Nighty Night and Good Night is first book in collaboration with VeggieTales co-creator Mike Nawrocki; Lullaby album to accompany book release

Grand Rapids, MI – March 21, 2018 – Multi-platinum, three-time Grammy Award winning artist Michael W. Smith, known as one of the most influential Christian music artists in the world, will be releasing a new children’s book titled, Nighty Night and Go0d Night, May 8, 2018. This title, written with the help of friend and co-creator of VeggieTales Mike Nawrocki, is the first release in a new book series called Nurturing Steps™. A new album “Lullaby” from Smith will be released in conjunction with the first book and available everywhere.

In Nighty Night and Good Night, members of the Nighty Night band are called upon to help their friend, Ben, as he tries to fall asleep. After bedtime prayers and some going-to-sleep rituals are done, a lullaby sung by the band of animals including Bear, Sleepy Puppy and Lamby finally does the trick. Parents will be delighted in this sweet tale to share with their young children.

“One of the greatest joys of my life is being a parent and a grandparent,” says Michael W. Smith, the father of five, who is called “G-Daddy” by his 14 grandkids. “I want to serve the next generation well. That’s why I created Nurturing Steps, to provide stories and songs that will help shape the faith of our newest generation.” Nurturing Steps seeks to provide children’s music and books to enliven a little one’s journey with hope and faith through song and storytelling.

“We’re so humbled that Michael and Mike chose to publish these messages of reassurance and tenderness for young families with Zonderkidz,” said Annette Bourland, Senior Vice President and Group Publisher at Zondervan. “We love the creative flair of Nurturing Steps as it reaches young children with stories of delight.” Zonderkidz will publish the second title in this series in conjunction with Smith and Nawrocki in October 2018.

Smith has recently been in the media spotlight for his two new album releases “A Million Lights” and “Surrounded”, a worldwide 2018 tour, and an upcoming Israel trip he’s hosting. In addition to the new music and overseas activities, he recently received the distinct honor of leading worship during the memorial and funeral services honoring the late Rev. Billy Graham.

Even in the midst of busy times, Smith makes time for his children and grandchildren and treasures the special moments he has to speak into their lives. “I hope they see these books and this music as a gift to them, to remember that they are loved as they fall asleep every night.”

Nighty Night and Good Night will be available online and in stores May 8, 2018, but it is available for preorder now. Additional titles will be available in Fall 2018.

#NightyNightBook #NurturingSteps #Zondervan #Zonderkidz
www.zondervan.com www.nurturingsteps.com
Twitter: @michaelwsmith Instagram: @mwsmithofficial Facebook: @michaelwsmithofficial
Web: www.michaelwsmith.com

About the Authors:

Michael W. Smith is a successful recording artist who has recorded more than 25 albums and had numerous hit radio songs in the Christian and General markets. He’s won numerous Grammy and Dove Awards and is the founder of Rocketown, an outreach to teenagers in a 38,000 squarefoot facility in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. He is involved in mission work around the world. He and his wife Debbie have five children and fourteen grandchildren and live in Nashville.

Mike Nawrocki is co-creator of the popular series VeggieTales. Acting as the voice of Larry the Cucumber and several other VeggieTales characters, Mike also wrote, directed and contributed to the development of the 3-2-1 Penguins series. He resides in Franklin, TN, with his wife and two children.

Zonderkidz™, the children’s division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imagination and innovation. As the leader in Christian children’s communications, it creates products that awaken the hearts and touch the souls of kids under 14. Zonderkidz is also publisher of the NIrV (New International Reader’s Version) Bible translation, the third grade reading level edition of the NIV. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

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

Grand Rapids, Mich., March 21, 2018 – Shauna Niequist’s New York Times bestseller, Present Over Perfect, has sold over 500,000 copies since its release in August of 2016.  An instant bestseller, the title debuted at #2 on The New York Times Advice, How-To, & Miscellaneous bestseller list and sold 250,000 copies within the first six months of release.

Written in Niequist’s warm and vulnerable style, this ever-relevant collection of essays invites readers into the most important transformation: leaving busyness and frantic living behind and rediscovering the person readers are made to be. She gifts readers with a compelling vision for an entirely new way to live: soaked in grace, rest, silence, simplicity, prayer, and connection with the people that matter most.

“It has been a tremendous joy for all of us at Zondervan to work with Shauna on this beautiful book and to see it reach such a significant sales milestone,” says Carolyn McCready, Executive Editor at Zondervan. “It is clear by the ongoing response from readers that Shauna has struck a chord of meaning and relevance with this topic. In writing with such transparency and from a place of experience she has led thousands of readers to find their own road to peace, meaning, and living for what really matters.”

Shauna Niequist is the author of Present Over Perfect, Savor, Bread & Wine, Cold Tangerines, and Bittersweet. Shauna is a bookworm, a beach bum, an enthusiastic home cook and a passionate gatherer of people. She is married to Aaron, and they live in Chicago with their two boys, Henry and Mac. You can connect with her online at ShaunaNiequist.com.

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: Jennifer VerHage, Manager of Public Relations
tel: 616-698-3331  web: jennifer.verhage@harpercollins.com

Experience a guided journey through Scripture with Pastor Jerry Vines in The Vines Expository Bible

Nashville, Tenn., March 22, 2018 – Thomas Nelson is pleased to announce the release of The Vines Expository Bible with Dr. Jerry Vines. Featuring the beautiful and faithful NKJV™ translation, The Vines Expository Bible provides the opportunity for readers to be mentored by Dr. Vines’ wise Scriptural insights.

Delivered in Dr. Vines’ characteristically warm style, each page helps readers build their understanding of the Bible. Based on a lifetime of sermons and lessons from his faithful ministry, The Vines Expository Biblebrims with biblical exposition, practical teaching, illustrations, principles, and translations insights, offering scriptural truth alongside guided explanations of key passages.

“Like a good sermon, The Vines Expository Bible makes Scripture accessible and applicable,” says Daniel Marrs, associate publisher, Thomas Nelson Bible Group. “Dr. Vines is famous for his warm and pastoral tone, and we think that readers will find that this Bible will lead them on a journey that will bring them into direct contact with Scripture’s message for their lives.”

(March 26, 2018) – Serving independent retailers nationwide, The Parable Group, the leading data-driven marketing agency for the Christian products industry, recently reached 400 store-fronts participating in a variety of their tools, programs and services.

“We’re honored to serve a diverse group of retailers with personalized solutions—helping them boost traffic, increase turns, grow profits, and expand their local ministries,” said Erik Ernstrom, Manager of Business Intelligence for The Parable Group. “We’re called to use our gifts, talents and time to advance His kingdom and we all win when we link arms to propel this incredible industry forward.”

To celebrate the milestone, The Parable Group is hosting a store meeting on Sunday, July 8th during UNITE 2018 which is open to every store they serve, whether enrolled in data programs, print marketing, email solutions, Get It Local Today or more. The store meeting, hosted by four industry leaders with over 125 years of collective Christian retailing experience, will take place at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center and is centered on traffic-driving services, training on the powerful ParableConnect 24/7 data hub, retailer-focused education, and fellowship.

Currently serving Covenant, Munce, Logos and Parable stores, church stores, Catholic stores, and unaffiliated stores across the US and Canada, The Parable Group aims to help all those in Christian retail thrive.

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. For more information, contact sally.ross@parable.com or visit www.parablegroup.com.

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

Memoir with Behind-the-Scenes Look at Ferguson Protests Releases in August 2018

CAROL STREAM, Ill. (March 22, 2018) – It was a news story that captivated a nation. On August 14, 2014, five days after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown ignited race riots in the city of Ferguson, Missouri, Captain Ron Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol was charged with the task of restoring peace between local police and angry protesters—many of whom had engaged in destructive and violent acts. In 13 Days in Ferguson (ISBN 978-1-4964-1657-5, HC, $25.99), Johnson provides readers with a behind-the-scenes look at the Ferguson protests and the instrumental role he played in addressing the anger and hurt of a damaged community. The book, cowritten by Alan Eisenstock, is scheduled for an August 2018 release.

The days and nights that followed Brown’s death were the most trying of Johnson’s life—professionally, emotionally, and spiritually. Officers in his own command called him a traitor. Lifelong friends stopped speaking to him. The media questioned his every decision. Alone at the center of the firestorm, with only his family and faith to cling to, Johnson persevered in his belief that the only way to effectively bridge the dived between black and blue is to—literally—walk across it.

In 13 Days in Ferguson, Johnson shares for the first time his view of what happened during the turbulent days following Michael Brown’s death and the extraordinary impact those two weeks had on his faith, on his approach to leadership, and on shaping what he perceives to be the most viable solution to the issues of racism and prejudice in America.

Johnson’s memoir will be supported by a comprehensive marketing campaign as well as a national media tour.

Captain Ronald S. Johnson was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He holds a criminal justice degree and is a graduate of Northwestern University Traffic Institute of Police Staff and Command and a 2014 graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy. He is certified in police instruction and the development and implementation of assessment-center exercises for command-level staff officers. Captain Johnson and his wife, Lori, have been married for 29 years and have two adult children, Amanda and Bradley.

Alan Eisenstock is the author of 15 books, most recently Hang Time: My Life in Basketball (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), written with NBA legend Elgin Baylor. He lives in Pacific Palisades, California.

Tyndale House Publishers, founded in 1962, is one of the largest privately held Christian publishers of books, Bibles, and digital media in the world. Tyndale Momentum, Tyndale’s nonfiction imprint, is the publisher of many New York Times bestsellers and is known for integrity in building lasting personal relationships with authors and agents. Tyndale extends the ministry of its authors by contributing most of its profits to the nonprofit Tyndale House Foundation, which makes grants to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world. Tyndale was founded to publish Living Letters, which later comprised part of The Living Bible, a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible that became a global publishing phenomenon. Tyndale now publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), the translation of choice for millions of people.

WESTMONT, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce that four IVP titles have been recognized as finalists for Foreword Reviews’ 2017 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards. Finalists were narrowed down by Foreword’s editors from over 2,000 individual titles spread across sixty-eight categories. IVP books were chosen as finalists in the following categories:

Essays (Adult Nonfiction)

Vintage Saints and Sinners: 25 Christians Who Transformed My Faith by Karen Wright Marsh introduces us to twenty-five brothers and sisters who lived and breathed, and failed and followed God. Narrating her own winding pilgrimage through faith, Marsh reveals surprising lessons in everyday spirituality from “saints” such as Augustine, Brother Lawrence, and Saint Francis, as well as Amanda Berry Smith, Søren Kierkegaard, Dorothy Day, Howard Thurman, Flannery O’Connor, and many more.

Multicultural (Adult Nonfiction)

In Beyond Colorblind: Redeeming Our Ethnic Journey, Sarah Shin, an ethnicity and evangelism specialist, reveals how our brokenness around ethnicity can be restored and redeemed for our own wholeness and also for the good of others. Showing us how to make space for God’s healing of our ethnic stories, Shin helps us grow in our crosscultural skills, manage crosscultural conflict, pursue reconciliation and justice, and share the gospel as ethnicity-aware Christians.

Multicultural (Adult Nonfiction)

In The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege, Ken Wytsma, founder of The Justice Conference, unpacks what we need to know to be grounded in conversations about today’s race-related issues. And he helps us come to a deeper understanding of both the origins of these issues and the reconciling role we are called to play as witnesses of the gospel.

Religion (Adult Nonfiction)

In an age where neither society nor the church knows what to do with gay Christians, Gregory Coles shares his story in Single, Gay, Christian: A Personal Journey of Faith and Sexual Identity. It’s a story about a boy in love with Jesus who, at the fateful onset of puberty, realized his sexual attractions were persistently and exclusively for other guys. Still, from a young age he remained introspective, active in church circles, and absolutely committed to his faith, all of which led him to explore what Christian life might mean for someone who was both certain of their identity and secure in it, and convinced of the truth of the gospels.

Each year, Foreword Reviews shines a light on a select group of indie publishers, university presses, and self-published authors whose work stands out from the crowd. In the next three months a panel of volunteer librarians and booksellers will determine the winners in each category based on their experience with readers and patrons.

Winners in each genre—along with Editor’s Choice Prize winners and Foreword’s INDIE Publisher of the Year—will be announced June 15, 2018.

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

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:  Krista Clayton | 630.734.4013 | kclayton@ivpress.com

Displays will be in select Kroger stores Mar. 19-Apr. 22

NASHVILLE, March 22, 2018 — Today, Thomas Nelson and Sony Music Nashville announced a partnership with select Kroger® stores to display Dolly Parton’s children’s CD, I Believe In You, alongside the bestselling devotional, Jesus Calling. The displays will be available beginning March 19.

Parton, who recently shared stories from her upbringing and how her faith taught her the importance of giving back on the Jesus Calling Podcast, released her children’s CD called I Believe In You (RCA Records, an imprint of Sony Music), on Amazon in late 2017. In her podcast interview, she mentioned that the songs will “lift the children up, and they’ll learn and be taught by the messages that [she has].” She noted how rewarding it is to sing about the positive things, making the CD and devotional a perfect pairing on the store displays.

“It’s important for families to read, pray, and sing together,” Parton said. “Jesus Calling and I Believe in You can bring families closer together.”

Parton knows first-hand the impact that reading can have on a child’s life. She founded the Imagination Library, a program that provides free books each month to children from birth to age five across the world, in 1995. Earlier this year, the Imagination Library sent its 100 millionth book, and proceeds from I Believe in You will further expand the reach of the Imagination Library to children all over the world.

“We are excited for the chance to work on this initiative to bring families closer together through two things Dolly is passionate about-music and reading,” said John Zarling, executive vice president of marketing & new business at Sony Music Nashville. “It is especially impactful to work with a major retailer like Kroger. It is an opportunity to expand the reach of the products, yes, but more importantly, we know that this will go a long way to strengthen the bond that families share.”

Beginning Mar. 19, the floor displays will be in 400 Kroger stores primarily spanning the Southeast region of the U.S. (Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, and Alabama). The partnership will be supported through television ads in key markets on HGTV, Hallmark, and TV Land; streaming radio advertising; and social media promotion from both Jesus Calling and Dolly Parton.

“We have heard countless stories about how the Jesus Calling family of products have made a positive impact on people’s lives over the years,” said Michael Aulisio, senior vice president of marketing for gift books, children’s books, and new media at Thomas Nelson. “We hope to create even more of an impact with this new partnership and are grateful to be working with Dolly Parton and the Sony Music Nashville group.”

Jesus Calling has sold more than 22 million copies since it was published in 2004. The line of products includes adult devotionals, coloring books, children’s books, a Bible storybook, custom versions, and many other products. More information is available at www.jesuscalling.com.

Contact: Stefanie Schroeder, 724-612-6612

Rise: In Defense of Judeo-Christian Values and Freedom Coming September 2018

Orlando, FL – Brigitte Gabriel, New York Times best-selling author, founder and chairman of ACT for America, has signed on to publish her upcoming book with FrontLine, an imprint of Charisma House. Rise: In Defense of Judeo-Christian Values and Freedom (978-1629995472 $24.99) will release on September 11, 2018.

Gabriel will address current cultural threats to our nation such as abortion, kneeling for the national anthem, flag burning, antifa disruptions, and mainstream media corruption. Rise is a battle cry for those seeking to preserve religious freedoms, maintain national security, and protect areas of everyday life from the PC police. Gabriel issues a call for readers to unite with other believers to preserve our country’s Judeo-Christian values.

“It is an honor for us to establish this new publishing relationship with Brigitte Gabriel. She is an important and influential voice in politics and American culture today. We look forward to helping bring her message to our mutual audiences and platforms,” says Marcos Perez, publisher and executive vice president of Charisma House.

Facing death threats from terrorists and condemnation from critics, Gabriel refuses to back down and continues to be one of the leading terrorism experts in the world. She has addressed the United Nations, members of the US Congress, the Pentagon, the Joint Forces Staff College, the US Special Operations Command, the FBI, and many others. Gabriel is a guest analyst on Fox News channel, CNN, MSNBC, and radio stations across America.

About FrontLine
FrontLine, an imprint of Charisma House, publishes books to inform Christians on current issues and rally them to take action. We serve conservative Christians who are politically minded and socially active. FrontLine is a leading publisher of timely resources from a Christian worldview that motivate people to get involved.

About ACT for America
ACT for America is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots national security organization with 750,000 members and more than 12,000 volunteer activists. ACT for America is focused on educating, engaging, and mobilizing citizens and elected officials to impact legislative outcomes to protect America.

(London, England) March 26, 2018—HarperCollins Christian Publishing will launch a new UK-based Christian imprint, Harper Inspire, to attract indigenous UK authors of inspirational fiction and non-fiction this spring. The imprint’s mission is to deliver books with insight, impact and imagination as it seeks to create and develop titles with global and commercial appeal. It will also manage a bedrock of classic titles from the Marshall Pickering imprint which was previously housed within Zondervan and HarperUK. 

Harper Inspire seeks to release up to five books a year for its first three years and though part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Harper Inspire will be based in London, England with the HarperUK offices to better connect with UK authors.  Rose Sandy will lead as Harper Inspire’s affiliate publisher.

On June 28, 2018 Harper Inspire will release its first five books simultaneously with Wendy Alec’s Chronicles of Brothers series: The Fall of Lucifer, Messiah—The First Judgement, Son of Perdition, A Pale Horse and the newest to the series End of Days.  The series follows the story of a dark angel’s fall and his efforts to corrupt humanity and is a saga that will continue beyond the first five books.   First released as a self-published series, Alec has sold nearly three-quarters of a million copies globally of the first four books. Before writing the Chronicles of Brothers, Alec led careers in advertising and television production, including launching God TV in 1995.

“Although we know the Christian market is filled with active, avid readers, I believe we have the potential to reach an even wider audience,” commented Sandy.   “Harper Inspire will be a place to find stimulating, motivating reads on contemporary topics for the curious mind. I am thrilled to launch with Wendy’s cinematic and epic Chronicles of Brothers saga, and can’t wait to see where the road takes us next.”

David Moberg, senior vice president and group publisher at HarperCollins Christian Publishing, said, “Harper Inspire is an exciting new venture for UK-based authors who have been looking for a publishing platform that will support their inspirational messages and stories. The team has great ideas and we look forward to working with authors who will leave life-changing impressions on readers. That’s our job as publishers and I look forward to Inspire’s launch.”

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.

About HarperCollins Publishers:
HarperCollins UK is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, with operations in 18 countries. With two hundred years of history and more than 120 unique imprints around the world, HarperCollins publishes approximately 10,000 new books every year, in 17 languages, and has a print and digital catalogue of more than 200,000 titles. Writing across dozens of genres, HarperCollins authors include winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newberry and Caldecott Medals and the Man Booker Prize. HarperCollins UK has offices in London, Glasgow and Honley, and can be found online at www.harpercollins.co.uk. 

Contact: Stephanie Newton, Director of Marketing and Publicity
(615) 902-2320  Stephanie.Newton@HarperCollins.com  

Held “after-hours” in The Museum of the Bible, event will celebrate 40 years of Christian Book Awards

TEMPE, Ariz., March 22, 2018 – The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced today that ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ – evangelist, author, and daughter to the late Billy Graham – will keynote the upcoming ECPA Awards Celebration held May 1st at the Museum of the Bible, in conjunction with the ECPA Leadership Summit.

Called “the best preacher in the family” by her father, Billy Graham, Anne Graham Lotz speaks around the globe with the wisdom and authority of years spent studying God’s Word. The New York Times named Anne one of the five most influential evangelists of her generation. Her Just Give Me Jesus revivals have been held in more than 30 cities in 12 different countries, to hundreds of thousands of attendees.  Anne is a best-selling and award-winning author of 16 books.

“We are thrilled that Anne will be sharing her passion for Scripture and the ministry of writing books with the publishing leaders at Leadership Summit,” said ECPA executive director Stan Jantz. “Her words of encouragement in the setting of the Museum of the Bible will be a vivid reminder that God’s Word is at the heart of Christian publishing.”

Anne will be part of a full program that will announce the 2018 winners of the Christian Book Award® program, highlight the year’s milestones in Christian books, celebrate 40 years of Christian Book Awards, honor the writing legacy of Billy Graham, and present the Kenneth N. Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award.  The 2018 Christian Book Award® finalists will be announced on April 4th.

Held “after-hours” in Washington DC’s newest museum — Museum of the Bible — the ECPA Awards Celebration is a distinguished event for Christian publishing leaders and their guests held during the industry’s annual ECPA Leadership Summit.

ECPA Leadership Summit attendees can purchase tickets at a deep discount ($29) through their registration form or through the attendee purchase link.
Guests not registered for the ECPA Leadership Summit can purchase guest tickets for $79.

• For more information about the ECPA Awards Celebration: ECPAleadership.org/awards-celebration.html
• For more information about the ECPA Leadership Summit: ECPALeadership.org

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. ECPA.org

Media contacts:
Stan Jantz, ECPA Executive Director, sjantz@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 ext. 101
Cindy Carter, ECPA Awards & Recognition Manager, ccarter@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 ext. 103