From the bestselling author of Eat Cake. Be Brave, a love letter to the strong, opinionated Southern women who raised her and surround us all

Lucy and Ethel. Laverne and Shirley. Dorothy, Sophia, Blanche, and Rose. Chicken-Fried Women is a celebration of them: the women who raised us, taught us to cook and clap back. The ones who prayed for us, raged at us and humbled us a notch or two when we needed it. These are the women who have encouraged us, teased us, chastised us, and mortified us. And as they fill up the seats around our table, we realize we wouldn’t have it any other way.

They’re our Chicken-Fried Women—battered on the outside, tender on the inside. Some are salty and a couple are Nashville Hot.  Filled with a hilarious cast of larger-than life women, this book explores why no one messes with Southern women and their hair, why the whole family comes along when you go bra shopping, why true crime and aquarobics brings us together, and how faith shapes us through it all.

Insightful, big-hearted and laugh-out-loud funny, Chicken-Fried Women is a celebration of friendship, kinship and the women who shaped us.

Melissa Radke is a best-selling author, speaker, and television personality who has charmed audiences worldwide with her hilarious and candid insights on life, love, and the complexities of the modern world. Known as the HGIC—Head Girlfriend in Charge—Melissa has been cheering women on since 2016 and sharing tips on what to buy, what to wear, how to LAUGH, and do your hair with her online community of over 1.1 million followers.

Originally from East Texas, Melissa spent over fifteen years in Nashville, Tennessee, having graduated from Belmont University with a bachelor’s degree in commercial music performance. With a love of writing about real life, parenting, and the importance of learning our identity, Melissa published her national best-selling book, Eat Cake. Be Brave., in 2018, released by Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group. She was also the star of the family-friendly television show The Radkes on the USA Network. The show was an unscripted sitcom that focused on her big, loud Southern family and all of their charm.

A mom to two and a wife to one, Melissa embodies the perfect Southern blend of sweet tea and hairspray. She married her college sweetheart, David, in 1994. Melissa, David, and their teenage children, Remi and Rocco, live in the small East Texas town where she was born and raised, Lufkin, Texas.

 

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) is delighted to announce that three of its titles have been shortlisted for the ECPA Christian Book Award 2025.

Practicing The Way by John Mark Comer (published 16th January 2024 in the UK) has been nominated as a Christian Book Award finalist in the Christian Living category.

My Big Story Bible by leading theologian Tom Wright (published 21st March 2024 in the UK), has been nominated as a Christian Book Award finalist in the Children category. SPCK’s Rights team has sold My Big Story Bible in 16 languages so far.

And Jesus and The Powers by Tom Wright and Michael F. Bird (published 21st March 2024 in the UK), has been nominated as a Christian Book Award finalist in the Faith and Culture Category.

The winners will be announced on the 29th April 2025 at the ECPA Awards Celebration at the Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel.

Sam Richardson, CEO of SPCK, said: “We are thrilled to have no less than three of our titles shortlisted in different categories for the ECPA Christian Book Award 2025. SPCK is honoured to have been included alongside such a brilliant list of fellow publishers, and we celebrate the diverse range of Christian books in consideration for these awards – all testament to the fact that faith is very much alive in 2025”.

SPCK CEO Sam Richardson is available for interview.

Press contact:  Emily Beater; ebeater@spck.org.uk 

PRH Christian Publishing Group welcomes Jennifer Cerna to the team as Associate Project & Studio Manager, reporting to Creative Director Kristopher Orr.

Cerna is an exceptional project manager with experience in guiding diverse campaigns most recently for Jreamit Marketing Agency. Her experience taking projects from concept through deliverables on budget and on time, managing unforeseen challenges, and navigating the difficulties inherent to complex projects has equipped her to be a tremendous addition to PRH Christian’s growing team. Cerna holds a BSBA from The University of Central Florida and several certifications from Six Sigma, Project Management Institute, and Coursera. She is currently pursuing a Certified Associate in Project Management Certification.

As an excellent communicator, distiller of critical information, discerner of deadlines, and wrangler of creatives, Cerna bolsters the infrastructure of PRH Christian’s Creative Services department. She resides in Orlando, Florida.

PRH Christian Publishing Group is a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.

Mark Batterson, New York Times bestselling author and lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C., returns to Multnomah for a two-book deal.

His first title, Gradually Then Suddenly: Success at the Speed of a Seed, draws from nearly three decades of ministry leadership to reveal the counterintuitive truth that lasting achievement follows a predictable pattern—gradual, faithful persistence followed by moments of dramatic breakthrough. In an age of instant gratification and quick fixes, this timely message offers readers a biblical framework for success by helping them develop the staying power needed to experience God’s breakthrough moments.

The second book is yet to be determined.

The deal includes companion study guides for both titles with publication scheduled to begin in Fall 2025.

World rights were acquired by Drew Dixon, Executive Editor at Multnomah, from Esther Fedorkevich at The Fedd Agency.

For rights inquiries, contact Denise Cronin at decronin@penguinrandomhouse.com.

Multnomah is an imprint of the PRH Christian Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.

Orleans, MA — Paraclete Press is pleased to announce Ahoti: A Story of Tamar by Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and Eva Marie Everson (Historical Adult Fiction) and Contemporary Catholic Poetry: An Anthology edited by April Lindner and Ryan Wilson (Anthologies) have been recognized as finalists in the 27th annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

As part of its mission to discover, review, and share the best books from university and independent publishers, Foreword Magazine, Inc. hosts an annual awards program each year.

The complete list of finalists can be found at: https://www.forewordreviews.com/awards/finalists/2024/

“This year’s submissions have truly impressed me with their depth and diversity. Each finalist stands as a testament to the remarkable talent and vision within the independent publishing world.

“The INDIES not only celebrates these exceptional literary works but also plays a pivotal role in connecting them with librarians and booksellers, ensuring that a rich variety of voices continues to thrive in the world.” said Christopher Nesbit, INDIES Award Director.

Paraclete Press is honored to have Ahoti and Contemporary Catholic Poetry counted among this year’s finalists for the INDIES Awards. Paraclete strives to express beauty and truth through the power of the written word. We count it a privilege to gather these treasures which lift our hearts to God and share them with the world.

Winners in each genre, along with Editor’s Choice Prize winners and Foreword’s Indie Publisher of the Year, will be announced in June 2025.

Contact:  Danielle Bushnell, Publicist, 774-722-5181, danielleb@paracletepress.com, www.paracletepress.com

For almost 40 years, 2K Denmark has developed functional fonts that reflect the ambitions of Sustainable Typesetting® – greater readability, on fewer pages, while simultaneously reducing both the production cost and the CO2 footprint of book production.

Amazon, the world’s largest book producer, has considered this a good idea, and have commissioned a custom font family to benefit their publishers and self-publishers. The result is Amazon Endure, which was presented on Earth Day on April 22. We are proud that a company like Amazon has chosen 2K as a supplier for this important initiative.

In creating the Amazon Endure typeface, our primary ambition was to combine functionality with aesthetics.

Optimizing Amazon Endure’s functionality led us to prioritize maintaining a high level of readability while saving a significant amount of real estate (book pages).

The letterforms are designed with a narrower width, a larger x-height, and a slanted inner balance to help the reader move forward.

An angular design helps define the letters at small sizes and strengthens letter recognition.

When designing Amazon Endure’s aesthetic, we sought to integrate classic design features with a modern, clean, straightforward look.

Creating a harmony of efficiency, character, and readability became a hallmark of this typeface family. Amazon Endure is carefully kerned to balance the white space around the letterforms, creating harmonious letter combinations while supporting readability.

More info at Amazon: https://imdb.to/44zRgIM

New Animated Film and Faith-Filled Books Help Kids Discover the Love of Christ

CAROL STREAM, IL/Sparta, WI (April 14, 2025)—Tyndale Kids and the Salvation Poem Project are thrilled to announce a meaningful new partnership rooted in a shared mission: to lead children to Jesus, share his truth, and help them fall in love with him. This collaboration brings together the creative strengths of two trusted organizations and introduces a collection of new resources designed to nurture kids’ faith—including four products from Tyndale Kids this fall and the upcoming animated feature film, Light of the World, from the Salvation Poem Project. Together, these offerings invite families to experience the life-changing story of Jesus in a fresh and accessible way—through both page and screen.

“Partnering with the Salvation Poem Project has been a joy,” said Linda Howard, associate publisher of Tyndale Kids. “Together, we are offering families a full experience—one that captures the beauty of Jesus’ story and invites kids to live a life for him.”

Releasing in theaters nationwide on September 5, 2025, Light of the World is a visually stunning 2D-animated film that tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of the apostle John. With artistic direction from seasoned Disney veterans—including directors John J. Schafer (Superbook) and Tom Bancroft (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast), and animation director Tony Bancroft (Mulan, Mary Poppins Returns)—the film blends classic animation with heartfelt storytelling to capture the life, miracles, and resurrection of Jesus.

“It was vital that we partnered with a publisher who understood our ministry goals. Luckily, Tyndale is a ministry! It’s been an honor to labor together to share the gospel through these publishing products,” said Brennan McPherson, president of the Salvation Poem Project. “We believe that these books will not only extend people’s experience with our film, Light of the World, but will also give them real additional spiritual value.”

To support the film’s release, Tyndale Kids is publishing two books and two activity books this fall that extend the story beyond the screen and into homes, churches, and classrooms. Each resource is created to help kids connect with the heart of Jesus, understand his love, and build a faith that lasts:

• Light of the World: Josiah’s Story—A beautifully illustrated picture book that introduces Jesus through the eyes of a young boy named Josiah
• Light of the World Family Devotional—A 90-day devotional journey filled with Scripture, questions, and activities to bring families closer to God
• Light of the World: Friends of Jesus Coloring and Activity Book—A fun, interactive companion for kids to explore moments from the film
• Light of the World: Miracles of Jesus Coloring and Activity Book—Highlights Jesus’ miraculous works through playful and meaningful illustrations

This partnership also includes a free, downloadable kids’ ministry curriculum designed by pastors and children’s ministry leaders, inspired by Light of the World. It’s an ideal resource for churches and ministries eager to bring the gospel to life for the next generation.

With Tyndale’s longstanding legacy of publishing biblically sound and life-giving resources and millions already impacted by the Salvation Poem Project around the globe, this collaboration marks a powerful new chapter in faith-based family media.

Find more information on the kids’ books at mediacenter.tyndale.com.

Learn more, watch the official trailer, and access ministry resources at LightOfTheWorld.com.

About Tyndale House Publishers
Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Today, Tyndale is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale’s mission is to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible in language that they can relate and respond to. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT) and offers nonfiction books that equip readers with Christ-centered insight, counsel, and life-improving stories. In addition, Tyndale publishes fiction from fresh new voices and celebrated authors alike, capturing the imagination of millions of readers. With a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing future generations, Tyndale also publishes children’s products that make God’s Word and wisdom come alive. Tyndale’s independent status allows it to follow its founding model, giving a substantial portion of annual revenue—millions of dollars per year—through corporate donations and the work of Tyndale House Foundation. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

About the Salvation Poem Project
The Salvation Poem Project is a team of filmmakers, game developers, and multimedia storytellers whose goal is to craft stories to share Jesus Christ with the world. Hundreds of millions worldwide have been reached by the Salvation Poem Project’s intellectual property through printed literature, radio and tv broadcasts, websites, social media, smartphone apps (and more) in nearly 100 languages.

Media Contact:  Andrea Martin, andreamartin@tyndale.com, 630.784.5318

Katherine Easter at Zonderkidz has bought world rights to Rosie’s Ranch Rescue and Rosie’s Country Christmas written by Paige Murray, and illustrated by Kristen Humphrey.

This two-book deal will continue the adventures of Rosie the Clydesdale horse and her cowgirl friend Oakley, whom readers met in Murray’s debut children’s book, Rosie’s Wild Ride. Rosie’s Wild Ride.

The publications are scheduled for fall 2025 and fall of 2026.

Esther Fleece Allen represented the author, and Tina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.

April 2025 | LISLE, IL—Dr. Lina Abujamra has signed a contract with InterVarsity Press (IVP) for the Summer 2026 release of her book tentatively titled Honestly: How to Live an Authentic Life for Jesus.

With the wave of revivals happening on college campuses in the United States, Honestly offers the “What next?” for young people wondering what do with their spiritual renewal.

Kelli Trujillo, IVP Trade Editor, said, “God is at work among today’s college students and young adults—as we see in campus revivals and a spirit of passion among many young people in the church. But what comes after revival or renewal? We’re looking forward to working with Lina Abujamra to share her candid message about what it looks like to embrace a life of total devotion to Jesus.”

Honestly provides a practical biblical resource to help young adults deepen their walk with God and figure out how to live an authentic life for Jesus for the long haul.

“It’s not naive to do everything in your power to equip yourself to stand strong no matter what comes your way,” said Abujamra. “My goal in writing this book is to help you grow old with Jesus. It’s my best attempt to provide you with a practical guide to experiencing God more deeply and to follow him more enduringly. It’s everything I know about knowing and following Jesus.”

Abujamra is a Lebanese-born pediatric emergency room doctor who now practices telemedicine full time. She also oversees the ministry Living with Power, which provides medical and humanitarian aid to Lebanese people, refugee communities in Lebanon, and Ukrainian families displaced by the war.

For more than twenty years, Abujamra has been teaching the Bible and speaking at conferences, retreats, and colleges, both in the United States and overseas. She is the author of several books, including Still Standing and Don’t Tell Anyone You’re Reading This: A Christian Doctor’s Thoughts on Sex, Shame, and Other Troublesome Issues, as well as the Bible study series Mapping the Footsteps of God.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Abujamra now calls Chicago home.

Contact:  Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com