“Nearly every oligarch on Earth was surrounded by this nervous, eager, nodding flock of yes-men, little men (and a few women) who gained a fortune and lost their souls by telling their bosses what they wanted to hear.”

Brian McLaren’s newest book “The Last Voyage” released from Hodder Faith on July 29.  This first volume in a thrilling new trilogy from Brian McLaren, explores what it means to be human and what would we choose to bring with us or leave behind, if we were to start all over again.

It’s 2056 and international oligarchs have pushed the world to the precipice of ecological, economic, and nuclear catastrophe. But two philanthropists have teamed up to establish a long-term colony on Mars. Could this daring outpost be the next chapter in the story of the human race?

Assembling a crack team of experts including scientists, engineers and ecologists, the colony begins to establish a viable outpost on our nearest planet. But the team quickly runs into problems as they bear the responsibility of creating a new humanity. Can they work out what has gone wrong before it’s too late? And will the passengers of the last voyage from earth bring what’s needed for this fledging community to flourish?

This first volume in a thrilling new trilogy from Brian McLaren, explores what it means to be human and what would we choose to bring with us or leave behind, if we were to start all over again.

Brian McLaren is a bestselling author, internationally acclaimed speaker and outspoken advocate for ‘a new kind of Christianity’. Named one of Time magazine’s 25 most influential Evangelical Christians, McLaren was a pastor for over 20 years. He is a frequent guest on radio and television programs, and an in-demand blogger on faith and public policy (brianmclaren.net). @brianmclaren

For marketing & press enquiries please contact:
Kaitlyn Shokes – kaitlyn.shokes@johnmurraypress.co.uk

Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group continues to grow, adding Robin Bermel in the new role of Backlist & Brand Director and strengthening the marketing department with the addition of Savana Bishop as Associate Marketing Manager.

Robin Bermel joins PRH Christian as Backlist & Brand Director on August 4, reporting to Campbell Wharton, SVP and Publisher. A strategic marketer and proven leader, Bermel has more than 20 years of go-to-market publishing experience. Bermel has led brand efforts for Tyndale Alliances partner NavPress Publishing, most recently spearheading their 50^th year celebrations. She has directed marketing for key authors and books including the 20^th Anniversary Edition of Dallas Willard’s Renovation of the Heart, Foster Cline and Jim Fay’s Parenting with Love and Logic, the repackage and re-release of Donald Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, the U.S. release of Pete Greig’s How to Pray, as well as books by Pastor Derwin Gray, Bible study teacher Linda Dillow, and Jay Stringer, author of Unwanted.

Bermel has provided clear direction and innovative multi-channel marketing plans across digital and print platforms that effectively position books and resources for growth.

As PRH Christian’s Backlist & Brand Director, Bermel will take a strategic approach to managing PRH Christian’s backlist, working closely with editorial, sales, marketing, publicity, digital, and creative services to maximize sales opportunities. Bermel will also develop year-round plans for the division’s lead authors and brands including John Mark Comer, Andrew Peterson, Mark Batterson, Jennie Allen, Kay Arthur, Henri Nouwen, Randy Alcorn, Francine Rivers, and others, and will work closely with the frontlist teams to enhance backlist titles simultaneously with authors’ new releases.

Also newly joining PRH Christian is Savana Bishop, Associate Marketing Manager, reporting to Ginia Croker, VP, Marketing Director.

Bishop comes from Portfolio Books, an imprint of the Penguin Publishing Group, where she served as marketing associate. At Portfolio, Bishop spearheaded title-marketing campaigns for frontlist titles, including the #1 New York Times bestseller The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon as well as the instant New York Times bestseller On Character by General Stanley McChrystal. Engaging with a diverse list of authors, she also worked on The Warrior Poet Way by John Lovell and Losing Our Religion by Russell Moore.

Bishop will use her experience to grow PRH Christian’s social platforms and lead marketing campaigns across all PRH Christian imprints.

A graduate of Clemson University, Bishop lives in Greenville, SC. Prior to joining Portfolio, Savana worked seasonally at Barnes & Noble and enjoyed internships at Writers House Literary Agency and Little, Brown.

Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group includes the imprints WaterBrook, Multnomah, Image, Forum, and Ink & Willow and is a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.

From America’s Gerontologist, a practical guide that offers a radical and optimistic approach to longevity

Dr. Kerry Burnight—known to her many followers as “Dr. Kerry”—is sparking a revolution to make older better.  Fed up with the fear driven, anti-aging hysteria, hundreds of thousands of people turn to Dr. Kerry for her practical, effective and uplifting approach to navigating longevity—our parents’ and our own.

In Joyspan, Dr. Kerry shares her popular philosophy and tools in a comprehensive resource that moves readers from fear to peaceful confidence. Dr. Kerry’s insights, along with those of her inspiring 95 year-old mother Betty, are based upon a profound truth: the key to good longevity isn’t the length of your life, it’s the quality of your life. Books that advance lifespan and “healthspan” don’t address the whole picture. Dr. Kerry introduces readers to the critical concept of “joyspan” based on the science of well-being, contentment, connection, meaning, growth, choice, and purpose.

Part manifesto, part how-to guide, Joyspan proves that internal strength is as critical as external fitness.Filled with both perspective-shifting strategies and troubleshooting for the specific challenges of aging—including caregiving, dementia, unexpected diagnoses, isolation, uncoupling via death or divorce, financial concerns, and more— this book is an essential resource for a generation looking for a better way to grow older—and to help our aging parents do the same.

America’s Gerontologist, Dr. Kerry Burnight, is on a mission to make older, better.  Dr. Kerry taught Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology for 18 years at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. She is the cofounder of the nation’s first Elder Abuse Forensic Center and the founder of TheGerontologist.com. She was an invited speaker to the U.S. White House at the Elder Justice Summit, and at the U.S. Department of Justice. She has appeared on such T.V. programs as CBS News, NBC News, The Doctors, Money Matters, and The Dr. Phil Show  and has been the keynote speaker at hundreds of conferences. She’s known as “America’s Gerontologist” for optimizing dignity, health, and joy in longevity through research, teaching, podcasts, blogs, Instagram, X, Facebook, and Tiktok.

Ada, Mich. (August 1, 2025)—Ashley Opliger, founder of the national nonprofit Bridget’s Cradles, landed on the USA Today Bestseller list with the release of her debut book, Cradled in Hope: Trusting Jesus to Heal Your Heart as He Holds Your Baby in Heaven—A Biblical Guide for Grieving Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss (available now via Bethany House).

The book solidifies Opliger as a bestselling author just one week after the July 22 release of Cradled in Hope. Opliger also joined previous bestsellers including Mel Robbins, Kristin Hannah, James Patterson, and more across all genres, but hers was the only Christian Living title to make the cut for the sales week ending Sunday, July 27.

Knowing well the overwhelming pain and hopelessness of losing a child after her daughter Bridget was born into heaven at 24 weeks, Ashley walked through a dark valley of grief while questioning God’s goodness. Sharing her story, she provides a safe space for grieving moms to cry, ask why, and bring their sadness, anger, bitterness, loneliness, and shame to One who can hold it all—Jesus. Cradled in Hope offers a tender yet profound guide for navigating pregnancy and infant loss through the lens of faith, showing readers how God cradles grieving moms in hope even as He cradles their babies in Heaven.

“Ashley writes with tenderness, authenticity, and unwavering faith. She poured her heart and experience into Cradled in Hope, and the result is nothing short of extraordinary,” says Jennifer Dukes Lee, Senior Acquisitions Editor for Bethany House. “From the beginning, Ashley wanted this book to be the gold standard for guiding women through the deep, personal grief of infant loss. And it is, indeed, the gold standard. Her vision was always to create a resource that would meet grieving mothers exactly where they are, and now seeing her book reach the USA Today bestseller list is a powerful affirmation that it’s doing just that. So many need this book, and we are honored to walk with Ashley on this publishing journey.”

See full list of the week’s bestsellers at https://www.usatoday.com/booklist.

Cradled in Hope: Trusting Jesus to Heal Your Heart as He Holds Your Baby in Heaven—A Biblical Guide for Grieving Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss by Ashley Opliger
(Bethany House; ISBN 9780764244346; ebook ISBN 9781493450862; $19.99)

Ashley Opliger is the founder and executive director of Bridget’s Cradles, a national nonprofit that provides hope and healing to over 30,000 bereaved families each year. Host of the award-winning podcast Cradled in Hope, she’s been a media guest and contributor to outlets such as Focus on the Family, Live Action, and American Family Association Journal. Ashley is also the leader of Hope Gatherings and Wave of Light, an annual event held on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. She is a sought-after speaker and podcaster. She lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband and two sons. Learn more at BridgetsCradles.com.

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.

Baker Publishing Group publishes high-quality writings that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers.

Contact:  Anne Van Solkema, (616) 676-9185 x152, avansolkema@bakerpublishinggroup.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Aug. 5, 2025—Christian publisher David C Cook announced today the appointment of Linda Howard as executive publisher. In this role, Howard will prioritize cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with authors, agents, and partners, and will oversee all aspects of trade book publishing, including acquisitions, editorial development, and production for the company’s growing brands, including The Action Bible and The Chosen series.

Howard, who most recently served as the associate publisher at Tyndale House Publishers, brings extensive experience in multiple genres. In her most recent role, she led the team that acquired and developed Christian children’s products and oversaw the strategy for Tyndale’s Kids Division. During her time with Tyndale, she also served as the senior product and marketing manager and ​guided the publisher’s relationship with Focus on the Family, overseeing their nonfiction, fiction, and kids’ titles.

“When we started our search for an executive publisher, we were looking for the right personality, experience, skillset and level of spiritual maturity,” said Bill Reeves, CEO of David C Cook. “We believe we’ve found that in Linda. Her character and work ethic are highly regarded throughout the publishing industry and she has a wealth of experience in areas in which we’re continuing to expand.  

“Linda has a proven track record of success,” Reeves continued. “She’s in touch with our customer base and she has a deep understanding of the value of multimedia. It will be great to have her on board as we launch Beloved—Francis Chan’s first new release since 2021—and other key titles this fall.”

Prior to her time with Tyndale, Howard worked for Wheaton College as assistant director of the Community School of the Arts. She is a graduate of ​the University of West Alabama, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in music education.

“It’s an honor to join a ministry that has faithfully served the church for 150 years,” said Howard. “I’m excited for the opportunity to work alongside a talented team on projects that will continue to equip today’s generations with resources to grow their ​faith.”

About David C Cook 
David C Cook is a nonprofit ministry 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. Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family, is committed to taking songs of substance to the local church and its leaders around the world. Also part of the David C Cook family of brands, Group Publishing is a leader in vacation Bible school curriculum and creates a wide variety of award-winning, faith-based content, products and experiences for kids, teens and adults. Read more about David C Cook and its global ministry outreach at davidccook.org.

CONTACT:  Alli Ehrhardt, 541.973.1994

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Good Book Company is excited to release the Training Young Hearts series by Abbey Wedgeworth as a colorful box set, including a new Guide for Grown-ups. This box set completes the Life-the-Flap board book series collection.

Wedgeworth reflects, “We began crafting this series with the conviction that the books about Jesus shouldn’t be the boring ones, and now, we hear all the time that these titles are the favorites of the kids for whom they were created. But we also hear that this set of books is effectively doing what they were written to do: resourcing parents with language and tools to respond to common behaviors with gospel intentionality, and rescuing kids from guilt, shame, and the pressure to get it right on their own by encouraging them to look to Jesus. I am praying that the release of the box set and Guide for Grown-ups will mean that more kids and caregivers will not only enjoy the entire series but ultimately, hear the truth of the gospel and experience its changing power.”

Beloved for its use of a redemptive gospel framework and its playful illustrations, this series helps kids understand how to use their hands, feelings, mouth, and more in ways that are honoring to Jesus. The new Guide for Grown-ups explains the parenting principles behind the series, as well as offering practical advice on how to use moments of discipline as opportunities for gospel growth.

Series editor Katy Morgan says, “This is a very special series and I’m so delighted to see the board books come together in such a beautiful box. I’m praising God for the way he’s equipping so many parents and engaging so many little ones with these joyful and down-to-earth board books!”

The Training Young Series Box Set released August 1st.

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.

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