March 22, 2018, Minneapolis, Minn. —In recognition of his extraordinary contributions and excellence in media, Executive Producer/Screenwriter/Author Brian Bird (BroadStreet Publishing) has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious Platinum Award at the 3rd Annual Global Media Summit (GMS).  The award will be presented at the Summit Gala, Saturday evening April 28th at the Gaylord Texan Resort in the Yellow Rose Ballroom.

During his thirty-year career in Hollywood, Bird’s writing and producing work comprises-dozens of films and over 250 episodes of network television.  Some of those projects include films The Case for Christ, The Heart of Man, Captive and television shows Touched by an Angel, Step by Step, and Evening Shade. 

Currently, Bird is the Executive Producer of The Hallmark Channel’s original show, When Calls the Heart, now in its fifth season and boasts an ardent fan movement called the Hearties.  When Calls the Heart has  a viewerships of over 5 million. Bird has authored a book based on the show called When God Calls the Heart with co-author Michelle Cox.  BroadStreet Publishing has recently signed Bird and Cox to two more books in the When God Calls the Heart series.   Each book takes God moments from the series episodes and highlights the inspirational meaning.

The Hallmark Channel announced this week that When Calls the Heart has been picked up for Season 6.

Bird and Cox  were recently invited to be guests on the Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family show to share about When God Calls the Heart.  http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/home-and-family/videos/when-god-calls-the-heart-home-family

BroadStreet Publishing President, Carlton Garborg, said he is thrilled by the partnership with Brian Bird and Michelle Cox and views this as the beginning of a long and exciting relationship.

For more about BroadStreet Publishing visit www.broadstreetpublishing.com

For more about the Global Media Summit visit www.gmssummit.com

 Contact: Suzanne Niles 213.434.3331  suzanne.niles@broadstreetpublishing.com

Readers will come together to discuss Lone Witness

Rachel Dylan, author of Lone Witness (Bethany House), will be hosting a Facebook launch party on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 8:00 PM EDT/5:00 PM PDT.

During the live event, Dylan will be sharing the inspiration behind the new release and leading readers in a discussion of the book. Readers will also be able to ask the author questions throughout the night. The party will also include live video featuring the author. Prizes will be given out, including copies of Lone Witness as well as books from other authors.

About the Lone Witness, book 2 in the Atlanta Justice series:

Prosecutor Sophie Dawson has taken a new role at the Fulton County DA’s office, and her first case involves a local bank employee who may be cheating customers. She’s determined to bring justice to those who’ve lost their savings . . . but her life is turned upside down when she becomes the only witness to a double homicide involving a vengeful gang.

With her life at risk, friends and family convince her that she needs protection, and private security guard Cooper Knight is hired as a bodyguard. But as threats escalate, neither Cooper nor Sophie knows whom they can trust.

Unwilling to back down on either case, Sophie pursues the truth at any cost. But her bank litigation gets more complicated by the day, and the gang will stop at nothing to keep her from taking the stand. With all sides closing in, steadfast Cooper is the only man she can lean on. But drawing close may be the distraction that costs both of their lives.

About the Author:  

Rachel Dylan was a litigator in one of the nation’s most elite law firms for over eight years and now works as an attorney at one of the Big Three automobile manufacturers. She is the author of four Love Inspired Suspense novels and most recently, the Atlanta Justice series (Deadly Proof and Lone Witness). Dylan lives in Michigan with her husband.

Learn more about the author at www.racheldylan.com, on Facebook (RachelDylanAuthor), Twitter (@dylan_rachel) or Instagram (racheldylanauthor).

A charming and practical gift idea for brides, just in time for wedding season

Carol Stream, Ill. (April 26, 2018) — Focus on the Family announces the upcoming release of Our Newlywed Kitchen: The Art of Cooking, Gathering, and Creating Traditions, a gift book by Laura Schupp. Available on May 8, 2018, Our Newlywed Kitchen is a fitting gift for any bride, bride-to-be, or newlywed couple just beginning to set up house together. Incorporating practical wisdom and thoughtful encouragement from an experienced homemaker, this coffee-table-sized book was written to inspire young couples to nurture strong marriages and families through the heart of the home: the kitchen.

Our Newlywed Kitchen aims to be a valued resource for newlyweds, featuring how-to information for kitchen organization, meal preparation, party planning, grocery shopping, and more. Gift-givers can also personalize the book by adding their own recipes, tips, memories, Scriptures, and prayers for the new couple in the spaces provided.

For more information about Our Newlywed Kitchen or any other Focus on the Family title, visit Focus on the Family’s online store or Tyndale.com.

Our Newlywed Kitchen: The Art of Cooking, Gathering, and Creating Traditions
Focus on the Family**
ISBN: 978-1-58997-945-1 | Hardcover: $34.99 | 220 Pages
May 8, 2018

Focus on the Family, which reaches about 38 million people in 120 countries, is a global faith-based ministry that helps families thrive. Tyndale House Publishers is pleased to partner with Focus on the Family to help provide trusted resources for strengthening believers in their faith and sharing the gospel; building resilient marriages that reflect God’s design; equipping parents to raise their children with a thriving faith; advocating for the preborn, orphaned, and life at every stage; and engaging the culture through a biblical worldview. Visit Focus at FocusontheFamily.com or on Facebook and Twitter.

Tyndale House Publishers, founded in 1962, is the world’s largest privately held Christian publisher of books, Bibles, and digital media. Tyndale has published manyNew York Times bestsellers as well as The Living Bible and the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), the translation of choice for millions of people. The largest portion of its profit goes to the nonprofit Tyndale House Foundation, which makes grants to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

**Focus on the Family titles are published by Focus on the Family and distributed/marketed by Tyndale.

WESTMONT, IL— In alignment with their longstanding commitment to women’s voices and leadership, InterVarsity Press will launch the #ReadWomen campaign, officially beginning May 1, 2018.

This campaign takes after the #ReadWomen2014 campaign, which began when Joanna Walsh, a writer and illustrator, created bookmark-shaped New Year’s cards featuring her favorite writers, declaring 2014 “the year of reading women.” Walsh was quickly flooded with requests for the cards, and a social media movement took off.

“The very notion that ‘men don’t read books written by women’ has always struck me as odd (at best) and alarming (at worst) because of my own reading experience,” Jeff Crosby, IVP’s publisher, said. “Whether classic works of spirituality by Teresa of Avila and Julian of Norwich, bestselling books by Maya Angelou and Krista Tippett, or current work by writers such as Marilyn Chandler McEntyre and Isabel Wilkerson, my intellectual, spiritual, and cultural perspectives have been deeply shaped by women writers and the unique gifts they bring. I believe it’s essential to not only read widely and deeply, but to ensure we are engaging with content from men and women and people of diverse backgrounds. I genuinely believe that those who do not make that commitment are in some sense impoverished, whether they know it or not. I’m grateful to be a part of a publishing house that seeks out, elevates, and publishes books by women of insight, candor, and persuasion.”

Senior editor Al Hsu added: “My PhD research on emerging adults’ book-reading experiences found that women read fairly evenly between male and female authors (54% / 46%), but that men read 90% male authors and only 10% female authors. That’s why the #ReadWomen campaign is needed, to highlight how we all benefit from reading women’s voices and hearing perspectives from the whole body of Christ.”

IVP’s campaign will draw attention to its own catalog of women authors, both current and backlist, through a social media campaign using the hashtag #ReadWomen, through the distribution of posters and materials at trade shows like Book Expo America and the American Library Association, as well as by offering discounts on books by women through their website.

IVP has been intentional about publishing women’s voices since the creation of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s (IVCF) publishing program. It started in 1943, with an inductive Bible study written by Jane Hollingsworth titled Discovering the Gospel of Mark. In the 75 years since then, IVP has published a range of voices on many topics, from names such as Suzanne Stabile, Kathy Khang, Ruth Haley Barton, Sharon Garlough Brown, Sarah Shin, Sandra Van Opstal, Luci Shaw, and hundreds of others. Additionally, IVP’s editorial acquisitions team has annual goals to make sure it is publishing women’s voices across all lines.

“In this age of #MeToo and #ChurchToo, women are making it clear that they will no longer tolerate being silenced, harassed, or oppressed,” said Helen Lee, director of marketing. “I am so glad that we are part of a larger organization that has valued women’s voices, gifts, and leadership skills throughout our history, and that those values apply to our publishing program as well. We are constantly on the lookout for ways to elevate women’s expertise and experiences as authors of books that speak to the whole church, and this will never cease.”

IVP has launched a webpage dedicated to these efforts that can be found at ivpress.com/readwomen. Women authors were interviewed as a part of this campaign, and they answered questions about why they’ve published with IVP and why IVP continues to be a house committed to the publication of women’s voices.

“I knew that IVP was a publishing house that not only honored and elevated women, but also honored and elevated people of color,” said Kathy Khang, author of Raise Your Voice (July 2018). “And so as a woman of color I felt that I could trust IVP to not only honor me as an author but to honor my words.”

Jen Pollock Michel, author of Teach Us to Want, added: “I feel incredibly proud to be a part of a press that is so thoughtful, that has a reputation for producing resources that are thoughtful and serious and deep and substantive and can be of real help to the church.”

IVP hopes that women authors at IVP and elsewhere will be elevated through this celebration, and through that the broader church and culture might overcome their unconscious omission of women as experts and leaders.

“#ReadWomen is a celebration of women,” said Lorraine Caulton, director of Creative and Customer Engagement at IVP. “Women are strong, talented, intelligent, and persevering. They are experts in their fields. We want to elevate women and get people reading books by them. Long after hashtags have faded away, IVP will remain committed to publishing and reading books by women.”

Read more at ivpress.com/readwomen and follow along on social media using the hashtag #ReadWomen.

Founded in 1947 as an extension of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, InterVarsity Press serves those in the university, the church and the world by publishing thoughtful Christian books that equip and encourage people to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord in all of life. For more information, visit ivpress.com.

Contact:  Alisse Wissman | 630.734.4059 | awissman@ivpress.com

Delegates Meet to Foster Flourishing African Publishing Industry

CAROL STREAM, Ill.  (April 17, 2018) –  Last month, delegates from nine African nations along with Brazil, France, the United Kingdom and the United States gathered on the campus on Trinity International University for the inaugural Africa Speaks conference.

According to the organizers, the stated mission of the conference was “to facilitate a network of like-minded persons and organizations who will commit to working together to foster a flourishing African publishing industry for the enrichment of the Church and society in Africa and around the world.”

Edward Elliott, the founder of Oasis International, served as the visionary catalyst for the event, which was sponsored by the Tyndale House Foundation where Elliott serves on the board.

“Several key facts highlighted the need for this event,” Elliott stated. “Access to books is exceedingly limited in much of Africa, leading to sparse opportunity for African authors to be published.  A survey conducted in 2017 found that leaders of the African Church demonstrate an extremely strong desire to read African authors.”

Eminent African scholar and TIU faculty member Dr. Tite Tiénou served as chairperson and moderator for Africa Speaks. One of the goals for the event was to create an accord to ensure that Christian publishing is no longer “business as usual” in Africa but will move forward in unique and innovative ways.

By the conclusion of the conference, the Africa Speaks Accord was crafted, ratified and signed by all delegates including ECPA member publishers, Tyndale House, Moody Publishers and CLC Publications. The delegates have appointed a Continuation Committee to take the vision forward and ensure that specific action steps take place in the months ahead.

For further information, contact Jeremy Taylor at jeremytaylor@tyndale.com.

Tyndale House Foundation, established in 1963 by Kenneth and Margaret Taylor, is a charitable fund which makes grants to support Christian work around the world. For over 50 years the Foundation has received all royalties from the sales of Living Letters (1962), The Living Bible (1971) and the New Living Translation (1996). In 2001 Ken and Margaret Taylor transferred ownership of Tyndale House Publishers to the Foundation. As a result, dividends from the profitable operations of the publishing company also now flow to the Foundation.

Former NFL Running Back and Dancing with the Stars Champion Rashad Jennings To Appear in Virginia, New York City, New Jersey, Los Angeles

Grand Rapids, MI – April 19, 2018 – During the tour for his debut book, The IF in Life: How to Get Off Life’s Sidelines and Become Your Best Self, former NFL running back and Dancing with the Stars Season 24 champion Rashad Jennings will share his inspiring story with fans across America in early May. Jennings will kick off his tour at his alma mater Liberty University during a special event open to students and the public.

• May 4: Convocation at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA 10:30 am speaking and signing
• May 4: Barnes & Noble at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA 6 pm, signing
• May 8: The NFL Experience, Times Square, New York City 12-2 pm, signing
• May 9: Bookends, 211 E Ridgewood Ave. Ridgewood, NJ 6 pm, signing
• May 13: Thomas Road Baptist Church, 1 Mountain View Rd. Lynchburg, VA 9 & 11 am services, speaking, Q&A and signing; appearing with his mother on Mother’s Day
• May 17: Barnes & Noble at The Grove, 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, 7 pm, signing and Q&A

More details about the tour can be found here: www.theifinlifebook.com
Fans can follow the tour on social media, looking for #TheIfInLifeBook.

Growing up, Jennings was overweight, had poor vision, suffered from debilitating asthma, and held a 0.6 GPA—yet he still hoped to one day play in the NFL as a running back. To say the odds were stacked against him is an understatement. Through hard work and determination, encouragement and tough love from his brothers and coaches, and the support of mentors too numerous to count, Jennings became a record-setting NFL running back. During his eight-year NFL career, he played with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Oakland Raiders, and the New York Giants. And now, through the Rashad Jennings Foundation, Jennings is focused on inspiring youth by making education an enjoyable experience, providing mentorship, and encouraging an overall healthy lifestyle.

“Whether you realize it or not, certain moments in life, no matter how significant or small they seem, can change your path and have a positive impact on where you go and how successful you become,” said Jennings. “The IF in Life is about those “IF” moments that have shaped the man I’ve become and brought about the realization of my dreams. My hope for this book is that it brings motivation and inspires young people to become their best self.”

Featuring photos from Rashad’s childhood, college years, and professional career, The IF in Life will be available online and in stores on May 8, 2018. The book is available for pre-orders now.

About the Author:  Rashad Jennings is a national personality. Throughout his successful eight-year career in the NFL, as well as his championship performance on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, Jennings has gained the love and support of fans across the country. Today, Jennings is driven to make a national impact and lasting legacy. The Rashad Jennings Foundation is dedicated to inspiring youth by making education fun, providing mentorship for individual success and promoting health and fitness. Follow Rashad on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, @rashadjennings.

Zondervan, part of HarperCollins, is a world-leading provider of Christian communications and 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, MI. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Media Contact: Jessica Westra, Public Relations Associate
jessica.westra@harpercollins.com 616.698.3208, 616.403.6628

Its message:  Downsize and streamline to focus on what really matters

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 19, 2018) – Today, Thomas Nelson announced that A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living, by Emily Ley, has surpassed more than 100,000 units sold.

Announcing the Winning Titles of the 2018 Christian Indie Awards

Charlotte, NC, April 23, 2018—Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA) is pleased to announce the winning titles for the 2018 Christian Indie Awards. The Christian Indie Awards honor books produced by small publishers and independent authors each year for outstanding contribution to Christian life.

Book lovers and retailers selling Christian products voted on the nominated titles in each of thirteen categories. “Independent publishers and small presses often publish unique books with story themes or topics that touch readers in new and profound ways,” says Sarah Bolme, the Director of Christian Small Publishers Association, the sponsor of the award. “The Christian Indie Awards brings these books recognition.”

The winners in each of the thirteen categories are:

Fiction

• Waiting for Butterflies, Karen Sargent, Walrus Publishing, 978-1940442204

Historical Fiction

• Solve by Christmas, Amber Schamel, Vision Writer Publications, 978-0999176726

Romance 

• An Improper Proposal, Davalynn Spencer, 978-0998951201

Christian Living

• Pizza With Jesus (No Black Olives), P.J. Frick, Lighthouse Christian Publishing, 978-1546901709

Bible Study / Theology 

• The Supremacy of Christ, Dr. William McCarrell and Rev. Richard McCarrell, Grace Acres Press, 978-1602650428

Devotional 

• Delight Thyself Also In The Lord, Delight Thyself Design Ministries, Delight In Him Publications, 978-0999517505

Biography / Memoir

• Go West: 10 Principles that Guided My Cowboy Journey, Jeremy Sparks, Elevate Publishing, 978-0996465595

Relationships / Family

• Helicopter Mom, Bethany L. Douglas, 978-0983928867

Children’s (age 4 to 8) 

• Made for a Purpose, Kristie Wilde, Wilde Art Press, 978-0997482805

Children’s (age 8 to 12) 

• The Kool Kids & The Land Of The Giants, James Tate, author, Jay Reed, illustrator, Beyond W8 Loss, LLC, 978-0999131503

Young Adult (age 12+) 

• Huntress (Life After Book 1), Julie Hall, 978-0998986708

Gift Book 

• Fear Not: You are in Partnership with God To Manage His Creation, Jose Bonilla, 978-1544144870

Christian Education

• Leading by Example: A Parental Guide To Teaching and Modeling Christian Faith At Home,  Rev. Dr. Tim Tooten, Sr., 978-1545605318

The winning titles can be viewed at https://www.christianaward.com/2018winnners.

The Christian Indie Awards is sponsored by Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA). A total of 189 titles were nominated for the award categories.

About Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA)
CSPA represents and promotes small publishers and independent authors in the Christian marketplace. CSPA represents a membership of over 170 publishers and independent authors producing materials for the Christian Marketplace. CSPA is a supplier member of CBA. For more information about Christian Small Publishers Association visit http://www.christianpublishers.net.

Contact: Sarah Bolme, Christian Small Publishers Association
cspa@christianpublishers.net  704-277-7194

Ada, Mich. (April 23, 2018)—Baker Publishing Group announces a change to their editorial team with the appointment of Rebekah Guzman to the position of editorial director for Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Guzman’s appointment to the position follows the departure of Chad Allen, who is leaving the company to focus on serving writers in new ways.

Guzman joined the Baker Books team in 2014 as a senior acquisitions editor with more than ten years of experience in the publishing industry. Since that time, she has helped the Baker Books division expand their list with a number of strong acquisitions, including authors such as Sheila Walsh, Anne Bogel, Andi Andrew, and Greg Laurie. Before joining Baker Books, Guzman served as NavPress’s editorial director and associate trade publisher and owned Red Pen Editorial, which offered editorial and writing services as well as content and author development.

“We’re grateful for the tremendous vision and growth Chad has brought to the Baker Books team during his time as editorial director—and for the passion and energy Rebekah has devoted to bringing so many talented authors to the division,” said Jennifer Leep, executive vice president of trade publishing. “We wish Chad the best in his new endeavors and look forward to a new season under the creative and insightful leadership Rebekah will bring for the team’s future.”

Guzman will continue to work from her home office in Colorado Springs.

Baker Books has a vision for building up the body of Christ through books that are relevant, intelligent, and engaging.

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

Contact: Lynnae Lubbers  (616)676-9185 x193  llubbers@bakerpublishinggroup.com