead (core Christian fiction categories), Enclave (sci-fi, fantasy, supernatural), and Evergreen Farm (titles from Catherine and Peter Marshall, including Christy).

CONTACT:  Jordan Smith, Marketing Director, Gilead Publishing jordan@gileadpublishing.com

Los Angeles, California (July 20, 2018)—Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum won an ESPY Award at ESPN’s award ceremony in Los Angeles on July 18 for his 61-yard touchdown pass for the Minnesota Vikings last season. Keenum, along with Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs, was given the “Best Moment” award for the pass now known as the “Minneapolis Miracle” against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

Keenum will release his first book September 4, “Playing for More: Trust Beyond What You Can See” (B&H Publishing Group), which recounts the “Minneapolis Miracle,” and why it was the third greatest moment of his life.

In “Playing for More,” now available for preorder, Keenum explores the injuries and doubts that threatened to break him; the support from loved ones, coaches, mentors, teammates and friends that helped sustain him; the faith that anchors him; and the heart-pounding victories that catapulted him into the national spotlight.

“Playing for More” is written with Andrew Perloff, an on-air personality on the television and radio sports talk program “The Dan Patrick Show” and contributing writer for SportsIllustrated.com. Perloff interviewed Keenum for a Sports Illustrated feature in 2013 and has covered him throughout his NFL career. Tony Dungy, New York Times bestselling author and former NFL head coach, wrote the foreword to “Playing for More.”

“There are certain plays in NFL history that you remember everything about—where you were, who you were with and how you reacted when it happened. I was working at a radio studio and you could hear people all over the building yelling when Diggs caught the ball and scored,” Perloff said. “As Case and I worked on the book and talked to people about that play, everyone had their own story about where they were when it happened.”

B&H is supporting “Playing for More” with a national media tour, heavy promotions through Fellowship of Christian Athletes and NFL media and a national marketing and advertising campaign.

Keenum is represented by the literary agency of The Fedd Agency, Inc., Post Office Box 341973, Austin, Texas 78734.

For more information about “Playing for More,” visit PlayingForMore.com.

Case Keenum is the quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Houston, where he set virtually every major NCAA record. Keenum holds the all-time mark for passing yards (19,217), touchdown passes (155), total touchdowns (178) and completions (1,546). He was Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2007, Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and Conference USA Most Valuable Player in 2009 and 2011. He is one of only two quarterbacks to win the Sammy Baugh Award for the nation’s outstanding passer twice (2009 and 2011). In 2011, Keenum led the Cougars to a 13-1 record and a bowl victory over Penn State. Keenum signed with the Houston Texans as undrafted free agent in 2012. He has a record of 20-18 as an NFL starter with the Texans, Rams and Vikings. In 2017, he led Minnesota to a 13-win season and a victory over the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Vikings lost the NFC title game to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Keenum signed a two-year deal with the Broncos in March 2018.

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.

July 20, 2018, St. Louis, MO —  New York Times bestselling author Tosca Lee’s second novel in the House of Bathory duology, Firstborn (the sequel to Lee’s bestseller, The Progeny), has won Realm Makers 2018 Book of the Year. It also took home the supernatural category win.

The Progeny released May 2016 to outstanding reviews calling it “irresistible” (Publishers Weekly), “suspenseful” and “entertaining” (Booklist) with a jaw-dropping ending that had early readers clamoring for the sequel before The Progeny even released.

Called “The Queen of psychological twists” by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Steena Holmes, Lee has previously been best known for her historical novels (including 2014 ECPA Fiction Book of the Year winner Iscariot and 2015 finalist The Legend of Sheba) and evocative prose. While Lee’s trademark research remains in evidence, the House of Bathory duology, with its high octane pacing, represents a new direction for the author—one enthusiastically embraced by readers and Hollywood, both. The books are currently in development as a dramatic television series by Radar Pictures and Ed Burns’ Marlboro Road Gang, as first reported by Deadline Hollywood: http://bit.ly/2wsinqY.

Filled with adrenaline, romance, and reversals, the duology is the story of Audra Ellison who, in a bid to protect a powerful secret, has elected to erase the last two years of her memory and start over until she’s found and forced to go on the run—a journey that takes her to the underground corridors of Europe she’s tried to leave in her past.

Realm Makers is an organization committed to fostering excellence in the speculative (sci-fi/fantasy) arts for authors, filmmakers, artists and artisans of faith. The annual conference was held this weekend at the Sheraton Westport Chalet in St. Louis, MO where it will be held again in 2019.

For a list of all the winners, please visit: http://realmmakers.net/2018-realm-award-winners-announced/.

Praise for the House of Bathory books:

“Irresistible…” – Publishers Weekly

“Tosca Lee is a masterful storyteller who has created a rich and engaging tale of adventure, mystery, and loyalty in the face of perpetual betrayal, which kept me on edge from the first page until the last.” – Jobie Hughes, #1 New York Times best-selling author

“Tosca puts the thrill into thriller. Be warned: once you start this book, it’s impossible to put down!” – Maria V. Snyder, New York Times bestselling author

“An exciting thrill ride from the first page until the last…a fascinating meld of fact and speculative fiction.”  —Romantic Times

Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times, CBA, and IndieBound bestselling author of Iscariot, The Legend of Sheba, Demon: A Memoir; Havah: The Story of Eve; and Forbidden: The Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker. A lifelong world adventure traveler, Tosca lives with her husband and four children in Nebraska. Her upcoming pandemic thriller, The Line Between, releases January 2019. To learn more about Tosca, visit www.toscalee.com.

The Progeny
by Tosca Lee
Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster: Trade paper, $15.99
ISBN: 9781501139253

Firstborn
By Tosca Lee
Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster: Trade paper, $15.99
ISBN: 9781501125942

Contact: Mickey Mikkelson, Publicist, mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com  403.464.6925

(Grand Rapids, MI) July 9, 2018—Zondervan announced today that Jessica Westra will join the Zonderkidz publishing division as the new publicity director. 

Westra comes to Zonderkidz with more than 23 years of experience, most recently running her own events and media consulting business handling an array of media relations campaigns for her clients. Previously, she worked in event management for Tulip Time Festival, Inc. in Holland, MI, in addition to extensive freelance publicity work. 

In her new role as publicity director for Zonderkidz, Westra will oversee all facets of public relations for the Zonderkidz catalog of products by leading general publicity efforts to generate brand awareness, develop and execute strategic campaigns, and support authors.

“Jessica’s passion for great content and dynamic approach to publicity will be enormously valuable for our authors and their books,” says Londa Alderink, vice president of marketing for Zonderkidz. “We are thrilled to gain Jessica’s comprehensive industry expertise as a resource for both our authors and our team.”

Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications. For more than 80 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The company’s products are sold in multiple formats, worldwide, translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, MI. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.