Media Associates International (MAI) announces the appointment of Heather Pubols as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective November 11.

Heather was unanimously and enthusiastically elected by the MAI Board of Directors after an extensive selection process. A skilled global communications consultant and editor, she will succeed John Maust on his retirement after 25 years in the position.

Heather has worked as a nonprofit communications leader for more than two decades, serving in diverse capacities on a global scale. These have included directing domestic and international teams, consulting, photojournalism, editing, strategic planning and training.

She has recently been involved in launching Christian Daily International, and since October 2021 she has served as the editorial director of Evangelical Missions Quarterly, an award-winning professional journal for North American missionaries.

Her work has taken her to more than 50 countries and includes time living abroad in Kenya, South Africa, Germany and the UK.

“For many years Heather has been committed to giving a voice to Christians around the world,” said Dan Elliott of the MAI Board’s CEO Search Committee. “She is a unique and gifted leader. God brought MAI to Heather’s attention at just the right time, and He has given her a commitment and passion for this work.”

Heather becomes only the third CEO in MAI’s almost 40-year history, after founding President Robert Reekie and John Maust.

As CEO of MAI, she looks forward to expanding the global conversation of believers through the equipping of Christian publishing staff and writers in the Majority World.

“One of my key callings is building bridges that amplify voices of the marginalized,” she said. “I am honored to continue the excellent work that John and Bob have done to further MAI’s important mission.”

MAI’s leadership mantel will be passed at the LittWorld 2024 conference in Puebla, Mexico, November 3-8, when John Maust steps down and Heather is publicly introduced as the new CEO.

“Heather brings extensive global experience and a wealth of knowledge to nonprofit communications and journalism,” said Anna Piro, who recently succeeded Dan Elliott as MAI Board Chair. “The MAI Board of Directors eagerly anticipates seeing how the Lord guides Heather in her new role. Please keep Heather in your prayers as we move forward in this new chapter of leadership.”

We’ll share additional details about MAI’s leadership transition in the weeks ahead. Please pray for God’s continued leading. I look forward to seeing many of you at LittWorld in Mexico and to your meeting Heather there!  –John Maust

CHICAGO – Independent Publishers Group (IPG), one of the oldest and largest book distributors in North America, and Bookwire, the leading global provider of digital distribution for eBooks and audiobooks, are proud to announce a strategic partnership.

IPG will upgrade its digital eBook and audiobook distribution services by adopting the Bookwire OS platform, the best-in-class, cloud-based software system for eBook distribution and comprehensive digital marketing with an expanded global network. In turn, Bookwire will gain access to IPG’s digital print and distribution services, greatly expanding its market presence in the United States.

“IPG’s digital clients will transition to the Bookwire OS platform within the next year, gaining access to increased channel opportunities, automated marketing, integrated analytics, and other benefits,” said IPG CEO Joe Matthews.

“This partnership allows us to focus on our core business while enhancing our digital service offerings,” Matthews said. “Our clients will greatly benefit from the advanced capabilities and global distribution network of the Bookwire OS platform.”

Both Bookwire and IPG will continue to focus on their respective specialties, with IPG providing exceptional comprehensive distribution solutions for independent publishers and Bookwire specializing in the worldwide digital distribution of eBooks and audiobooks.

“This strategic partnership with IPG marks a new chapter for us. By combining our strengths, we are better positioned to support U.S. publishers with innovative solutions and drive growth in the digital distribution space,” said Jens Klingelhöfer, Bookwire’s CEO & co-founder.

“We are excited to extend our services and technology to IPG’s clients,” added Brittyne Lewis, Country Manager U.S., at Bookwire. “Our goal is to ensure a smooth transition and provide them with great customer service and the tools and support they need to succeed in the digital landscape.”

About Independent Publishers Group
Founded in 1971, IPG was the first organization specifically created for the purpose of marketing titles from independent presses to the book trade. Today, IPG’s wide reach into the book market includes distribution of both print and e-books from a wide array of publishers, digital printing, and traditional publishing. With consistent growth year over year, IPG’s success has come from supporting and encouraging the growth of its publishing partners in the United States and worldwide. IPG was acquired by Chicago Review Press in 1987, and this acquisition formed the parent company Chicago Review Press, Inc., which now owns Chicago-based indie publishers Chicago Review Press and Triumph Books. In October 2021, IPG acquired UK-based United Independent Distributors (UID) and its subsidiary companies Eurospan, Marston Book Services and Orca Book Services, extending IPG’s menu of services and global reach.

About Bookwire & “Bookwire OS – One Solution”
Bookwire was founded in Frankfurt in 2010 as a service provider for publisher distribution of eBooks and digital content. It has since become one of the leading international businesses in digital publishing technology. Bookwire currently employs 150 people in Germany, the UK, Spain, France, Brazil, Italy and the U.S., who take care of more than 3,000 publishers in the fields of eBooks, audiobooks, podcasts and print-on-demand. The pioneering software “Bookwire OS – One Solution” delivers, analyzes, and markets  1.3 million eBooks and 300,000 audiobooks in all relevant distribution channels. In addition to the latest customer analytics and pricing technology, publishing clients of Bookwire also have access to individual support from account & marketing managers who look after the clients from end to end. Bookwire is led by the founders Jens Klingelhöfer (CEO) and John Ruhrmann (CO-CEO), as well as by Christian Lindemann (COO), and has branches in Barcelona, London, Milano, São Paulo, New York and Paris, in addition to the company headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and the “Digital Hub” in Dortmund.

Contacts:
Julia Dillman | Corporate Communications, IPG | 312.337.0747 | jdillman@ipgbook.com
Jan Stausberg | Corporate PR Manager, Bookwire | jan.stausberg@bookwire.de

JUNE 2024 | LISLE, IL—Pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author Jay Y. Kim has signed a contract for two more books with IVP.

With details about the second book still in the planning stages, the first book is tentatively titled The Pace of Peace and the Mind at Ease with a projected release date of Spring 2026.

Kelli Trujillo, IVP trade editor and the acquisitions editor for Kim’s next books, said, “Having worked with Jay multiple times in the past in my previous role at Christianity Today, I see Jay as a trusted, insightful, and needed pastoral voice for the church today. He’s a sharp thinker who seamlessly integrates his idea-driven writing with rich insights for the spiritual life.”

In The Pace of Peace and the Mind at Ease, Kim will address the distracted, frenzied pace of life we are shaped by in this digital age and the resulting struggle Christians experience to truly pay attention on God. Kim will invite contemporary readers into five stages of the Prayer of Examen as a habit of formation and lens through which to encounter God’s faithful presence. Kim reflects with readers on the steps of invitation, gratitude, reflection, confession, and looking forward as a regular prayer-rhythm of engaging with God and cultivating peace and trust.

“We’re all well-familiar with the spiritual wear and tear we experience seeking to follow Jesus while constantly buffeted by (and often succumbing to) today’s endless distractions,” Trujillo said. “I’m looking forward to the invitation Jay’s forthcoming book will offer readers as it journeys through the movements of the examen: to focus their souls’ attention on God’s faithful presence and enter into the deep and lasting peace that only he can provide.”

Kim serves as lead pastor at WestGate Church in the Silicon Valley of California. He’s the author of Listen, Listen, Speak (FaithWords), Analog Christian (InterVarsity Press, winner of Outreach Magazine’s Leadership Resource of the Year), and Analog Church (InterVarsity Press, winner of The Gospel Coalition’s New Author Award). He’s a contributing author to The Upside Down Kingdom Study Bible (Zondervan), Before You Lose Your Faith (The Gospel Coalition), Faithful Exiles (The Gospel Coalition), and Scrolling Ourselves to Death (Crossway).

Kim is also host of IVP’s Digital Examen podcast and cohost of Barna’s Making Space podcast. His teaching and preaching have taken him to various conferences and church gatherings across the country and his written work has been featured in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Missio Alliance, Relevant Magazine, and Outreach Magazine.

Contact:  Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

Carol Stream, IL (June 27, 2024)—You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

The same basic principle applies to missions work. Too often, churches and missions organizations over-emphasize relief aid—no-strings-attached handouts of vital supplies given in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. While necessary and lifesaving, relief aid is only a temporary fix. Once the funds dry up and the ground team leaves, the impoverished community is often no better off than they were before disaster struck.

In Teach a Man to Fish, the authors illustrate the benefits of wholistic transformational development, where—through engagement with the local church—the community is empowered to identify and carry out long-term sustainable solutions to meet its own needs.

Essential aspects of wholistic transformational development include

• giving dignity to “the least of these”
• addressing the root causes of poverty to provide solutions for the affected
• helping the vulnerable to become empowered in their own communities

Featuring Scripture, journaling questions, and real-life stories from co-authors, Florence Muindi and Charlie Vittitow,  Teach a Man to Fish will provide churches and missions organizations with a blueprint for helping people help themselves to create lasting change, as well as long-term sustainability and independence. Its release date is September 3, 2024.

Teach a Man to Fish
by Florence Muindi and Charlie Vittitow
ISBN: 978-1-4964-9006-3 | Softcover: $18.99 | September 3, 2024 | Tyndale.com

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

Contact: Shelley Bacote, shelleybacote@tyndale.com, (630) 784-5187

Volume one of Guite’s new epic poem, Merlin’s Isle: An Arthuriad, arrives spring 2026 – three more volumes to follow in 2027-2028

Nashville, Tenn. (June 17, 2024) Rabbit Room Press proudly announces its partnership with globally renowned scholar and poet Malcolm Guite to publish a four-volume epic poem Merlin’s Isle. Guite describes the new work as a poetic retelling of the Arthurian legends that is accessible for modern readers. Volume one, Galahad and the Grail, will be published in spring 2026 with three more volumes slated for 2027 and 2028.

Malcolm Guite is known worldwide as a poet following the tradition of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and George Herbert, a priest in the tradition of Lancelot Andrewes, and a scholar and Literary Critic in the tradition of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. A fellow at Cambridge University, Guite is the author of several works of nonfiction and poetry including Sounding the Seasons: 70 Sonnets for the Christian Year (Canterbury Press) now in its tenth printing.

Merlin’s Isle is a four-volume poetic retelling of the legends of King Arthur, written in an approachable and accessible way for modern readers of all ages and backgrounds, calling them deeper into the classic tales of King Arthur and his knights. These volumes present the tales imaginatively and uniquely through poetry while drawing out the deep spiritual themes the story has grappled with throughout its history.

Rabbit Room Press will release each volume in deluxe hardcover binding, featuring cover art and interior illustrations by award-winning artist Stephen Crotts. Crotts’ work has been featured in numerous books, album covers, magazines, and even onstage at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

“I am immensely grateful to embark on this new partnership with Rabbit Room, and for their belief and faith in a project I have contemplated for many years: an epic retelling of the legends of King Arthur, stories I have loved since I was a child,” says Malcolm Guite. “As a student, I rediscovered these stories in their original sources and became aware of how many modern versions seemed to marginalize or even erase the deep spiritual impulse that had formed their original telling. As a poet, I have worked to restore that lost element, hoping that a new telling will baptize the imagination of a new generation.”

Guite’s fluency with poetic traditions and stories of the past, alongside his theological bent and a rare gift for making poetry approachable for modern readers, have endeared him to the Rabbit Room team which views him as a kindred spirit and a fellow traveler.

“We at Rabbit Room have admired and championed Malcolm Guite’s work for years. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to publish this exciting work,” explains Pete Peterson, Publisher at Rabbit Room Press. “It is with great joy that we take up this four-part quest of the Grail, of Camelot and Avalon and all things Arthurian. Malcolm Guite will lead readers into the storied wilds as acclaimed illustrator Stephen Crotts adorns Guite’s words with images along the way.”

For more information about Rabbit Room Press and the forthcoming partnership with Malcom Guite, visit www.merlinsisle.com.

Malcolm Guite is a poet, priest and Life Fellow of Girton College, Cambridge. He lectures widely in England and North America on Theology and Literature. His books include Sounding the Seasons: Seventy Sonnets for the Christian Year (Canterbury 2012), The Singing Bowl: Collected Poems (Canterbury 2013), Parable and Paradox (Canterbury Press 2016), Mariner: A Voyage with Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Hodder 2017), After Prayer (Canterbury Press 2019), The Word Within the Words (DLT 2021) and Lifting the Veil (Square Halo 2021).

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.

Contact: Carly Anderson, carly@rabbitroom.com

Ada, Mich. (June 18, 2024) – Baker Publishing Group is pleased to announce the promotion of Kelli Smith, Sr. Publicist, to the newly created position of Director of Publicity. In this position, Smith will centralize and oversee publicity efforts for all six divisions of Baker Publishing Group.

She will report to Bob Gaudet, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Publicity.

“I am excited for Kelli to step into this new leadership role,” said Gaudet. “Her experience in the industry, knack for streamlining, and track record of implementing best practices make her a key partner in our ongoing efforts to innovate and grow our publishing program.”

Smith began in the new role on June 17.

“I am thrilled to take on the position of Director of Publicity,” said Kelli. “With five-plus years of experience working with hundreds of Revell and Baker nonfiction authors and an additional twenty years working in public relations and journalism, I’m excited to bring my expertise and experience to this role. We have wonderful authors and an amazing group of publicists. We are positioned to provide superior publicity!”

Baker Publishing Group (Bethany House, Revell, Baker Books, Chosen, Brazos Press, and Baker Academic) is a leading producer of Christian resources that give insight and inspiration to readers worldwide. Our divisions reflect the broadest scope of topics, which includes fiction, self-help, inspiration, professional books, Christian living and academic titles.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 2024—Zondervan Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, announces the release of Timothy Keller’s first posthumous book in the US. Go Forward in Love: A Year of Daily Readings from Timothy Keller (9780310369547) releases on October 1, 2024.

A New York Times bestselling author and the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, Keller was one of the most trusted and beloved spiritual leaders of his generation.

For seekers of spiritual encouragement and admirers of Timothy Keller’s writing, Go Forward in Love offers 365 days of timeless biblical wisdom. This devotional features content from his bestselling books The Reason for God (2009), The Prodigal God (2011), The Meaning of Marriage (2013), Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (2015), and more. Short daily readings on prayer, forgiveness, loving our neighbors, and other topics will lead believers into fresh wonder at God’s love and inspire them to share that love within their communities.

“Go Forward in Love in many ways represents the best of Timothy Keller’s work,” said Webster Younce, vice president and publisher of Zondervan Books. “His life and writings have touched millions and continue to inspire Christians around the world. Zondervan Books is honored to be part of continuing his legacy.”

Keller’s books have sold more than six million copies and have been published in twenty-nine languages worldwide. HarperCollins Christian published several of Keller’s books, including Center Church, Loving the City and Uncommon Ground (with John Inazu). Following Keller’s passing in May 2023, media outlets such as NPR, the New York Times, CBN News, Christianity Today, and CNN celebrated his impactful life.

For more information or for media inquiries, contact Rebecca Schriner at rebecca.schriner@harpercollins.com.

Timothy J. Keller (1950–2023) was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, cofounder of Redeemer City to City, and the author of numerous books, including The Reason for God, The Prodigal God, and The Meaning of Marriage. His thirty-one books have sold over six million copies and have been translated into twenty-nine languages.

Zondervan is a HarperCollins company and part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Zondervan is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian communications. The company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional information, please visit zondervan.com.

Contact:  Rebecca Schriner, Publicity Manager for Zondervan Books, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Rebecca.Schriner@HarperCollins.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 2024—Zondervan Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is pleased to announce that Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect by John Inazu (Zondervan, April 2024) has been selected as a June Pick for PBS Books.

PBS Books is, in their own words, “a multi-platform initiative celebrating the love of reading” and is “dedicated to connecting books with audiences by engaging them in unique experiences to spark their curiosity and encourage a life-long love of reading and learning. Through social and digital engagement and live coverage of important literary events across the country, PBS Books celebrates books and writers and works to foster a passion for reading among public media viewers and listeners.”

Webster Younce, vice president and publisher of Zondervan Books, remarked, “It is difficult to imagine a more timely and necessary book than Learning to Disagree. In it, John offers readers a surprising, paradigm-shifting approach to having productive conversations across deep differences, while staying true to one’s own convictions. We are thrilled that PBS is highlighting John’s work as a resource for navigating a culture that is often characterized by destructive disagreement.”

Learning to Disagree spans a range of challenging issues—including critical race theory, sexual assault, campus protests, and clashes over religious freedom—and helps readers engage honestly and empathetically with people whose viewpoints they find strange, wrong, or even dangerous.

Sharing memorable stories and drawing on the practices that legal training imparts—seeing the complexity in every issue and inhabiting the mindset of an opposing point of view—John helps readers handle daily encounters and lifelong relationships with those who see life very differently than they do.

Readers will be equipped to understand what holds them back from healthy disagreement; learn specific strategies for dialoguing clearly and authentically; move from stuck, broken disagreements to mature and healthy disagreements; and cultivate empathy as a core skill for their personal lives and society as a whole.

Learning to Disagree offers a unique, often-humorous, thought-provoking, and ultimately life-changing exploration of the best way to disagree.

For more information or for media inquiries, please contact Rebecca Schriner at rebecca.schriner@harpercollins.com.

John Inazu is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis. He teaches criminal law, law and religion, and various First Amendment courses. He writes and speaks frequently about pluralism, assembly, free speech, religious freedom, and other issues. John has written three books and published opinion pieces in the Washington Post, Atlantic, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, USA Today, Newsweek, and CNN. He is also the founder of the Carver Project and the Legal Vocation Fellowship and is a senior fellow with Interfaith America and the Trinity Forum.

Zondervan is a HarperCollins company and part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Zondervan is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian communications. The company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional information, please visit zondervan.com.

Contact: Rebecca Schriner, Publicity Manager for Zondervan Books, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Rebecca.Schriner@HarperCollins.com

Carol Stream, IL (June 24, 2024)—Tyndale Momentum is delighted to release Merry and Bright, September 2024, a Christmas-focused devotional with the purpose of helping readers to rediscover the hope, peace, and joy of Advent. Through relatable stories, encouraging Scripture, reflection questions, and prayer, readers will be diving into what it means to open their hearts and homes to Jesus during the Christmas season.

Coauthors Kristin Demery, Kendra Roehl, and Julie Fisk are known as writers, speakers, mothers, and creators of The Ruth Experience, their popular website. Throughout their friendship they have coauthored numerous devotionals with Tyndale House Publishers, including The One Year Daily Acts of Kindness Devotional, The One Year Daily Acts of Friendship, The One Year Daily Acts of Gratitude Devotional, and One Good Word a Day.

Readers can join these friends on their Advent journey beginning September 17, 2024.

Merry and Bright | ISBN: 978-1-4964-8748-3
Hardcover: $19.99 | September 17, 2024
Tyndale.com

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

Contact:  Zoe Jethani, zoejethani@tyndale.com, 630.784.5408

 

Media Associates International (MAI) is pleased to announce creation of the Judith E. Markham Editorial Legacy Award.  The award will consist of an annual grant to a selected Christian editor in the Majority World to be used for that person’s training and professional development.

Judith Markham worked as an editor for more than 50 years, most of that time in religious book publishing. She began her book publishing career at Zondervan Publishing House in 1968, where she served in several editorial positions for almost 20 years, including managing her own imprint, Judith Markham Books.  In 1987 she founded Blue Water Ink, along with her partners Paul Hillman and the late Julie Ackerman Link.  In 2001 she joined Discovery House Publishers as managing editor, and in 2014 she became executive editor of the Our Daily Bread devotional. After editing hundreds of books, including more than 17 ECPA Christian Book Award winners, Judith retired in 2015.  She is also a founding member of the Academy of Christian Editors.

Generous with her insights and skill, Judith served as an editorial trainer for Media Associates International (MAI) and as a director on its International Board. Her training booklet, Servanthood and the Christian Editor, remains a valuable tool for MAI editorial training around the world.  In this same spirit of servanthood, Judith established the editorial award bearing her name to help equip emerging Christian editors serving in countries where little on-site training is available.

In selecting an annual recipient of the award, MAI will give preference to editors demonstrating a desire for growth and Judith’s passion for editorial excellence.  Candidates for the award will be identified through MAI’s on-site training programs in the various world regions and through referrals from within the ministry’s global network.  The first recipient of the editorial award will be announced at the LittWorld 2024 conference in Puebla, Mexico, November 3-8.

Founded in 1985, MAI envisions a world in which readers everywhere have access to life-transforming Christian content written in their heart language.  Skilled editors, who come alongside aspiring authors and help them craft compelling, life-transforming content, are vital to fulfillment of this vision.