October 16, 2017—Bookish.com, an editorial content site connecting readers with books and authors, owned by NetGalley LLC, today announces the launch of BookishFirst, an early preview and review platform for avid readers.

With BookishFirst, readers discover new books and authors, read pre-publication excerpts, win free books, provide valuable blurbs and reviews, and share their love of books with the world.

Readers enter raffles to win free books by writing blurbs (“First Impressions”) based on excerpts (“First Looks”). The raffle winners receive the full book approximately one month pre-pub, and then post full reviews to major book retail sites on publication day. Readers earn points for each action, which can later be redeemed for more free books.

Publishers use the BookishFirst platform to announce their books prior to publication to an active, dedicated community. By participating in BookishFirst raffles, publishers and authors expand discoverability, develop direct relationships with their audience, and generate reviews on retail channels on publication date. The launch raffle includes books from Berkley Publishing Group, Del Rey, Disney-Hyperion, Gallery Books, Harlequin, Sourcebooks Fire, and St. Martin’s Press.

“We are thrilled to launch this new part of Bookish, as it offers a new level of engagement for the passionate book-loving community that has already connected with the strong, curated editorial voice on Bookish.com,” says Lindsey Lochner, VP, Marketing Engagement, NetGalley. “We’re also excited to offer publishers a new platform to capture early reviews and create buzz around their books directly with avid readers. We foresee BookishFirst becoming an important tool for publishers to gain consumer insights, analyze trends, and better understand how to connect directly with readers.”

The technology behind the BookishFirst platform is already a proven concept in Germany with a 97% review rate. NetGalley has licensed the North American rights to the platform under the Bookish brand.

About Bookish
Bookish.com is an editorial content site connecting readers with books and authors. The Bookish Mission: Help readers discover their next favorite book. Features on Bookish.com include seasonal previews, author interviews & exclusives, book club recommendations, giveaways, gift guides, and more. Bookish was acquired by NetGalley LLC in 2016, and functions as an editorially independent, standalone site with a commitment to connecting visitors with interesting and relevant content. Please visit www.bookish.com.

Contact: Lindsey Lochner, VP, Marketing Engagement: lindsey.lochner@bookish.com

Archer now CTO of both NetGalley and Firebrand

Newburyport, MA, October 2, 2017 —NetGalley, LLC, the company that provides publisher marketing services and secure, digital review copies to reviewers, media, librarians, booksellers and educators, today announced several internal promotions:

Lindsey Lochner has been promoted to VP, Marketing Engagement, reporting to Fran Toolan, CEO. Lochner is responsible for all NetGalley marketing and advertising services, as well as those provided by Bookish.com, which NetGalley acquired last year.

Tarah Theoret has been promoted to Director, Community Engagement, reporting to Lochner. Theoret will manage the reader communities for both NetGalley.com and Bookish.com.

Kristina Radke has been promoted to VP, Business Growth & Engagement, reporting to Toolan. Radke is responsible for all publisher acquisition and management for the NetGalley platform in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, as well as overseeing partner relationships in Germany, France, and Japan.

Shane Archer, current CTO of NetGalley, has been promoted to CTO of both NetGalley, LLC and Firebrand Technologies. Relating to Archer’s elevated status, Israel Carberry has been promoted to Engineering Manager of NetGalley, reporting to Archer.

“These promotions are recognition for many outstanding contributions to NetGalley and are testament to its growth in the past few years,” commented Fran Toolan, CEO of both NetGalley and Firebrand Technologies. “NetGalley is poised for future significant growth, and this team will make it happen. I am especially excited about Shane’s promotion as I see many opportunities for NetGalley and Firebrand to more closely collaborate on future projects.”

About NetGalley
NetGalley (www.netgalley.com) is an industry-standard service to help readers of influence discover and recommend new books to their audiences. NetGalley delivers secure, digital galleys to professional readers on behalf of over 300 publishers in North America, Australia, the UK, France and Germany, to help promote and market new books. NetGalley is part of Firebrand Technologies (www.firebrandtech.com), which provides leading software and services to help publishers achieve success.

Evers now Assistant Director of NetGalley UK

Newburyport, MA, USA, 11 October, 2017 —NetGalley, LLC, the company that provides publisher marketing services and secure, digital review copies to reviewers, media, librarians, booksellers and educators, today announced the launch of a new country-specific site for the United Kingdom, which will be live 25th October. Additionally, NetGalley.jp (which has been in beta release for several months in Japan) will have its official launch on 17th October , 2017.

NetGalley has long been established in the UK publishing community and the launch of NetGalley.co.uk on 25th October means it will have its own dedicated, UK-focused site for the first time. Furthermore, publishers will now be able to promote their titles on NetGalley sites around the world – including NetGalley.com, NetGalley.co.uk, NetGalley.fr, NetGalley.de, and NetGalley.jp.

As the new site launches, Stuart Evers is promoted to Assistant Director, NetGalley UK, overseeing all client acquisitions and marketing services for the UK platform. Evers continues to report to Kristina Radke, VP, Business Growth & Engagement for NetGalley.

“The UK is our fastest growing market, and we are thrilled to be able to provide their own dedicated site, while preserving their ability to promote to US influencers,” commented Fran Toolan, CEO of both NetGalley and Firebrand Technologies. “We are also pleased and excited that NetGalley.jp has now achieved enough momentum in Japan to warrant a full release.”

Evers notes, “Since joining NetGalley five years ago, I’ve been looking forward to a site specifically for UK influencers and publishers. The launch of co.uk will ensure members can discover the very best books in the UK, and publishers can promote their titles to the UK’s most important readers. It’s hugely exciting and I can’t wait for everyone to log in.”

“Stuart has been a key part of NetGalley’s success in the UK and has demonstrated unwavering enthusiasm and support for this market,” says Radke. “I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure NetGalley serves the needs of UK publishers and readers.”

About NetGalley
NetGalley (www.netgalley.com) is an industry-standard service to help readers of influence discover and recommend new books to their audiences. NetGalley delivers secure, digital galleys to professional readers on behalf of over 300 publishers in North America, Australia, the UK, France and Germany, to help promote and market new books. NetGalley is part of Firebrand Technologies (www.firebrandtech.com), which provides leading software and services to help publishers achieve success.

This ecumenical book is being praised as a “tool to assist us in reflecting upon and expressing our wishes around dying,” by Sr. Maryann Lucy, OP, of the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters of Wisconsin, and as “a gift that opens the heart to the deeper personal mysteries of death and dying,” by Barry R. Howe, retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri.

Sacred Dying Journal by Megory Anderson, PhD, adds to the growing Paraclete Press list of pastoral care resources related to grief, bereavement, suicide, and addiction.

Specific questions and exercises help the reader to discover their wishes, desires, and spiritual needs for the final chapter of their lives. As the culture continues to discuss ethics of euthanasia and aspects of palliative care, this book highlights the spiritual needs of those approaching the end of life.

Marketing will include promotion through the author’s Sacred Dying Foundation, as well as outreach initiatives to hospices, funeral homes, and chaplains, and pastoral care programs in churches of many denominations.

The book launches the weekend of October 13–15, 2017 at the The Art of Dying Conference: Spiritual Scientific and Practical Approaches to Living and Dying at New York’s Open Center.

For more information, contact Sr. Antonia Cleverly, srantonia@paracletepress.com, (508) 255-4685 x 329​.​

Outreach magazine is accepting submissions for consideration for the 15^th Annual Outreach Resources of the Year, which will be featured in the March/April 2018 issue.

The Resources of the Year honors resources specifically focused on outreach in areas such as evangelism, apologetics, compassionate service and cross-cultural ministry.

Please submit only those resources that you believe best emphasize outreach-oriented ministries. Submitted works will be considered only if they were released and available to the public between Nov. 1, 2016, and Oct. 31, 2017.  

To submit a resource for consideration, please contact Lora Schrock at LSchrock@outreach.com to obtain an entry form and instructions for mailing in your entry.

SUBMISSION FORMS AND COPIES OF SUBMITTED MATERIALS MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 27, 2017.

The Outreach editorial staff will examine all of the submitted works and decide which ones will be forwarded to independent expert panelists. The panelists will evaluate the selected resources within their area of expertise and will choose which ones to honor as the Outreach Resources of the Year.

(BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) October 12, 2017—New Hope^® Publishers announces a newly designed e-commerce website for NewHopePublishers.com. The site features an updated look and is part of New Hope’s strategy to build a significant online presence.

The website will continue to provide readers and retailers with fresh, magazine-style content from top authors in multiple digital formats—now with the option to purchase, live chat, and a customer service line dedicated to assisting New Hope customers. New Hope’s aim is to provide a seamless shopping experience for customers with highly competitive discounts and shipping rates.

“NewHopePublishers.com has always been a place for readers to connect with their favorite authors while being challenged to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God,” said Bradley Isbell, director of operations at New Hope Publishers. “As the newest division of Iron Stream Media, the relaunched NewHopePublishers.com has a brand-new look and expanded functionality to ensure easier and more engaging experiences for customers.”

The mission of New Hope^® Publishers is to challenge readers to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God. A division of Iron Stream Media, New Hope’s books have received critical acclaim and won several awards. In 2009 and 2015, New Hope was chosen as publisher of the year by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA). Representing more than seventy authors and more than two hundred individual works, New Hope is a member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) and is located in Birmingham, Alabama.

MINNEAPOLIS (October 13, 2017) – Sparkhouse Family is pleased to announce that three new titles have been awarded Moonbeam Awards.

Los ángeles de Adriana won a Silver medal, for the Spanish Language Category. The Memory Box received a Silver medal (tie), for the Picture Books All Ages category, and Maybe God is Like That Too tied with another title for a Gold medal for the Religion/Spirituality category.

The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and are dedicated to supporting childhood literacy and life-long reading. The contest is open to authors, illustrators, and publishers of children’s books written in English or Spanish for the North American market.

You can view all three titles by clicking the links below:

Maybe God Is Like That Too: https://www.book2look.com/book/uDJjF5nJMu

Los ángeles de Adriana: https://www.book2look.com/book/pIF5tDkQas

The Memory Box: https://www.book2look.com/book/g19ebI42Xx

About Sparkhouse Family
At Sparkhouse Family, we believe faith formation happens in the big moments of life… and the small ones. Bedtime, story time, play time, bath time, any time can be a chance to spark a child’s spiritual wonder and curiosity. That’s why we’re committed to telling stories that help parents instill an open–hearted, transformational, lifelong Christian faith in their children at every age and stage.

Purcellville, VA—An Alabama pediatrician has created a Christmas storybook to help kids get excited about Jesus.

Dr. Scott James has a burden for treating the sick both physically and spiritually. He works as a pediatric infectious diseases specialist, but he also has a passion for helping families grow together in Christ. He is already the author of two family worship books, The Expected One: Anticipating All of Jesus in the Advent (B&H Books, October 2014) and Mission Accomplished: A Two-Week Family Easter Devotional (New Growth Press, February 2016). Now, Scott has partnered with The Good Book Company to publish his first children’s storybook, The Littlest Watchman.

The Littlest Watchman follows the adventures of Benjamin– the littlest watchman–who waits for and then witnesses the first Christmas. The story shows kids that the Old Testament is filled with promises about the Messiah, and it demonstrates how they were all fulfilled. Now, Jesus has promised that he is coming back again, and those who trust God today spend their lives waiting and watching for him to keep his word.

Dr. James says, “…we wait and watch by remembering what Benjamin learned: God always keeps his promises. One day, this world will see Jesus returning. Let’s trust God so deeply that we look for him with excitement every single day.”

“I love the way Scott James makes Isaiah’s prophecy come to life in the story of The Littlest Watchman,” writes author Marty Machowski. “Scott provides parents with a creative way to introduce young children to the big picture story of the Bible and ends the book with the Christmas story and the good news of the gospel.”

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Scott James lives in Birmingham, AL with his wife, Jaime, and their 4 children. He serves as an Elder at The Church at Brook Hills, where he also teaches in Kids Ministry and leads a small group. He has been a part of mission trips to Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East and serves on the Board of Directors for The Haiti Collective. Scott also serves the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) as a Research Fellow and has been a speaker at ERLC events. He partners with Focus on the Family as a member of their Physician Resource Council and also serves as a Fellow for the Center for Baptist Renewal. Scott writes a monthly column for ParentLife magazine called Dad’s Life. He has also written for online outlets such as The Gospel Coalition, Radical, and Story Warren. @scott_h_james

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Founded in 1989, The Good Book Company is an international Christian publisher. Our Bible studies, books, devotionals, videos, tracts, evangelistic courses and training materials are used throughout the English-speaking world, and in translation in over 35 languages worldwide. Everyone at The Good Book Company is passionate about the Lord Jesus, His word, His church and His gospel of grace. We create and publish biblical, relevant and accessible resources that will encourage Christians to keep going, keep growing and keep sharing their faith. thegoodbook.com/blog  thegoodbookcompanynorthamerica@thegoodbookusa

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE LITTLEST WATCHMAN

“One of the key emotions children feel as Christmas approaches is anticipation. This beautifully written and illustrated story connects that emotion with the expectation leading to Jesus’ birth – and the hope we have for His return.” —Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family

“The Littlest Watchman will not only encourage our children as they contemplate the coming of Christ, but also encourage the child in each of us as we eagerly wait for his return!” —David Platt, President, International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention

“This is a beautiful story, full of wonder and expectation. I look forward to reading this with my own children, sharing with them the wonder of Christ’s first coming and teaching them to wait expectantly for his return, even when it’s hard to wait.” —Courtney Reissig, Author of Glory in the Ordinary and The Accidental Feminist

“The Littlest Watchman takes us to a familiar place by a fresh, fantastic route. It’s a new way into an old story, the Christmas story, and it helps us love it even more. Scott James is a faithful storyteller who loves the truth, but this story reveals that his imagination is alive and active. I enthusiastically recommend this book!” —S. D. Smith, Author of The Green Ember series

“We are often conflicted about how to talk to kids at Christmastime. The whirl of tinsel and wrapping paper can leave the incarnation obscured. In this book, Scott James equips families and churches to proclaim Christ at Christmas. The book is biblically rich, beautifully illustrated, and narratively engaging for children—and for those who love them.” —Russell Moore, President, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention

“I love the way Scott James makes Isaiah’s prophecy come to life in the story of The Littlest Watchman. Scott provides parents with a creative way to introduce young children to the big picture story of the Bible and ends the book with the Christmas story and the good news of the gospel.” —Marty Machowski, Author of Long Story Short and The Ology

“The Littlest Watchman brings together the Bible’s big storyline, the ancient biblical prophecies, and the Christmas story into an imaginative tale that will inform and inspire children (and the adults who read to them!).” —Trevin Wax, Author of This is Our Time and Gospel-Centered Teaching

Scott James is available to give interviews and to write articles. To get in touch with Scott, or for more information about The Littlest Watchman, please contact: Brad Byrd North American Director, The Good Book Company USoffice@thegoodbook.com (866) 244-2165