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

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

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

Comic-Con events included:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

B&H Publishing Group, an imprint of LifeWay Christian Resources, is a team of mission minded people with a passion for taking God’s Word to the world. Because we believe Every Word Matters® we seek to provide intentional, Bible-centered content that positively impacts the hearts and minds of people, inspiring them to build a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. Among our print and digital releases for the trade, church, and academic markets, titles include The New York Times No. 1 bestsellers “The Love Dare” and “The Vow,” No. 1 CBA bestseller “I Am a Church Member” as well as the newly-revised Christian Standard Bible (CSB) version.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Praise for the House of Bathory books:

“Irresistible…” – Publishers Weekly

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Celebrating God’s Design for Ethnic Diversity
Scripture informs parents and caretakers on how to celebrate, not tolerate, ethnic diversity for the beauty and glory of God

(Greensboro, NC) – In today’s racially-charged culture, the sins of racism, bigotry, and ethnic pride have manifested themselves in more ways than one, distorting God’s purposeful design of ethnic diversity. Both historically and in the present day, children have learned these social sins from family members, media, or peers.

Christian rapper Shai Linne is inviting parents and caregivers to see how the gospel offers a new way, not just for adults, but for children too. Through his beautifully illustrated children’s book, God Made Me and You: Celebrating God’s Design for Ethnic Diversity (New Growth Press), Linne challenges parents and caregivers to put on the mind of Christ, learning and living out a kingdom perspective of ethnic diversity through countercultural, biblical views that don’t just happen but, rather, are taught.

Through a lyrical, rhyming style; colorful illustrations; and a narrative taking place in a realistic classroom setting, Linne demonstrates how parents, teachers, and caregivers can start important conversations with their children. In the book, children are teasing one another about the color of their skin, and a teacher helps them understand how and why ethnic differences are to be celebrated—not made fun of or even just tolerated.

God Made Me and You is geared toward children ages five through eleven and fosters an environment of respect, love modeled in Scripture, and a lifelong embrace and pursuit of diversity. Linne even includes a final page for adult readers, outlining six ways to help children appreciate God’s design for ethnic diversity.

“Be hopeful for a future where the Spirit will break down barriers between people of different ethnic backgrounds,” he writes. “Let your children know through your words, attitudes, and actions that you believe God is at work in our world, drawing his people to himself and making us one in answer to his prayer” (John 17:20–26).

Throughout the children’s book, Linne uses Scripture to celebrate diversity, including passages such as Revelation 7:9–10, which clearly illustrate God’s ultimate purpose in the gospel: a redeemed, ethnically diverse community of worshipers praising God for all eternity.

“God was intentional in the ways he made us to differ from each other,” Linne notes. “Like the facets of a jewel, the glory of God shines all the more brightly as the light of his gospel is reflected through different vessels.”

By teaching children to adopt a kingdom mindset of ethnic diversity for the glory of God, Linne points out how families are enriched and able to see God shine in particular ways that would have otherwise been lost without diversity (Ephesians 2:14–19).

Together, parents and children can write God’s purposeful and beautiful design for ethnic diversity on their hearts, singing out, “We’ll no longer view our distinctions as odd, but rather, more reasons to give praise to God. Together forever with saints of all kinds—this is exactly what God has designed.”

God Made Me and You is the second book in the God Made Me series, beginning with God Made All of Me by Justin and Lindsay Holcomb, a book aiming to teach children how to protect their bodies and recognize and report sexual abuse. All previously published and yet-to-be released books in this series focus on providing a biblical guide for parents to talk about important topics with their children.

Shai Linne is a recording artist who has released numerous acclaimed Christian hip-hop albums, including The Atonement and The Attributes of God. After completing a pastoral internship at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC, Shai cofounded Risen Christ Fellowship, an inner-city church in his hometown of Philadelphia, PA. Shai is the author of God Made Me and You: Celebrating God’s Design for Ethnic Diversity and coauthor of It Was Good: Making Music to the Glory of God. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Blair, and their three children, Sage, Maya, and Ezra.

Trish Mahoney is a graphic designer and illustrator in Seattle where she runs The Mahoney Studio with her husband, Patrick, also a designer and illustrator. They have two children— both budding artists too. Trish is also the illustrator for God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies and The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible.

For review copy and interview information, contact:
Audra Jennings ~ audra@newgrowthpress.com ~ 903-874-8363

WHEATON, Ill.—Crossway is pleased to announce that Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different from Us (and Why That’s a Good Thing) (Crossway, April 2016) has surpassed 100,000 units in print sales.

In the book, Wilkin explores 10 attributes of God that humans do not share— including power, knowledge, and authority—encouraging readers to embrace their limitations in light of a limitless God. These limitations, according to None Like Him, are actually a good thing, freeing finite humans from striving to be more than they were created to be.

“We must recover the truth that was obscured by the Serpent: rather than being like God in his unlimited divinity, we are to be like God in our limited humanity,” writes Wilkin. “We are capable of bearing his image as we were intended only when we embrace our limits. Image bearing means becoming fully human, not becoming divine. It means reflecting as a limited being the perfections of a limitless God.”

Available in both paperback and ebook formats, None Like Him has received commendations from Matt Chandler (pastor of The Village Church in Dallas), Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth (host of Revive Our Hearts), Hannah Anderson (author of Humble Roots), and many others.

Publishers Weekly writes, “As [Wilkin] compares human flaws and weaknesses with God’s steady and unchangeable characteristics, readers of faith will be reinvigorated by the assurance of God’s unvarying, all-encompassing nature.”

“Jen Wilkin is an outstanding writer and a gifted theologian,” notes Crossway’s Publisher for Books, Justin Taylor. “We are delighted to see readers respond with such enthusiasm to her work on understanding the attributes of God and why they matter for everyday life.”

Wilkin is also the author of Women of the Word (Crossway, July 2014), which has sold more than 200,000 copies, and In His Image (Crossway, May 2018), the newly available sequel to None Like Him. For more information about the author, visit jenwilkin.net.

Jen Wilkin is a speaker, writer, and teacher of women’s Bible studies. She has a background in women’s ministry, and has organized and led studies for women in home, church, and parachurch contexts. She is the author of Women of the Word and In His Image. jenwilkin.net @jenniferwilkin facebook.com/wilkinjen

Founded in 1938, Crossway is a not-for-profit global Christian publishing ministry that publishes gospel-centered, Bible-centered content, to honor our Savior and serve his Church. Crossway seeks to help people understand the all-encompassing implications of the gospel and the truth of God’s Word—for all of life, for all eternity, and for the glory of God alone. Crossway is the global publisher of the ESV® (English Standard Version®) Bible, more than 1,000 Christian books, and an extensive list of gospel literature. For additional information, visit crossway.org.

Contact:  Lauren Harvey • lharvey@crossway.org (630) 682-4300, ext. 6031 • crossway.org

Cover Expressions will allow customers to create customized Bible covers to celebrate life’s most important events

CAROL STREAM, ILL. (July 12, 2018) – Tyndale House Publishers has announced Cover Expressions — www.coverexpressions.com — an innovative Bible program that will afford consumers the ability to create customized Bible covers to celebrate life’s most important events.

Comments Jeff Johnson, President and COO of Tyndale House, “It’s easy to remember the times when the gift of a Bible marked an important moment in your life: graduation, weddings, birth of a child, military service, or retirement. With Cover Expressions, creating a custom Bible has never been easier, from selecting the right Bible edition for the occasion, to designing a cover with ready-to-use templates, to creating a unique design using personal photos and artwork. The Bible is the ultimate gift and  blessing for every age and stage of life, and now anyone can create covers that express what’s in their heart with Cover Expressions.”

Cover Expressions Bibles are offered in a variety of bindings in multiple translations: the New Living Translation, the King James Version, The Message and the Spanish Bible, Nueva Tradiccion Viviente. A Journaling Bible with margins for notes and coloring is also available as well as a Children’s Story Bible for early readers.

“The mission of Tyndale House is to minister to the spiritual needs of people,” Johnson states. “Providing gift Bibles with customizable covers is an extension of our corporate purpose.”

Tyndale House Publishers, founded in 1962, is the world’s largest privately held Christian publisher of books, Bibles, and digital media. Tyndale has published many New York Times bestsellers. 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. 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.