IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards and IPPY Awards honor End Game Press Titles with Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals

MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 14, 2023 — End Game Press, a traditional publishing house releasing family-friendly books in the general trade market, celebrated multiple prestigious wins in the book industry this past week. Leveraging all resources to make the greatest positive impact possible, End Game Press holds a high standard for the books it publishes in both quality and design.

The Independent Book Publishers Association celebrated their 35^th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award ceremony last week, and these awards are regarded as one of the highest national honors in independent publishing. Award-winning author Nancy Sanders received a Gold award for Bedtime with Daddy (End Game Press, September 2022) in the Children’s Picture Book category, and Renee Leonard Kennedy received a Silver award for After the Flowers Die: Encouragement for Walking Through Life After Loss (End Game Press, October 2022) in the Gift Book category. This year’s competition was one of the most competitive as there were almost eighteen hundred entries.

The Independent Publisher Book Awards also announced their 2023 “IPPY” Award winners last week with honors for the best independently published titles from around the world. These awards recognize thousands of exemplary independent, university, and self-published books released each year.

This year’s Gold medal recipients include The Story of Good ((End Game Press, January 2023) by award-winning author Victoria Duerstock for the Gift/Specialty/Journal category and Lilibet the Brave: The Unusual Childhood of an Unlikely Queen (End Game Press, December 2022) by Katy Rose for the Juvenile-Young Adult Non-Fiction category. Bronze awards were given to Just Rest (End Game Press, April 2022) by Melanie Redd for the Gift/Specialty/Journal category and The Choices She Made (End Game Press, October 2022) by award-winning freelance writer Felicia Ferguson for the Religious Fiction category.

Founder and director of End Game Press, Victoria Duerstock, is excited for the continued recognition for her authors and their work. She is passionate about continuing to publish books that make a positive impact in the world today as well as providing an exceptional experience for each member in the End Game Press family.

“What a tremendous honor to receive multiple awards from two incredibly reputable associations,” said Duerstock. “We are honored to be chosen from the many entries and are grateful to have our books and authors recognized in this way.”

You can find the full list of the winners for the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards at www.ibpabenjaminfranklinaward.com and the IPPY Awards at www.ippyawards.com

About End Game Press
Launched in 2021, End Game Press is a traditional publishing house releasing family-friendly books in the general trade market. Creating beauty, cultivating community and leveraging all the resources to make an impact for the Kingdom, End Game Press believes in providing books that are salt and light in a dark culture, while also uplifting and encouraging Christian believers. Learn more at www.endgamepress.com.

Media Contact: Christina Bostick, christina@endgamepress.com

“Our God Is Bigger Than That!” by award-winning co-authors recognized as tied winner in Children’s Book category

MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 2023 — The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) honored two End Game Press titles in their prestigious Christian Book Award® celebration past week in Nashville. This program recognizes the highest quality in Christian books and is among the oldest and most prestigious awards program in the religious publishing industry.

Our God is Bigger That That! (End Game Press, July 19, 2022) by award-winning authors, Michelle Medlock Adams and Eva Marie Everson, tied as one of the winners in the Children’s Book category. This beautifully illustrated picture book guides young readers through the topic of fear and anxiety and serves as a beautiful reminder that God is bigger than every fear that we face.

“Thank you, ECPA, for recognizing the beauty and importance of this little picture book that holds such a big truth,” said Adams. “May it continue to touch hearts around the world.”

“Seeing how God has used our book to touch little ones and to open doors of communication between adults and children about God’s power to face their fears has been such a blessing,” said Everson. “This award was a cherry on top of the whipped cream.”

Fly High: Understanding Grief with God’s Help (End Game Press, October 4, 2022) by Adams and Grief Counselor Janet Johnson was named as a finalist for the Children’s Book category. This story was written for children experiencing loss and grief and teaches readers it’s okay to have the feelings they’re having.

End Game Press works diligently to produce purposeful books that provide valuable resources for Christian families. Founder and director of End Game Press, Victoria Duerstock, is excited for the recognition for her authors and their work, and she is passionate about continuing to publish books that make a positive impact in the world today.

“What an absolute honor and delight to gather with outstanding publishers in the Christian Book industry this week,” said Duerstock. “Having two of our children’s books honored as finalists out of hundreds of entries, and taking gold in a tie with for Our God is Bigger Than That! gives me great delight. It is a gift to be recognized in this way and we are most grateful!” 

You can find the full list of the winners and finalists recognized during the Christian Book Award® program at www.christianbookawards.com.

About End Game Press
Launched in 2021, End Game Press is a traditional publishing house releasing family-friendly books in the general trade market. Creating beauty, cultivating community and leveraging all the resources to make an impact for the Kingdom, End Game Press believes in providing books that are salt and light in a dark culture, while also uplifting and encouraging Christian believers. Learn more at www.endgamepress.com.

Media Contact: Christina Bostick, christina@endgamepress.com

May 2023 | WESTMONT, IL—In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, and in support of the growing number of people who struggle with mental affliction, InterVarsity Press (IVP) will release the On Getting Out of Bed podcast on May 15.

Hosted by Alan Noble, author of the book by the same name, this podcast series delves into the everyday struggles of modern life, with Noble and guests discussing how the simple act of getting out of bed can be a powerful testament to the goodness of life and God.

“To get out of bed is not to just physically get out of bed, although it includes that,” Noble said. “It also means choosing to embrace the life God that has given you as opposed to despairing and staying stuck.”

In this four-episode podcast Noble invites special guests to share their own experiences struggling to get out of bed. Offering wisdom and compassion, each episode offers hope and support to those who struggle with sorrow, despair, anxiety, and mental illness.

Noble said, “This is not going to be a podcast that tells you what do or how to do it, or how to fix yourself. Instead, we are going to have conversations about what we have experienced and what we know to be true about the basic human experience of suffering, and how challenging it is to live in the modern world with our anxiety and our depression and our mental illness, and persevere.”

Guests on the On Getting Out of Bed podcast series include:

Tish Harrison Warren, author of Liturgy of the Ordinary and Prayer in the Night, is a weekly contributing newsletter writer for the New York Times and writes a monthly column for Christianity Today. She has worked in ministry settings for over a decade as a campus minister with InterVarsity Graduate and Faculty Ministries, as an associate rector, and with addicts and those in poverty through various churches and non-profit organizations.

Curt Thompson (MD, Wright State University) is a board-certified psychiatrist and the founder of Being Known, an organization that develops resources for hope and healing at the intersection of neuroscience and Christian spiritual formation. He is also the author of The Soul of Shame, The Soul of Desire, and Anatomy of the Soul.

Wendy Alsup is the author of Companions in Suffering, Practical Theology for Women, The Gospel-Centered Woman, and By His Wounds You Are Healed. Wendy also teaches math at a local community college and is editor at theologyforwomen.org.

Heather Thompson Day is associate professor in the department of visual arts, communication, and design at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She runs an online community called I’m That Wife and hosts the Viral Jesus podcast. An interdenominational speaker, Heather is the author of books including It’s Not Your Turn, Confessions of a Christian Wife, How to Feed the Mediavore, and I’ll See You Tomorrow. She is a contributor for Religion News Service, Newsweek, and the Barna Group, and she previously taught at Colorado Christian University.

“There are lot of us experiencing mental affliction of one kind or another, and there’s wisdom to be gained from each other,” Noble said. “My hope is that you’ll feel seen, and encouraged, and inspired, and built up, so that you can get out of bed.”

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

Carol Stream, Ill. — (May 12, 2023) —Rose Publishing is pleased to announce that Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps and Time Lines has surpassed 1,000,000 copies sold. This beautifully illustrated reference book is Rose Publishing’s first bound book to achieve this exciting milestone.

Releasing in 2005, Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps and Time Lines is a collection of over 200 easy-to-understand Bible charts, maps, and time lines. These vivid full-color reference materials are reproducible and contain thousands of facts that enrich readers’ understanding and study of the Bible.

John Ribeiro, Publisher of Rose Publishing, shared, “It is a deeply humbling and gratifying feeling to learn that Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps and Time Lines has reached such a rare milestone in distribution. Publishing this book was a major leap of faith for our little company back in 2005. I’m so proud of all the people responsible for creating and distributing it. What’s even more encouraging is knowing that these sales numbers represent so many lives being impacted by learning about Christ and His Kingdom.”

In addition to Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps and Time Lines, Rose Publishing has also produced Rose Book of Bible Charts, Volume 2 and Volume 3, each offering a variety of different reference material. In fall 2023, they will release Rose Deluxe Timelines.

Rose Publishing specializes in easy-to-understand Bible reference materials and resources that help believers to love God by deepening their understanding of who He is.

For more information or for media inquiries, please contact Krista Squibb, kristasquibb@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 majority of annual revenue—more than $110 million throughout its history—to charitable missions. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

Rose Publishing is a part of Tyndale House Publishers; the Rose product line delivers a wide range of award-winning Bible reference materials.

 

May 12, 2023, WHEATON, Ill.—Crossway is pleased to announce that both Blessed: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Revelation (Crossway, May 2022) by Nancy Guthrie and The Biggest Story Bible Storybook (Crossway, March 2022) by Kevin DeYoung have won 2023 Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Christian Book Awards in their respective categories.

Justin Taylor, Crossway’s executive vice president of book publishing, writes, “We are grateful to God that the ECPA has recognized these books by Nancy Guthrie and Kevin DeYoung as worthy of their annual awards. It is a joy to work with such faithful and godly authors. These books represent the very heart of our mission at Crossway: to help readers see and delight in the gospel and the purposes of God in his Word and to live their lives in light of his plan.”

Blessed, winner in the Bible Study category, is written by bestselling author and speaker Nancy Guthrie and gives individuals and small groups a friendly, theologically reliable, and robust guide to understanding the book of Revelation.

The Biggest Story Bible Storybook tied for the award in the Children category. This beautifully illustrated book by Kevin DeYoung combines 104 easy-to-read stories from Scripture with artwork by Don Clark, helping children ages 6–12 learn the unified story of the Bible.

According to the ECPA’s website, the Christian Book Award® program recognizes the highest quality in Christian books and Bibles in twelve categories, and is the oldest and among the most prestigious awards programs in the religious publishing industry.

Nancy Guthrie teaches the Bible at her home church, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee, as well as at conferences around the country and internationally, including her Biblical Theology Workshop for Women. She is the author of numerous books and the host of the Help Me Teach the Bible podcast with the Gospel Coalition. She and her husband founded Respite Retreats for couples who have faced the death of a child and are cohosts of the GriefShare video series.

Kevin DeYoung (PhD, University of Leicester) is the senior pastor at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, North Carolina, and associate professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte. He has written books for children, adults, and academics, including Just Do Something; Crazy Busy; and The Biggest Story. Kevin and his wife, Trisha, have nine children.

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

St. Louis, May 11, 2023 —Jonathan D. Schultz, President and CEO of Concordia Publishing House (CPH), has announced that Rev. Dr. Jacob Corzine has accepted the call to serve as vice president of publishing. Corzine will begin service at CPH on July 1, 2023.

“CPH has a rich history of equipping The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod with resources for churches, schools, families, and individuals to understand and proclaim the faith confidently,” said Schultz. “I look forward to working with Dr. Corzine as CPH strives to provide resources faithful to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions for the church today and for years to come.”

“Throughout his career, Dr. Corzine has demonstrated a strong commitment to equipping Lutherans with the resources needed to confess their faith confidently,” said Dr. Mark Bender, chair of the CPH Board of Directors. “The board is certain that his extensive scholarly and editorial experience will benefit CPH for years to come.”

Corzine’s research interests include the Lord’s Supper, certainty and the conscience, and the rise of confessionalism in the nineteenth century. He has been a member of the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) faculty since 2017, most recently serving as the interim dean of the College of Theology, Arts, and Humanities. At CUC, he has taught classes on Lutheran doctrine and the Lutheran Confessions.

“I am delighted to accept God’s call to serve Him at Concordia Publishing House,” said Corzine. “I look forward immensely to working together with the team at CPH and so many others to cultivate a collection of faithful resources in service to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in and beyond The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. In all we do, to God alone be the glory.”

Corzine has extensive international ministry experience in Germany, northern Europe, and South Africa. Prior to his work at CUC, Corzine served as campus minister assigned to the University of Pretoria, South Africa. The author and editor of many scholarly publications, Corzine also has contributed German-language translations for the extended American Edition of Luther’s Works for Concordia Publishing House. Corzine received his doctor of theology in systematic theology from the Humboldt University of Berlin in Germany. He also holds a master of divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a bachelor of arts from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.  Corzine and his wife, Tiia, have been blessed with two daughters.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Jacob Corzine, please contact Elizabeth Pittman, director of Public Relations, at elizabeth.pittman@cph.org.

About Concordia Publishing House
Concordia Publishing House (CPH) is the publishing arm of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. For 153 years, CPH has been providing individuals, churches, and schools with products that are faithful to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. From books and Bibles to church supplies, curriculum, and software, CPH offers over 10,000 products to support the proclamation of the Gospel worldwide. Visit CPH online at cph.org.

Contact: Elizabeth Pittman, elizabeth.pittman@cph.org

 

Ten Titles across Seven Categories Honored as Finalists

Nashville, Tenn., May 2023 — HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) congratulates its authors and publishing teams who were honored with five 2023 Christian Book Awards on May 9, 2023 at an awards ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee. These awards are presented annually by the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association (ECPA) and honor the “best of the year” in Christian books and Bibles.

The five winning titles from HCCP are:

• Bible Reference Works – Early New Testament Apocrypha: Ancient Literature for New Testament Studies with Christopher Edwards, Editor (Zondervan Academic)

• Biography & Memoir – Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God by Tim Challies (Zondervan Reflective)

• Devotion & Gift – When You Don’t Know What to Pray: 100 Essential Prayers for Enduring Life’s Storms by Charles F. Stanley (Zondervan)

• Faith & Culture – Still Time to Care: What We Can Learn from the Church’s Failed Attempt to Cure Homosexuality by Greg Johnson (Zondervan Reflective)

• New Author – Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul by Jennifer Tucker (Thomas Nelson Gift)

In addition to the award-winners, 10 HCCP titles were selected as finalists across seven categories. The 10 HCCP finalists are:

• Bibles – NIV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible (Zondervan)

• Bible Study – New Testament Everyday Bible Study Series: Acts by Scot McKnight (HarperChristian Resources)

• Bible Study – The Women of the Bible Speak Workbook by Shannon Bream (HarperChristian Resources)

• Biography & Memoir – America, a Redemption Story: Choosing Hope, Creating Unity by Senator Tim Scott (Thomas Nelson)

• Christian Living – Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whitmel Earley (Zondervan)

• Christian Living – How to Hear God: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig (Zondervan Reflective)

• Devotion & Gift – You Can Count on God: 365 Devotions by Max Lucado (Thomas Nelson)

• New Author – A Christian’s Guide to Planet Earth: Why It Matters and How to Care for It by Betsy Painter (Zondervan)

• Young People’s Literature – The Wonder of Creation: 100 More Devotions About God and Science by Louie Giglio with Tama Fortner; illustrated by Nicola Anderson (Tommy Nelson)

• Young People’s Literature – You Can Count on God: 100 Devotions for Kids by Max Lucado (Tommy Nelson)

“We are honored that these five titles have been recognized by the ECPA as some of Christian publishing’s best releases of the year,” says Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HCCP. “From a record-breaking pool of nearly 400 entries, I’m proud of our winning and nominated authors who chose to partner with us, as well as our publishing teams for their commitment and focus to accomplish our company mission to inspire the world.”

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

HarperCollins Christian Publishing
The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. comprises the Thomas Nelson, Zondervan and HarperChristian Resources publishing groups and imprints, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com, StudyGateway.com and ChurchSource.com. The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space. Bible Gateway is the world’s largest Christian website with more than 29 million unique visitors each month.  HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. For more information visit HarperCollinsChristian.com.

Contact: Doug Lockhart, SVP, Sales and Marketing, doug.lockhart@harpercollins.com

New book offers wisdom and relatable stories to help women discover their purpose

MAY 10, 2023 — Confidence coach and QVC host Kim Gravel is now a bestselling author, as Collecting Confidence: Start Where You Are to Become the Person You Were Meant to Be (Thomas Nelson) claims the No. 9 spot on The Wall Street Journal bestseller list during its first week of eligibility.

Collecting Confidence showcases the confidence Gravel has gathered from her own life journey. The book invites readers to examine their lives with a fresh new lens and encourages them to start where they are and become the person God created them to be. In Collecting Confidence, Gravel reminds you that you are not your current circumstance. You are not your current habits. Where you are right now is, in fact, simply your starting place to become who you’re meant to be and find God’s calling for your life.

Collecting Confidence has been received with critical acclaim. Publishers Weekly named it a bestseller, ranking #8 for Hardcover Nonfiction, and SRQ Magazine reviews it by saying, “I found myself copying the handful of pages with larger quotes to give to women I know, who also struggle with being undervalued and consequently self-limiting. Her slogans were not only catchy, but deeply effective due to their provocative deep thought resonance.”

“If you’ve lost your way and forgotten who God made you, this book will equip you to glean empowerment from life’s lowest moments,” Gravel says. “You’ll start to change your perspective to realize mistakes can be stepping stones.”

Kim’s passion is seeing people rise to their God-given calling. She wrote the book to encourage women to realize who they are, embrace their gifts and talents, the things they like to do and do well – and then learn to operate and walk in confidence.

The book is available everywhere books are sold.

About The Author:  

Bold. Audacious. Warm. Funny. Real. These are just a few words that describe Kim Gravel, entrepreneur, podcaster, TV personality, and host of several number-one hit shows on QVC. The minute she says, “Hey, ya’ll,” you can feel her authentic personality shining through–but she felt pressure to conform for a stretch of her life. She hid her light and lost her shine.

In the aftermath of the pressures of the pageant scene and a toxic failed marriage, Kim found herself alone in a run-down apartment, and it was there that she began her journey to change her life and she began to discover her purpose, including her first gig as a talk-show host at a community TV station just a few blocks from her apartment. Her purpose was just steps away.

Now Kim’s mission as a global voice is to build up women with words of encouragement, reminding them to stop struggling, embrace the beauty of who they are, and step into their power and purpose.

MAY 10, 2023 — Reformed Free Publishing will release a new children’s book on the Ten Commandments on May 16, 2023.  Written by by Ron Cammenga and illustrated by Ana Sebastian, “The Ten Commandments for Children,” is an in-depth dive into the heart of the Christian faith at a pace that kids can easily follow. The book is intended to be read as a devotional with kids age 6-9.

This book is the first in a three-part series by the author, Ron Cammenga of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The three books will follow the format of the original Catechism of the Church of Geneva written by John Calvin. This catechism used the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Apostles’ Creed to teach the basics of the Christian religion to children.

• First, “Of the Law, That is the Ten Commandments of God”
• Second, the Lord’s Prayer for kids (“Of Prayer)
• And third, the Apostles’ Creed (“Of Faith”)

If you have children or grandchildren, Ten Commandments would make a great devotional to close out the school year or start the summer off right. Chapters include discussion questions (“Let’s talk it over”), a Bible memory verse (“Let’s read the Bible”), and a related psalm to be sung (“Let’s sing”).

MAY 8, 2023 — Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. authors took home six Christian Indie Awards and one Honorable Mention.  They are:

Children’s 8-12:
No Bones About It—Annette O’Hare – 1st Place
Into the Great Marinara—Nicolas C. Day – 2nd Place

Children’s Picture Books:
Do Your Best, Tess—Janet Morris Grimes – 3rd Place

Bible Study:
Bible Briefs—God’s Will, Unraveling the Mystery—L. G. Westlake – 3rd place

Novella:
Awakened—T. E. Bradford – 2nd Place

Speculative:
Beneath the Deep—Andrea Chatman – 2nd Place

General Fiction:
Into the Room—Steven Rogers – Honorable Mention