The Seven Longest Yards: Our Love Story of Pushing the Limits While Leaning on Each Other Releases July 2019

Grand Rapids, Mich., January 7, 2019 — National speaker and viral star Chris Norton and his wife, Emily, have announced that they will be sharing their miraculous story in The Seven Longest Yards, set to release July 9, 2019, with Zondervan. Quadriplegics do not simply walk again—yet millions have seen Chris Norton take ten impossible steps at his college graduation, with Emily supporting him. Those unbelievable steps started an extraordinary journey for them both.

The Nortons are represented by Rick Richter with Aevitas Creative Management; world rights were acquired by Zondervan associate publisher Stephanie Smith. The Nortons exclusively shared the uplifting book’s cover with their fans on social media. Over 15 million people viewed the viral wedding video where Emily supported Chris down the aisle. People magazine exclusively covered their wedding, and recently Will Smith also shared part of their wedding video on Instagram. You can pre-order the book now. Visit www.ChrisNorton.org to learn more.

The Seven Longest Yards describes how Chris went—in just a moment—from a talented 18-year-old football player with a promising future, to flat on his back with a broken neck and a  three percent chance of ever being able to move anything below his neck. Determined to prove the doctors wrong, Chris pushed himself through grueling, daily workouts until four years later, when he walked across the stage to receive his diploma, with Emily’s help and the world’s astonished applause. Meanwhile, Emily faced her own battle against anxiety and depression and couldn’t shake the mental darkness that clouded their promising future.

Day by day, decision by decision, Chris and Emily committed themselves to taking the extra step, trusting God, and leaning on the help of others, in a story of unforgettable grit and courageous faith. This journey led them ultimately to the longest seven yards they walked together: down the wedding aisle and into a new life. Readers will follow Chris and Emily as they welcome foster children—15 and counting!—into their home and hearts, and as they continue to trust a God who transforms our lowest points into life’s greatest gifts.

Weaving both Chris and Emily’s unique perspectives together for an unforgettable experience, The Seven Longest Yards is a stirring invitation to put one foot in front of the other, especially in the face of the impossible.

“Few people exhibit the power of perseverance like Chris and Emily, who have wowed our team from the beginning with their can’t-stop, won’t-stop outlook toward the high goals they share,” says Stephanie Smith, associate publisher, Zondervan. “They bring new definition to the term ‘power couple,’ and their book is nothing short of a power read for anyone in need of fresh courage for facing life’s challenges.”

“Chris and Emily are two of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met,” says Tom Dean, vice president of marketing, Zondervan. “We are delighted to bring their amazing story to the world—readers will be moved, challenged, and, through the reading of their story, will discover how God can redeem and use our darkest life experiences for good.”

Chris Norton is an in-demand motivational speaker with a message of hope, resilience, and faith. Currently residing in Florida, Chris wouldn’t take back the play that left him paralyzed due to the positive influence his story has had on millions of people worldwide. His Chris Norton Foundation has raised close to one million dollars to help others with spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders.

Emily Norton’s lifelong passion is to make a difference, and she received her degree in family services from the University of Northern Iowa to pursue her dream of helping kids in foster care. Over the last year she and Chris have fostered 15 children, with five currently in their home. Emily believes life is for helping others and making an impact.

Zondervan’s marketing and publicity team is planning a major national media launch.

Book Information
Seven Longest Yards: Our Love Story of Pushing the Limits while Leaning on Each Other
by Chris & Emily Norton with Mark Tabb
Release Date: July 9, 2019
Hardcover; $26.99
9780310356929
240 pages

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: Robin Barnett, 616-698-3251, robin.barnett@harpercollins.com

 

(Nashville, TN) January 8, 2018—HarperCollins Christian Publishing today announced that Timothy Paulson will join the organization on February 4 as vice president and publisher of Nelson Books, a Thomas Nelson imprint.  Paulson will be based in Nashville, Tenn., and will report to Brian Hampton, senior vice president and group publisher for HarperCollins Christian Publishing.

In his role as vice president and publisher, Paulson will be responsible for growing and leading the imprint, bringing innovative strategic thinking to its strong editorial and marketing team.  In 2018 Nelson Books had multiple titles recognized as bestsellers by The New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, The Wall Street Journal and the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.  Nelson Books is home to many bestselling authors including Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, Dave Ramsey, Jen Hatmaker, Bob Goff, John and Stasi Eldredge, Jefferson Bethke, and Donald Miller, and last year published the runaway bestselling book Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis—with more than 2.3 million copies sold in just 11 months.

“I’m truly honored and excited to join the Nelson Books team,” said Paulson. “The team has been on a roll, and I look forward to continuing this success well into the future.”

Paulson comes to HarperCollins Christian Publishing with more than eighteen years of expertise in publishing.  Most recently with Kalmbach Media, Paulson spent the majority of his career at 1517 Media where he achieved a breadth of strategic initiatives, including launching an internal startup organization that later became the largest corporate division for the company.  While at 1517 Media, Paulson created award-winning publishing imprints, redesigned multidivisional marketing groups, developed new digital platform strategies, and built an award-winning animation studio.  He led successful business acquisitions as well as developed new channel strategies to increase overall company sales.

“The Nelson Books team is filled with strong, successful marketers and editors,” said Brian Hampton. “Tim’s rich experience as a publisher, coaching leader, innovator, brand creator, and marketer make him a great fit as the leader of this team. Taking over responsibility for an imprint that is having a big run in the marketplace is a unique challenge requiring confidence and humility, and Tim brings both to our company. I’m delighted to have him aboard.”

Paulson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., a Master of Divinity from the Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and a Master of Business Administration from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn.

Hampton, who previously held the position as publisher for Nelson Books, was promoted in September 2018 to oversee all book publishing operations for HarperCollins Christian Publishing.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, comprises the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups, Olive Tree Bible Software, BibleGateway FaithGateway and ChurchSource.  The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space.   Bible Gateway  is the world’s largest Christian website with more than 20 million unique monthly visitors. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN with additional offices in the U.S. and Mexico.  For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.

Iron Stream Media, the parent organization of New Hope^® Publishers, announces the launch of three new publishing imprints: Ascender Books, Iron Stream Books, and New Hope Kidz. The goal of each mark is to serve a specific segment of the Christian marketplace with quality resources. The premier titles from each of these new lines are scheduled to release in 2019.

According to Ramona Richards, associate publisher, “The Christian marketplace continues to expand into new areas, and these growth areas need products with their own identity. In our mission to grow disciples for Christ, Iron Stream Media wants to reach believers with resources that delve into the heart of their faith and personal growth in the Lord.”

New Hope Publishers remains the flagship imprint, with publishing goals similar to the ones established initially in the mid-1990s. It will continue to release Christian trade nonfiction and fiction aimed at a conservative-to-mainstream audience with traditional theological foundations. Nonfiction titles will continue to focus on the topics of parenting and family, spiritual and personal growth, and Bible studies. The fiction titles will be primarily suspense, visionary, romance, and seasonal.

Ascender Books will serve a grace-inspired audience, with resources developed from within the Spirit-led community. Titles will focus on spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, and in-depth studies of Scripture. Ascender Books will also include online studies for churches and small groups.

Iron Stream Books will center on leadership, spiritual growth, business as mission, millennials, and specialty markets. The first book to launch under the ISB imprint is Randy Hemphill’s The Restored Man (January 2019).

New Hope Kidz will feature picture and board books for preschool and early readers. Storybooks and Bibles for boys and girls will also become a part of this imprint. Rivers Overseas (August 2019) by Sarah Nunnally is the premier book of the line.

All four imprints will feature expanded studies and online resources available through Iron Stream Media’s Life Bible Study and Student Life Bible Study curriculum imprints, making church-compatible materials available for each book title.

Iron Stream Media derives its name from Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This sharpening describes the process of discipleship, one to another. Iron Stream Media provides a variety of solutions for churches, missionaries, and nonprofits that include in-depth Bible study curriculum, Christian book publishing, and consultative services. Iron Stream Media is the home of New Hope Publishers, Iron Stream Books, Ascender Books, and New Hope Kidz. Through the popular Life Bible Study and Student Life Bible Study brands, they also provide web-based, full-year and short-term Bible study teaching plans as well as printed devotionals, Bibles, and discipleship curriculum.

(Nashville, TN) January 9, 2019—HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) announced today that Cami Miller has been promoted to the position of director for Mass Market Sales.

Miller joined HCCP in 2014 as a key account manager following many years as a product manager at Anderson Merchandisers in Amarillo, Texas.

Since joining the Mass Market team, Miller has been a strategic sales partner for Readerlink Distribution Services, as well as product manager for Bibles and adult trade books with accounts like Walmart and Sam’s Club, helping them grow in revenue and profit year after year.

“Cami has proved not only to be a strong merchant and account partner, but also an invaluable and dedicated teammate to her colleagues. I am excited for her leadership to continue to flourish in this expanded role,” says Doug Miller, vice president of Mass Market Sales.

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.

In We Are the Gardeners, Joanna and the kids chronicle the adventures of starting their own family garden

Nashville, Tenn. (Jan. 14, 2019) Magnolia co-founder and New York Times bestselling author Joanna Gaines will publish her first children’s book, We Are the Gardeners, on March 26, 2019 with Tommy Nelson, the children’s division of Thomas Nelson, the company announced today.

In We Are the Gardeners, Joanna and her kids chronicle the adventures of starting their own family garden. From their failed endeavors, obstacles to overcome (like bunnies that eat everything!), and all the knowledge they’ve gained along the way, the Gaines family shares how they learned to grow a happy, successful garden.

“The garden has always been a place that inspires me. There’s something about digging deep into fresh soil or watching new life burst from what was not long ago just a tiny seed that reinforces what a gift life is,” said Joanna. “I think that’s part of why my kids have come to love spending time in the garden just as much as I do. It can be a great teacher, if we pause long enough to notice all there is to learn. Where every day can be a lesson in hard work, and sometimes even in failure, but where there’s also growth worth celebrating. This book is our way of sharing what the garden means to us, and the many adventures we’ve had along the way!”

Children and their families will be able to start their own gardens, learn how to take care of plants, and enjoy the fruits of their labors together. As it turns out, trying something new isn’t always easy, but the hardest work often yields the greatest reward—there are always new lessons waiting to be learned in the garden!

“Joanna’s creativity has resulted in a gorgeous and splendid book,” said Laura Minchew, senior vice president and publisher of Tommy Nelson Children’s Books, gift books and new media at Thomas Nelson. “Families will delight in reading the story together, and create happy memories by starting their own gardens. What fun for children discover their green thumbs as a result of reading We Are the Gardeners!”

Julianna Swaney’s illustrations bring the Gaines family garden to life with colorful, whimsical watercolors in We Are the Gardeners, inviting readers to enjoy the beauty a thriving garden provides.

This will be the Gaines family’s fifth book with HarperCollins Publishers. Their previous books include The Magnolia Story (Thomas Nelson), Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff (Thomas Nelson); Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering (William Morrow Cookbooks); and Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave (Harper Design).

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.

Ada, MI (December 17, 2018)—In mid-December, The Gospel Coalition announced the winners of their 2018 Book Awards—and Baker Publishing took home two of these awards. Love Thy Body by Nancy Pearcey won the Public Theology & Current Events category and The Devil’s Redemption by Michael J. McClymond won the Academic Theology category.

The Gospel Coalition reviews around 300 books a year. At the end of the year, they assess which titles in a variety of categories were most helpful based on the following criteria: “faithful use of Scripture and gospel-centered argument; fostering of spiritual discernment; and encouragement to unite and renew the church.”

For the complete list of winners, click here.

Love Thy Body by Nancy Pearcey
(Baker Books; ISBN 9780801075728; ebook ISBN 9781493412822; $22.99)
In Love Thy Body, bestselling author Nancy Pearcey goes beyond politically correct slogans with a riveting exposé of the dehumanizing worldview that shapes current watershed moral issues. Pearcey then turns the tables on media boilerplate that wrongly portrays Christianity as harsh or hateful. A former agnostic, she makes a surprising and persuasive case that Christianity is a holistic faith, one that sustains the dignity of the body and biology. Throughout she entrances readers with compassionate stories of people wrestling with hard questions in their own lives—their pain, their struggles, their triumphs.

The Devil’s Redemption by Michael J. McClymond
(Baker Academic; ISBN 9780801048562; ebook ISBN 9781493406616; $90.00)
The question of the devil’s final salvation has been continuously debated since the time of Origen. This comprehensive book surveys the history of Christian universalism from the second to the twenty-first century and offers an interpretation of how and why universalist belief arose. McClymond explores what the church has taught about universal salvation and hell and offers a critique of universalism from a biblical, philosophical, and theological standpoint. He shows that the effort to extend grace to everyone undermines the principle of grace for anyone.

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

Contact: Ruth Anderson (616)676-9185 x8131 randerson@bakerpublishinggroup.com

Ada, Mich. (December 17, 2018)—Christianity Today recently announced the winners of their 2019 Book Awards. One Baker Publishing Group title won a top award. Subversive Sabbath by A. J. Swoboda won the Spiritual Formation category award as well as an Award of Merit in the Book of the Year category.

Subversive Sabbath by A. J. Swoboda
(Brazos; ISBN 9781587434051; ebook ISBN 9781493412907; $19.99)
This book pioneers a creative path to an alternative way of existing. Combining creative storytelling, pastoral sensitivity, practical insight, and relevant academic research, Subversive Sabbath offers a unique invitation to personal Sabbath-keeping that leads to fuller and more joyful lives. A. J. Swoboda demonstrates that Sabbath is both a spiritual discipline and a form of social justice, connects Sabbath-keeping to local communities, and explains how God may actually do more when we do less. He shows that the biblical practice of Sabbath-keeping is God’s plan for the restoration and healing of all creation.

In addition, four other Baker publications won an Award of Merit: Introducing Medieval Biblical Interpretation (Baker Academic) by Ian Christopher Levy in Biblical Studies; The Edge of Over There (Revell) by Shawn Smucker in Children and Youth; Selfies (Brazos Press) by Craig Detweiler in Culture and the Arts; and Cultural Insights for Christian Leaders (Baker Academic) by Douglas McConnell in Missions/Global Church.

Christianity Today honors the books they consider “most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture.” For the complete list of winners, please click here.

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

Contact: Ruth Anderson, (616)676-9185 x8131 randerson@bakerpublishinggroup.com

On Monday, December 17, 2018, Laura Barker, VP, Editor-in-Chief for WaterBrook and Multnomah, imprints of Penguin Random House, announced the retirement of Senior Editor Bruce Nygren.  Barker shared the following statement with colleagues:

“After more than a decade of serving our imprints with excellence, Bruce Nygren, Senior Editor, WaterBrook and Multnomah, will be retiring at the end of this year.

Bruce first joined our team in 2003 and then returned to work with us in 2008 after a season of running a private writing and editorial service. His exceptional editing and acquisition skills have left an indelible mark on our program, and his delightful personality has endeared him to countless authors and industry colleagues. Over the years he has edited several of our New York Times best-selling books, including Shaken andThis Is the Day, both written by Tim Tebow; Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic; and Fearless by Eric Blehm.

His book publishing career reaches back to 1977, when Bruce first became an associate editor for Thomas Nelson. He eventually rose to vice president of book editorial. Additional highlights from his long career outside of WaterBrook and Multnomah include serving as editorial director for NavPress, cowriter and editor for FamilyLife, and acquisitions editor for Moody Publishers.

Over the course of his career, Bruce has edited dozens of best-selling authors, including David Platt, Mark Sanborn, Stephen Arterburn, Meadowlark Lemon, Franklin Graham, John Maxwell, John Eldredge, Gary Smalley, Malcolm Muggeridge, and Eugene Peterson, among many others.

Bruce is highly respected throughout Christian publishing for his editorial acumen, warm presence, and welcome sense of humor. His knowledge of the marketplace and his expert ability to shape a manuscript to its most compelling form have established Bruce as an invaluable source of wisdom for many authors, agents, and colleagues over his storied career.

A man of spiritual depth and thoughtful insight, Bruce will be missed by all of us. Please join me in thanking him for his countless contributions to our imprint and wishing him all good things as he embarks on a new season of life, with more time for travel and enjoying his beloved children and grandchildren, along with the occasional freelance editing project.”

PEABODY, MA—A new book by professional mediators helps families navigate the challenges associated with aging parents, overcome past hurts and resentment, and talk openly with one another in love and understanding.

In their mediation practice, Carolyn Miller Parr and Sig Cohen discovered that families in distress more often than not experience pain from two main sources: broken family relationships, and a parent’s failure to plan for the future. Love’s Way is their answer to this problem.

Parr and Cohen found that many older adults resist engaging in “The Conversation” about their wills, plans, and wishes as they age because they fear losing their independence and the freedom to change their minds. Adult children hesitate to push the issue because they’re afraid they’ll upset their parents or seem greedy. And both parents and children hate to think about their parents’ death. But according to the authors, it is necessary to have these conversations and plan for the future to avoid hurt, anger, and rifts in the family unit.

“We want to prevent families from making mistakes that can fracture relations among siblings and between them and their parents,” says Cohen. “One of our goals is to encourage and demonstrate how families can plan ahead before a crisis strikes and chaos ensues, whether it involves driving, asset distribution, or caregiving a loved one with a fatal illness.”

Ten practical chapters including “Transforming Fear and Anger,” “Siblings in War and Peace,” “Scaling the Twin Peaks of Paperwork and Planning,” and “Dying and Death” guide family members through the ups and downs of growing old together. Both aging parents and adult children will learn “10 Tips to Diffuse Anger,” how to have difficult conversations with empathy and understanding, and the proper legal documents that all aging adults need.

Carolyn Miller Parr is a retired judge, mediator, writer, and public speaker. She graduated from Stetson University (BA), Vanderbilt (MA English), and Georgetown Law (JD). Since 2002, Judge Parr has practiced peacemaking through her mediation practice Beyond Dispute and Tough Conversations with Sig Cohen.

Sig Cohen is a retired Foreign Service officer, fundraiser, and community organizer, and now serves as a mediator. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (BS) and the University of Chicago (MA in International Relations).

Both authors reside in the Washington D.C. area.

Hendrickson Publishers has a strong history of producing outstanding academic, trade, reference books, and Bibles at a reasonable price. Their products include books on Christian living, biblical studies and reference works for pastors, thoughtful laypeople, and the academy.

Media Contact: Meg Rusick, Marketing & Communications Manager, mrusick@hendrickson.com  978-573-2147

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Endorsements for Love’s Way
January 1, 2019 • Paperback • 182 pages • Retail $14.95 • ISBN: 978-1-68307-195-2

“Above all, these two experienced mediators offer their practical and personal experience to help us through the most difficult transition—from midlife autonomy to increasing interdependence. Aimed at helpers, the book also invites us to be the ones walking the path of diminishment with dignity and grace. We all need to know this terrain!”
—Marjory Bankson, author of Creative Aging: Rethinking Retirement in a Changing World

“Our elders ‘have gone before us on a road . . . we too will travel.’ The authors quote Socrates, and then they present a plainspoken, insightful guidebook that illuminates a road many of us regard with dread, uncertainty, and the natural desire to put off to another day. This is a practical book, both honest and nonthreatening. It is full of wisdom that family members of several generations can use together, as they seek loving and respectful compromises to the dilemmas of old age.”
—Ann Barnet, MD, founder of The Family Place, Washington, DC, and coauthor (with husband Richard Barnet) of The Youngest Minds

“Judge Carolyn Miller Parr and Sig Cohen have authored a comprehensive guide for families preparing to care for an older adult member or planning their own future as elders. Their stories and suggestions about how to navigate the legal, emotional, and financial challenges ahead offer invaluable advice and evocative reading.”
—William Fralin, JD, Elder Law Attorney, and founder of The Estate Planning and Elder Law Firm, PC, Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington, DC

“Carolyn Parr and Sig Cohen’s book, particularly the chapter on siblings, gives practical and time-honored advice on the frustrating family dynamics that sometimes impacts even well-adjusted families. Love’s Way: Living Peacefully with Your Family as Your Parents Age is a great tool to add to your family emotional toolkit.”
—Marti Bailey, BS, CSA, CDP, Director, Sibley Senior Association and Community Health

“Anxious about talking with a parent or an aging relative about their living arrangements? This is your book! The authors’ rich background in law and mediation come together to challenge our incorrect assumptions, while providing clear and respectful ways to discuss and approach the questions around caring for aging people and their families. Members of all ages in my church participated in a highly popular study around this book, with immediately positive results as they had the courage and the tools to directly address this issue in their families. This book not only helps people think through everything about caring for their parents, but it also helps them plan ahead for themselves!”
—The Rev. Ryan P. Sirmons, Pastor, The United Church of Christ of Annapolis, Maryland

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