NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 16, 2024) – Tommy Nelson, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is excited to announce the hiring of Ashley Reed as Senior Marketing Director. Reed will report to publisher Shannon Marchese, and will begin her new role on Monday, December 16.

Reed has a longstanding history with HCCP, having served as marketing director for W Publishing Group for over six years, leading marketing campaigns for New York Times bestselling authors such as Savannah Guthrie, Jinger Duggar Vuolo, and Kathie Lee Gifford. Her marketing expertise includes digital, print, and public relations. She also previously supported the Max Lucado Brand Team at Thomas Nelson, executing integrated marketing initiatives and partnerships for the multi-time bestselling author. Prior to joining HCCP in 2018, she also led marketing efforts in a variety of industries through her work with organizations including Surgery Partners, Paramore Digital, and Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee.

“Having a marketing leader with Ashley’s experience is critical to Tommy Nelson’s success as we grow in publishing leading author voices,” said Marchese. “Her wealth of expertise and relational talent will be a great benefit across our new release program and Tommy’s expansive backlist bestsellers.”

Additionally, Tommy Nelson announces the promotion of Andrea Jacobs to Senior Marketing Manager. Jacobs joined Tommy Nelson in 2021 and since that time has strategized and executed marketing campaigns for the imprint’s releases, as well as initiating long-term and seasonal marketing campaigns for front and backlist titles. She also developed and maintains Tommy Nelson’s internal influencer and growing book reviewer program. Jacobs is an experienced veteran of retail marketing, having previously lead marketing efforts for brands including Bargain Hunt, Back Yard Burgers, and O’Charley’s. She will report to Reed in this expanded role.

About Tommy Nelson
Tommy Nelson® is the children’s division of Thomas Nelson. As a leading provider of Christian content, Tommy Nelson publishes a wide variety of high-quality, enjoyable products that are consistent with the teachings found in the Bible. Tommy Nelson’s award-winning products are designed to expand children’s imaginations and nurture their faith while inspiring them to develop a personal relationship with Jesus. For more information, visit www.tommynelson.com.

Media contact: 
Sarah Van Cleve, Publicity Manager, (615) 902-1184, Sarah.VanCleve@harpercollins.com

This year, as organizations presented annual book awards, B&H Publishing Group received nearly two dozen acknowledgments and awards from Christianity Today, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (Top Shelf Book Cover Awards and Christian Book Award®), The Gospel Coalition, and the Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association.

“Book awards don’t make a book special. Rather, they honor hard work that is done in secret often for years,” said Devin Maddox, director of B&H books. “We are so proud that so many of our authors have been recognized for their hard work by their peers and fellow book lovers at so many organizations.”

Theological titles lauded

B&H Academic produced many titles that received recognition this year. The Southwestern Journal of Theology (SWJT) recognized 10 titles, nine of which were B&H Academic books.

“We’re so honored by the award recognition that B&H Academic authors and books have received this year,” B&H Academic’s associate director of publishing, Madison Trammel, said. “It’s a privilege to get to steward such wonderful, faithful works of scholarship.”

The book “Criswell: His Life and Times” by O. S. Hawkins was the one B&H trade book to receive recognition from the SWJT. This title paints the picture of W.A. Criswell as more than a Southern Baptist statesman, leader and pastor. ECPA recognizes excellent design and content

In May, B&H announced that the title “You Are a Theologian” by Jen Wilkin and J. T. English was awarded the Christian Book Award in the Christian Living category by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). This book, published in July 2023 addresses key theological questions and invites readers to grow in their knowledge and love of God by moving from being merely a consumer of theology to a contributor of the conversation.

In addition to the awards for books, the ECPA also recognized excellence in design from B&H. Two Bibles, the “KJV Explorer Bible for Kids” and the “RVR 1960 Personal Size Note Taking Bible” received awards for their cover designs alongside the book “Upon Waking” for its cover design.

Spanish publishing recognized for excellence

The Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association (SEPA) recognized excellence in the book “No Desperdicies Tus Emociones” (“Don’t Waste Your Emotions”) by Alejandra Sura, awarding it with their Book of the Year, Harold Kregel Award. This title dives into the reader’s mindset about emotions, helping them understand how to honor God with feelings while navigating living in a broken world.

In addition, the “RVR 1960 Biblia de Evangelismo” was recognized with the Silver Award. SEPA also acknowledged the cover art of two titles and a promotional video for another.

Giancarlo Montemayor, director of Lifeway Global, commented, “These awards are a testament to the good work going on in our Spanish Publishing program. I’m proud of the teams involved in these resources, and I am also thankful to SEPA for recognizing excellence in our industry.”

Mary Wiley, manager of B&H trade books, added, “It is a gift to get up each day and work on books. It’s an honor to steward an author’s words and message alongside them – sacred really – as these messages have been hard won by many of these authors in days of trial, as they have faithfully walked with the Lord through them.

“And while the work itself is our reward, there’s great joy in others recognizing God’s work through the words we steward,” she continued. “We’re honored and humbled for these books to be recognized, and especially thankful today for the authors who partner with us in this kingdom work!”

A full list of 2023 Lifeway and B&H Publishing awards can be found below.

Southwestern Journal of Theology 2024 Book Awards

• Applied Theology/Ethics, winner – “To Change All Worlds: Critical Theory from Marx to Marcuse” by Carl R. Trueman
• Apologetics/Worldview, winner – “On the Resurrection: Evidences, Volume One”; and “On the Resurrection: Refutations, Volume Two” by Gary R. Habermas
• Baptist Studies, winner – “Confessing Christ: An Invitation to Baptist Dogmatics” edited by Steven A. McKinion, Christine E. Thornton, and Keith S. Whitfield
• Preaching/Ministry/Leadership, winner – “Handbook of Contemporary Preaching, 2nd edition” edited by Michael Duduit
• Theological Studies, winner – “Systematic Theology, Volume One: From Concept to Canon” by Stephen J. Wellum
• Applied Theology/Ethics, honorable mention – “The Way of Christ in Culture: A Vision for All of Life” by Benjamin T. Quinn and Dennis T. Greeson
• Apologetics/Worldview, honorable mention – “Faith and Science: A Primer for a Hypernatural World” by Kenneth D. Keathley
• Baptist Studies, honorable mention – “Criswell: His Life and Times” by O. S. Hawkins
• Biblical Reference/Biblical Backgrounds, honorable mention – “Apocryphal Prophets and Athenian Poets: Noncanonical Influences of the New Testament” by Gregory R. Lanier
• Theological Studies, honorable mention – “Special Revelation and Scripture” by David S. Dockery and Malcolm B. Yarnell III

The Gospel Coalition 2024 Book Awards

• Christian Living, Winner – “To the Tenth Generation: God’s Heart for Your Family, Far into the Future” by Ray and Jani Ortlund

Christianity Today 2024 Book Awards

• Apologetics/Evangelism, winner – “On the Resurrection, Volume 1: Evidences” by Gary R. Habermas
• Missions/Global Church, winner – “Islam and the Bible: Questioning Muslim Idiom Translations” edited by Ayman S. Ibrahim and Ant B. Greenham
• Politics And Public Life, finalists – “Faithful Reason: Natural Law Ethics for God’s Glory and Our Good” by Andrew T. Walker

ECPA 2024 Christian Book Award®

• Christian Living, winner – “You Are a Theologian: An Invitation to Know and Love God Well” by Jen Wilkin and J.T. English

ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Awards

Bibles, winners

• “KJV Explorer Bible for Kids” (Designer: Jeff Godby, art director; other credits: Nate Farro; Stephanie Salvatore, feature interior design)
• “RVR 1960 Biblia de Apuntes Tamaño Personal, Floreada Tela Impresa” (“RVR 1960 Personal Size Notetaking Bible, Floral Cloth Over Board”) ) (Designer: Karin Albrecht)

Nonfiction, winner

• “Upon Waking” (Designer: Susan Browne; other credits: cover artwork by Susan Browne; case illustration by Taaron Parsons)

Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association

• Cover Art, Children, winner – “El Progreso del Peregrino” (“The Pilgrim’s Progress”PP)
• Cover Art, Academic or Reference, winner – “Los Primeros Cristianos” (“The Early Christians”PC)
• Promotional Video, winner – Video for “Biblia Ilustrada de la Tierra Santa” (“Holy Land Illustrated Bible”)

Awards selected by distributors and bookstores

• Book of the Year, Harold Kregel Award – “No Desperdicies Tus Emociones” (“Don’t Waste Your Emotions”) DTE by Alejandra Sura
• Silver Award — “RVR 1960 Biblia de Evangelismo” (“RVR 1960 Evangelism Bible”) edited by B&H Staff

In operation since 1891, Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, group curriculum, Christian music and movies, Vacation Bible School and church supplies, as well as camps and events for all ages. Lifeway is the world’s largest provider of Spanish Bibles. Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a self-supporting nonprofit. For more information, visit Lifeway.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Aaron Earls, aaron.earls@lifeway.com

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written by Myriah Snyder, a writer for Lifeway Christian Resources

December 2024 | LISLE, IL—Library Journal, the most widely circulated publication for librarians, has named Land of My Sojourn by Mike Cosper among its list of Best Nonfiction of 2024.

Land of My Sojourn: The Landscape of a Faith Lost and Found from InterVarsity Press (IVP) was selected along with 144 titles that made the publication’s Best Books 2024 lists across ten categories.

The Library Journal announcement said, “We celebrate the wondrous activity of reading with this list of 144 titles, books that delighted LJ reviewers, columnists, and editors. These works made us put them down and think―and pick them up again at any free moment. The books on this list drove conversations at work, with friends, with the barista, the dog walker, and the dentist. They are the books that make us happy to be readers.”

Library Journal described Land of My Sojourn this way: “Evangelical pastor Cosper left active ministry after a spiritual reckoning triggered by some of his followers’ support of Donald Trump. Cast adrift, isolated, and brokenhearted, he travels to the Holy Land where he gains a renewed understanding of faith. In this memoir, he considers church disagreements and his own spiritual uncertainty and works his way to a new identity.”

Russell Moore, editor in chief of Christianity Today, said, “At some point in every Christian’s life, God intervenes to show us that what we thought to be our home isn’t―and sometimes, only a lifetime later does one see that this was actually good news. Mike Cosper is one of the sharpest thinkers in the Christian world, and also one of the most creative. This book includes cultural analysis, personal lament, and biblical reflection. If you’ve ever felt the pain of losing home―and if you want to learn how to long for something better―this is the book for you.”

Cosper writes, “In the years since leaving local church ministry, I’ve devoted an enormous amount of time and resources to examining the church’s often troubled witness, its ongoing crisis of leadership, and the epidemic of narcissism, abuse, and cover-up that has continued to emerge year after year. This book is about my journey both before and undergirding that work―the shattering of dreams and the grace that restored a broken faith in the aftermath. It’s a story about grace leading me home when I thought all was lost.

“Taken together, my encounters with Peter, Elijah, and Jesus connected to indelible images from my time in Israel and formed a new spiritual landscape in my mind, one with enough gravity to draw my feet back to solid ground. My hope is that as I tell this story you might find echoes of your own.”

Cosper is the director of podcasting for Christianity Today, where he has hosted The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill and Cultivated. He also served as one of the founding pastors at Sojourn Church in Louisville, Kentucky, from which he launched Sojourn Music, a collective of musicians writing songs for the church. He is the author of several other books, including Recapturing the Wonder and Rhythms of Grace.

For a complete list of IVP book honors visit ivpress.com/award-winners.

Contact:  Krista Clayton | kclayton@ivpress.com

Les Stobbe, formerly an acquisitions editor for Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., has been named Editor Emeritus. Stobbe, 94, has been with Elk Lake since 2021.

In his long and storied career, Leslie H. Stobbe has seen the growth of the Christian publishing industry from its inception. Over sixty years ago, Les was the founding editor of the Canadian weekly, Mennonite Observer. Five years later, he ran the Moody Bookstore and evaluated book manuscripts for Kenneth Taylor at Moody Press. Next came stints at Christian Life as editor of Christian Bookseller Magazine and associate editor of Christian Life Magazine.

In 1970, Les became editor-in-chief of Moody Press Books. After Moody, he spent three years as vice-president of books and book clubs at Christian Herald. He became president of Here’s Life Publishers, the book arm of Campus Crusade for Christ, for eleven years. Later, at Scripture Press, he became managing editor of the curriculum division and editor of both the adult curriculum and Christian Education Journal. When Scripture Press sold, Les went to the Evangelistic Association of New England as VP of Communications and Marketing. After writing online classes for Jerry Jenkins, Les served as Journalist in Residence at Gordon College in Wenham, MA. He has published books for many well-known authors such as David Jeremiah, Florence Littauer, and Gary Chapman to name only three.

As a freelance writer, Les wrote a Bible study for junior boys at Christian Service Brigade, wrote fourteen books and published hundreds of articles. In 1993, he became a literary agent. After twenty-five years, he sold his agency to the Steve Laube Agency and became a writing coach. His two most recent books are God Moments in My Publishing Life: The Making of a Writer and Publisher (a veritable history of Christian Publishing) and How God Works: God Moments that Transform—A Study Guide. Not satisfied to retire in his 90s, he joined forces with Elk Lake Publishing in 2021. Over his career, Les has been a mentor and encourager to many in the industry as well as a valued and much-loved friend.

Grand Rapids, Michigan | January 3, 2025 – Amplify Marketing Services LLC, a leading book marketing agency specializing in Amazon Ads, is excited to announce the release of the second annual year-in-review infographic outlining 37 developments in 2024 that impacted the book discoverability and sales on Amazon.

“The improvements made by Amazon in 2024 to both the user experience and the ad dashboard made it easier than ever to place the best books in front of the right people.” said Franklin Goldberg, CEO at Amplify Marketing Services LLC.

For more information or to download a free pdf version of the infographic, visit https://www.amplifymarketers.com/2024-amazon-year-in-review-for-book-publishers.

About Amplify Marketing Services LLC
Amplify Marketing Services LLC is a leader in marketing support for publishers, specializing in Amazon Ads and strategic campaign development tailored to each book’s unique market. Over the last 5 years, Amplify has worked with over 30 publishers to promote more than 25,000 books in every genre (from children’s books to textbooks) and in every ad platform.

Media Contact:
Franklin Goldberg, CEO, Amplify Marketing Services LLC
info@amplifymarketers.com, (616) 929-0105

Perfection Press and Total Printing Systems (TPS), based in Newton IL, are pleased to announce that on December 13, 2024, Perfection Press and its commercial book printing operations have become part of TPS.  We are also excited that the Perfection Press sales and support team, led by Mike Riley and David Broxterman, will also be joining TPS. To improve efficiency, book printing and binding operations of Perfection Press will be consolidated into TPS’s Newton facilities.

“Our goal is to continue to offer the personalized, high-quality solutions and support of Perfection Press,” stated RJ Lindemann, Vice President of TPS. “TPS is family-owned and operated business that specializes in short-run book manufacturing (tps1.com). For over 50 years, we’ve provided high-quality products and services to our customers, while also providing a quality workplace for our employees. Our team of over 70 people continues to grow and expand, and we have nothing but optimism for the future of the printed book.”

“We are pleased to have found a partner that shares similar values to ours,” said Steve Keay, President of Perfection Press. “Since our founding in 1965, we have had an unrelenting focus on affordable, high-quality book printing services. By joining with TPS, we are ensuring that we can continue to serve you, our customers, well into the future with expanded printing capabilities.”

“As part of our commitment to Perfection Press customers,” stated RJ Lindemann, “we are dedicated to maintaining your current pricing and service levels. We understand that with change comes some uncertainty, and we want to take as much uncertainty as possible out of the equation.”

About TPS
TPS provides a range of services and capabilities to hundreds of publishers serving a range of markets. TPS capabilities include:

• High-speed inkjet printing technology for improved short-run printing efficiency and economics
• Print-On-Demand (POD) services for backlog titles and convenient inventory management
• Fulfillment and warehousing services designed to reduce shipping and warehousing costs while providing personalized service to you and your end customers.
• Consistent and responsive customer service from our in-house team

If you have questions, please reach out to your Perfection Press contact (David Broxterman, Mike Riley, Kim Hawley, or Robert Riggs) or to RJ Lindemann at TPS (rj@tps1.com).

Contact:  Total Printing Systems, RJ Lindemann, 618-783-0535, rj@tps1.com

December 2024 | LISLE, IL—IVP Academic’s On Classical Trinitarianism and Wonders of Your Law were both named top books in their academic disciplines as part of the 2024 Book of the Year awards, a process coordinated by the Southwestern Journal of Theology.

“The Southwestern Seminary faculty members have made excellent choices related to the 2024 Book of the Year awards, a process coordinated by the Southwestern Journal of Theology,” said David S. Dockery, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary president. “Faculty members from all five schools joined together to offer their insights regarding 2024 publications in various fields of study such as Biblical and theological studies, church history, apologetics and Christian worldview, worship, ministry studies, education and counseling, as well as evangelism and missions. The process reflects the wide-ranging engagement of the Southwestern faculty with the best of Christian scholarship.”

Wonders from Your Law: Nexus Passages and the Promise of an Exegetical Intertextual Old Testament Theology by Kevin S. Chen was honored as the top book in the Biblical Studies category. Chen is professor of Old Testament Studies at Gateway Seminary in Ontario, CA. He previously taught at Christian Witness Theological Seminary in San Jose, CA, and Union University in Jackson, TN. He is the author of The Messianic Vision of the Pentateuch and is a contributor to the Worldview Study Bible.

Chloe T. Sun, professor of Old Testament and program director of the Chinese Studies Center at Fuller Theological Seminary, said, “In Wonders from Your Law, Kevin Chen identifies ten key nexus passages in the Old Testament, resulting in an integrative and intertextual approach that honors the literary, textual, and theological unity of the Old Testament. Readers will discover the themes of creation, deliverance, the temple, the Messiah, and his kingdom as well as wisdom, which are all weaved together to form God’s story with Israel. The book contributes creatively to Old Testament theology from an evangelical perspective. It invites us to get on the ‘subway’ of the Old Testament and to be awed by its ‘transfer stations’ and, ultimately, its destination.”

Southwestern Journal of Theology selected On Classical Trinitarianism: Retrieving the Nicene Doctrine of the Triune God, edited by Matthew Barrett, as the top book in the Church History/Historical Theology/Biography category. Motivated by the longstanding need to retrieve the classical doctrine of the Trinity, Barrett brings together Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox scholars to intervene in the conversation. With over forty contributions, this ecumenical volume resurrects the enduring legacy of Nicene orthodoxy, providing a theological introduction that listens with humility to the Great Tradition.

Matthew Barrett is professor of Christian Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the editor-in-chief of Credo Magazine, and Director of the Center for Classical Theology. He is the author of the award-winning book, Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Spirit, as well as the author of The Reformation as Renewal: Retrieving the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. He is currently writing a Systematic Theology.

“On Classical Trinitarianism is a breathtaking accomplishment. An astonishing array of contributions maps the field of trinitarian theology—historical, dogmatic, and polemical,” said Hans Boersma, the Order of St. Benedict Servants of Christ Chair in Ascetical Theology at Nashotah House Theological Seminary, Wisconsin. “The forty chapters, written by prominent theologians from each of three major branches of the church, are a major refutation of the so-called revival of the Trinity in twentieth-century theology. This publication is a serious, in-depth reassertion of classical Nicene theology over against the recent onslaught of social trinitarianism with its rationally comprehensible and compositional (and, often, subordinationist) view of the Trinity. Anyone attempting a return to the social trinitarianism of the previous century will have to reckon with Matthew Barrett’s major accomplishment in this volume.”

The Southwestern Journal of Theology awards recognize a top overall Book of the Year and the top books in twelve categories related to various academic disciplines. Books are nominated by the residential faculty of Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College, the seminary’s undergraduate school. Dockery and Malcolm B. Yarnell III, editor of the Southwestern Journal of Theology and research professor of theology, coordinate the process, which also identifies books that receive honorable mention commendations in each category.

Contact:  Krista Clayton | kclayton@ivpress.com

Helps readers see cohesive focus of Scripture

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Dwayne Milioni, pastor of Open Door Church in Raleigh, N.C., has a passion for God’s Word and a drive to see others develop that same love for Scripture. That desire led him to partner with Holman Bibles to develop the “CSB Jesus Daily Bible.”

Milioni, who also serves as a professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and co-founder of the church-planting Pillar Network, preached through the entirety of Scripture in 22 years at Open Door and one year on the Bible as a single story. Taking all he learned from that experience, he worked to develop the unique devotional Bible that walks readers through the entire Bible in one year and helps them see Scripture as one cohesive narrative.

“The word ‘Bible’ means book, so we should see the Bible as a single book,” Milioni said. “Yes, it’s composed of 66 books, but really it’s one story. Though there are 40 different human authors, there’s one divine Author, and He is telling the story of how God desired to have a covenant relationship with a people. But this kingdom needed someone to lead us—a king, a high priest, a covenant redeemer. So, the Bible is a story about Jesus from Genesis to Revelation.”

Milioni’s experience made him the ideal contributor to this devotional Bible, according to Andy McLean, Holman Bibles publisher. “Because of the nature of this Bible, we wanted both a seasoned pastor and scholar, which Dwayne exhibits,” said McLean.

The “CSB Jesus Daily Bible” features a 52-week guided reading plan that shows Jesus throughout all Scripture. Each week’s reading is structured thematically in a five-day reading format with articles and infographics, as well as weekly introductions and summaries to help readers better understand Jesus’s central role. Unlike other daily Bibles, the daily reading arrangement is not date-specific, so readers can begin the plan at any point in the calendar year.

McLean said the concept of the Bible was inspired by Luke’s account of the disciples on the Emmaus road where “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he [Jesus] interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27 CSB).

“With the ‘CSB Jesus Daily Bible,’ we want readers to have their own Emmaus road experience as they read through Scripture each day and see how Jesus is at the center of every book of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation,” McLean said. “We wanted to showcase to readers how all of Scripture is pointing to the person and work of Jesus so that they too, like the disciples walking along the Emmaus road, might say, ‘Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:32 CSB).

Milioni, McLean and the others who worked on the “CSB Jesus Daily Bible” believe it will serve individual readers aiming to understand Scripture better and churches who like to participate together.

“I hope to guide readers to find Jesus in Scripture,” said Milioni. “The Bible features a list of places in the week’s reading where readers might find Jesus. It encourages people to look for Jesus in certain spots and then gives them the opportunity to do that. Hopefully, as they use the Bible, they’ll say, ‘There He is.’”

McLean noted many pastors who want to encourage their congregation to read and know Scripture more. “This Bible is perfect for that type of church emphasis,” he said. “As a pastor, you want more consistent engagement with God’s Word on a consistent basis while also wanting biblical literacy to increase during Bible engagement. This Bible helps address both aspects by not only providing a year-long reading plan to help people stay consistent, but also robust ancillary content that helps readers see Jesus all throughout Scripture.”

To assist pastors in using the Jesus Daily Bible in their churches, Milioni will also provide sermon outlines early next year that can be used to connect the Sunday morning worship service to the weekly readings.

The CSB Jesus Daily Bible is available for pre-order now and is set to be released in January 2025. For more information, visit Lifeway.com/JesusDailyBible.

In operation since 1891, Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, group curriculum, Christian music and movies, Vacation Bible School and church supplies, as well as camps and events for all ages. Lifeway is the world’s largest provider of Spanish Bibles. Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a self-supporting nonprofit. For more information, visit Lifeway.com.

Holman Bibles is the oldest Bible publisher in North America, publishing high-quality Bibles and reference resources that are trustworthy, accessible and useful for the pursuit of lifelong discipleship. Print and digital releases include the award-winning CSB Explorer Bible for Kids and The She Reads Truth Bible and the Rainbow Study Bible with over 3 million copies sold. Holman Bibles is a subsidiary of B&H Publishing Group.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Aaron Earls, aaron.earls@lifeway.com

by Aaron Earls, a writer for Lifeway Christian Resources

An Alternative Distribution Solution for Publishers Wishing to Remain Independent

CHICAGO – Independent Publishers Group (IPG), the last remaining independent book distributor of significant size in North America, will host an informational open house for publishers impacted by the upcoming closure of National Book Network (NBN).

NBN announced that it will close next year. To provide an introduction to IPG’s services and demonstrated dedication to the independent community, IPG will host an open house for NBN publishers interested in alternative distribution solutions. The open house is an opportunity to meet key personnel at IPG and hear about the turnkey sales, marketing, and distribution services provided to publishers.

“NBN has an exceptional list of publishers,” said Joe Matthews, CEO of IPG. “IPG has the capacity to add a dozen or so, especially those that value independence and a more personal relationship.” For NBN publishers who decide to transfer to IPG, moving expenses will be covered.

Publishers can sign up for the open house scheduled for Wednesday, January 15, here.

About Independent Publishers Group
Founded in 1971, IPG was the first organization specifically created for the purpose of marketing titles from independent presses to the book trade. Today, IPG’s wide reach into the book market includes distribution of both print and e-books from a wide array of publishers, digital printing, and traditional publishing. With consistent growth year over year, IPG’s success has come from supporting and encouraging the growth of its publishing partners in the United States and worldwide. IPG was acquired by Chicago Review Press in 1987, and this acquisition formed the parent company Chicago Review Press, Inc., which now owns Chicago-based indie publishers Chicago Review Press and Triumph Books.

Contact:  Julia Dillman, Corporate Communications, 312.337.0747 | jdillman@ipgbook.com

Ada, Mich. (December 5, 2024)—Gary Johnson, who served as President of Bethany House Publishers for nearly five decades (1960-2008) and was widely credited with establishing Christian fiction as a viable publishing category, has passed away.

After studying music at Bethany College and Augsburg University, Johnson along with his wife, Carol, pursued early careers as singers, but they found their true calling in Christian publishing, where they would go on to revolutionize the industry during their 48-year tenure.

Under Gary’s leadership as President and Carol’s guidance as VP/Editorial of Fiction, Bethany House became the premier publisher of Christian fiction, effectively creating the genre through groundbreaking works such as Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly and Beverly Lewis’ The Shunning. Their vision extended beyond fiction, publishing influential nonfiction works including Leonard Ravenhill’s Why Revival Tarries and Larry Christenson’s The Christian Family.

The Johnsons’ commitment to excellence was consistently recognized through numerous industry accolades, including ECPA’s Christian Book Awards, Gold Medallion Awards, Gold and Platinum Awards, and the prestigious Jordon Lifetime Achievement Award. At the ceremony, former ECPA President/CEO Mark Kuyper noted, “The Johnsons’ prescient vision for Christian fiction and their industry leadership have provided a driving force in the rise of the Christian fiction category to its current prominence.”

Andy McGuire, Editorial Director for Bethany House, stated, “Gary left an incredible legacy at Bethany House, and we’re so grateful for all that he and Carol did to build a biblical, God-honoring foundation for us as a publisher that we are continuing to build on to this day.”

Former president of Baker Publishing Group, Dwight Baker, added, “For many of his publishing colleagues and companions, Gary Johnson was a consistent model of professional grace and dignity. We have all been blessed by our association with him. During our final conversation as colleagues, Gary shared with me that he wished to “finish well” and I am certain that he accomplished precisely that.”

Following his retirement from Bethany House in 2008, Johnson continued to influence the industry as a publishing consultant, sharing his wealth of experience and wisdom with the next generation of Christian publishers.

Gary Johnson’s legacy lives on through the countless lives touched by the books he helped bring into the world, and through the continuing work of Bethany House Publishers in bringing quality Christian literature to readers everywhere.

Johnson is survived by Carol, his wife of 62 years and his two daughters, six grandchildren and soon four great-grandchildren.

Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, has been publishing high-quality books for more than 60 years, and has been recognized as the pioneer and leader in Christian fiction. They continue to publish in nonfiction categories as well, and are known for bringing outstanding Christian books to readers that inspire and uplift.

Contact: Karen Steele, (616)676-9185 x100, ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com