Ada, Mich. (November 17, 2023)—On Thursday, November 16, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced the 2023 Christy Award winners in an online webcast hosted by award-winning author and radio personality Chris Fabry and ECPA president Jeff Crosby. The Christy Awards celebrated winners in nine fiction categories along with special recognition for the Book of the Year Award and the Amplify Award. For a complete list of the 2023 Christy Award winners, please visit https://www.christyawards.com/finalists-winners.html. Five Baker Publishing Group authors were recipients of this prestigious award, including:

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

To Win a Prince by Toni Shiloh
Bethany House; ISBN 9780764238963; Ebook ISBN 9781493439133; September 13, 2022; $16.99; Paper

Fashion aficionado Iris Blakely dreams of using her talent to start a business to help citizens in impoverished areas. But when she discovers that Ekon Diallo will be her business consultant, the battle between her desires and reality begins. Can she keep her heart—and business—intact despite the challenges she faces?

 

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FIRST NOVEL (Tie)

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold
Revell; ISBN 9780800740276; Ebook ISBN 9781493436354; July 5, 2022; $15.99; Paper

Frustrated reporter Aidyn Kelley begrudgingly agrees to help a hospice patient prepare her obituary. But old Clara Kip has some incredible stories—and some surprises up her sleeve—that promise to make this seemingly throwaway assignment a life-changing one.

 

 

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GENERAL FICTION

Where the Blue Sky Begins by Katie Powner
Bethany House; ISBN 9780764240393; Ebook ISBN 9781493439126; October 11, 2022; $16.99; Paper

After an accident brings businessman Eric Larson and eccentric Eunice Parker together, the unlikely pair spends more time with each other than they would like while facing challenges beyond what they imagined. As Eunice comes to accept her terminal illness, they both wrestle with an important question: What matters most when the end is near?

 

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HISTORICAL ROMANCE

The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz
Revell; ISBN 9780800740672; Ebook ISBN 9781493439713; January 3, 2023; $17.99; Paper

Amid the Jacobite uprising of 1715, an English heiress flees to the Scottish lowlands to stay with allies of her powerful family. But while castle walls may protect her from the enemy outside, a whirlwind of intrigue, shifting allegiances, and temptations of the heart lie within.

 

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MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER

Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard (Missing in Alaska #1)
Revell; ISBN 9780800742041; Ebook ISBN 9781493439775; February 7, 2023; $16.99; Paper

Police Chief Autumn Long is fighting to keep her job when an unexpected wave of violent crime sweeps through her small Alaskan town. Does Grier Carter, a relative newcomer to town, actually have her back? Or is she all alone as the body count rises?

 

In addition to the award presentation, legendary novelists Janette Oke and Davis Bunn reflected on their rewarding and long-lasting writing careers. Janette also offered this heartfelt blessing: “May this evening be a reminder to all who take part that God has given us a wonderful privilege of sharing His message through our ‘paper missionaries’ that can go where we do not go and relate to people we will not meet. May you sense His blessing.”

Baker Publishing Group offers their congratulations to all the Christy Award winners and would like to acknowledge the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association for administering the Christy Awards, which honors and promotes excellence in fiction.

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, publishes books that help bring the Christian faith to everyday life. Whether through fiction, Christian living, self-help, marriage, family, or youth books, each Revell publication reflects relevance, integrity, and excellence.

Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, seeks to uplift readers’ families, faith, and free time with our library of industry-leading fiction and bestselling, Christ-centered nonfiction.

Contact: Karen Steele, (616)676-9185 x100, ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com

November 2023 | LISLE, IL—IVP Academic’s Ministers of a New Medium was named the best major publication by the Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) at its fiftieth annual Awards Banquet on November 2. Every year, the CHI Awards Banquet honors scholars from across the nation—even, in some years, across the globe—who are moving Lutheran history forward through their research and publications.

In Ministers of a New Medium: Broadcasting Theology in the Radio Ministries of Fulton J. Sheen and Walter A. Maier Kirk D. Farney explores the work of two groundbreaking leaders in religious broadcasting: Fulton J. Sheen and Walter A. Maier. These clergymen and professors—one a Catholic priest, the other a Lutheran minister—each led the way in combining substantive theology and emerging technology to spread the gospel over the airwaves. Through weekly nationwide broadcasts, Maier’s The Lutheran Hour and Sheen’s Catholic Hour attracted listeners across a spectrum of denominational and religious affiliations, establishing their hosts—and Christian radio itself—as cultural and religious forces to be reckoned with.

Farney examines how Sheen and Maier used their exceptional erudition, their sensitivity to the times, their powerful communication skills, and their unwavering Christian conviction, all for the purpose of calling the souls of listeners and the soul of a nation to repentance and godliness. Their combination of talents also brought their respective denominations, Roman Catholicism and Missouri Synod Lutheranism, from the periphery of the American religious landscape to a much greater level of recognition and acceptance. With careful attention to both the theological content and the cultural influence of these masters of a new medium, Farney’s study sheds new light on the history of media and Christianity in the United States.

“This dual biography offers compelling portraits of Fulton J. Sheen and Walter A. Maier, each of whom had a rare ability to both cultivate and communicate theological insights,” said Kathleen Sprows Cummings, director of the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism, University of Notre Dame. “Pairing these media sensations—one Catholic, one Lutheran—allows Farney to tell a story about religion and radio in American culture that is even broader and more interesting than the sum of its parts. In an age when many lament the corrosive effect of new media on faith and morals, the efforts of Sheen and Maier to harness emerging technologies in service of their respective faith traditions offer not only an interesting story about America’s past but also a measure of hope for its future.”

Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) is the Department of Archives and History for the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. CHI exists to trumpet the treasures of the Lutheran legacy. In addition to its activities as an active archive open to the public for research, CHI also seeks to increase the awareness and appreciation of the church’s history within the LCMS through maintaining two museum exhibits, recognizing major publications on Lutheran history, and sharing the story of the LCMS and her faith with the world.

For a complete list of IVP award winners, visit www.ivpress.com/award-winners.

Contact: Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

November 17, 2023, WHEATON, Ill.—Crossway is pleased to announce that eleven cover designs were awarded an ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Award for design excellence at the ECPA PubU Online event on November 10, 2023.

The Biggest Story Curriculum: Box Set (June 2023), designed by Don Clark of Invisible Creature, was named a winner in the Children’s category.

The ESV Church History Study Bible, designed by Jordan Singer, and the ESV Single Column Journaling Bible, Artist Series, designed by Matt Stevens, each won in the Bible category.

Eight Crossway covers earned distinction in the nonfiction category:

• A Christian’s Guide to Mental Illness by David Murray and Tom Karel Jr., designed by Spencer Fuller, Faceout Studio
• All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper, designed by Jordan Singer
• Beauty Is Your Destiny by Philip Ryken, designed by Tim Green
• Friendship with God by Mike McKinley, designed by Spencer Fuller, Faceout Studio
• Impossible Christianity by Kevin DeYoung, designed by Jordan Singer
• Remaking the World by Andrew Wilson, designed by Jordan Eskovitz
• Short of Glory by Mitchell L. Chase, designed by Tim Green
• The Upside Down Kingdom by Chris Castaldo, designed by Jordan Singer

“We are grateful for the way ECPA recognizes the value of design and celebrates creative excellence across our industry,” says Dan Farrell, Crossway’s vice president of creative. “These awards provide a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the good work of many talented designers. Congratulations to all who were honored this year.”

In all, the 2023 Top Shelf Awards named forty-one winners in four categories. More information about each of the winners can be found at TopShelfAward.org/winners.html.

Founded in 1938, Crossway is a not-for-profit global Christian publishing ministry that publishes gospel-centered, Bible-based content to honor our Savior and serve his church. Crossway seeks to help people understand the all-encompassing implications of the gospel and the truth of God’s word—for all of life, for all eternity, and for the glory of God alone. Crossway is the global publisher of the ESV® (English Standard Version®) Bible, more than 1,000 Christian books, and an extensive list of gospel literature. For additional information, visit crossway.org.

Contact: Lauren Susanto, lsusanto@crossway.org, crossway.org

EUGENE, OR, November 2023 —H. Norman Wright had a truly extraordinary gift for blessing and encouraging everyone who met him in person and through the written page. As one of Harvest House Publishers’ longest-serving authors and dearest friends, he has had a special place in our hearts—so it is with great sadness that we mourn over the news that he has entered our Savior’s presence on November 12, 2023.

Norm’s contagious enthusiasm for ministering to people and the exceptional compassion he put into his counsel left a significant and meaningful impact on countless thousands of lives through the years. Whether offering words of wisdom to newly engaged couples or gentle comfort to those in the dark valley of grief, he knew exactly what to say to point people toward real growth, healing, and hope. Readers have described Norm as “incredibly helpful and insightful” and “a most gracious companion in my darkest hours”—a testimony to his ability to speak to people’s hearts at their point of greatest need.

Especially endearing to us was Norm’s zest for living life to the fullest and making the most of all that he did. He enjoyed teaching his beloved golden retrievers to do amazing tricks, was an ardent fisherman, and loved to sharpen his skills at playing the piano.

As a much-loved and widely respected Christian counselor, Norm wrote more than 90 publications. In his 46 years of writing for Harvest House, he penned more than 50 books and booklets. One of his earliest projects with the company, Before You Say I Do, quickly became the most widely used premarital counseling manual in the Christian marketplace, with now nearly 1,400,000 copies sold. His most popular Harvest House books include the major bestseller Quiet Times for Couples, as well as 101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Engaged and Winning Over Your Emotions.

Norm was also widely recognized for his special skills in trauma and grief counseling. As a pioneer in this area of ministry, he developed valuable and ground-breaking resources that have helped many.

President Bob Hawkins Jr. says of Norm, “I loved Norm!  He was always warm, lighthearted, and truly gracious in all our conversations and work together over the years. You could always count on him to say at least one ‘Garsh’ in every phone call, which was his endearing, trademark way of saying, ‘Gosh’ in childlike amazement. He was mischievous, spirited, visionary, and so very practical in his books. I so appreciated his selfless service to so many people, including young newlyweds and those in the throes of trauma and grief. I will miss him dearly!”

Norm’s deep love for the Lord and for everyone around him—especially his family—have been a long-lasting source of inspiration for us. We are extremely grateful for the privilege of knowing and publishing him, and for the powerful legacy he has left for future generations of Christian counselors and readers.

About Harvest House
Harvest House, a Christian publishing company based in Eugene, Oregon, publishes more than 100 books per year and carries a strong backlist offering more than 1,500 titles. Over 145 million Harvest House books have been sold worldwide through diverse distribution channels, and additional millions have sold in over 75 different languages.

Media Contact: Sherrie Slopianka, publicity@harvesthousepublishers.com

November 18, 2023 — The first volume of J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece The Lord of the Rings trilogy was published in 1954, with two additional books released in quick succession within 14 months. In its pages are many mythical, magical characters and intriguing twists and turns in Middle Earth. But no character stands out more than the bearded, hat-wearing protagonist Gandalf.

Gandalf’s attributes were many, but one that has stood out to readers (and cinemagoers) for decades is his status as a father figure to Frodo Baggins, the hobbit of the Shire who inherits the ring from his cousin Bilbo.

Ted Terry, founder of The Noble Marketing Group, was not working in the publishing industry when Tolkien’s works were launched into the marketplace, but he arrived not much later. And like Gandalf, he’s been something of a father figure to many of people: Booksellers, publishers, and authors alike.

Terry, who was recognized for his work with an honorary doctorate by Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington and its president, Dr. Joseph Castleberry, in May of 2016,  will retire on January 1, 2024, and the leadership of Noble Marketing will transition to David M. Terry, one of his sons who has been a longtime associate of the company. Ryan Garrett will remain in the publisher relations position. Ryan Wheat, Terry’s grandson, will continue in the position of events coordinator.

It was in March of 1964 that Terry met with Ernie Kennedy, sales manager at Thomas Nelson Publishers, about his first role in Christian publishing.

“He said, ‘Ted, I want to hire you! However, I must first caution you about your decision. If you say yes to this position, you will no doubt be in publishing the rest of your working career,’” Terry said. “Mr. Kennedy was correct. Serving as a sales representative and as owner of the Noble Marketing Group has been more fulfilling than I could ever have imagined. Working with Christian booksellers and publishers who are now lifetime friends has been a marvelous blessing.”

After working at Thomas Nelson, Terry held positions at W.W. Norton in New York and with the Lee Collins and Associates firm, representing a portfolio of publishers across the country. In April of 2001, Terry Founded the Noble Marketing Group to similarly represent an assortment of publishers that currently includes Baker Publishing Group, Kregel Publications, InterVarsity Press, The Good Book Company, David C. Cook, and Broadstreet, among others. The organization has continued to serve those publishers in the midst of a shrinking footprint of retail bookstores, serving as a strategic partner in a changing business landscape.

Dwight Baker, CEO of the Baker Publishing Group from 1997 to 2023, was among Terry’s first conversation partners when the idea of a new representation group was being considered.

“With passion and vision Ted Terry led The Noble Marketing Group through more than two decades of faithful service to Christian book readers,” Baker said. “Terry’s leadership demanded his consistent navigation through transition and turmoil in both the publishing and retail communities, and may he enjoy some well-earned satisfaction in his lasting contribution to the vitality of the church.”

The name Noble Marketing arose around a dinner table in the Terry home.

“As we ate one evening, I broke the news of starting a sales representation group and asked if anyone had a suggestion for a name,” Terry said. “My son, Jim, said, ‘Dad, you are a very noble person in my book and I would suggest you name the company Noble Marketing.’” And a 22-year enterprise was born.

Publishers, Noble Marketing employees, and booksellers that Terry served throughout his career all shared words of tribute upon learning of his pending retirement.

“Ted Terry is one of a kind. He’s devoted his life to making sure that everyone involved in Christian books, from authors, to publishers, to reps, to stores, to readers is treated with respect and care,” Justin Paul Lawerence, divisional vice president of marketing and sales at IVP and a client of the Noble Marketing Group, said. “In the eight years I’ve been able to spend time with him, I’ve consistently seen him care for everyone, from CEOs to busboys. He’s truly an example of someone who bears Christ to others, even in challenging circumstance. I wish him and Marietta well as they begin a new chapter.”

Alan Read, a long-term member of the Noble sales team who covers accounts in the western and midwestern states, spoke of Terry’s faith and his practice of listening.

“Ted Terry always spoke last in a business meeting. He would listen attentively to what was said and then offer his opinion, while always being thoughtful of how he might differ from what was said earlier,” Read said. “He always had your back in public, in private he would address reality. Ted’s faith is unshakable, as demonstrated when they lost their son Teddy to cancer. Love is stronger than death and it certainly is for Ted.”

Jeff Crosby, president and CEO of ECPA, has known Ted Terry since prior to the formation of The Noble Marketing Group and commented on his personal and professional impact.

“As one who has known and worked with Ted in one capacity or another for more than three decades, I am yet another life he has touched; another person for whom he has become a father figure,” Crosby said. “There are many of us throughout this industry who would say the same. And I join the chorus of voices from bookselling and publishing and beyond in saying, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”

Three Christian booksellers added their voices in tribute, as well.

Dan Elenbaas of Cornerstone Christian Bookstore in Helena, Montana added, “While we have had some great sales reps over the years, none have had the longevity in our store as Ted Terry. All reps will sell to your store, but Ted Terry invested in our store’s success. His commitment to us, whether by his convenient and safe ordering plans that expanded our offers, or in his nearly pastoral concern for our family made him someone we didn’t want to disappoint. He made us feel valued.”

“When Ted calls and says he’s coming, we all get very excited as he makes it a celebration for us,” Kathi Broughton, book buyer at Sower Bible Bookstore in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, said. “Ted’s knowledge of the Christian market has been a great help to us, and he is willing to answer our barrage of questions. Both Ted and Marietta are also prayer warriors and have been ones we count on many times. We’ve been immensely blessed to have his as our rep, and we will continue to call him for advice and prayer.”

Mark Phelps of Evangel Bookstore in Medford, Oregon echoed the other booksellers in saying, “Thank you, Ted, for your amazing service to this great industry! Evangel has been so blessed to have you as our sales rep for over 40 years. More importantly, thank you for being an amazing friend to the Phelps family.”

Media Contact: David M. Terry,  dmterry@aol.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 13, 2023) — Forefront Books, a Nashville-based independent book publisher, announces a three-book deal with New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury. The first book is slated to be released in early 2025.

The new agreement once again pairs Kingsbury with longtime collaborator Becky Nesbitt, Associate Publisher of Forefront Books. Nesbitt and Kingsbury previously worked together at both Simon & Schuster and Tyndale.

“We feel incredibly honored to team with Karen as her talent and success are widely renowned,” said Nesbitt. “Forefront Books is committed to expanding her legacy and cannot wait to see what she continues to accomplish.”

“I’m so grateful for Forefront’s partnership and am excited to bring these next three books into the world with their support,” said Kingsbury.

Kingsbury has sold more than 25 million copies of her award-winning books and many have been developed into successful film and television projects. Her newest film, SOMEONE LIKE YOU, will release in theaters April 2, 2024, and her final book with Simon & Schuster, Just Once, releases on November 14, 2023.

Forefront Books was recently named Publishers Weekly’s second-fastest growing independent publisher. With a sales growth of 216% over two years and an increase in title count from 21 books a year in 2020 to 52 books in 2023, Forefront’s growth is projected to continue beyond 2023. To learn more about Forefront Books, visit https://www.forefrontbooks.com.

Forefront Publisher, Jonathan Merkh, acquired world rights from Rick Christian, Karen’s longtime agent and the Founder/CEO Emeritus of Alive Literary Agency.

About Forefront Books
Forefront Books is a unique publishing company that caters to the most successful men and women in their respective fields – the thought leaders, the visionaries, the pioneers, the business owners, and the entrepreneurs who have a compelling story to tell – and delivers a world-class end result from a team which has helped create nearly 100 New York Times bestsellers, including thirteen #1 bestsellers. 

About Karen Kingsbury
Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, has been dubbed “America’s favorite inspirational storyteller” by Time. Her award-winning books have sold more than twenty-five million copies, topped national bestseller lists and been adapted for film/TV by MGM, Hallmark Films and her newly launched eponymous studio, Karen Kingsbury Productions. Her Baxter Family books have been developed into a streaming series slated for release on a major platform next year. Karen is also an adjunct professor at Liberty University where the writing center is named after her. In 2001, she and her husband Don adopted three boys from Haiti, doubling their family in a matter of months. Today the couple has joined the ranks of empty-nesters, living in Tennessee near several of their adult children.

Series Sales Hit 350,000 – Expected to Top 400,000 by Year-End

Nashville, TN (November 20, 2023) – Rabbit Room Press announces that Every Moment Holy, Vol. III: The Work of the People has debuted at #10 on the Publishers Weekly Hardcover Frontlist Nonfiction bestseller list (week of November 11). This is the first time an Every Moment Holy volume has appeared on a Publishers Weekly bestseller list. The new volume has also taken the #1 spot for its Amazon category. Every Moment Holy is the top-selling series for Rabbit Room Press with more than 350,000 copies sold; total sales are expected to top 400,000 by year-end.

Pete Peterson, the publisher at Rabbit Room Press, credits series author Douglas Kaine McKelvey and series illustrator Ned Bustard for the unique appeal of the Every Moment Holy series, “Once readers discover Every Moment Holy, they are eager to gift the books to friends and family. These rich, beautiful books help individuals and families honor the sacred purpose and eternal hope found in everyday moments of life.”

Enthusiastic word of mouth from readers, faith leaders, and influencers quickly made Every Moment Holy a modern classic. Every Moment Holy, Volume II released in 2021, featuring liturgies for death, grief, and hope, was embraced by those who were weary of pandemic life and loss. Every Moment Holy, Volume III offers the most diverse and expansive collection of liturgies and illustrations to date, with contributions from five dozen writers and artists. The Every Moment Holy product group will introduce its first hardcover journal, Every Moment Holy: Prayer Journal, on January 12, 2024. Every Moment Holy books are available at the Rabbit Room store (store.rabbitroom.com), Amazon, and local booksellers (distribution via Ingram and APG).

The launch of Every Moment Holy, Vol. III is supported by print and digital advertising, a national publicity campaign, and outreach to social media influencers. Every Moment Holy books have been featured in national media outlets such as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Christianity Today, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Good Grit magazine, Rhythms for Life Podcast, FamilyLife Today, The Crystal Paine Show, Nothing is Wasted Podcast, The Conversation with Adam Weber Podcast, Raising Boys & Girls Podcast, Hearing Jesus Podcast, and more.

DOUGLAS KAINE MCKELVEY is an author, song lyricist, scriptwriter, and video director. He has penned more than 350 lyrics recorded by artists such as Switchfoot, Kenny Rogers, Sanctus Real, and Jason Gray. Doug and Lise McKelvey, the parents of three young adults, live near Nashville, TN. everymomentholy.com

NED BUSTARD is a graphic designer, illustrator, and printmaker for World’s End Images, the creative director for Square Halo Books, Inc., and curator of the Square Halo Gallery. He is on staff with CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts) and is on the boards of the ASCHA (Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art) and The Row House, Inc. worldsendimages.com

THE RABBIT ROOM cultivates and curates stories, music, and art to nourish Christ-centered communities for the life of the world. Conceived in 2007 as an experiment in creative community, The Rabbit Room put down roots in a 150-year-old farmhouse in Nashville, Tennessee. The community’s creative ventures now include a podcast network, book store, Rabbit Room Press, and live events including the annual Hutchmoot conference. www.rabbitroom.com

PRESS INQUIRIES: Pamela McClure, MMPR: pamela@mmpbulicrelations.com, 615-294-5073
Interviews with Douglas Kaine McKelvey and Ned Bustard are available upon request.

Media contact: Pamela McClure, 615-294-5073, Pamela@mmpublicrelations.com

Exciting speakers, worship leaders, and Bible teachers to share at April 2024 event

November 6, 2023 (COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado) – Esther Press, David C Cook’s imprint for women’s books, Bible studies, and devotionals, announced this week an all new conference for women of all ages called est.HER. The three-day event will take place April 11-13, 2024, in Spring Hill, Tennessee, just south of Nashville.

The line up of speakers and worship artists includes well-known names like Lisa Harper, Babbie Mason, Sarah Kroger, Lisa Whittle, Alli Worthington, Tammy Trent, and special guest Patsy Clairmont, and is sure to draw faith-filled women from around the country for an incredible three days of purpose and belonging.

**Registration is now open and space is already filling fast. Interested attendees can find event details and register now at: EstherPress.com/Events

“We created the est.HER Conference to be an immersive experience that will inspire women to have the courage to step into God’s calling for their lives,” said Esther Press founder Susan McPherson. “This conference will give women an opportunity to come together in community, learn from trusted Bible teachers, be encouraged by powerful storytelling, rest, reflect on God’s faithfulness, and walk away with a clearer understanding of what God is calling them to.”

Conference attendees can also enjoy Nashville and the charm of its neighboring cities which offer plentiful opportunities to enjoy the country music scene, delicious southern food, and historic, unique small town shops and boutiques. You won’t want to miss this memorable, life-changing weekend event!

Esther Press is an imprint of David C Cook. Learn more at EstherPress.com.

David C Cook is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping the global church with leadership, discipleship, and worship resources to help Christians grow in faith and pass it along to the next generation. Read more about David C Cook and its global ministry outreach at www.davidccook.org.

Media Contact: Cathy Herholdt, VP, Communications, cathy.herholdt@davidccook.org, 719.533.3011

World-Class Illustrations Bring Season 1 Stories to Life for All Ages

November 7, 2023 (COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado) – Based on Season 1 of the hit television series and the largest crowd-funded media project of all time, The Chosen, David C Cook released today the first graphic novel adaptation of the powerful story of the life of Jesus and his followers, The Chosen: Volume 1, Called by Name.

The book is the first in a series of graphic novels that follow the first three seasons of The Chosen. Whether a loyal fan or a newcomer to the groundbreaking show, graphic novel enthusiasts, collectors, and readers of all ages will be captivated by the world-class illustrations and engaging storytelling in The Chosen: Volume 1, Called by Name.

The book contains original depictions from the television show now seen through the pen and ink of the talented team from Crux Studios, David C Cook’s graphic novel and comic book imprint. Creative Director Chris (“Big Chris”) Wood, known for his work on video game titles such as Halo 2 and 3, Call of Duty, and Pirates of the Caribbean, led the artwork and illustrations, bringing the story to life alongside authors Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen, and cowriters Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson.

With 200 pages of never-before-seen artwork, the graphic novel features exclusive content that can’t be found anywhere else, including four pages of variant covers in the back, splash pages, double-page spreads, and a variety of unique angles on familiar scenes.

Through a dramatic, exciting comic book perspective, readers young and old will be drawn into favorite scenes from Season 1, like Jesus turning water into wine, Mary Magdalene being called from darkness into light, and Simon and Andrew’s miraculous catch of fish.

“This project is exciting because the graphic novel genre powerfully speaks to today’s youth in a way that they can connect with,” said Michael Covington, VP of Publishing and Acquisitions. “David C Cook has a century-long history of creating illustrated Biblical resources and we’re very aware of the needs of this generation. The storytelling brilliance of The Chosen combined with the world-class illustrations will absolutely connect with readers of all ages, especially kids.”

The Chosen: Volume 1, Called by Name is available now online and at select retail outlets.  For interviews or more information, please contact Cathy Herholdt, VP of Communications, at cathy.herholdt@davidccook.org.

David C Cook is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping the global church with leadership, discipleship, and worship resources to help Christians grow in faith and pass it along to the next generation. Read more about David C Cook and its global ministry outreach at www.davidccook.org.

Media Contact: Cathy Herholdt, VP, Communications, cathy.herholdt@davidccook.org, 719.533.3011

November 8, 2023 — Today, HarperCollins Christian Publishing announced the promotion of Kristi Smith to vice president of marketing for Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Gift Book imprints.  Smith joined the company 24 years ago, and throughout her tenure has been integral to the marketing strategy of some of the company’s top titles. Smith served as marketing director for W Publishing before joining Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Gift Books as senior marketing director in 2019.  In this role she has worked with leading authors including Max Lucado, Emily Ley, Dr. David Jeremiah, Sadie Robertson Huff, Liz Marie Galvan, and many more.

“Kristi encompasses all the elements you’d hope for in a marketing leader,” commented Michael Aulisio, VP of HarperCollins Christian and HarperCollins Focus Gift Books.  “She is a brilliant forward-thinking strategist, tremendous author advocate, and a ‘people first’ leader that has inspired our marketing team to new heights.  I couldn’t be happier for her to take this next step in leadership for Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Gift Books.”