A funny, thought-provoking memoir-in-essays about learning to understand—again and again—that we can’t earn God’s love no matter how many rules we follow or boxes we check, and learning to accept the grace that is freely given.

Growing up, Kimberly Stuart got really good at strapping on her spiritual tap shoes and trying to be a star for Jesus. She could sing all the songs, ace the sword drills, and know all the right theology. From earning creepy Jesus paperweights in her church’s faux Girl Scout program to trying to calm an actual storm on the Mediterranean, she was doing her best… and still found herself longing for something more. She didn’t mean to completely ignore the most beautiful tenets of her faith—the unwavering grace and tenacious love of God—but she did. Which, of course, was the problem. Her best was lackluster, and God wasn’t looking for a star performer anyway.

Star for Jesus (And Other Jobs I Quit), is an invitation for readers to spot unvarnished, amazing grace when they see it. With her trademark wit and transparency, Stuart brings readers through both big and small moments that teach us to cling to the fierce love of God instead of the flimsier versions we find elsewhere.

With unflinching honesty and relatable humor, Stuart encourages readers to take another look at unrelenting grace; why, contrary to the cultural narrative, we are not actually enough, and that’s good news; how we always, remarkably, have all the grace we need; and why this moment in history is the perfect time to extend no-strings-attached grace to an emotionally bedraggled, wary world.

Kimberly Stuart is a writer, speaker, podcaster, and dark chocolate obsessive. She is the author of eight novels. Stuart’s books have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Huff Post, and the Chicago Sun-Times. She and New York Times-bestselling author Bob Goff have coached hundreds of aspiring authors through their executive coaching, online courses, podcast, and live events in the San Diego area. Stuart has made her home in Minneapolis, Houston, Chicago, Costa Rica, Nebraska, and Iowa, where she now lives with her brave husband and three wily children.

Lake Mary, FL (April 12, 2024)—Embolden Media Group is honored to announce the appointment of Rebekah Von Lintel as literary agent. Rebekah is a respected and influential leader in the publishing industry, with over twenty years of experience. With a passion for fostering emerging voices and an unwavering dedication to excellence, her contributions have played a significant role in the success of numerous best-selling titles across various genres.

“I’m thrilled and honored to be joining Embolden Literary,” Rebekah said. “Their values and mission align closely with my own, successfully amplifying underrepresented voices and contributing to a more inclusive literary landscape. I look forward to continuing to serve authors and writers in this way.”

Rebekah joins Embolden Media Group after serving as editorial director for Baker Books for ten years, where she had the privilege of developing many award-winning authors, including NYT-bestselling author Mo Isom, Sheila Walsh, Sheri Hunter, Ruth Graham, Greg Laurie’s Jesus Revolution, and Wendy Speake’s The 40-Day Sugar Fast.

Rebekah’s love of books, passion for storytelling, and commitment to supporting talented authors will breakthrough in her work with Embolden Media Group as she seeks authors writing in nonfiction categories such as memoir and biography, narrative nonfiction; business, career development, personal time management; advice and relationships; mental health and wellness, mindfulness, self-help, personal growth; home decorating, organization; inspirational and religion and spirituality. She particularly responds to books that have an important cultural, social, or psychological focus, as well as young adult voices. Rebekah also looks for select gift books, lifestyle, or photography-driven books.

In fiction, she is interested in select upmarket, literary, and book club fiction, and stories that offer a new twist or retelling of some kind.

For children’s books, she will focus primarily on YA and middle grade, and her tastes vary broadly in those areas. She will also consider select children’s picture books.

“I am strengthened by Rebekah’s presence on our team,” said Jevon Bolden, founder and CEO of Embolden Media Group. “She is a force in the industry. Her outstanding industry knowledge and brilliance in discerning and developing compelling concepts and culturally significant trade books fits in seamlessly with our mission to see elevated and thoughtful books by creative and diverse voices published.”

Embolden Media Group is a boutique literary agency and publishing consulting firm representing some of the most engaging, transformative, and authentic voices in our culture including several USA Today, Publishers Weekly and ECPA best-selling authors. Founded in 2017, Embolden Media Group is a market leader in cultivating and amplifying the works of inspirational women, authors of color, and diverse creators through written, audio, and visual content.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact: woodley.auguste@theawarenessagency.com

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Good Book Company is delighted to announce God’s Big Promises Bible Storybook and The Songs of a Warrior as finalists for the 2024 Christian Book Award®.

God’s Big Promises Bible Storybook (The Good Book Company, September 2023) is a finalist in the Children’s category.

Written by Carl Laferton and illustrated by Jennifer Davison, this children’s Bible for kids ages 2-6 contains both familiar stories, such as Noah and the ark, David and Goliath, and Daniel and the lions’ den, and lesser-known stories such as Jacob and Esau and Joshua’s farewell. Together, these 92 theologically faithful stories point to the one big story of the Bible: God making and keeping his promises to redeem his people.

The Songs of a Warrior (The Good Book Company, February 2023) is a finalist in the Young People’s Literature category.

Written by Katy Morgan, this dramatic retelling of the accounts of the first two kings of Israel follows the intertwining stories of Jonathan, David, Saul, and Michal documented in 1 and 2 Samuel. This exciting chapter book is a great way to help kids ages 8-12 engage with God’s word. They’ll be left thinking about what it means to trust God and realizing that only Jesus can really be the king God’s people need.

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) annually presents the Christian Book Awards® program to honor the best books of the year in 12 categories.

ABOUT THE GOOD BOOK COMPANY
Founded in 1991, The Good Book Company (TGBC) is an international Christian publisher. Their Bible studies, books, devotionals, videos, tracts, evangelistic courses, and training materials are used throughout the English-speaking world, and in translation in over 35 languages worldwide. Everyone at TGBC is passionate about the Lord Jesus, His word, His church, and His gospel of grace. They create and publish biblical, relevant, and accessible resources that will encourage Christians to keep going, keep growing, and keep sharing their faith.

For media inquiries and access to promotional assets, contact: publicity@thegoodbook.com.

Carol Stream, IL (April 11, 2024) – Tyndale Momentum is pleased to announce that their book All My Knotted-Up Life received the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s (ECPA’s) Milestone Double Bronze Sales Award for surpassing 250,000 books sold.

A New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestseller, All My Knotted-Up Life is an incredibly thoughtful, disarmingly funny, and intensely vulnerable glimpse into the life and ministry of a woman familiar to many but known by few.  The audio book, which is voiced by Moore, also made the New York Times bestsellers list.

“Beth’s memoir is the story of a woman who consistently clings to Jesus throughout a life marked by heartache, redemption, and a passionate calling,” says Karen Watson, Publisher of Tyndale Fiction. “Whether readers encountered this story in print or by audio, Beth’s familiar voice shines through in unforgettable ways. Tyndale is honored to have partnered with her on this wonderful book.”

Moore’s earlier works with Tyndale include: So Long, Insecurity (2010), which, along with the accompanying devotional and study guide has sold nearly 1 million copies;  The Undoing of Saint Silvanus (2016), Moore’s debut novel, which has sold more than 125,000 copies, and Chasing Vines (2020), which is approaching 200,000 copies sold.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact Andrea Martin, Sr. Director of Public Relations & Author Relations, andreamartin@tyndale.com

Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a trusted voice for generations of readers. Today, it is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale has proved a faithful guide, helping readers discover the life-giving truths of the Bible. Its mission is to open God’s Word to as many people as possible in language they can relate to and understand. 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.

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

Contact:  Andrea Martin, andreamartin@tyndale.com

April 2024 | LISLE, IL—The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) has announced that two InterVarsity Press (IVP) titles—Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest and the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters—are among the finalists for the 2024 Christian Book Award® program.

“It is always a joy to recognize excellence in Christian book publishing through this award program, and this year’s finalists represent that very well,” said Jeff Crosby, ECPA president and CEO. “Books like these have the ability to transform lives, to shed light, to build bridges, and to foster faithfulness. We congratulate each of the finalists, their authors and publishers.”

Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again was selected as a Christian Book Award® finalist in the ministry resources category. Sharing her own story of practicing sabbath for the past twenty years, Ruth Haley Barton offers hard-won wisdom regarding the rhythms of sabbath, exploring both weekly sabbath keeping as well as extended periods of sabbatical time.

Drew Jackson, poet and author of God Speaks Through Wombs, said, “In Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, Ruth Haley Barton invites us into a holy place—what Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel called ‘a sanctuary in time.’ Barton profoundly weaves together disparate strands of the practice of sabbath-keeping into a beautiful quilt that tells us a story about ourselves—we were meant for wholeness, not just individually, but communally. Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest shows us that this gift from God is not just indispensable for the life of faith but also in our discovery of what it means to be human. Barton has given us a treasure—a must-read for anyone longing for freedom from the tyranny of endless work and overproduction.”

The other Christian Book Award® finalist, chosen for Bible Reference Works category, is IVP Academic’s Dictionary of Paul and His Letters: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship (Second Edition), edited by Scot McKnight, Lynn H. Cohick and Nijay K. Gupta.

David Lincicum, University of Notre Dame, said, “A staple of syllabi and a first stop for research, the original Dictionary of Paul and His Letters became a fixture in the landscape of Pauline studies. Much has changed in the past three decades, and this completely new dictionary, with contributions from no less than 141 scholars, provides an authoritative overview of the present state of Pauline scholarship. From Abraham and Adam to worship and wrath, and from classic theological topics to matters of pressing contemporary concern, the broad coverage of this remarkable project will be welcomed by novice student and seasoned scholar alike.”

The Dictionary of Paul and His Letters takes its place alongside the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (Second Edition) and the other volumes in the IVP Bible Dictionary Series as a unique presentation of the fruit of biblical studies—committed to Scripture, using the best of critical methods, and maintaining dialogue with both contemporary scholarship and the challenges facing the church.

Classic topics such as Christology, justification, hermeneutics, and book studies of individual epistles receive careful treatment by specialists in the field. Topics new to this edition—including Paul and politics, patronage, and interpretations from various historical and cultural perspectives—expand the volume’s breadth and usefulness. Over 95 percent of the articles have been written specifically for this edition.

The Christian Book Award® program has recognized the highest quality in Christian books since 1978 (originally called the Gold Medallion Award). Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design, and impact, the Christian Book Awards are the oldest and among the most prestigious awards in religious publishing.

The winners in each category, along with the 2024 Christian Book of the Year®, will be presented at the ECPA Awards & 50th Anniversary Celebration, held the evening of April 30 in Chicago, during the ECPA Leadership Summit.

For a complete list of IVP award-winning titles visit ivpress.com.

Contact:  Krista Clayton, 630.734.4013, kclayton@ivpress.com

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO.—April 12, 2024—Renowned Bible study writer Cynthia Heald will release a new book on June 6, 2024, for women and men. It explores the everyday journey of becoming like Christ. Becoming Like Jesus: Reflecting Christ in Your Everyday Life is designed for personal or group use. Heald is the author of the Bible study series “Becoming a Woman . . .” which has sold more than two million in the series.

“Cynthia Heald is the kind of author you imagine in your head. She’s written these transformational Bible studies that have shaped the discipleship of generations of women,” says David Zimmerman, NavPress Publisher. “And then you meet her, and you realize that she has spent her life in pursuit of becoming like Jesus. And then you marvel at her in an entirely different way. We’re grateful for Cynthia’s long legacy and faithful witness.”

With the seasoned guidance of a lifelong faith, Cynthia shares the challenges and rewards of embodying Christlikeness, as well as her own imperfect, stumbling experiences in learning to become like Jesus. In this insightful, accessible, and thought-provoking book, perfect for your quiet time or for a six-week small-group study, you’ll find yourself inspired and encouraged to step into the simple yet powerful ways God molds us into the image of his Son.

In Becoming Like Jesus, you will find:

• Devotional reflections on the invitation to daily spiritual growth
• Thoughtful prayers and insightful quotations from godly writers
• Scripture references and Bible study reflection questions

For more information on NavPress titles, please visit www.navpress.com.

NavPress is a business ministry of The Navigators. With a rich catalog of bestselling books, discipleship resources, and The Message® Bible, NavPress supports readers as they know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same.®  Since 2014 NavPress has been in a publishing alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, one of the largest independently owned Christian publishers in the world. NavPress resources are sold, distributed, and marketed worldwide through Tyndale House Publishers.

Contact: Andrea Martin, andreamartin@tyndale.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO.—April 5, 2024—Two recent releases from NavPress have been named finalists for the 2024 Christian Book Awards®. The Christian Book Awards honor excellence in Bibles and Christian books.

According to their website, “The Christian Book Award® program recognizes the highest quality in Christian books and Bibles and is among the oldest and most prestigious awards program in the religious publishing industry. Presented annually to the finest in Christian publishing since 1978, the Christian Book Award® program honors the ‘best of the year’ in 12 categories.”

NavPress authors and titles are finalists in the following categories:

• Faith & Culture:
  Loving Disagreement, Kathy Khang and Matt Mikalatos
• Ministry Resources:
  Centering Jesus, Derek Vreeland

“Serious times demand serious books, and Derek, Kathy, and Matt have met the moment with these releases,” writes NavPress publisher David Zimmerman. “We’re grateful they’re receiving this recognition from the leaders of our industry at ECPA.”

Award winners will be announced on April 30 at the ECPA Leadership Summit in Chicago, IL.

For more information on NavPress titles, please visit www.navpress.com.

NavPress is a business ministry of The Navigators. With a rich catalog of bestselling books, discipleship resources, and The Message® Bible, NavPress supports readers as they know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same.®  Since 2014 NavPress has been in a publishing alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, one of the largest independently owned Christian publishers in the world. NavPress resources are sold, distributed, and marketed worldwide through Tyndale House Publishers.

The Christian Book Award program has recognized the absolute highest quality in Christian books since 1978, when it was called the Gold Medallion Award. Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design, and impact, the Christian Book Award program is among the oldest and most prestigious awards in the religious publishing industry.  ChristianBookAwards.com

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. For more information about ECPA: info@ecpa.org, ECPA.org.

Contact: Andrea Martin, andreamartin@tyndale.com

 

Two-time No. 1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Reality TV Star, Outspoken Hero of Justice Now Has a New Role

Two-time No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, Dog the Bounty Hunter, aka Duane Chapman, reveals his most intimate stories in Nine Lives and Counting: A Bounty Hunter’s Journey to Faith, Hope, and Redemption (Nelson Books, HarperCollins Christian Publishing), a gripping memoir releasing April 16, 2024. As one of the world’s most legendary bounty hunters with a career that reads like a series of high-octane novels, Dog now invites readers into his real-life drama with this untamed tale straight from his heart.

The memoir is an odyssey of resilience, rebirth and relentless pursuit, as Dog bares his soul on every page. As the canine connoisseur of second chances, he doesn’t shy away from the grit—”Memories of the painful events that shaped my childhood… triumphs and failures from my days as a single dad… and my most essential lifeline – faith in Jesus,” says Chapman.

An audacious leap from beyond the screen, Nine Lives and Counting is Dog’s invitation to join him in the hunt for wisdom, comedy and the essence of life itself. Penned with the raw honesty and objective truth that has been the hallmark of Dog’s illustrious career, this isn’t just a book – it is a manifesto of survival and love.

In one of his darkest moments, Dog found himself on a new journey of healing and redemption. Not only did he come to see God’s hand in his life, from the prayers of a faithful mother when he was a child to how God guided his steps and protected him throughout his dangerous career, but he also found love and renewed purpose through a divine appointment. Now Dog has launched a ministry with his wife Francie, whom he married in 2021, and speaks and preaches nationwide.

“I will always hunt down fugitives to make them accountable to the law. Now I am also hunting down the outcast, the leper, the lame and the brokenhearted,” shares Chapman. “I am hunting the prisoner, the trafficked, the addict, the dysfunctional. I want to see them reborn and experience the redemptive love of Jesus. This is the Dog I was called to be.”

With each sentence, readers can walk alongside Dog through the harrows of crime and punishment, family and faith, and the fortuitousness of second and third acts.

Nine Lives and Counting is a bold call to the world to have a heart as boundless as the horizon – a horizon that marks the start of another chase, the beginning of new endeavors and an unwavering testament to the enduring human spirit.

Fans may watch the virtual Talk Shop Live event with Dog and his wife Francie to hear straight from the “Dog’s” mouth and pre-order signed copies via this link for the event at https://talkshop.live/watch/M2p5a23Ni8rU.

To embrace the hunt with all the latest news and information about Dog the Bounty Hunter and the release of Nine Lives and Counting, go to https://ninelives.dogthebountyhunter.com, Facebook and Instagram.

About Duane Lee Chapman:
Also known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, Chapman is an American television personality known for popular TV programs that follow his life and adventures as a bounty hunter. Dog is deeply involved in crime fighting and advocating for tougher legislation to curb crime. He is launching several media ventures, including a new TV show and podcast, and he is a New York Times bestselling author of two previous books. Dog operates Light Up the Darkness ministry with his wife, Francie, whom he married in 2021. They reside in Florida

ATTN MEDIA:
Duane “Dog” Chapman, Nine Lives and Counting: A Bounty Hunter’s Journey to Faith, Hope, and Redemption review and giveaway copies are available upon request. High-resolution cover artwork and other press materials are available now at https://app.box.com/v/DuaneDogChapman-Press.

For additional information, photos or to set up an interview, contact:
Maureen Hoganson, Hoganson Media Relations, MaureenHoganson@comcast.net, 615-542-4458
Lisa Beech, Director of Publicity, Nelson Books, Lisa.Beech@harpercollins.com, 719-439-9403

Dr. Axe Reveals Mindset Is Even More Effective Than Food as Medicine

NASHVILLE, Tenn (April 12, 2024) – W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, announced that Think This, Not That (April 2, 2024) by Dr. Josh Axe is a New York Times bestseller appearing at #10 on the self-help, how-to and misc. list as well as appearing at #18 on the USA Today bestseller Booklist.

Renowned doctor, writer and entrepreneur Dr. Josh Axe has helped tens of thousands of people across the globe become the healthiest versions of themselves. When clients have come to him in search of a fuller, more meaningful life, his message has been the same – it starts in one place: your mind.

In Think This, Not That (W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, April 2, 2024) Dr. Josh Axe unpacks the top twelve mental barriers holding people back from realizing their potential and becoming the greatest version of themselves, and contrasts each one with a new empowering mindset–undergirded with exclusive proof that mindset trumps all in living one’s healthiest, best life. Dr. Axe’s own personal story of healing after a devastating injury through mindset will compel every reader to try these techniques.

“Our mindset is the ultimate catalyst for change; it’s what propels us forward. It’s also what can hold us back,” writes Dr. Axe. “I carried this lesson with me when I became a physician. While I firmly believe in the healing potential of food as medicine, I discovered that nothing could match the transformative impact of mindset medicine. Not only did I teach my patients to “eat this, not that,” I also helped them understand the transforming power of the mind in how to “think this, not that.”

Dr. Axe has spent the past decade studying mindset, including time as a student earning his Master of Science in Leadership at Johns Hopkins, as a physician helping patients overcome physical and psychological challenges and as an entrepreneur leading and mentoring teams to grow. Think This Not That is a collection of what he’s learned and experienced to help readers begin to think, and live, at a higher level. Through science, stories, and strategies, each chapter will provide the tools it takes to create lasting change.

Dr. Axe is available for interviews and can speak to:

• 12 mental barriers keeping you from being your best self
• Mindset as medicine > Food as medicine
• Crave a more meaningful life? Start here
• The key to limitless leadership
• Axe’s personal story of recovering from an intense back injury, using natural remedies and a focus on mindset

Dr. Josh Axe is a leadership expert, entrepreneur, and physician. He earned his doctorate from Palmer College and earned his doctorate from Palmer College and his Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Johns Hopkins University. Josh is the cofounder and CVO of Ancient Nutrition and founder of DrAxe.com. His company ranked on the Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies two years in a row. He is the bestselling author of Eat Dirt, Keto Diet, and Ancient Remedies. Josh is the founder of Leaders.com, an online platform that provides the latest on breaking news, leadership, business, and wealth. He regularly teaches lectures and trains entrepreneurs on leadership, mindset, and self-development. Josh is married to his wife, Chelsea, and they have one daughter and another due this December. They live between Nashville, TN and Dorado, PR and enjoy cooking, staying active swimming and cycling, and prioritize time for their faith and family. His latest book, Think This Not That, is available nationwide.