From the bestselling author of Holy Hot Mess, a laugh-out-loud look at what happens when life goes a direction we didn’t expect and we are forced to reconsider the beliefs, assumptions, and stories that have always steered our course.

Mary Katherine Backstrom grew up the most basic of all youth group kids—pH level 14—and her faith only grew as she led youth ministry, served as a missionary, and went on to become a bestselling Christian author. She knew all the practiced, perfect Sunday school answers and was driving happily down the straight and narrow, until one day her young son asked a simple question: will my Jewish best friend go to hell?

In the months and years that followed, that single question continued to snowball. MK challenged and reconsidered every part of the faith she’d been raised to accept so completely. Not That Wheel, Jesus! is Mary Katherine’s hilarious journey from certainty to doubt to going nuclear on the socials (“it was my heresy era”), and then of slowly and painfully finding her way back to a different, less defined faith.

It’s the heartfelt and achingly honest story of a spirituality that went off the road and crashed and burned in spectacular fashion, right before God and everybody. And then, slowly, through grace and plenty of therapy, grew richer and deeper than she ever could have imagined.

Mary Katherine Backstrom is best known for her viral videos and candid writing on family, faith, and mental health. She has been featured on Today Show, CNN, and New York Times—but her friends and family are most impressed with her one-time appearance on Ellen. MK resides in Alabama with her children and two stinky dogs. When she isn’t writing, MK can be found in the woods, hiding from the all the world’s problems. 

UK-based publisher of Christian greeting cards and gifts now available to US and Canadian retailers via Anchor’s full-service distribution and fulfillment support.

New Kensington, PA | August 8, 2025 — In a major expansion of its international reach, UK-based Christian publisher Just Cards Direct has officially launched in the North American market. As the brand’s sole distribution and fulfillment partner in the US and Canada, Anchor will now make Just Cards Direct’s award-winning greeting cards and inspirational gifts widely accessible to retailers, churches, and consumers across the continent.

Founded in 2007, Just Cards Direct has built a strong reputation throughout the UK and Europe for its high-quality, Scripture-based designs offering everything from holiday and occasion cards to coloring bookmarks, coasters, and more. In February 2025, the Just Cards team was warmly received in the US, as they connected with Christian retailers at CPE in Florida.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Anchor to serve the Christian retail community here in the USA,” said Anne Stiles, Founder of Just Cards Direct. “Our heart is to equip churches, bookstores, and believers with encouraging, Bible-based products that speak hope and truth. It’s a joy to see our designs reaching new hands and hearts across the Atlantic.”

This marks the first time their full product line will be readily available in North America through a domestic distributor, and through this integrated logistics approach, Just Cards Direct now has a robust and streamlined infrastructure for both retail and online growth. Retailers interested in carrying Just Cards Direct can now place wholesale orders through Anchor and WordAlive.

About Just Cards Direct:
Just Cards Direct is a multi-award-winning Christian publisher based in the UK, offering inspirational greeting cards, gifts, bookmarks, coasters, and more. Known for their bold design and biblical messaging, their work has appeared in both retail shops and major publishers like Baker Books. Learn more at www.justcardsdirect.com.

About Anchor:
Part of the Whitaker Corporation, Anchor has served the Christian retail and inspirational gift industry since 1970. Located in western Pennsylvania, Anchor supplies books, Bibles, music, and gifts to Christian bookstores, churches, and general gift retailers across the country. With a longstanding commitment to quality and service, Anchor remains a trusted partner to thousands of stores and ministries nationwide providing distribution, marketing and sales

To learn more about fulfillment and distribution through Anchor, contact Beth Swaney at beth.swaney@anchordistributors.com.

Media Contact:  Beth Swaney, Anchor Distributors, 1-800-444-4484 x203, Beth.swaney@anchordistributors.com 

July 31, 2025 | Minneapolis, MN – BroadStreet Publishing is excited to announce the release of two compelling new titles in their best-selling Chosen series: The Chosen Devotional Book 5: To Be with Jesus by Dallas and Amanda Jenkins with Kristen Hendricks and The Chosen: Not My Will by New York Times bestselling author Jerry Jenkins.

In The Chosen Devotional Book 5: To Be with Jesus, readers are invited to deepen their walk with Christ through forty brand-new devotions. Written by Amanda Jenkins, Dallas Jenkins, and Kristen Hendricks, each devotion includes Scripture, a Gospel-centered insight, prayer prompts, and reflective questions to encourage spiritual growth.

Rooted in Jesus’ teachings, the devotional emphasizes the biblical call to love God and others (Matthew 22:37–39) and to live in truth (John 14:6–7), contrasting these with today’s culture of subjective “my truth” narratives. These 40 days with Jesus serve as a powerful reminder that while personal experiences shape us, God’s truth remains unchanging.

In the much-anticipated next novel in the series, The Chosen: Not My Will, Jerry Jenkins brings to life the final days of Jesus’ earthly ministry—what we now call Holy Week. Beginning with His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and culminating in the agony of Gethsemane, this gripping narrative explores the emotional and spiritual journeys of key characters like Mary Magdalene, Claudia, and Judas, offering readers a deeper understanding of their humanity and motivations.

More than just companions to the series, these books expand on The Chosen’s powerful storytelling and spiritual depth.

Based on the first multi-season television series about the life of Jesus—with over 300 million viewers to date, 1 billion episode views and translated into 50+ languages—The Chosen continues to impact a global audience across platforms like Amazon Prime.

About BroadStreet® Publishing
BroadStreet® Publishing Group passionately creates meaningful, inspiring resources crafted with creativity, excellence, and elegance to communicate God’s truth. Its celebrated imprints—Belle City Gifts, BroadStreet Español, BookStreet, and BroadStreet Kids—offer a diverse array of Bible studies, biographies, devotionals, journals, gift books, planners, children’s literature, and Bible accessories. BroadStreet also publishes The Passion Translation (TPT), boasting over 1.5 million copies sold globally. More information is available at www.broadstreetpublishing.com.

Media Contact:  Ben Laurro, Ben@purepublicity.com

 

August 2025 | LISLE, IL — Malcolm Guite, poet, priest, and professor, has signed contracts with IVP Academic for the first three volumes in a new series tentatively titled Classic Poetry with Malcolm Guite. The first volume, tentatively titled How to Read Poetry, is projected to release in Fall 2028.

“I had the pleasure of taking a summer class on poetry with the inimitable Malcolm Guite during my time at Regent College, and it was one of the most impactful courses of my degree,” said acquiring editor Zachary Gordon. “All I wanted to do afterward was pull up an armchair and hear Professor Guite explain the classics again and again, and this series will capture some of that essence. Getting the opportunity to develop the idea of this series with Professor Guite and see some of the course material turned into book form is deeply gratifying.”

The second title in the series, tentatively titled George Herbert and John Donne, is projected to release in Fall 2029. The third untitled volume is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2030.

Guite (PhD, University of Durham) is the chaplain at Girton College, University of Cambridge, where he also teaches in the Faculty of Divinity. As a priest, poet, and songwriter, he travels and speaks regularly throughout the United Kingdom and North America. He is the author of Mariner: A Theological Voyage with Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Hodder, 2017; IVP Academic, 2018).

“Anyone who has ever met Malcolm Guite or heard him speak knows it’s unforgettable: the energy of his engagement with poetry is exceeded only by his deeply learned mastery of literary works across a span of centuries, all mixed with an undercurrent of mischievous humor that keeps you wondering what he’ll say next,” said Jon Boyd, associate publisher and academic editorial director at InterVarsity Press (IVP). “In this series, we get two treasures at once: not only volumes loaded with the gems of English poetry from throughout the last millennium, but also in Guite the benevolent superintending intelligence of one of the tradition’s great advocates and practitioners.”

How to Read Poetry will introduce the reader to poetry through a close reading of seven classic poems. These poems will chronologically take the reader through the English poetic tradition. Subsequent volumes in Classic Poetry with Malcolm Guite will cover topics like early English poetry, sonnets, and Romanticism. Each volume will have a comprehensive introduction, a study guide with questions for group discussion, and light annotations.

Guite said, “I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with IVP Academic to bring out fresh and accessible editions of works of classic poetry. These works are not only beautiful in themselves and full of insight and wisdom, but they also form an essential part of the heritage of the English-speaking world. They need to be read afresh in every generation, for they still have much to teach us. In late years literary criticism has been lost in a fog of theory, but my aim in these editions, following the example of C. S. Lewis’s great preface to Paradise Lost, is to give readers enough background information and critical insight to open the text and enable a fuller, deeper reading, but not to overwhelm them with the technical or theoretical detail that tends to clog purely academic editions.”

Contact:  Karin DeHaven, kdehaven@ivpress.com

Nashville, Tenn. — July 21, 2025— W Publishing, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, is pleased to announce The Awe of God: The Astounding Way a Healthy Fear of God Transforms Your Life by John Bevere has sold more than 500,000 copies in print, eBook, and audio formats across the globe.

Released in 2023, The Awe of God invites readers to rediscover the profound reverence and wonder that comes from a deeper relationship with God. Combining biblical wisdom and Bevere’s decades of ministry experience, this powerful book equips readers to cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord, one that transforms lives and deepens spiritual growth.

“More than a half million copies of The Awe of God sold equates to many lives impacted and changed as a result of this powerful message,” said VP, Publisher for W Publishing, Damon Reiss. “This is a testament to the hunger for clear, uncompromising biblical truth in today’s world. W Publishing is honored to be in partnership with Messenger International and to have achieved this milestone together. We look forward to continually seeing the impact of John’s ministry on the world.”

“The healthy fear of God keeps us close to the One who created us and loves us deeply,” says Bevere, “In a day and hour where countless men and women have slipped away from the faith, it’s my hope and prayer The Awe of God will strengthen the lives of all who read it.”

John Bevere is an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, and evangelist, with more than 40 years of experience equipping believers to live out their faith with purpose and passion. Known for his ability to communicate challenging biblical concepts with clarity and conviction, Bevere’s books have been translated in over 130 languages and have sold millions of copies globally. Beyond writing, Bevere co-founded Messenger International with his wife, Lisa, a ministry dedicated to providing discipleship resources to the Church worldwide.

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, 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:  Allison Carter, Sr. Publicity Dir., W Publishing Group, 615-902-2143, allison.carter@harpercollins.com

 

Jordan Raynor, award-winning author of Redeeming Your Time and The Sacredness of Secular Work, brings his passion for kingdom-minded entrepreneurship and productivity to WaterBrook in a two-book deal starting with Redeeming Your Goals. 

As a respected leader in the faith and work movement, Raynor offers a helpful framework for Christians who are driven to accomplish good work, but who want to avoid the self-centeredness and exhaustion of hustle culture. For anyone serious about applying the gospel to their work, this book offers clear steps for setting and executing God-glorifying goals. 

Scheduled for publication in Fall 2026, world rights were acquired by Will Anderson, Senior Editor at WaterBrook and Multnomah, from D.J. Snell at Legacy, LLC. 

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

WaterBrook is an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — B&H Academic, an imprint of Lifeway Christian Resources, has a lineup of significant theological, historical and practical works releasing this fall. From a theological exploration of bodily care to a deep dive into the story of the Southern Baptist Convention, the forthcoming titles reflect varied aspects of theology and Christian life that deserve to be studied—whether in the classroom, the church or home.

“The team at B&H Academic has poured our hearts into curating new books on vital topics like missions, theology, philosophy, discipleship, anthropology and administration,” said Michael McEwen, publisher for B&H Academic. “Our hope is that these resources will powerfully equip professors and pastors to disciple students and congregations, helping them experience the profound depth of Scripture and the beauty of Christ.”

“Nicaea for Today” by Coleman Ford and Shawn Wilhite, available Sept. 15

The year 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, and this book aims to make the ancient creed accessible to modern readers. It explores how Nicene theology continues to shape Christian belief and practice and helps readers understand the reasons behind renewed interest in creeds, as demonstrated by recent motions at Southern Baptist Convention annual meetings.

“The Devil Reads Nietzsche” by Michael McEwen, available Oct. 15

In this timely work of public theology, McEwen examines how Nietzsche’s ideas have shaped modern American culture in significant ways. With pastoral sensitivity, he critiques Nietzschean influence and helps readers respond to contemporary cultural ideologies with a biblical-theological perspective.

“Embodied Holiness” by Lainey Greer, available Oct. 15

Greer calls Christians to embrace bodily care as a form of worship in a culture that often separates body and spirit. With theological depth and practical insight from her background in exercise science, she challenges thoughts that devalue the body and offers a holistic vision of discipleship.

“The Baptist Story, 2nd Edition” by Anthony Chute, Nathan Finn and Michael Haykin, available Dec. 1

Updated from its 2015 release to include developments through the 2024 Southern Baptist Convention, this revised edition offers a compelling narrative of Baptist identity and global influence. With new chapters and reorganized content, “The Baptist Story” is an in-depth resource for students and church leaders seeking to understand the history of Baptist thought and practice.

Other fall titles include:

• “Children and Salvation” by Karen Kennemur, Kelly A. King, Shelly Melia and Donna B. Peavey
• “Missional Preaching” by Stephen Stallard
• “Acts and Paul’s Letters” by Mark L. Strauss
• “Church Administration, 3rd edition” by Robert H. Welch and Jody D. Dean
• “Bioethics and Medicine” by C. Ben Mitchell

In operation since 1891, Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, group curriculum, Christian music and movies, Vacation Bible School and church supplies, as well as camps and events for all ages. Lifeway is the world’s largest provider of Spanish Bibles. Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a self-supporting nonprofit. For more information, visit Lifeway.com.

B&H Academic, an imprint of Lifeway Christian Resources, is dedicated to providing resources for undergraduate and graduate theological education, as well as pastors and ministry leaders. B&H Academic collaborates with authors, professors, and pastors who are at the forefront of their fields to publish biblically faithful resources that are academically challenging, promote the academy, and champion the church.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Jill Waggoner, jill.waggoner@lifeway.com

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written by Jill Waggoner, a writer for Lifeway Christian Resources

With decades of experience, Wilstermann will head up ASA, a new initiative helping publishers reach major retailers through a seasoned sales team

NEW KENSINGTON, PA, July 9, 2025 — Anchor Distributors, a division of Whitaker Corporation and a trusted supplier to the Christian retail and gift market for over 50 years, is proud to announce the launch of the Anchor Sales Alliance (ASA), a new initiative aimed at providing proactive, cost-effective sales representation to publishers, ministries, and gift suppliers.

The program launches under the leadership of Dale Wilstermann, a seasoned sales and marketing professional with over two decades of experience in the Christian publishing marketplace.

“We’re excited to now offer our partners a way to scale their reach and get in front of key retailers without the time and expense of building a sales team from the ground up,” said Ned Clements, Vice President of Sales

A Strategic Sales Channel for Publishers and Suppliers

Through ASA, partners can gain direct access to experienced sales representation and long-standing relationships.

• Partnerships are already built with independent bookstores, church stores, gift retailers, and major national chains including Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Hobby Lobby, Mardel, and Christianbook.
• This unique approach enables smaller publishers and suppliers to compete at scale, gaining exposure across channels they may not otherwise have access to.

Wilstermann will lead the program’s sales efforts, bringing with him a proven track record of success from his work with Hachette Book Group, Worthy Publishing, and Guideposts/Ideals. He has managed major retail accounts including Readerlink, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Christianbook, and others, consistently delivering results through effective negotiation, strategic partnerships, market insight.

“I’m honored to step into this role and help connect great products with the retailers who need them,” said Wilstermann. “There’s a real opportunity to bridge the gap for publishers and ministries who want to grow but don’t have the resources to expand a full sales force. ASA is that solution.”

About Anchor
Part of the Whitaker Corporation, Anchor has served the Christian retail and inspirational gift industry since 1970. Located in western Pennsylvania, Anchor supplies books, Bibles, music, and gifts to Christian bookstores, churches, and general gift retailers across the country. With a longstanding commitment to quality and service, Anchor remains a trusted partner to thousands of stores and ministries nationwide.

To learn more about the Anchor Sales Alliance, contact Beth Swaney at beth.swaney@anchordistributors.com.

Media Contact: 
Beth Swaney, Anchor Distributors, 1-800-444-4484 x203, Beth.swaney@anchordistributors.com 

From the New York Times bestselling author of Love Your Life, a guide to bravely walking forward knowing that if God has called you, He has equipped you.

In Graced to Go, Victoria Osteen encourages you to leave your fear behind and  take the first step in the direction that God is calling you. Even the smallest step can get you moving towards your better future.

Drawing from the lives of beloved Bible characters who felt stuck in difficult circumstances or faced seemingly-insurmountable odds—including Gideon, Abraham, Esther, and Moses—Victoria helps you see that when they trusted Him and took a step, God blessed them with grace to go. She walks readers through seven ways God prepares us for our own battles. When God calls us, we are graced to go:

-In the strength you have
-In the position you’re in
-With eyes to see the good
-Knowing you matter
-Releasing your blessing
-With no regrets
-Trusting God

When God calls us, we are graced with the strength, courage, and gifting we need to face whatever challenge is before us. This encouraging, empowering, and inspiring book will help you to move toward all the favor and blessing God has for you.

Victoria Osteen is the co-pastor of Lakewood Church, the New York Times bestselling author of Love Your Life, and the host of the national weekly radio program, Victoria Osteen Live, and her weekly podcast “Victoria and Friends” on Joel Osteen Radio, SiriusXM Channel 128. She is an integral part of each service at Lakewood as well as the “Night of Hope” events across the U.S. and abroad. She lives with her family in Houston, Texas.