TEMPE, ARIZ., October 9, 2017 – ECPA has announced the recipients of the Emerging Leaders scholarship program for ECPA PubU, the industry’s training and networking event for Christian publishing professionals.  Sponsored by NPD Book and ECPA, nominations were made by Christian publishers with a goal to invest in up and coming industry professionals identified as future leaders.  Nominees were considered based on their current and potential contributions to their companies.

“It’s a pleasure to support the Emerging Leaders program at PubU for the second year in a row,” expressed Kristen McLean, Executive Director of Business Development at NPD Book.  “We really believe in supporting and encouraging the development of the next generation of Christian publishing leadership at NPD, and we think PubU is the perfect opportunity to work with publishers to identify and nurture these fantastic candidates.”

The class of ten, selected from a strong pool of candidates, will be officially introduced at PubU and honored at the opening session, which will also feature a keynote by Gabe Lyons and the announcement of the Top Shelf Book Cover Award winners.

“The industry is already recognizing the positive effect of identifying and supporting the next generation of publishing professionals,” stated ECPA executive director Stan Jantz. “These are the voices we need to take Christian publishing into the future and we congratulate the 2017 class of industry emerging leaders.”

The PubU 2017 class of Emerging Leaders are:

Caitlyn Carlson started her work at David Cook as an intern from Cedarville University.  She was so thorough she was then offered a position as copy editor upon graduation. More recently she joined NavPress where she is an acquisitions editor.  She is married to Rob, a licensed family counselor, and mother to August.

 

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Jeff Cooley is one of the most well rounded and passionate people in our industry. As part of the sales team, he serves as a conduit to so many different promotional initiatives including design, custom products, promotion planning, and product photography. “He is a true servant and I can think of no other as passionate about his craft. His team loves him for it,” says B&H Publishing’s VP of Marketing Dave Schroeder.

 

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Janelle Coury is a Design & Layout Manager for Harvest House Publishers. “Janelle is a phenomenal designer with vision, passion, and excellent intuition, says Jennifer Butenschoen, Harvest House Director of Production and Digital Content.  “She came to Harvest House right after college and took off flying. Janelle’s professional, organizational and team development skills stand out immediately as she is all about making the process collaborative for the best results.  She is definitely an emerging leader in our industry!”

 

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Christiann Da Silva came to LifeWay from the retail world wanting to have a greater impact on the lives of others through Christian literature.  His love and passion for a more global audience has been influential in the growth of LifeWay’s Spanish and Portuguese publishing initiatives.  “We’d like to invest in Christiann’s growth within publishing through the PubU emerging leader program,” states LifeWay Director Cristopher Garrido.

 

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Trice Gibbons left a career in healthcare strategic business planning and product development to attend Vanderbilt Divinity School where he earned the Master of Divinity degree in 2013. After serving as a hospice chaplain and a brief return to healthcare, Trice joined The United Methodist Publishing House in 2016 as Marketing Manager with responsibility for three product lines—Covenant Bible Study, MinistryMatters.com, and Abingdon Press Leadership titles. Trice is an ordained ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and actively participates in the life of Nashville’s Second Presbyterian Church.

 

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Chelsea Gonzalez is a Marketing, Sales, and Rights Assistant for Hendrickson Publishers, and an exceptional young professional who came from Harvard University Press.  She is bilingual and has been trained in multiple dimensions of publishing through her Master’s program and is now able to bring her skills into the Christian publishing sector.  “Though Chelsea has only one-year of publishing experience, I expect she will rapidly become a leader in our industry,” says Paul Hendrickson, general manager of Hendrickson Publishers.

 

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Christy Lynch is a Production Manager for Abingdon/United Methodist Publishing House.  She has worked in book production for the past five years and is pursuing an MFA in creative writing (nonfiction emphasis) at the University of the South. She is swift and on the career path toward product acquisition and responsibility for a product line. “She has superb organizational skills and coordinates a team of six editors and a designer who produce sixty titles a year,” states her supervisor, Paul Franklyn, at The United Methodist Publishing House.

 

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Amanda Martin is the Editorial Director at P&R Publishing.  She came to P&R as a production and editorial intern shortly after college.  She soon had opportunities to plunge into many areas of publishing and became involved in developing manuscripts.  Amanda’s rise to editorial director has been swift, and she realizes she needs development too: “I know I still have much to learn so I can serve my company well in the future.  I look forward to how PubU can help me to accomplish that.”

 

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Brittany Sky is Senior Editor at the United Methodist Publishing House. “Brittany is a rising star and brings innovation, energy, and interpersonal skills that will propel her and our children’s unit to new levels,” states UMPH supervisor Marj Pon.  She is a strong leader with Lean training, and actively engages strategy and team development to improve product creation, efficiencies, and both sales and cost of goods improvements.

 

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Tiffany Thomas is the Assistant Rights and Data Coordinator at InterVarsity Press.  She shifted careers to work in publishing a little over a year ago and has dived into learning about publishing and subsidiary rights with pleasure.  “Rights work requires a unique set of skills,” states IVP Sr. Rights & Contracts Manager Ellen Hsu.  “Tiffany is diligent and capable and shows a quiet perseverance and unflappable attitude and we’re excited to see how her career develops at IVP.”

 

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About PubU
ECPA PubU is the industry’s “Publishing University” for Christian publishing professionals, taught by experts and industry leaders, and considered the premier training ground for the industry. In-depth sessions are offered in Marketing & Publicity, Reader Engagement, Editorial, Design, Data, Delivery & Workflow and Rights. In 2017, PubU will be held November 7-8 at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennesee and will feature 42 community sessions and a plenary session with Gabe Lyons. Full program details and registration are at ECPAPubU.org.

About ECPA
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. ECPA.org

About NPD Book
NPD Book is the market leader in data and insights for the $24B US Publishing Industry. Through our portfolio of products and services including BookScan, PubTrack Digital, PubTrack Christian, and Books & Consumers, along with our analysts’ unique industry expertise, we help our clients understand their performance, their consumers, and their opportunities and grow their businesses in today’s rapidly evolving retail landscape.

Media Contact: Stan Jantz, ECPA executive director
sjantz@ecpa.org  480-966-3998 

WESTMONT, IL—The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile has quickly become IVP’s bestselling title after releasing in October 2016. InterVarsity Press is now pleased to announce that in April 2018 Stabile will be launching another book about the Enneagram titled The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships. 

The Enneagram, an ancient personality typing system, is known for its uncanny accuracy in describing how human beings are wired, both positively and negatively. Stabile, an internationally recognized Enneagram master teacher, has conducted more than five hundred Enneagram workshops at renowned universities, churches, and for-profit and nonprofit entities. Along with her husband, Rev. Joseph Stabile, she is also the cofounder of Life in the Trinity Ministry, a nonprofit, nondenominational ministry committed to the spiritual growth and formation of adults.

“One of the privileges of being an editor is learning from authors,” said Cindy Bunch, IVP’s associate publisher, editorial. “It has been my delight to learn more about the Enneagram from Suzanne Stabile in our work on The Road Back to You. She has a wealth of wisdom on applying the Enneagram to relationships, and I look forward to being on the front lines of reading and learning from her again.”

Jeff Crosby, IVP’s publisher, said, “Suzanne’s work in support of the coauthored book The Road Back to You has clearly demonstrated her keen ability as a communicator of the Enneagram tool of self-discovery. She has been a delight to work with from start to finish, and we are privileged to bring her next book with its unique focus on relationships to market next year.”

The Road Back to You, a primer on the Enneagram, has introduced more than fifty thousand readers to the Enneagram numbers. Stabile says that the intended audience for The Path Between Us is those people who know their Enneagram numbers and want to improve their relationships at work, in their community, and at home.

“My hope is that my work in this book will add understanding and insight to a conversation about problems and rewards in relating to other people,” Stabile said. “At the same time I will suggest some new patterns of behavior that will enhance our contribution to healthy relationships and suggest ideas for relating to people of each number whether or not they know the Enneagram.”

Sheryl Fullerton, Stabile’s agent, first got to know her as an Enneagram student and friend. They have now known each other and collaborated on various projects for ten years, most recently on the publishing of The Path Between Us. “I have always seen Suzanne as an incredibly gifted teacher, a delightful (and funny) person, and a deeply wise spiritual mentor, so when she asked me to be part of publishing her book, I was glad to help,” Fullerton said. “I am also a longtime admirer of IVP and its staff. That admiration grew exponentially as I’ve seen the excellence of what they have done to make The Road Back to Youa bestseller. So when it came time for Suzanne to write her new book, The Path Between Us, we knew IVP was the best home for it. We are so happy that IVP agreed.”

Founded in 1947 as an extension of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, InterVarsity Press serves those in the university, the church and the world by publishing thoughtful Christian books that equip and encourage people to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord in all of life. For more information, visit ivpress.com.

Contact:  Krista Clayton
630.734.4013 | kclayton@ivpress.com

Uhrichsville, OH—Amish Country’s most beloved storyteller, Wanda E. Brunstetter, has reached another historic milestone in her accomplished writing career. With the help of her bestselling February release, The Seekers, she has officially exceeded the 10 million mark in book sales.

Brunstetter has become a force to be reckoned with in both the inspirational and mainstream book markets. A large majority of her titles have frequented the nation’s most prestigious bestseller lists and she has received many awards and recognitions over the years. Although she’s grateful for her long list of achievements, Wanda personally feels that one of her greatest accomplishments is gaining the respect and trust of her large Amish readership, who have continually praised her for accurately portraying their simple way of life.

In addition to her gift for writing and strong work ethic, much of Brunstetter’s success can be attributed to her deep connection and dedication to her readers. She interacts with her fans during numerous book signings and speaking engagements she attends nationwide, responds to messages and comments on social media, and personally replies to the hundreds of e-mails she receives from her fans each year. This great connection is one of the things that sets her apart from the competition and has created a strong loyalty among her readers.

Please join Barbour Publishing in recognizing this wonderful achievement by posting a note of congratulations on Wanda’s Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/WandaBrunstetterFans

To learn more about Wanda E. Brunstetter, visit her website: www.wandabrunstetter.com.

Media Contact: Shalyn Sattler ssattler@barbourbooks.com 740.922.6045 X 109

DR. OZ PUTS POWER OF FAITH FRONT AND CENTER WITH ‘FAITHFUL FRIDAYS’ Featuring Hollywood Producer & Preacher DeVon Franklin Fridays in February on The Dr. Oz Show; Emmy® Award-Winning Show Will Focus on Intersection of Faith and Medicine

DoctorOz.com

WHAT: Faithful Fridays Each Friday in February a new, first-of-its-kind segment on The Dr. Oz Show takes an intimate look at the intersection of faith and medicine. To explore body and soul, Dr. Oz is joined by author, speaker and preacher DeVon Franklin, whom Oprah Winfrey calls “a bonafide dynamo . . . a different kind of spiritual teacher for our times.” Faithful Fridays Sneak Peak WHO: Dr. Oz and DeVon Franklin will be joined by top faith leaders—Hispanic leader Samuel Rodriguez, New York Times best-selling author and star of War Room Priscilla Shirer, and Hillsong New York Pastor Carl Lentz—who add their voices to the natural link between spirituality and well-being: Week 1—Feb. 3 Blessed 30 Challenge—30 Days of Healthy, Blessed Living Dr. Oz, DeVon Franklin and their panel of faith leaders—Carl Lentz, Samuel Rodriguez and Priscilla Shirer—issue the challenge to viewers to go from stressed to blessed in 30 days. Week 2—Feb. 10 Miraculous Medical Recoveries Only God Can Explain Joining Dr. Oz is Hillsong NYC’s Carl Lentz and Dr. Harly Rotbart, nationally renowned pediatrician, physician-scientist, parenting expert, speaker and educator and author of The Miracles Project. Week 3—Feb. 17 Keeping the Faith Through Times of Loss Kathie Lee Gifford recounts how faith helped her grieve losing her husband, noted professional football player and broadcaster Frank Gifford. Week 4—Feb. 24 How to Tap into Your Faith for the Relationship, Career and Life You’ve Wanted Dr. Oz, DeVon Franklin and their panel of faith leaders introduce The Dr. Oz Show to how faith can improve every area of your life and then conduct live interventions with people struggling with their faith. FROM DR. OZ: “Faith and spirituality don’t live in a Sunday-sized compartment, or even weeklong just within the walls of a church building. Faith threads through every aspect of what makes life better.” From serving as the health expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Oz vaulted to international acclaim with The Dr. Oz Show. Seen around the world by millions daily, Dr. Oz helps viewers balance life physically, mentally and spiritually. Still performing 100 cardiac surgeries each year, Dr. Oz is a professor of surgery at Columbia University and directs the Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital. ABOUT DEVON FRANKLIN: The man Oprah Winfrey calls “a bonafide dynamo . . a different kind of spiritual teacher for our times” is an award-winning Hollywood producer, best-selling author, renowned preacher and motivational speaker–a growing force in media. His commitment to uplift the masses through entertainment has made DeVon a leading spokesperson on faith, spiritual wellness and personal development. Beliefnet named him one of the “Most Influential Christians Under 40.” DeVon produced the hit film Miracles From Heaven, wrote the No. 2 New York Times best-selling self-help book, The Wait, with his wife, actress Meagan Good, and is producing the upcoming animated film, The Star. NEWS HOOKS: DOES FAITH AFFECT OUR WELL-BEING? Dr. Oz has long focused on “body, mind and spirit” as cornerstones of well-being. What role can faith play in that balance? Ask Dr. Oz and DeVon Franklin what they’ve learned about faith’s power in all aspects of life. DO FAITH AND MEDICAL SCIENCE MIX? How is faith a legitimate component in overall health? Who better to ask than Dr. Oz—a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon—and DeVon Franklin—a preacher, author, motivator and Hollywood film producer? To learn more, visit: DoctorOz.com For interviews, contact Michael Conrad at Michael@Lovell-Fairchild.com or 214-616-0320. Visit Lovell-Fairchild.com for: Press Release Media Tip Sheet Suggested Interview Questions Frequently Asked Questions About The Dr. Oz Show The eight-time Daytime Emmy Award®-winning syndicated daily series The Dr. Oz Show is hosted by Dr. Mehmet Oz, accredited health expert, best-selling author and world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon.The Dr. Oz Show is an informative hour that offers audiences the opportunity to learn about a wide range of health and wellness topics. Tackling the balance of mind, body and spirit, Dr. Oz calls on specialists from a variety of disciplines for expert advice on how viewers can be their best selves. Dr. Oz served as health expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show since 2004, sharing advice with viewers to help them live their best life from the inside out. Dr. Oz has co-authored six New York Times best-sellers including YOU: The Owner’s Manual as well as the award winning Healing from the Heart. Dr. Oz launched his magazine The Good Life with Hearst Corporation in spring 2014 and has a regular column in O The Oprah Magazine. Dr. Oz is a professor of surgery at Columbia University. He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital and performs 100 heart operations annually. His research interests include heart replacement surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, complementary medicine and health care policy. He has authored over 400 original publications, book chapters and medical books and has received several patents. Cleared in more than 99 percent of the country, The Dr. Oz Show is produced by Harpo Productions and distributed by Sony Pictures Television. The Dr. Oz Show is executive produced by Amy Chiaro and co-executive produced by Stacy Rader and Laurie Rich. CONTACT: Michael Conrad 214-616-0320 Michael@Lovell-Fairchild.com

Milestone for the children’s picture book by Chris Tomlin and Pat Barrett happens just before Good Good Father for Little Ones hits shelves

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 31, 2017) – In less than three months, Good Good Father, by Chris Tomlin and Pat Barrett, has surpassed the sales milestone of 100,000 units, Thomas Nelson and Passion Publishing announced today. Since it released on Oct. 4, 2016, it has appeared on the Publishers Weekly list of bestselling children’s picture books and has received media coverage on Fox & Friends, Religion News Service, K-LOVE, Focus on the Family Online, and in countless other print, online and broadcast outlets.

“A children’s picture book surpassing more than 100,000 units in such a short period of time is incredible. It speaks to the need for the message and the way children immediately connect with the story,” said Laura Minchew, senior vice president and publisher of gift books, children’s books, and new media at Thomas Nelson. “Chris and Pat’s passion for teaching children about the wonder and security of God’s love has translated into an adorable book that families will treasure for years to come.”

Buyers have continued to rate the book highly online, calling it “easy to read aloud,” “beautifully written and illustrated,” and “a wonderful reminder of God’s love.” Parents, grandparents, teachers and friends have enjoyed telling children about a bear named Tucker, whose life and townspeople are forever changed when they learn just how great the King’s love is for them. The precious story in Good Good Father has taught children that God truly is a good, good Father and they are loved by Him.

“The opportunity to partner with Tommy Nelson has resulted in an extraordinarily successful resource for families,” said Kevin Marks, managing director of Passion Publishing. “What a privilege it is to see so many children learning about the depth of God’s love for them through Chris and Pat’s beautiful story, and we look forward to the board book extending that impact.”

A board book, Good Good Father for Little Ones, for children ages 0-4, will be available in early February 2017.

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About Tommy Nelson:
Tommy Nelson, the children’s division of Thomas Nelson, publishes a wide variety of high quality, enjoyable products that are consistent with the teachings found in the Bible. Tommy Nelson products are designed to expand children’s imaginations and nurture their faith while pointing them to a personal relationship with God. For more information, visit www.tommynelson.com.

Contact: Stefanie Schroeder
Senior Publicist
615.902.1722
Stefanie.schroeder@harpercollins.com

Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 3, 2016 – Thomas Nelson is pleased to announce the release of their newest study Bible, the KJV Word Study Bible. Biblical manuscripts were written by the authors in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Not knowing these Biblical languages can sometimes make it challenging to understanding the meaning and intent of Scripture. The KJV Word Study Bible allows readers to delve deeper into the original languages of the Bible and to better understand what God had in mind when He inspired the Scriptures.

The KJV Word Study Bible includes in-text subheadings and 1,700 easy-to-use word studies with select Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words explained in nearly every chapter, from Genesis to Revelation. Book introductions, word definitions, indexes, colored maps, footnotes, and concordance all help readers get closer to the original languages of the Bible. This easy-to-use study Bible does not require previous knowledge of languages or the use of an extensive reference system, so it is a perfect way to sample the benefits of immersive Bible word studies.

Daniel Marrs, Associate Publisher for Thomas Nelson Bibles says: “Engaging with the languages in which Scripture was originally written is a great way to bring these sacred words to life. The KJV Word Study Bible uniquely opens up the richness and significance of key biblical words, and helps make Scripture’s original languages wonderfully accessible for today’s readers.”

The KJV Word Study Bible goes on sale February 7, 2017, and is available in three bindings:
• ISBN 9780718085230, Hardcover, Red Letter Edition, 1,664 pages, $39.99
• ISBN 9780718085452, Imitation Leather, Brown, Red Letter Edition 1,664 pages, $59.99
• ISBN 9780718085629, Imitation Leather, Purple, Red Letter Edition, 1,664 pages, $59.99

Two additional bindings will go on sale February 28, 2017:
• ISBN 9780718085605, Imitation Leather, Brown, Indexed, Red Letter Edition 1,664 pages, $69.99
• ISBN 9780718085728, Imitation Leather, Purple, Indexed, Red Letter Edition, 1,664 pages, $69.99

The Word Study Bible is also available in the New King James Version.

For more information or to request review copies, contact Trinity McFadden at trinity.mcfadden@harpercollins.com or 616-698-3514.

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

B&H Publishing today launches www.CSBible.com, the online portal for the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB), its newly revised Bible translation. Also beginning this month, the CSB translation will soon be available through all major Bible apps and portals. Published by Holman Bibles, the CSB is a translation that prioritizes both accuracy and readability. The first CSB Bibles will arrive in stores this March.

The CSBible.com website is designed for readers, pastors, and retailers, with specific site content for each group. Site features include:

[Read more…]

Media Contact:
Rachel Zugschwert, Director of Marketing                
Sparkhouse Family                                                             
612-330-3108                                                                     
zugschwertr@wearesparkhouse.org

MINNEAPOLIS (January 20, 2017) – Sparkhouse Family is pleased to announce the winner of the first annual Sparkhouse Family Children’s Picture Book Contest. Porcupine’s Pie tells the sweet story of a porcupine who begins to prepare her famous pie for Fall Feast Day, but learns that her woodland friends are in need of ingredients. She generously shares her own, but soon discovers that it will be impossible to make her own specialty. Porcupine’s disappointment turns to joy when she and her friends create a new tradition. Porcupine’s Pie will be published in 2018. Author Laura Renauld is a former elementary school teacher and an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

“Porcupine’s Pie completely charmed the Sparkhouse Family team with its effortless storytelling and themes of generosity, sharing, and community spirit,” said Andrew DeYoung, Director of Product Development. “It’s a perfect addition to our line of high-quality, kid-friendly children’s books about values that are important to people of faith.”

The Sparkhouse Family Children’s Picture Book Contest looks to recognize the best picture book manuscript that helps instill an open-hearted, transformational, lifelong Christian faith in children. The contest will open again later in 2017 for the next round of submissions.

About Sparkhouse Family

Sparkhouse Family creates Bibles, books, and videos designed to spark new life in today’s Christian families. Through creative and entertaining storytelling, Sparkhouse Family helps kids laugh, learn, and grow in faith all at the same time. More details about the award-winning books and Bibles for children and Sparkhouse Family can be found at www.sparkhouse.org.

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