Publishing industry leaders, starting with John Ingram, sound off on the future of the book business in this new podcast series

Nord Compo is partnering with Publishers Weekly and Book Buddy Media to produce The Future of Publishing, a podcast series featuring interviews with leaders from across the international publishing industry. Conceived by Nord Compo’s Arnaud Lecompte, director of digital and international business development, and hosted by Larry Bennett, executive director, North America, these interviews will look ahead to developments likely to shape publishing over the next three to 10 years.

“Our goal is to have a wide diversity of opinions and perspectives from industry leaders across multiple disciplines,” Bennett says. “Accordingly, our initial interviewees include leaders in e-book publishing and distribution, the top distributors to mass and traditional markets, the preeminent digital print provider, and a leading children’s book publisher. In future podcasts, we intend to include thought leaders from complementary disciplines that influence book publishing, including content creation and technology.”

The Future of Publishing will explore the publishing industry broadly, extrapolating from today’s trends and imagining what will be important to the book business throughout the world in the coming years. The goal of the series is to enable industry leaders to share insights, experiences, and useful information and thereby stimulate conversation among industry professionals.

Nord Compo is a leading supplier of prepress composition, digital, and editorial services for publishers. With 50 years of experience and more than 500 full-time employees, Nord Compo services many industry leaders, including Elsevier, Hachette, Ingram, Pottermore, Princeton University Press, Sourcebooks, and Springer. Seattle-based Book Buddy Media, which handles podcast production for The Future of Publishing, is a major supplier of high-quality audiobooks specializing in, but not limited to, the K–12 market.

“Our once-staid industry has been going through major changes since the 1950s, when a majority of trade books were sold through department stores like Macy’s,” Bennett says. “The pace of change seems to be accelerating in this century, with the advent of the internet, e-books, digital printing, and industry consolidation. We thought it would be interesting to get industry leaders’ perspectives on where we are heading.”

The debut podcast, featuring a conversation with Ingram Content Group chairman John Ingram, launches today. Visit publishersweekly.com/nordcompo.

The industry is invited to nominate the year’s best book covers until August 31

ECPA created the Top Shelf Book Cover Awards to honor the role of good design in Christian book publishing. Each year covers are judged by a new team of top design professionals, whose reputations are renown throughout the entire design industry, to choose the year’s best book designs published by ECPA members.

“It is imperative the judges of Top Shelf have the insight needed to judge other’s work in this space,” states Torrey Sharp, Principal of Faceout Studio. “It’s not easy being a judge. It takes a deep understanding of what design is meant to accomplish, the landscape of publishing and ultimate impartiality.”

Sharp, who shared his connections and expertise to recruit the program’s judges, continues:

“This year’s judges are consummate creatives, highly successful in their own right and lovers of the craft. I’m really excited they have agreed to participate this year.”

They are:  Gabrielle Wilson, Sarah Dubbeldam, and Nate Salciccioli. Each of their full bios and designs are listed on the program website.

“Recently I spotted a headline on a well-known lifestyle magazine that read, Beautiful Design Matters Now More Than Ever,” said Stan Jantz, executive director of ECPA. “That same principle easily applies to books, which is why the Top Shelf Award program is so important for our industry. Book cover design matters more than ever because readers value what it says about the message that’s inside.”

Top Shelf winners are officially announced and presented with an award at ECPA’s annual PubU on November 6-7. Winning covers are also featured in an Annual designed by Faceout Studio and printed by Color House Graphics.

Nominate a cover design until August 31.  More

PubU will be held November 6-7 at Lipscomb University, Nashville

The industry’s premier training and networking event for publishing practitioners, ECPA PubU, will be held November 6-7 on the beautiful campus of Lipscomb University in Nashville.  The event will host more than 40 sessions about the industry’s most pressing topics in marketing, sales, publicity, editorial, design, rights, reader engagement, production, data, delivery, workflow, digital, and more.

This year’s program will also feature a closing keynote by StoryBrand CEO and author Donald Miller.

Each year, a “Brain Trust” of industry leaders is formed to recruit speakers, develop topics, and plan the event. Heading up this year’s Brain Trust is Dave Schroeder, VP of Marketing at B&H Publishing Group, who returns a second year to lead the program.

“We are so pleased to introduce the 2018 PubU Brain Trust and appreciate the return of Dave Schroeder’s enthusiastic and creative leadership,” states ECPA executive director Stan Jantz.

“This program is the most altruistic 24 hours in the entire industry because it is the culmination of hundreds of volunteer hours by 50+ volunteers, led by a core of publishing leaders, all sharing their expertise and connections for the benefit of strengthening each other and the industry.  How can anyone want to miss an experience like this?”

The following industry leaders will serve as the 2018 PubU Brain Trust:

• DAVE SCHROEDER, VP of Marketing, B&H Publishing Group (Marketing/Publicity/Sales sessions and Brain Trust Lead)
• JERRI HELMS, Sr. Director of Digital Marketing Strategy, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Reader Engagement sessions)
• MELINDA BOUMA, Publisher, Zondervan Bibles (Editorial sessions)
• JOSH DENNIS, Executive VP/Creative, Crossway (Design sessions)
• GEORGE ROACH, International Rights Manager, Tyndale House Publishers (Rights sessions)
• KRISTEN MCLEAN, Exec. Director of Business Development, NPD Book
  (Data, Delivery & Workflow sessions)
• JOSHUA TALLENT, Director of Outreach and Education, Firebrand Technologies (Data, Delivery & Workflow sessions)
• AMY GREEN, Fiction Publicist, Bethany House Publishers
  (Art of Writing conference held for publishers & writers after PubU)

PubU’s signature value is learning from industry colleagues and leaders through panels, Q&A, sessions, and discussions about best practices, case studies, and challenges they’ve faced and overcome. Early bird registration will open soon.

Sign up for program updates at ECPAPubU.org.

Museum Co-Founder Jackie Green and Daughter Lauren McAfee Discuss New Release on Women and Legacy

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2018—Jackie Green, co-founder of Museum of the Bible, and her daughter Lauren Green McAfee want women to know that their lives and legacies matter. In Only One Life, Green and McAfee tell the stories of past and present world-changing women and encourage readers to play a unique and irreplaceable role in the story of the world by intentionally investing their time and talents in the people they meet every day. They examine 12 characteristics of legacy through profiling 36 women who have and are leaving remarkable legacies, including biblical figures such as Queen Esther, Ruth, Mary Magdalene and Hannah as well as more modern role models like Rosa Parks, Queen Elizabeth II, Florence Nightingale and Christine Caine.

Green and McAfee will launch their book at Museum of the Bible as part of the museum’s regular speakers series. The hour-long program will be featured on Facebook Live atfacebook.com/museumoftheBible, and a book signing will follow.

WHAT
Museum of the Bible Speakers Series, Only One Life: How a Woman’s Every Day Shapes an Eternal Destiny book launch

WHEN
Tuesday, June 5, 6 – 7 p.m. ET, 7 – 7:30 p.m. ET Book Signing

WHERE
Museum of the Bible (Gathering Room), 400 4th, Washington, DC 20024

COST

• Free for museum members and those with a student ID as well as members of the press
• $5 for the general public

About the Authors:
Jackie Green, co-founder of Museum of the Bible, is a full-time homemaker who relishes her roles of wife, mother to six children, mother-in-law and “Gigi” to four grandchildren. Married to Steve for more than 30 years, Jackie actively supports him in his role as president of Hobby Lobby and chairman of the board of Museum of the Bible.

Lauren Green McAfee is a speaker and writer with a heart to engage others with the Bible. While pursuing her graduate degrees in pastoral counseling and theology, Lauren worked at Museum of the Bible from its founding days until its opening. Today, she works at Hobby Lobby as a corporate ambassador and is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Ethics and Public Policy. Lauren and her husband Michael live in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

About Museum of the Bible
Museum of the Bible is an innovative, global, educational institution whose purpose is to invite all people to engage with the history, narrative and impact of the Bible. Admission to the museum is free with a suggested donation of $15 per person. A fly-through of the museum is viewable here.
Website | museumoftheBible.org  Twitter | @museumofBible

Guests’ personal stories and diverse backgrounds continue to drive the podcast’s success

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 29, 2018) – Today, Thomas Nelson announced that the Jesus Calling Podcast has surpassed one million downloads since it launched in February 2016. The podcast was created as a result of the success of the bestselling daily devotional, Jesus Calling, which has sold more than 22 million units since it was published in 2004. The weekly podcast, available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and other podcasting platforms, features stories from readers of Jesus Calling and illustrates how spending time with the devotional has made a difference in their lives.

“On a daily basis, we receive stories via email and social media about how Jesus Calling has touched a reader’s life,” said Michael Aulisio, vice president of marketing for gift books, Tommy Nelson children’s books and new media at Thomas Nelson. “The podcast has become a revolutionary platform that connects people around the world in one location to hear amazing stories from fellow readers as well as a diverse group of thought leaders – from music to sports to business.  We are thrilled this power of personal storytelling combined with these impactful devotionals is impacting people’s lives and faith.”

Recently, the podcast expanded to include video episodes from individuals such as Kathie Lee Gifford, Emily Ley, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, country star Collin Raye, and Lysa TerKeurst. Those episodes are also available via the podcasting platforms, Facebook, and the Jesus Calling YouTube channel, providing readers and listeners with an additional way to experience the content.

Future episodes will feature incredible personal stories from many other Jesus Calling readers around the world—readers whose lives have been transformed. Upcoming episodes include conversations with Super Bowl-winning quarterback Jeff Hostetler, NFL and Dancing with Stars champion Rashad Jennings, bestselling authors Rachel Hollis and Lisa Harper, and country groups Shenandoah and The Oak Ridge Boys.

Since it was published in 2004, Jesus Calling has expanded to encompass a line of products that includes adult devotionals, coloring books, children’s books, a Bible storybook, custom versions, and many other products. More information is available at www.jesuscalling.com.

About Thomas Nelson: Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson, is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

Contact: Stefanie Schroeder, Publicity Manager  615.902.1722  Stefanie.schroeder@harpercollins.com

(Nashville, TN) May 30, 2018—Today, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) announced Heather Huston as the new senior director of marketing for their Specialty Division, with a focus on Thomas Nelson Gift, Zondervan Gift, and Tommy Nelson.

Huston comes to HCCP with more than 16 years of experience across marketing, communications, and programming, most recently serving as vice president of Marketing at Rural Media Group overseeing marketing strategy for RFD-TV, The Cowboy Channel, and RFD-TV’s The American rodeo.

In her new role with HCCP’s Specialty Publishing division, Huston will be responsible for cultivating strong author and agent relationships, creating strategic vision for Specialty books, and assisting in long-range planning and team management.

“We are thrilled for Heather to fill this role on our team and gain her creative content and digital strategy and passion for storytelling,” says Michael Aulisio, vice president of Marketing for HCCP’s Specialty Publishing division. “We know her contributions will be invaluable to both our authors and their books.”

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., comprises both Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups in addition to Olive Tree Bible Software.  The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space.  Also home to BibleGateway.com, the world’s largest Christian website, and FaithGateway.com, an online community dedicated to helping people grow in their faith. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN with additional offices in the U.S., and Mexico.  For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.

God and Hamilton coming June 7, 2018

Sisters, Oregon (June 1, 2018) — Many audience members leave Hamilton: An American Musical feeling they experienced something spiritual. This may be in part due to the transcendent nature of theatre, but it’s also due to the spiritual themes of Alexander Hamilton’s life. Kansas pastor Kevin Cloud explores these themes in his new book God and Hamilton: Spiritual Themes from the Life of Alexander Hamilton & the Broadway Musical He Inspired.

Cloud, like many, was deeply moved when he saw Hamilton on Broadway in the fall of 2016. “The night I saw the show, I found myself unexpectedly drawn into the presence of God,” he writes in God and Hamilton’s introduction. He went home and read Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. As he read, he continued to note and reflect on the spiritual themes of Hamilton’s life—the same themes he noticed in his own life and in Scripture. These reflections provided the basis of his book.

God and Hamilton’s twelve chapters focus on topics such as grace, equality, despair, and redemption. Details from the musical, both on the stage and behind the scenes, naturally spur further Scripture-based discussion of each theme. Mike Breen, author of Building a Discipling Culture, Covenant and Kingdom, and Family on Mission, praises God and Hamilton, saying, “Kevin portrays a wonderful example of how you can draw from contemporary culture to understand how God works with us on our own heroic journeys. I found his emphasis on God’s grace and faithfulness particularly inspiring and think that all who read it will come away with a better understanding of the challenges we all face. I cannot recommend it more highly!”

KEVIN CLOUD has always seen a deep connection between the arts and the spiritual life. He holds a music degree from the University of Kansas and a MDiv from Nazarene Theological Seminary. He currently pastors at Midwest Fellowship in Kansas City, where he lives with his wife, Allison, and their four sons, Samuel, Benjamin, Andrew, and Levi. Cloud’s new book, God and Hamilton, is published by Deep River Books and releases on June 7, 2018.

God and Hamilton
Kevin Cloud
ISBN: 9781632694775
Retail Price: $14.99
June 7, 2018
https://deepriverbooks.com/books/god-and-hamilton/

Deep River Books, founded in 2001, has become a leader in innovative publishing solutions for authors, with several books on various best-seller lists. Their unique mentoring approach to full-service partnership publishing has set a standard for excellence in production, marketing, and sales.

Contact: info@deepriverbooks.com

(Nashville, TN) May 31, 2018—Today, Zondervan named Stephanie Smith as associate publisher and hired Andy Rogers as acquisitions editor for their nonfiction publishing division.

Smith joined Zondervan in 2014 as an acquisitions editor. Her first acquisition—Coming Clean by Seth Haines—went on to be a Christianity Today book of merit winner. Other notable acquisitions include Wild and Free by Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan, No More Faking Fine by Esther Fleece, and Kind is the New Classy by Candace Cameron Bure. Previously, Smith worked in editorial and content strategy for several organizations, including the Barna Group,Relevant Magazine, and Moody Publishers; she also built her own freelance business managing editorial and marketing campaigns for numerous publishers.

“We are thrilled for Stephanie to step into this new role at Zondervan,” says David Morris, vice president and publisher for Zondervan’s nonfiction publishing division. “She will continue acquiring exceptional authors, and now will also bring her visionary style to help lead and grow our mission well into the future.”

Additionally, Zondervan announced Andy Rogers as acquisitions editor filling the role formerly held by executive editor, John Sloan, now retired. Rogers joins the Zondervan nonfiction publishing group after working as an acquisitions editor at Our Daily Bread. “Andy brings steady critical thinking, solid editing, and confident leadership to his acquisitions work,” says Morris. “We know his expertise will be an invaluable asset to our team and will drive growth for our publishing program.”

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.

Paul Teutul, Jr., star of the Discovery Channel series American Chopper, has returned to television. New episodes of American Chopper began airing Monday, May 28.  The first episode featured Teutul’s book The Build: Designing My Life of Choppers, Family and Faith (WaterBrook, Nov. 7, 2017) as a tension point between Teutul Jr, and his father Paul Teutul, Sr.

In The Build, Teutul shares behind-the-scenes stories from the show and his life with intimate details of going from a troubled teenager to a worldwide reality TV star and a self-educated custom motorcycle designer.

Viewers of the original series were privy to not only Teutul’s creative genius in designing and building custom bikes but his difficult relationship with his father, which culminated in 2009 with Senior firing Junior. Today, Teutul is a husband and father. In 2009, he started his own thriving business, Paul Jr. Designs, where he creates innovative motorcycle designs for corporate clients, film productions and nonprofits. Faith has become an instrumental part of Teutul’s life and a defining part of his journey toward health and healing.

American Choppers airs Monday nights at 10 ET on Discovery Channel.  To watch online, visit https://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/american-chopper/.

For more information on The Build, visit www.waterbrookmultnomah.com.

This June, Koorong celebrates 40 years of service to the Body of Christ in Australia. The Christian book retailer first opened its doors on June 8 th 1978, as Australia’s first specialist Christian bookstore.

With a focus on giving Australians more immediate access to vital Christian resources, Koorong has been making a difference for four decades. As a result, it’s no surprise that Koorong has become more than just a retailer…

Recently, a woman returned to Koorong’s store in Penrith, western Sydney almost two years after her desperate first visit. Two years earlier, this woman had been on a train to the Blue Mountains with the intention of going into the bush and ending her life. But as she neared Penrith, she saw the Koorong sign with its dove logo on the rear of the building. For some reason, she felt compelled to get out of the train and go into the store to find out about God and what Koorong could possibly offer her.

At the store she met manager Warren and another staff member, who talked to her and prayed with her. Warren gave her a copy of Brennan Manning’s Christian classic The Ragamuffin Gospel, which explains that no matter what we have done, who we are or what we do, God’s love for us never changes.

Warren urged the woman to promise to read the book and not harm herself. That was the last Warren saw of her until she returned to the store with a smile and a couple of young children in tow. The woman thanked Warren and Koorong for the book, their prayers and their kindness.

She told him it had saved her life and was helping her find a full and satisfying life in Jesus.

Now, as the Christian bookstore celebrates its 40th anniversary, Koorong believes it’s a “reminder about how what we do impacts the Kingdom of God.”

Fast facts:

• More than 49% of Koorong’s customers are aged between 25 and 44.
• Baptists, Pentecostals, and Anglicans are the largest denominational groups that buy Christian resources through Koorong.
• There were nine(9) major English Bible translations available at Koorong in 1978. They now sell more than 30 major English translations and a plethora of foreign language translations.
• Koorong operates online as well as in 15 stores across Australia.

In August 2015, Koorong was acquired by Bible Society Australia; the company’s proceeds now assist with Bible translation, distribution and engagement, both here in Australia and around the world.

Other articles:

• New styles push up Bible sales – December 22nd 2017 – Eternity News https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/new-stylespush-up-bible-sales/
• Koorong CEO: ‘We like the notion that ideas can fight it out graciously on the shelves’ – June 8th 2017 – Eternity News https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/koorongceo-we-like-the-notion-that-ideas-can-fight-it-outgraciously-on-the-shelves/

To arrange interviews with Koorong’s Penrith Store Manager Warren Ward, please contact John Pearson:
National Media & Communications Manager, Bible Society Australia.
john.pearson@biblesociety.org.au Ph. 0438 771 269