Nashville, Tennessee (February 23, 2018)— After consulting with thousands of churches and pastors, LifeWay Christian Resources President and church leadership expert Thom S. Rainer found that most church members perceive their church to be friendly. But as he researched, he found that the guests typically saw church members as unfriendly. The perception chasm existed because the members were indeed friendly to one another, but many of the guests often felt like they crashed a private party.

In his new book, Becoming a Welcoming Church (March 1, 2018, B&H Publishing), Rainer helps churches and their members explore what it takes for their church to become a welcoming church. The bestselling author of I Am A Church Member and Autopsy of a Deceased Church, Rainer presents a practical framework for churches to become more hospitable.

“More than one million people and counting have read I Am a Church Member,” said Devin Maddox, B&H Book Publisher. “Our expectation is that Becoming a Welcoming Church and the supporting resources will be a wake-up call for churches to be aware of how they can serve guests and be a part of growing the kingdom.”

Designed for church members and leaders to read individually or study together, Becoming a Welcoming Church can be used to assess and audit where churches are on a spectrum between welcoming and not. The companion book We Want You Here is designed as a gift for guests, sending them home with a compelling vision for what pastors want every guest to know after they visit.

B&H is supporting Becoming a Welcoming Church with national advertising and media, bulk purchase options to help churches, and free teaching and study guides for churches to use. For more information, visit http://welcoming.church.

“An outward focus is critical to the overall health of the church,” stated Rainer. “It is my prayer that these books move churches to look beyond themselves and into their community to reach and welcome guests as they carry out the Great Commission.”

Thom S. Rainer is the President and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the largest Christian resource companies in the world. Also a respected pastor and researcher, he has written more than twenty books and coauthored the No. 1 bestsellers Simple Church and I Am a Church Member. Rainer and his wife, Nellie Jo, have three grown sons, several grandchildren, and live in Nashville, Tennessee. Visit ThomRainer.com to learn more.

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.

Media Contact: Jenaye White
Jenaye.White@BHPublishingGroup.com  615-251-2964  www.bhpublishinggroup.com

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE) – LSC Communications (NYSE: LKSD) and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company announced jointly today that they have agreed to enter a supply-chain-services agreement. Beginning in March 2018, LSC will supply a range of services for Wm. B. Eerdmans, including fulfillment and distribution, digital content management on LSC’s Harvest platform, and digital print technologies such as print-on-demand and automatic inventory replenishment.

Eerdmans’ Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Tracy Danz, said, “After several months of study, we concluded that partnering with LSC would be the most effective way to provide the fast and reliable fulfillment service that our customers expect today. LSC has a strong reputation among publishers, and we are confident that our customers will be pleased.”

According to Wm. B. Eerdmans’ President and Publisher, Anita Eerdmans, this new distribution partnership is one of a number of steps the highly regarded publisher is taking to position itself for success in its second century. “In order to safeguard and enhance our ability to publish the excellent books that our readers and authors expect and need, we have undertaken a comprehensive assessment and adjustment of our business operations.” The aim, she said, is to build up core strengths (editing, marketing, and selling) and find the best external solutions for ancillary functions (manufacturing, warehousing, fulfillment, and retail sales).

“LSC continues to focus on providing expanded supply chain services to publishers, allowing our clients to dedicate more resources to creating great content for their customers, while LSC facilitates delivering that content,” said Dave McCree, President of the Book Division at LSC Communications. “We look forward to enabling Wm. B. Eerdmans to increase efficiencies across their distribution channels while providing exceptional service to their customers.”

About LSC Communications
With a rich history of industry experience, innovative solutions and service reliability, LSC Communications (NYSE: LKSD) is a global leader in print and digital media solutions. The company’s traditional and digital print-related services and office products serve the needs of publishers, merchandisers and retailers around the world. With advanced technology and a consultative approach, LSC’s supply chain solutions meet the needs of each business by getting their content into the right hands as efficiently as possible.

About Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company is an independent publisher of religious books, from academic works in theology, biblical studies, religious history and reference to popular titles in spirituality, social and cultural criticism, and literature. Founded in 1911, the company has developed a reputation for publishing excellent literary and intellectual works that offer a myriad of responsible viewpoints from across the religious spectrum. For more information visit www.eerdmans.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and any such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following cautionary statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and are based on current expectations and involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, including risks associated with the ability of LSC Communications to perform as expected as a separate, independent entity and risks associated with the volatility and disruption of the capital and credit markets, and adverse changes in the global economy. Readers are strongly encouraged to read the full cautionary statements contained in LSC’s filings with the SEC. LSC disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations Contact:  Janet Halpin, SVP Treasurer and Investor Relations
investor.relations@lsccom.com  773-272-9275

Source:  LSC Communications, Inc.

New Brunswick, NJ – February 19, 2018 – Writing for Your Life, a resource center for spiritual writers, is pleased to announce that four members of the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association (ECPA) have been named to the Advisory Board of Publishing in Color for African Americans. Those members are: Joyce Dinkins, Our Daily Bread Ministries VOICES Executive Editor, Yvonne Hawkins, Chief Content Office, Urban Ministries, Inc., Jeff Crosby, Publisher, InterVarsity Press, and Jennifer Leep, Executive Vice President, Trade Publishing, Baker Publishing Group.

Publishing in Color is a series of conferences for under-represented groups of spiritual authors such as African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans. The goals of these conferences are to:

• Foster relationships between under-represented groups of prospective spiritual authors and representatives of spiritual book publishing companies and spiritual magazines
• Provide networking and educational opportunities so that prospective authors can learn more about how to work with these publishers and magazines
• Result in an increased number of books and articles published by under-represented groups

The first Publishing in Color conference will serve prospective African American authors and others of African descent. It will take place June 19-20, 2018 at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Additional information about the conference can be found here: https://publishingincolor.com/conferences/

“I look forward to serving new authors at these conferences designed to expand opportunities for African Americans and others in Christian publishing” said Joyce Dinkins, Our Daily Bread Ministries VOICES Executive Editor.

“As members of the Christian publishing industry,” said Jeff Crosby, Publisher of InterVarsity Press, “it is important for us to provide more opportunities for under-represented groups to be heard. The Publishing in Color conference series is an excellent vehicle to help make that happen.”

The first Publishing in Color conference will include accomplished authors from the African American Christian community, including Patricia Raybon, Sophfronia Scott, Rev. Frank A. Thomas, and Rev. Jacqui Lewis. In addition to these keynote speakers, the event will feature publishing house representatives speaking about various aspects of “how to get published” and will include ample time for networking and relationship building.

Publishing in Color has established a scholarship fund that will pay for selected individuals to attend a future Publishing in Color conference at no charge. The fund is currently accepting donations, and profits from the Publishing in Color conferences will be donated to this fund.

You can learn more about the Publishing in Color conference series at: https://publishingincolor.com/

About Writing for Your Life
Writing for Your Life is committed to offering a comprehensive set of useful resources and services to support spiritual writers. We offer in-person writing conferences and online webinars featuring leading spiritual authors and publishing industry experts. Authors discuss and teach about various aspects of spiritual writing. Industry experts offer advice on how to get published and how to market.  We also offer a variety of writer support services including book development, editing, book proposal review, marketing, and platform development. https://writingforyourlife.com/

About Publishing in Color
Publishing in Color is a series of conferences for under-represented groups of spiritual authors such as African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans. The goals of these conferences are to: foster relationships between under-represented groups of prospective spiritual authors and representatives of spiritual book publishing companies and spiritual magazines; provide networking and educational opportunities so that prospective authors can learn more about how to work with these publishers and magazines; and result in an increased number of books and articles published by under-represented groups. https://publishingincolor.com/

For additional information contact Brian Allain at brian@writingforyourlife.com

“The Color of Compromise” to release January 2019

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 14, 2018 — Jemar Tisby, president and co-founder of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, has signed on to publish his first book, “The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism,” with Zondervan in January 2019.

Tisby will reveal the chilling connection between the church and racism throughout American history. He will survey the many ways Christians have reinforced theories of racial superiority and inferiority, and he will provide motivation for readers to take a series of bold actions—which must be performed to forge a future of equity and justice.

Tisby has written about race, religion, and culture for The Washington Post, CNN, Vox, Christianity Today and The New York Times. He is the co-host of the Pass The Mic podcast, which is frequently rated as one of the top 100 religion and faith podcasts on iTunes.

Tisby is a PhD student in history at the University of Mississippi, studying race and religion in the 20th century, and he has spoken to thousands at colleges, conferences, and churches across the country on such topics as “Understanding the Heart Cry of Black Lives Matter,” “The Historical Politics of Race in America,” and “The Image of God and the Minority Experience.” In 2017, the Religion News Association recognized him for excellence in student religion reporting for his articles on the police-related killings of unarmed black citizens.

“I could not be more pleased to have Jemar publishing with Zondervan,” says Stanley N. Gundry, SVP and publisher, Zondervan. “For the last 35 years I have been committed to giving a publishing platform to African-American Christian leaders. Jemar’s voice and expertise is a welcome addition to this publishing program, and the message of this, his debut book, is urgently needed at this moment in our nation.”

“The Color of Compromise” was acquired for publication by Zondervan’s team responsible for Reflective books. Tisby is represented by Erik S. Wolgemuth of Wolgemuth & Associates, Inc. “The Color of Compromise” will be supported by national advertising and publicity campaigns.

About Zondervan: Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications.  Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Mich. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact:  Trinity McFadden, Senior Manager of Publicity
web: trinity.mcfadden@harpercollins.com  tel: 616-698-3514

Author of The Other Side of Infamy Was Recognized by Guinness World Records as “Oldest Published Author” in 2017

CAROL STREAM, ILL. (February 14, 2018) – Jim Downing, the second-oldest known survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, passed away late yesterday afternoon in Colorado Springs, Colo. He’d undergone surgery in recent weeks, and was unable to rally. Downing was 104-years-old. Just last year, Guinness World Records recognized Downing as its “Oldest Male Author” as he was 102 years and 176 days when the final draft of his book, The Other Side of Infamy (NavPress, November 2016), was accepted for publication. This morning, Megyn Kelly on NBC’s “Megyn Kelly Today” shared a very moving tribute to Jim and the impact that he recently had on her life: https://twitter.com/MegynTODAY/status/963822963790434304

“Jim continually amazed me. I met him when he turned 100! Imagine! He had the vim and vigor of my 50-something peers—perhaps more,” said Don Pape, Publisher, NavPress. “But what struck me more than his zest for life was his daily desire to serve his Lord and Savior in the moment. With nary a thought for tomorrow, he lived, serving God each day, maximizing each breath he took. It was a most certain honor to publish his book The Other Side of Infamy and introduce this great Christian citizen to a whole new generation. His character and his deep devotion to his Lord is most certainly a model for us all.”

Downing was born August 22, 1913, in Oak Grove, Missouri, a small community on the eastern outskirts of Kansas City. While his family moved around frequently during Jim’s early years, he spent most of his childhood in Plevna, Missouri, where his father owned a full service general store. At the time Jim left home for the Navy in 1932, he had never lived in a house with indoor plumbing or electricity.

Jim joined the Navy at age 19. The first ship he was assigned to was the USS West Virginia, where he served as gunner’s mate 1^st class and postmaster.  Jim later met his future wife, Morena, at a college graduation in 1940. She was the graduating class women’s speaker. They were married in July 1941 in Hawaii, where Jim was stationed. “The altar was covered with orchids for which we paid $10. The bill for the 55-guest banquet was $55.”

Just 149 days later, the Downings’ lives were turned upside down by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. “I lost everything I owned except the clothes on my back. The only money we had was the change in Morena’s purse. On Christmas Day, Morena left Hawaii on a passenger liner turned military transport. We would not see each other face-to-face for the next 18 months.”

Jim’s life would be forever linked to the “date which will live in infamy.” During the attack, with a fire hose in one hand, Jim memorized the name tags of the fallen around him so he could write a personal letter to each of their families.

Jim’s Navy career culminated with becoming the commanding officer of the USS Patapsco from 1952 until 1955, during the Korean War. While in hostile waters he was exposed to the equivalent of 470 dental x-rays over his entire body when radio-active ash from an “H” bomb being tested at Bikini Atoll covered his ship.

In 1956, after 24 years in the Navy, Jim went to work for The Navigators, a worldwide Christian ministry, with which he has been affiliated since its founding in 1933.

“My life’s ambition was changed when I became [founder Dawson’s Trotman’s] spiritual descendant,” Jim once said. “I had planned to attend law school and enter political office. After meeting Dawson, my life became all about availability to his Lord and mine.”

Jim officially retired in 1983, but in many ways his ministry was just beginning. His retirement allowed him to travel the world to speak and teach. His practical application of the Bible, his warmth and wit, made Jim a popular speaker, especially among college students.

Jim was also the author of three books, published by NavPress:

• Meditation (1976)
• Living Legacy: Reflections on Dawson Trotman and Lorne Sanny (2007).
• The Other Side of Infamy by Jim Downing, with James Lund, (2016).

The Navigators U.S. President Doug Nuenke says, “Jim was an influence among us for walking with God and having our life’s work flow from our knowledge of the Word and walk with Christ. Jim has influenced me by being a man who finished well—with a spirit of humility and faith, not demanding influence but having influence because all see the character of Jesus in his life.”

Jim is survived by six children, nine grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren, including his daughter Marobeth Ruegg; his son Jon Downing and his wife, Cheryl; son Joe Downing; son Don Downing and his wife, Deb; son David Downing and his wife, Crystal; and daughter Joy Riley and her husband, Mark. His son James died of a heart attack in 2013. Morena, his beloved wife of 68 years, died in 2010.

Visit jimdowning.net for more information on Jim’s life and ministry.

Jim Downing was born August 22, 1913 in Oak Grove, Missouri. He joined the Navy at age 19. The first ship to which he was assigned was the USSWest Virginia, where he served as gunner’s mate 1st class and postmaster. Jim later met his future wife, Morena, at a college graduation in 1940. During July of 1941, they were married in Hawaii, where Jim was stationed. Just 149 days later, the Downing’s lives were turned upside down by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. During his life, Jim served admirably in the United States Navy, was a devoted husband for 68 years, and was a father to seven children. He lost his beloved wife, Morena, in 2010. In 2013, Jim was entered into the Congressional Record, with a special declaration by Colorado’s U.S. Representative Doug Lamborn. Today, at 104 years of age, Jim Downing is the second oldest known survivor of the December 7, 1941, Japanese sneak attack that killed more than 2,400 Americans.

The NavPress mission is to advance the calling of The Navigators by bringing biblically rooted, culturally relevant, and highly practical products to people who want to know and love Christ more deeply. Through The Message Bible and other insightful resources, NavPress seeks to bring positive spiritual movement to peoples’ lives. In January 2014, NavPress entered into an alliance with Tyndale House Publishers to strengthen and better position NavPress and its rich content for the future. NavPress provides books and other content that bring spiritual impact, life transformation, and help lead in the mission of making disciples.

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) November 2017 – Little ones today are growing up surrounded by a seemingly endless stream of media vying for their attention. For Christian families, it can be difficult to get kids excited about the things that matter, such as learning about the Bible. Worthy Publishing is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the creative team at Planet 316 to develop a Bible uniquely suited to the needs of today’s child. Using the exciting technology of Augmented Reality, the Planet 316 Story Bible allows beloved Bible stories to pop off the page and engage the hearts and minds of a new generation.

The Planet 316 Story Bible (March 6, 2018; ISBN 9780824956882) contains more than 100 stories and hundreds of illustrations—and it comes with a free downloadable app. As young readers turn the pages, they will find images waiting to spring to life on every page. When children hold a smart phone or tablet over the stories, the app allows characters, animals, and objects to spring up in 3-D. As children interact with the app, the characters talk, the animals make sounds—and the child is immersed in the Bible story. Children can hear Adam and Eve talking in the Garden of Eden, Jonah getting thrown overboard during a loud storm, and Mary and Joseph talking to baby Jesus in the manger at Bethlehem.

“The Bible is already full of adventure,” says Peggy Schaefer, Vice President & Associate Publisher, WorthyKids/Ideals. “But with Augmented Reality and the Planet 316 team, we can make the exciting events of the Bible more tangible and accessible to children.” Bound to be a favorite among little learners, thePlanet 316 Story Bible invites children on a fun-filled Bible journey.

Watch a demo: http://planet316storybible.com/.

Planet 316 is a team of talented writers and artists who share a love for technology and a desire to make the Bible approachable and engaging for children. They create fun and interactive experiences that are infused with faith and family values. While the team members come from diverse backgrounds, many have experience in ministry as pastors, children’s ministers, and creative leaders within their churches.

Worthy Publishing Group is a privately held, independent voice in inspirational publishing, based in Nashville, Tennessee. Worthy includes five distinct imprints: Worthy Books publishes inspirational works addressing spiritual growth, biblical study, faith and culture, biography, fiction, and specialty Bibles; Museum of the Bible Books is a partnership between Worthy and the Museum, publishing books that reveal the history, narrative, and impact of the Bible; Ellie Claire produces beautifully crafted journals, gifts, and paper expressions; Worthy Inspired publishes felt-need, spiritual growth, inspirational, and devotional books; and WorthyKids/Ideals creates colorful, interactive children’s books, including VeggieTales and Berenstain Bears, for ages 1 to 9.

Rivers and Gokey meet at K-LOVE event, and share about Ephesians 2:10 as the inspiration for their work

Carol Stream, Ill.—February 14, 2018—On February 12, beloved and bestselling author Francine Rivers traveled to a K-LOVE event in her hometown of Pleasanton, California, to meet Christian recording artist Danny Gokey. Rivers is a fan of Gokey’s and, beyond that, was also interested in meeting the artist who shares the same inspiration for their respective recent projects.

On February 6, Rivers released her latest novel, The Masterpiece, a probing tale that reminds us that mercy can shape even the most broken among us into an imperfect yet stunning masterpeice. In this return to her romance roots, The Masterpiece is a riveting and highly anticipated story of redemption, grace, and love.

Like Rivers’s new novel, one of Gokey’s latest song releases, “Masterpiece,” is inspired by Ephesians 2:10—“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” As a fan of Gokey’s, Rivers didn’t pass up the chance to meet him and share their inspiration stories. While attending the  K-LOVE event, Rivers shared that they “both got a chuckle” out of their similarly inspired projects—her novel The Masterpiece and his song, “Masterpiece.”

In her new novel, the widely acclaimed Rivers delivers big-canvas storytelling at its finest, bringing this promise from Scripture to life by employing two broken characters with gritty and difficult pasts to demonstrate the healing work of a Savior.

In a YouTube video about the story behind Gokey’s song “Masterpiece,” he shares that one thing everyone has in common is the pain we’ll experience along the journey of life. But he reminds listeners of the hope we have in Christ: “When you come to Christ, you are a new creation. . . . You are a masterpiece. Do not give up; keep moving forward. The pain will turn into triumph.”

Consistent with her body of work, brokenness, healing, and redemption are prevalent themes of Rivers’s novel The Masterpiece. She shares that her goal in writing this novel is for “readers to know that no matter who you are, where you come from, [or] what you’ve done, when you accept Jesus, God will make you into His masterpiece.”

In The Masterpiece, successful LA artist Roman Velasco appears to have everything he could possibly want—money, women, fame. Only Grace Moore, his reluctant, newly hired personal assistant, knows how little he truly has. The demons of Roman’s past seem to echo through the halls of his empty mansion. But Grace doesn’t know how her boss secretly wrestles with those demons: by tagging buildings as the Bird, a notorious but unidentified graffiti artist—an alter ego that could destroy his career and land him in prison.

Like Roman, Grace is wrestling with ghosts and secrets of her own. After a disastrous marriage threw her life completely off course, she vowed never to let love steal her dreams again. But as she gets to know the enigmatic man behind the reputation, it’s as if the jagged pieces of both of their pasts slowly begin to fit together . . . until something so unexpected happens that it changes the course of their relationship—and both their lives—forever.

Trade reviews of The Masterpiece have been consistently strong. Booklist said, “Readers will marvel at Rivers’s storytelling arc encompassing the reconciliation of gritty past misdeeds with the work in progress of a life of forgiveness.

” Kirkus added that Rivers “. . . deftly threads Roman’s and Grace’s lives together as they tiptoe around their emotional scars,” assuring that “fans of Christian romance will delight in this tale of salvation through love.”

Publishers Weekly concurred, saying, “The tale will have her long-standing fans hooked. And the fully formed Roman will likely garner her new ones.” Romantic Times designated The Masterpeice as a Top Pick, calling it

“. . . an amazing, beautifully written tale to be savored and pondered and shared with others.”

New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers has published numerous novels—all bestsellers—and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her Christian novels have been awarded or nominated for many honors, and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for inspirational fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Francine’s novels have been translated into over 30 different languages, and she enjoys bestseller status in many foreign countries. She and her husband, Rick, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. Visit Francine’s website at www.francinerivers.com.

The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers
ISBN: 978-1-4964-0790-0 | Hardcover: $25.99 | Available now

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 Timesbestsellers. 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.

Contact: Katie Dodillet, katiedodillet@tyndale.com, 630.784.5275

Grand Rapids, Mich., Feb. 16, 2018 — The world’s most powerful Bible software brings you the most visually striking new study Bible!

From the makers of Logos Bible Software, the NKJV Faithlife Illustrated Study Bible’s striking illustrations and comprehensive verse-by-verse insights will serve as a guide to help you understand and apply God’s Word.

“Faithlife—the creators of Logos Bible Software—had taken on a challenging task of working from the original languages when developing these notes for their robust study Bible app, creating compelling and thoughtful notes to help a reader understand the text, and, where possible, to help them explore various angles to the text,” says Melinda Bouma, associate publisher, Zondervan Bible Group. “Pairing those notes with the innovative infographics in this rich, full-color Bible makes for a powerful study experience for the curious reader.”

Rivers Returns to Her Romance Roots with Unexpected and Redemptive Love Story

The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers   ISBN: 978-1-4964-0790-0 | Hardcover: $25.99

Carol Stream, Ill.—February 16, 2018—The Masterpiece, Francine Rivers’s riveting and highly anticipated tale of redemption, grace, and love, released on February 6, 2018, from Tyndale House Publishers and quickly skyrocketed to bestseller standing. In its release week, the title debuted at #6 on the Publishers Weekly Bestsellerslist (based on book sales data from Nielsen BookScan), #15 on the New York Times Combined Print & E-Book Best Sellers list, and #16 on the USA Today Best-Selling Books list.

In her new novel, the widely acclaimed Rivers returns to her romance roots with a probing tale that reminds us that mercy can shape even the most broken among us into an imperfect yet stunning masterpiece. She delivers big-canvas storytelling at its finest, inspired by Ephesians 2:10—“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” In bringing this promise to life, Rivers employs two broken characters with gritty and difficult pasts to demonstrate the healing work of the Savior.

Successful LA artist Roman Velasco appears to have everything he could possibly want—money, women, fame. Only Grace Moore, his reluctant, newly hired personal assistant, knows how little he truly has. The demons of Roman’s past seem to echo through the halls of his empty mansion. But Grace doesn’t know how her boss secretly wrestles with those demons: by tagging buildings as the Bird, a notorious but unidentified graffiti artist—an alter ego that could destroy his career and land him in prison.

Like Roman, Grace is wrestling with ghosts and secrets of her own. After a disastrous marriage threw her life completely off course, she vowed never to let love steal her dreams again. But as she gets to know the enigmatic man behind the reputation, it’s as if the jagged pieces of both of their pasts slowly begin to fit together . . . until something so unexpected happens that it changes the course of their relationship—and both their lives—forever.

Consistent with her body of work, brokenness, healing, and redemption are prevalent themes of the story. Rivers shares that her goal in writing this novel is for “readers to know that no matter who you are, where you come from, [or] what you’ve done, when you accept Jesus, God will make you into His masterpiece.”

Trade reviews of The Masterpiece have been consistently strong. Booklist said, “Readers will marvel at Rivers’s storytelling arc encompassing the reconciliation of gritty past misdeeds with the work in progress of a life of forgiveness.” Kirkus added that Rivers “. . . deftly threads Roman’s and Grace’s lives together as they tiptoe around their emotional scars,” assuring that “fans of Christian romance will delight in this tale of salvation through love.”  Publishers Weekly concurred, saying, “The tale will have her long-standing fans hooked. And the fully formed Roman will likely garner her new ones.” Library Journal  added, “This character-driven romance will enthrall her many fans.” Romantic Times designated The Masterpiece as a Top Pick, calling it “. . . an amazing, beautifully written tale to be savored and pondered and shared with others.”

New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers has published numerous novels—all bestsellers—and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her Christian novels have been awarded or nominated for many honors, and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for inspirational fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Francine’s novels have been translated into over 30 different languages, and she enjoys bestseller status in many foreign countries. She and her husband, Rick, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. Visit Francine’s website at www.francinerivers.com.

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.

Contact: Katie Dodillet, katiedodillet@tyndale.com, 630.784.5275

Join counselor and teacher Julie Sparkman as she explores Jesus’ gentle yet costly invitation to true rest

BIRMINGHAM: New Hope^® Publishers announces the release of Unhitching from the Crazy Train: Finding Rest in a World You Can’t Control by Julie Sparkman. (New Hope/February 5, 2018/ISBN: 978-1-62591-536-8/$14.99). We all have a picture of how life should go. The dream job. Close friendships. Loving, grateful children. A perfect marriage. But more often than not, life doesn’t go according to our plan. So we corral and control—determined to make our picture come true. When our dream job just isn’t that fulfilling, when our friends disappoint us, when our perfect angels turn into teenager with minds of their own, when our marriage is far from perfect—what do we do with that? Revealing that most of the craziness of life stems from unrealistic expectations, counselor and author Julie Sparkman offers practical insight for how to let go of unintentional efforts to corral and control people and circumstances. Replace unrealistic expectations with God’s bigger picture, and experience a deep, soulful rest—rest that is dependent on the finished work of a Savior who will never leave us alone.

View the book trailer here. 

Learn more about Julie and Unhitching from the Crazy Train at NewHopePublishers.com/shop/unhitching-crazy-train. 

Advance Praise
“I’ve been blessed to see how Julie’s teaching can unhitch a church and family from the crazy train. And I’m so thankful that many more will be challenged and encouraged by this wonderful book.” —Collin Hansen, editorial director of The Gospel Coalition and author ofBlind Spots: Becoming a Courageous, Compassionate, and Commissioned Church

“In Unhitching from the Crazy Train, Julie Sparkman invites us to experience a meal of pure gospel with a garnishing of beautiful humor that causes us to lean in and laugh. The result is that we experience more of our Savior in everyday life and learn how to trust Him for the rest He promises as we walk with Him.” —Susan and Newt Crenshaw, president of Young Life

“Unhitching from the Crazy Train is an enlightening, encouraging resource for examining what we rely on and helping us place our trust in Christ. This book has helped me and many I know to jump off that crazy train . . . or to never hop on in the first place!” —Lauren Hansen, deacon of women’s ministry, Redeemer Community Church, Birmingham, AL

About the Author

Julie Sparkman brings fun and practical insights to serious topics such as applying the gospel to otherwise crazy everyday relationships. A full-time certified counselor by the American Association of Christian Counselors, she is the cofounder and executive director of Restore Ministries, a counseling service for men, women, children/teens, and college students. She is the author of Unhitching from the Crazy Train, which is based on a small group curriculum by the same name. She calls the greater Birmingham, Alabama, area home, where she has been instrumental in creating and training pastoral care teams.

To request a review copy of Unhitching from the Crazy Train, to schedule an interview with Julie, or for more information, please contact Meredith Dunn, Meredith@NewHopePublishers.com.