Nashville, TN:  Significant achievements in Christian Fiction were acknowledged at the 2018 ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Awards Gala at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center during the annual ACFW conference on September 22, 2018. Among the honorees was prolific author and speaker Liz Curtis Higgs, recipient of the 2018 ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award.

Of Higgs, ACFW CEO Colleen Coble says, “No matter how tight Liz’s schedule or the challenges she faces in life, she notices people and genuinely cares about them. Whether helping others grow in their writing skills or grow in their faith in Christ, Liz Curtis Higgs seeks God on their behalf.” Coble adds, “It shows in the depth of her stories, too.”

ACFW conference attendees—unpublished and published writers, editors, agents, reviewers, publicists, industry guests, and noted writing instructors—gathered from across the country and beyond for three days of education and inspiration. Keynote speaker Debbie Macomber, with more than 200 million copies of her books in print, delivered uplifting motivation for novelists. The conference culminated with the Awards Gala.

Honored for their contributions to Christian Fiction and to ACFW were:

• Mentor of the Year—Tina Radcliffe
• Agent of the Year—Jim Hart (Hartline Literary Agency)
• Editor of the Year—Andrea Doering (Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing)
• Volunteer of the Year—Dineen Miller
• Member Service Award Recipient—DiAnn Mills

The 2018 CAROL AWARD winners for excellence in Christian fiction published in the previous calendar year by category are:

Contemporary

• Maybe It’s You by Candace Calvert, Tyndale House, Editors: Sarah Rische and Jan Stob

Historical

• Catching the Wind by Melanie Dobson, Tyndale House, Editors: Stephanie Broene and Sarah Rische

Historical Romance

• A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander, Bethany House – A Division of Baker Publishing, Editor: Karen Schurrer

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

• Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Editors: Amanda Bostic and Erin Healy

Novella

• One Enchanted Noel from Enchanted: A Christmas Collection by Melissa Tagg, ACFW QIP, Editor: Terri Simmons

Romance

• A Matter of Trust by Susan May Warren, Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group, Editors: Andrea Doering and Kristin Kornoelje

Romantic Suspense

• Fatal Mistake by Susan Sleeman, FaithWords (Hachette), Editor: Christina Boys

Short Novel

• Christmas at Carnton by Tamera Alexander, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Editors: Ami McConnell Abston and Becky Philpott

Speculative

• Awakened by Morgan L. Busse, Enclave Publishing, Editor: Reagen Reed

Young Adult

• Betrayal of the Band by Sarah Tipton, Watershed Books (Pelican Book Group), Editor: Jamie West

Debut

• Freedom’s Ring by Heidi Chiavaroli, Tyndale House, Editors: Caleb Sjogren and Jan Stob

The 2018 GENESIS CONTEST winners for unpublished novels by category are:

• Contemporary: Jessica Brodie for The Memory Garden
• Historical: Kiersti Giron for Fire in My Heart
• Historical Romance: Elizabeth Ann Boyles for Dragonfly Wings
• Mystery/Suspense/Thriller: Leanna Lindsey Hollis MD for Avenged by Blood
• Novella: Grace Olson for Pineapples for Christmas
• Romance: Kathleen D. Bailey for A Hilltop Christmas
• Romantic Suspense: Michelle Aleckson for Riptide
• Short Novel: Laura C. Brandenburg for Harvesting Love
• Speculative: Gretchen E. K. Engel for The Barber Surgeon
• Young Adult: Gretchen Carlson for More Than Grit

Throughout the year, ACFW instructs, informs, and inspires storytellers, and works to build relationships within the industry among those who create, publish, talk about, sell, and promote Christian Fiction.

ACFW is a professional organization devoted to the craft of Christian Fiction. ACFW’s mission is to empower Christian novelists by inspiring them to join with God in the creative process, training them in the craft, and educating them in the publishing industry. For more information about ACFW, contact acfwrelations@acfw.com or www.acfw.com.

Find this release in its entirety at http://www.acfw.com/about/press_room.

Ada, Mich. (September 10, 2018)—Baker Publishing Group is pleased to announce that Sue Smith is promoted to the position of executive vice president, Baker Book House, effective immediately. Sue’s responsibilities will continue at the company bookstore in Grand Rapids and will expand to include direction of the publishing/retail consumer website.

Sue arrived at Baker Book House in 1997 and accepted the assignment of store manager seven years later. She supervised the redesign and construction of the bookstore in 2012 and the successful launch of the website www.bakerbookhouse.com in collaboration with publishing leaders. Sue also served as CBA board director and chair for five years, ending in 2018.

Sue will join six publishing colleagues on the Baker Company Executive Management Team, with a mandate to support publishing and retail missions and operations.

“We are pleased to recognize the leadership that Sue Smith has provided, not only for our retail and publishing teams but also across the entire Christian bookselling profession,” said Dwight Baker, president/CEO of Baker Publishing Group.

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

Introducing Giving Company, A Not-For-Profit Global Faith And Family Media Network

ALPHARETTA, GA, Sept. 12, 2018 – Today, the Board of Directors of Giving Company (formerly iDisciple Holdings, LLC) announced the merger of four well-known faith-based brands under the non-profit umbrella of Giving Company: iDisciple, Christian Cinema, Family Christian and Dove.org (formerly The Dove Foundation). The merger creates a global faith and family media network that will serve the 90 million faith-oriented families in the U.S. and millions more around the world. Additionally, the nonprofit has formed iDisciple Publishing, a division that will release premium non-fiction books with an exciting range of authors serving the Christian community.

“Giving Company has assembled a trusted family of brands to provide a range of products and services that will cater to consumers’ needs for fresh, on-demand content,” said Giving Company CEO David Henriksen. “We are very excited about the unique position this puts us in to work with pastors, authors and publishers, independent filmmakers and major Hollywood studios, and Christian music labels to reach and connect with faith- and values-oriented families in our country. Together, we have significant potential to create a powerful engine to give to those who need it most.”

The merger provides an unprecedented opportunity for brands, ministries and organizations to connect with Giving Company’s nearly 3 million consumers through strategic media and marketing partnerships, new ministry initiatives and innovative product development. A 501(c)(3) organization, Giving Company will provide a variety of content and services to their core audience and offer brands a myriad of opportunities to engage with them—all while making a positive impact in the lives of underprivileged women and children around the world.

One benefit Giving Company consumers will soon experience is the conversion of the current iDisciple Premium subscription service to the Giving Membership, which includes content offerings from both iDisciple and Christian Cinema and will expand to include content from the other brands in the coming year. The Giving Membership will also provide users with unique opportunities to give back through their memberships.

“We want each of our brands to thrive, from the solid positions they’ve established with their media partners and consumers, while benefiting from collaboration as a newly formed family of multiple brands,” said Henriksen. “Our new team has limitless potential to lead the conversation to the faith-based market through traditional digital advertising, strategic planning, premium offer and product development, and creative consulting expertise. Giving Company is uniquely positioned to become a ‘one-stop shop’ for faith and family content needs.”

Most exciting to Giving Company’s Board of Directors is the ability to directly impact the neediest people in the world by operating as a nonprofit. With guidance from the Board, 100% of net profits will be given to charities that support underprivileged or marginalized women and children.

“This is the reason for our enthusiastic ambition,” said Rick Jackson, Board Chairman. “Everyone who does business with Giving Company, whether they are ministry partners or content subscribers, can be confident in their genuine support of important charities. We have an incredible opportunity to make a tremendous impact on the world through these businesses.”

Giving Company’s family of brands includes:

• Since 2013, iDisciple has leveraged content, data, and technology to lead people to a closer connection with God. Its mission is to daily connect people with God to make a global difference. To that end, iDisciple Publishing works with top-notch authors to publish premium non-fiction titles that point readers to God.
• Christian Cinema is a TVOD streaming service with the largest library of Christian film and episodic content in the world and offers a white-label platform service for other global broadcasters.
• Dove.org, formerly The Dove Foundation, is a 25-year-old brand known for the Dove Seal of Approval. Their famous content rating grid has helped families discover, discuss and decide about whether the content in movies and other entertainment is appropriate for and appealing to their family.
• Family Christian, formerly the brick-and-mortar retail chain, will be relaunching in the coming days as a digital content platform for women and families with an e-commerce offering. Stay tuned for more information on the exciting web relaunch of this iconic brand.

About Giving Company
Formed in 2018, Giving Company is a nonprofit global faith and family media network on mission to serve underprivileged and marginalized women and children around the world. The Giving Company family of brands includes iDisciple, Christian Cinema, Dove.org and Family Christian. For more information, visit www.givingcompany.com.

Celebrate 90 years of a life well-loved and well-lived with Jean Vanier’s We Need Each Other

Paraclete Press launches a month-long celebration honoring Jean Vanier’s 90^th birthday with the release of We Need Each Other: Responding to God’s Call to Live Together (September 18, 2018 • ISBN 978-1-64060-096-6 • Hardcover • $19.99).

Vanier’s words in this book represent the culmination of 65 years of global ministry, and the definitive summary of his life’s work and deep beliefs. His message of reconciliation is something the world desperately needs in these dark times of spiritual and cultural division.

In Vanier’s own words: “Today we are living in a very stressed world. There is a lot of fear and even hatred for those who are different. Jesus came to preach peace and to break down the barriers that separate people. May this little book help each one of us become messengers of peace, of mercy, and of forgiveness.”

Paraclete will be celebrating Vanier’s life and message with a vibrant social media campaign throughout the month, including intimate video interviews revealing the heart of this “living saint,” reviews and online discussions of the book and its message, and video sharings from a book launch with Vanier himself at his home in France, October 7-8, 2018.

Jean Vanier was awarded the Templeton Prize in 2015. He is a philosopher, theologian, and man of letters with great heart and compassion. The first L’Arche Community was started in 1964 in Trosly-Breuil, a village in the north of Paris, when Vanier invited two people with intellectual disabilities to live with him in a small house. Today, L’Arche is made up of 151 communities spread over five continents.

“This is vintage Vanier.” —Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, author of The Holy Longing and Bruised and Wounded

“Jean Vanier is a living saint.” —James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage

“We Need Each Other is a treasure.” —John Pattison, Englewood Review of Books

To request a review copy or an interview, please contact:
Laura McKendree, email lauram@paracletepress.com, or call 1-800-451-5006 ext 316.  

Please include our web address with your mention or review: www.paracletepress.com

 

Moriarty’s New Novel, Nine Perfect Strangers, Debuts Same Week as WriterFest

• Keynote Speakers now include Liane Moriarty, Allan Heinberg and Tom Douglas
• WriterFest attendees will receive Moriarty’s new novel, Nine Perfect Strangers, debuting same week as the festival
• Interviews available with Ami McConnell, founder of BookFest Nashville

Nashville, Tenn, September 12, 2018 – WriterFest Nashville announces its final keynote speaker for 2018: Liane Moriarty. Moriarty is the author of seven international bestsellers including three New York Times #1 bestsellers. Her books for adults and children have sold more than 14 million copies worldwide. Moriarty’s 2014 novel, Big Little Lies, was adapted for television by HBO (starring Nashville’s own Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon) and has earned three Emmys.

All WriterFest Nashville registrants will receive a copy of Moriarty’s latest novel, Nine Perfect Strangers, which launches the same week as WriterFest Nashville. Parnassus Books and WriterFest Nashville will host Moriarty in Music City.

“Parnassus is pleased to partner with WriterFest Nashville to welcome Liane Moriarty to Nashville – and to celebrate the launch of Nine Perfect Strangers,” comments Karen Hayes, co-owner of Parnassus Books.

Liane Moriarty, Allan Heinberg (writer for “Wonder Woman”) and Tom Douglas (#1 hit songwriter) are the three headline speakers for WriterFest Nashville, a new festival celebrating writers and words. WriterFest Nashville is a creative gathering for aspiring writers, published authors, screenwriters, poets and songwriters. Attendees will enjoy lectures by and conversations with bestselling authors, world-class publishing professionals, filmmakers, poets and songwriters. More information and registration at www.WriterFestNashville.com.

WriterFest Nashville sponsor and retail partner, Parnassus Books, will host book sales at the festival and will feature speakers’ books in store. The festival is held on the Lipscomb University campus and hosted by Lipscomb University’s College of Entertainment & the Arts and the Department of English & Modern Languages in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Ami McConnell is founder and Festival Director of WriterFest Nashville. She is former Editor-in-Chief and Vice President, Howard Books/Simon & Schuster. Her editing credits include numerous New York Times bestsellers and award-winning titles. Ami has edited renowned authors Colleen Coble, Ted Dekker, Karen Kingsbury, Max Lucado, Frank Peretti, and Wm. Paul Young. She served on the Advisory Board of The Buechner Institute (King College) and is an active member of the Women’s National Book Association. Ami is co-author with Candace Cameron Bure of the USA Today bestseller Kind Is the New Classy (Zondervan/HarperCollins).

For full details, registration and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.WriterFestNashville.com.

Press Inquiries: McClure Muntsinger Public Relations, pamela@mmpublicrelations.com

Influential Psychiatrist Unlocks Brain’s Potential to Overcome Damaging Emotions

Carol Stream, Ill. (September 13, 2018) — Tyndale House Publishers (@tyndalehouse) announced today that Dr. Daniel Amen will publish Feel Better Fast and Make It Last (ISBN: 978-1-4964-2565-2, $25.99, HC), his second release with Tyndale Momentum following 2017’s groundbreaking Memory Rescue. In his new book, scheduled for a hard street date of November 13, 2018, Amen unlocks the healing power of the brain to overcome painful emotions. The book’s release will include a significant marketing budget as well as a national media tour.

Amen, a popular psychiatrist and brain-imaging researcher and the founder of Amen Clinics, understands how critical it is to help patients feel better both quickly and long-term. Using the mnemonic BRAIN-XL, Amen demonstrates a specific plan for improving emotional health.

Amen writes that it’s normal to experience challenging emotions, but how people respond to these challenges will make all the difference in how they feel—not just immediately, but also in the long run. In our society, many turn to self-medicating behaviors, such as overeating, drugs, alcohol, or risky sexual behavior, while others spend excessive time on TV, video games, Internet surfing, or shopping. Even though these behaviors may provide temporary relief, they often prolong and exacerbate the problems—or cause other, more serious ones.

In Feel Better Fast and Make It Last, readers will discover new, powerful brain-based strategies to quickly gain control over negative emotions, strengthening resilience and discovering joy and purpose for a lifetime.

Amen states, “If you’re like me, when you hurt, you want to feel better now, fast, pronto! During my psychiatric training I had a wonderful supervisor, Dr. Jack McDermott, who was a world leader in psychiatry. In his evaluation of me at the end of the year he wrote, ‘Dr. Amen is a bright, competent, and caring physician, who will make a wonderful psychiatrist; but he needs to be more patient. He wants people to get better fast.’ Then and now, I don’t see wanting people to get better quickly as a problem. That is what people who are in pain want. No one wants to be patient. No one wants a prolonged process. They want to feel better fast, and they want that feeling to last.”

Regarding this acquisition, executive publisher Jan Long Harris states, “We’ve all felt anxious, sad, stressed, angry, or hopeless at some point in life. In this new book, Dr. Amen shares the latest brain-based strategies for gaining control over painful emotions and replacing them with sustained positive feelings. It’s a privilege to work with him to help get the word out that it’s possible to feel happier, more optimistic, more joyful and resilient—both now and in the future.”

The Washington Post has called Dr. Amen the most popular psychiatrist in America, and Sharecare named him the web’s #1 most influential expert and advocate on mental health. Dr. Amen is a physician, double board–certified psychiatrist, 10-time New York Times bestselling author, and international speaker. He is the founder of Amen Clinics in Costa Mesa, Encino, and San Francisco, California; Bellevue, Washington; Reston, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; New York, New York; and Chicago, Illinois. Amen Clinics have one of the highest published success rates treating complex psychiatric issues, and they have built the world’s largest database of functional brain scans, totaling more than 150,000 scans on patients from 120 countries.

Dr. Amen is the lead researcher on the world’s largest brain imaging and rehabilitation study of professional football players. His research has not only demonstrated high levels of brain damage in players but also shown the possibility of significant recovery for many with the principles that underlie his work.

Together with Pastor Rick Warren and Mark Hyman, MD, Dr. Amen is also one of the chief architects of Saddleback Church’s Daniel Plan, a program to get the world healthy through religious organizations.

Dr. Amen is the author or coauthor of more than 70 professional articles, seven book chapters, and more than 30 books, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers The Daniel Plan and Change Your Brain, Change Your Life; as well as Magnificent Mind at Any Age; Change Your Brain, Change Your Body; Use Your Brain to Change Your Age; Healing ADD; The Brain Warrior’s Way; and The Brain Warrior’s Way Cookbook.

Dr. Amen has written, produced, and hosted 12 popular shows about the brain on public television. He has appeared in movies, including After the Last Round and The Crash Reel, and in Emmy-winning television shows, such as The Truth about Drinking and The Dr. Oz Show. He was a consultant on the movie Concussion, starring Will Smith.

Feel Better Fast and Make It Last by Daniel Amen, MD
ISBN: 978-1-4964-2565-2
Hardcover: $25.99
November 2018 release
TyndaleMomentum.com

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. Originally founded to publish 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.

For more information or for media inquiries, please contact:  Todd Starowitz, toddstarowitz@tyndale.com.

Olive Tree offers an innovative platform for consumers to listen to audio titles

Olive Tree will be offering an exciting new feature to its millions of users. For the first time in its ten-year history, they will have the ability to experience audio Bibles and audiobooks directly inside the Olive Tree Bible App. The new format, available in the app on September 17^th, will provide Olive Tree Bible App users with a large and diverse library of audio products, including various audio Bible translations, audiobooks from Christianity’s greatest teachers and thinkers, and other audio offerings, including lectures and studies.

“The audio format is seeing astronomical growth and a tremendous rise in popularity,” said Rachel Barach, s-v-p of digital operations. “We are excited to meet the growing demand for audio products in our trusted Olive Tree Bible App, so that we can continue to expand the ways people can study and engage with scripture.”

Olive Tree broke into the modern app market in 2008. They released BibleReader for iPhones on the newly released Apple store, followed by a release for Android a year later. Over the past ten years, the Olive Tree Bible App has delivered additional products and launched new innovative features, including purchasable commentaries, study Bibles, dictionaries, cross-references, ebooks, and many more. The addition of audio products will mark another way that Olive Tree has integrated and aggregated numerous resources within one digital platform, so individuals are enriched with a holistic biblical study experience.

Some of the new features offered with the audio product integration are:

• Mirroring biblical text with the audio Bible for an easy-to-follow Bible reading experience
• Audiobooks from bestselling Christian authors, such as Lee Strobel, Lysa TerKeurst, Craig Groeschel, Rick Warren, and many others
• Multiple Bible translations to listen to, including the New King James Version, New International Version, and the English Standard Version
• Special safe driving layouts so that audio listening can be facilitated during consumer drive times
• Ability to bookmark certain sections of an audio product

“Our goal is to offer the best in Bible study experience within one platform, so that is easy to use and resources are only a finger-tap away,” said Steven Cummings, v-p of operations at Olive Tree Bible Software. “By onboarding audio products in the Olive Tree store, we will continue to offer the most comprehensive biblical study tools within a single app.”

In the future, the Olive Tree Bible App audio library will continue to expand as the audiobook format continues its considerable title count growth.

About Olive Tree: Olive Tree is a leading online and mobile Christian Bible resource and e-commerce company, owned by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Its software, The Olive Tree Bible App, is accessible on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices across all major platforms and offers a wide range of products designed to help users take their Bible Study to the next level. Olive Tree’s offices are located in Spokane, WA. Please visit Olive Tree at www.olivetree.com.

“Who Sang the First Song?” – Book releases October 4, 2018 (B&H Publishing)

“Sing: Creation Songs” – EP releases September 21, 2018 (Full Heart Music)

NASHVILLE, TENN. (September 14, 2018)—Renowned singer/songwriter Ellie Holcomb will release her first children’s book along with a children’s EP this fall. The book, “Who Sang the First Song?,” will release with B&H Publishing on October 4, 2018. Her EP, “Sing: Creation Songs,” which was inspired by her debut book, will be available everywhere on September 21, 2018 (Full Heart Music).

Who Sang the First Song? is an engaging board book with whimsical art, where Holcomb asks a childlike question and answers with a lovely lyrical tale that shows young readers that God our Maker sang the first song and created us all with a song to sing. Holcomb’s book idea was birthed out of a question her daughter Emmylou (5) asked one day in passing, “Mom, who sang the first song?”

“Emmylou’s question reminded me of some beautiful passages we have read in ‘Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing’ by Sally Lloyd-Jones,” explains Holcomb. “In the first of many beautiful family devotionals in the book, Sally says this: ‘In the beginning, God sang everything into being—for the joy of it—and set the whole universe dancing (p.19).’ I’ve always loved that image she gives of God singing Creation into being, and it felt it was a clue to answering my daughter’s question, so I went on a treasure hunt of sorts looking for the answer.”

Her daughter’s question started Holcomb’s search for who sang the first song, which became a perfect foundation for her first book.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I love to sing,” Holcomb states. “So I got curious about who sang the first song. What did the world sound like as God created it? I loved these questions, so I set out to write a book that would explore not so much how God made the world, but why He created the world and each one of us. My sincere hope is that children, and the adults reading to them, would be reminded of who and whose we are . . . and that as we remember how God created us and loves us, our hearts and lives would sing for the joy of being loved!”

“Sing: Creation Songs” is a perfect companion piece to her book. Holcomb created a beautiful, Scripture rooted, children’s musical project that also fits perfectly along with her current musical catalog, true to her style and lyrics. She wanted to write songs that were directly inspired by both God’s word and His beautiful Creation. Each song is tied to specific Scripture, and is also full of rich imagery from the world around us. She wants kids to be able to sing these songs and see evidence all around them of what they are singing.

“I wrote most of the songs for this record during the spring, and I’m pretty sure I ended up moving outside each time I wrote,” she shares. “I was completely inspired by Creations’ song, whether it was the birds, or the stars, or the trees reaching high towards the heavens, or flowers blooming so colorfully that they looked ready for a party.”

Holcomb is a mom to three children, Emmylou (5), Huck (3) and a newborn baby boy, Rivers. Her husband Drew Holcomb and their family reside in Nashville, Tenn.

Singer/Songwriter Ellie Holcomb, a Nashville native, began her musical career by touring the country with her husband in Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors. After eight years, and with the birth of their daughter, Ellie opted to step out of the role of heavy touring. From that space came her debut solo album, As Sure As the Sun, which charted at #1 on the iTunes Christian chart and helped deem Holcomb the “Best New Artist” at the 2014 Dove Awards. Since then, Holcomb has been walking an unexpected path, one of suffering and loss but also peace and joy. She has come to the edge of the rushing river of confusion and experienced a God who made a way where there seemed to be no way. And it is from that place—of finding God in the dark and unexpected—that Holcomb wrote and recorded Red Sea Road, released in January 2017.

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.

AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) announced the winners of the 2018 Golden Scroll Awards at the Golden Scroll Banquet, Sunday, September 9, at the Music City Sheraton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Golden Scrolls Book of the Year was awarded to Cindy K. Sproles for Liar’s Winter from Kregel Publications.

The Nonfiction Book of the Year Award went to authors of two books: Cynthia Cavanaugh for Anchored: Leading Through the Storms (New Hope Publishers) and Linda Gilden and Linda Goldfarb for Linked (Bold Vision Books).

Second place for Nonfiction Book of the Year was awarded to Janell Rardon for Overcoming Hurtful Words from Worthy Inspired and the honorable mention was awarded to Janet Holm McHenry for 50 Lessons for Grads from Worthy Publishing.

The Novel of the Year Award went to Eva Marie Everson for The One True Love of Alice-Ann from Tyndale House Publishing.

Second place for Novel of the Year went to Deborah Raney for Home at Last (Abingdon Press); honorable mention was awarded to Lynette Eason for Chasing Secrets from Revell of Baker Publishing Group.

The Children’s Book of the Year was awarded to Michelle Adams for My First Day of School from Worthy Kids.

Second place for Children’s Book of the Year went to Sheri Schofield for The Prince and the Plan from Carpenter’s Son Publishing and third place went to LeeAnn Mancini for Forever With Jesus from GLM Publishing.

The Bible Study Book of the Year was awarded to Pam Farrel for Discovering the Hope in the Psalms from Harvest House Publishers.

The Devotional Book of the Year was awarded to Leigh Powers for Renewed: A 40-Day Devotional for Healing From Church Hurt and for Loving Well in Ministry from FaithWords, a division of Hachette Book Group.

The Memoir of the Year was awarded to Eleanor Isaacson and Jeanette Windle for Dancing From Darkness from Eleanor Isaacson Publications.

Julie Coleman, the editor of Arise Daily, AWSA’s online devotional, awarded Rhonda Rhea the Devotional Writer of the Year.

AWSA’s official magazine, Leading Hearts, won their fourth straight Evangelical Press Association Merit award and honored their columnists, including Pam Farrel, Michelle S. Cox, Penelope Carlevato, Saundra Dalton-Smith, Sharon Elliot, Karen Porter, Rhonda Rhea, Karen Whiting, and Cynthia L. Simmons and Edie Melson. Leading Hearts also honored Tom Young as the 2018 AWSA MVP.

The 2018 AWSA Member of the Year Award went to Erica Wiggenhorn. AWSA founder Linda Evans Shepherd said, “Besides her busy schedule, which included the launch of her latest Bible study, The Unexplainable Church, Erica volunteered behind the scenes at our conference.”

The Beyond Me Award went to Sioni Rodriguez, an advocate for women who have been sexually assaulted and victims of domestic violence. She is a dedicated team member of Our Freedom Journey Ministries (Stand against Human Trafficking).

Dr. Erwin Lutzer, who received the Golden Scrolls Lifetime Achievement Award, served as the keynote speaker. Recording artists Dick and Mel Tunney performed the special music. AWSA President Karen Porter served as emcee. CTN host Monica Schmelter and author and AWSA founder Linda Evans Shepherd presented the awards and Mel Tunney performed a parody written by Martha Bolton and dedicated to bookstores.

AWSA, the sponsor of the Golden Scroll Awards Banquet, is an outreach of Right to the Heart Ministries and consists of over 500 top women authors who both publish and speak nationally. See www.AWSA.com.

For more info please contact Linda Evans Shepherd at LindaReply@gmail.com or 303-772-2035.

SVP and Group Publisher David Moberg announces intent to retire; Brian Hampton promoted to lead role

(Nashville, TN) –  HarperCollins Christian Publishing today announced a transition in publishing leadership with the announcement of senior vice president and group publisher David Moberg’s intention to retire at the end of the company’s fiscal year, in June 2019.   Brian Hampton, current senior vice president and publisher of Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, will be promoted to fill this role.  Hampton will begin overseeing all book publishing operations for both Thomas Nelson and Zondervan and the associated imprints* effective immediately.  He will sit on the company’s Executive Leadership Team and report directly to Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO.  Moberg will continue to hold a leadership role within HarperCollins Christian Publishing until his date of retirement, ensuring a seamless transition of responsibilities.

In this role, Hampton will set the strategy and direction for all trade, children’s, specialty, and curriculum publishing.  Hampton will be responsible for ensuring all divisions are meeting goals, developing new business initiatives, and managing relationships with key authors, retailers, distributors, and staff.

Hampton has served the company for 27 years in various editorial and leadership roles, helping to develop and publish several bestselling books including: Wild at Heart by John Eldredge, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell, The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, and The Best Yes and Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst.  Most recently he is noted for signing breakout authors such as Bob Goff (Love Does and Everybody Always), Jen Hatmaker (For the Love and Of Mess and Moxie), and Rachel Hollis (Girl, Wash Your Face).  In addition to his role as publisher of Nelson Books, in 2017 Hampton led the launch of HarperCollins Leadership, a general market leadership imprint, in addition to the acquisition of the AMACOM trade book assets from the American Management Association.

“Brian’s track record of finding and developing great authors and content as well as leading and developing teams has prepared him for future success as the head of book publishing for HCCP,” said Mark Schoenwald.  “Brian’s decisions are strategic and analytical, and his product background gives him a keen sense about authors and manuscripts that will resonate in the market.   Brian has built invaluable relationships with authors and agents and is highly respected in the industry.  We are thrilled that he has accepted this next step in his career with us.”

Moberg will continue to work on special projects, mentor key staff, and provide guidance and counsel to the Executive Leadership Team during transition.  In addition, he will continue to serve on the Board of Directors for the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association as vice-chair.  “This is an exciting time for both Brian and the company, and I appreciate the support shown to me throughout my career in publishing.  I am confident that Brian’s transition to group publisher will be smooth as he is more than prepared to take on this role.”

* Zondervan’s Church, Academic, Reference and Reflective publishing focus will remain with Stan Gundry, senior vice president and publisher and Zondervan editor-in-chief.  Bible publishing will remain with John Kramp, senior vice president and group publisher.

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

Contact: Casey Harrell, Senior Director, Corporate Communications,
615.902.1109   casey.harrell@harpercollins.com