Awaiting the Manger: Years in the Making from Beloved Author Ocieanna Fleiss

EUGENE, OR.— The year is passing fast, and the Advent season will be here before we know it. In her new book, Awaiting the Manger: Whispers of Advent in the Old Testament, best-selling author Ocieanna Fleiss invites readers not to rush through the 25 days of Advent, but to relish those days by delving into the timeless stories of the Old Testament. Years in the making, Awaiting the Manger shines a light on the hints of Jesus’s birth woven through the ancient text. Through daily readings, which showcase vibrant cultural and historical insights, readers will step into the sandals of biblical characters such as Abraham, Sarah, Joshua, Naomi, Elijah, and many more.

In Awaiting the Manger Fleiss leads readers on an Advent journey to discover the profound gift of God’s love within the pages of the Old Testament. Every reading ends with a series of interactive steps allowing individuals or groups to take their celebration of Advent even further—as they Practice, Reflect, Pray, Read, Sing. Awaiting the Manger honors the redemption story as revealed in the Old Testament and recognizes how vital it is to our celebration of Jesus’s birth today. This makes Awaiting the Manger the perfect present, one that will become a staple of family Advent traditions, giving readers a unique gift wrapped in the profound, healing, and life-transforming love of Christ.

Awaiting the Manger
Harvest House Publishers
ISBN13:  978-0736987783
September 2023
Softcover, 176 pages, $17.99

Ocieanna Fleiss has written several books including her memoir, Love Like There’s No Tomorrow: How a Cardiac Arrest Brought My Heart to Life. She has taught the Bible for more than a decade, always delighting in how God’s love is shown throughout his Word. Ocieanna and her husband have four kids and make their home in Washington State. You can find Ocieanna on Facebook, Instagram, and at  ocieanna.com.

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: Jeane Wynn,918-630-9695, Jeane@wynnwynnmedia.com

WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House, is celebrating the milestone sales achievement of The Wingfeather Saga reaching more than one million copies sold. Authored by Andrew Peterson and illustrated by Joe Sutphin, The Wingfeather Saga is a series of middle grade fantasy novels. The four books follow the three Igiby siblings on a perilous journey where they discover their true identities, fight against evil, and attempt to save their world from destruction. The bestselling series has been licensed for translation in 14 languages worldwide and adapted into an animated television series by Angel Studios, with Peterson as an executive producer along with J. Chris Wall.

WaterBrook originally published the first two books in the series, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness and North! Or Be Eaten, in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Peterson had a vision for the story to stretch across four books and published books three, The Monster in the Hollows, and four, The Warden and the Wolf King, through Rabbit Room Press. In 2020, WaterBrook repackaged and released all four books in hardcover: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, North! Or Be Eaten, The Monster in the Hollows, and The Warden and the Wolf King, followed by the short story collection, Wingfeather Tales (2021), and the wildly inventive, Pembrick’s Creaturepedia (2021), catapulting the series onto the bestseller lists and finding a whole new generation of readers.

The Wingfeather Saga’s books have garnered many accolades, including the 2009 Christy Award Winner for Young Adult Fiction (North! Or Be Eaten), WORLD’s 2015 Children’s Book of the Year (The Warden and the Wolf King), and the 2015 Clive Staples Award for Fantasy Fiction (The Warden and The Wolf King).

Aside from his work as an author and producer, Peterson is also an award-winning recording artist, songwriter, and founder of The Rabbit Room, which nourishes community through music, story, and art. He is quick to share the credit for his books’ success – and his gratitude.

“‘Wow, I’m so grateful,’ is the first sentence that comes to mind, but ‘grateful’ isn’t big enough for how I really feel toward the agents, publishers, booksellers, librarians, teachers, and especially the readers who made this happen. ‘Exceedingly grateful’ gets a bit closer,” said Peterson. “Seriously, I can’t overstate how wonderful it feels to have connected with so many readers—and there’s even more Wingfeather stuff to come. The second sentence that comes to mind is, ‘A million is a crazy number so there must be some mistake, but I hope nobody in accounting notices.’”

Upcoming additions to the Wingfeather universe include A Ranger’s Guide to Glipwood Forest in November 2023, a paperback edition of North! Or Be Eaten in January 2024, a picture book The Prince of Yorsha Doon in August 2024, and other longer-term projects coming down the pike, including season two of the animated series early next year.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled in celebrating this moment for The Wingfeather Saga. Aside from being honored to work with such a talented and wonderful author as Andrew, we’re so proud of the entire Wingfeather publishing team who have all given their best to see this kind of success come to fruition,” WaterBrook’s EVP & Publisher Tina Constable said. “We’re grateful to the retail partners who have helped place these books into the hands of young readers, and we look forward to sharing so much more of Andrew’s creative genius in the years ahead.”

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

 

ROBERT MORRIS GIVES A ROADMAP TO MAKE YOUR DREAMS A REALITY

Dream to Destiny Helps Readers Identify Their Purpose and Fulfill Their Destiny

“Pastor Robert breathes hope back into every dreamer’s future.”– Charlotte Gambill, International Speaker and Author

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, September 18, 2023 — Gateway Publishing and Bethany House Publishers (a division of Baker Publishing Group) are pleased to announce the newest release from Robert Morris, Dream to Destiny: A Proven Guide to Navigating Life’s Biggest Tests and Unlocking Your God-Given Purpose, will officially release on September 19, 2023.

In this book, pastor and bestselling author Robert Morris shares exactly how to navigate the journey from your dreams to your destiny. Using the biblical story of Joseph, he explains how Joseph had a God-given dream, but he didn’t reach his destiny overnight. Over a period of thirteen years, God took Joseph through ten character-building tests that prepared him for his extraordinary future—tests you also need to pass to reach your destiny.

Filled with biblical truths, personal stories, and practical applications, Dream to Destiny equips you to successfully persevere through waiting and uncertainty, identify your gifts and talents, and fulfill your God-given destiny.

“We all have dreams—dreams for our families, dreams for our finances, and dreams for our chosen vocations, but right now I want to challenge you to dream a little bigger. Allow God to stir in your heart His dream for you. I promise, His dream for you is better. His destiny for you is bigger,” Morris writes.

Samuel Rodriguez, lead pastor, CEO, author, and producer, says, “My pastor and dear friend Robert Morris has done it again. His writing is founded on universal and biblical truths that educate, motivate, and mobilize readers of all ages and backgrounds. God is glorified, and His plan is realized when we act upon the dreams He places in our hearts. In Dream to Destiny, Robert Morris shows us the way.”

Available wherever books are sold.

Robert Morris is the senior pastor of Gateway Church, a multicampus church based in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Since it began in 2000, the church has grown to more than 100,000 active attendees. His television program airs in over 190 countries, and his radio program, Worship & the Word with Pastor Robert, airs in more than 6,400 cities. He serves as chancellor of The King’s University and is the bestselling author of numerous books, including The Blessed Life, Frequency, Beyond Blessed, and The God I Never Knew. Robert and his wife, Debbie, have been married forty-three years and are blessed with one married daughter, two married sons, and nine grandchildren.

Contact: For more information, to receive a copy of Dream to Destiny, or to schedule an interview with Robert Morris, please contact: Peyton Sepeda | publishing@gatewaypeople.com | 855.712.5774 | gatewaypublishing.com

(Carol Stream, Illinois, USA)  Media Associates International is pleased to announce the LittWorld 2024 global publishing conference will take place November 3-8, 2024, in Puebla, Mexico.  More than 200 Christian publishing staff and writers from 40-plus countries are expected at this first LittWorld to be held in a Spanish-speaking country.

Some 40 international publishing professionals will lead plenary sessions, workshops, devotionals and one-on-one consultations giving fresh vision and skills for heightened effectiveness.  The schedule will include ample time for interaction and networking with global colleagues, as well as a half-day outing in historic Puebla, named a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Regarding the conference theme, “Publishing for Lasting Impact,” MAI President John Maust said, “Global Christian communicators have a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on lives and society with God’s help.  Our challenge is to penetrate the clutter of content and speak to hearts in profound ways that encourage and transform.”

Publishing staff and writers from more than 95 countries have participated in the triennial LittWorld conference since it began in 1986. Through LittWorld, MAI has seen publishing houses born, new print and digital publications conceived and publishing skills sharpened for heightened effectiveness.

“The conference was a time of encouragement and insights,” said Hussam Fakhoury of Jordan after attending LittWorld 2022 in Hungary. “Just four months earlier I became director of a publishing house, and LittWorld gave me the opportunity to get wisdom from the experts.”

The LittWorld 2024 venue will be El Presidente Intercontinental, a contemporary five-star hotel just minutes away from the historic center of Puebla, city of 3.3 million located a 90-minute drive southeast of Mexico City. Conference registration will open on December 1 at maiglobal.org.

“I’ve had the joy of attending previous LittWorld conferences in Asia, Africa and Europe, and now my dream of having one in Mexico will come true in 2024,” said Mexican artist and illustrator José Carlos Gutiérrez, MAI Board member and chair of the Conference Host Team.

“The conference will open infinite possibilities for the growth and strengthening of the Christian publishing community in Latin America and for the equipping of publishers and writers from around the world.  We welcome you to Mexico and LittWorld 2024!”

Watch for LittWorld 2024 program and registration details at www.maiglobal.org.  For information, email mai@littworld.org.

Authors and readers will gather at the inaugural JustRead Rendezvous in the St. Louis metro area on November 17, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST. The event will celebrate Christian fiction and sweet reads with food, games, giveaways, and books and will be held at the Holiday Inn St. Louis SW on Route 66.

Rendezvous will feature speaker sessions, author panels, small group discussions, and author signings. This event aims to sweeten reading and storytelling experiences with fellowship and encouragement. Keynote speakers are Jocelyn Green and Pepper Basham, 2022 finalists of The Christy Award. Additional participating authors include Amanda Cox, Ann Fryer, Ann H. Gabhart, Barbara M. Britton, Danielle Grandinetti, Elly Gilbert, Erica Vetsch, Heather Greer, Janine Rosche, Jenny Rae, Jerusha Agen, Kimberley Woodhouse, Kristi Ann Hunter, Lisa M. James, Lisa Phillips, Lorri Dudley, Megan Besing, Michelle Griep, Nancy Mehl, Peggy Trotter, Rebecca Hemlock, Regina Rudd Merrick, Sarah Hanks, Shaen Layle, Stephenia H. McGee, Suzie Waltner, Tabitha Bouldin, Tamara Leigh, and more.

The Christy Award Winners Gala Watch Party and preceding Meet and Greet event will be held at the same location on November 16 from 5:30 p.m. until the webcast conclusion. The evening’s activities will include snacks and giveaways. The Christy Award® honors and promotes excellence in Christian fiction and is a program of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.

The JustRead Rendezvous is open to registered attendees only. Author registration is open for $88 and Reader registration is open for $110 online at https://rendezvous.justreadtours.com. The meet-and-greet watch party is an optional add-on for $30. The 2023 event is sponsored by Baker Publishing Group fiction divisions (Bethany House Publishers and Revell Fiction), Kregel Publications, Ambassador International, and JustRead Publicity Tours.

Media Contact: Beth Erin, Event Coordinator

So God Made a Mother’s Story releases in April 2024

Carol Stream, IL (September 15, 2023)—Tyndale Momentum, a nonfiction imprint of Tyndale House Publishers (@tyndalehouse), will release So God Made a Mother’s Story, a keepsake journal to the bestselling So God Made a Mother, in April 2024. Upon its release in April 2023, So God Made a Mother became an instant national bestseller, hitting the Publishers Weekly Hardcover Frontlist Nonfiction, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Books, and ECPA Non-Fiction Bestsellers lists.

So God Made a Mother’s Story is an heirloom-quality guided journal filled with thoughtful questions and space for a mother or mother figure to write about life before, within, and beyond motherhood. It is an invitation to go deeper into a mother’s unique story and create a keepsake for families to cherish forever.

Commenting on this exciting keepsake companion, founder of Her View From Home and author of So God Made a Mother, Leslie Means shares, “The Her View From Home team and I are thrilled to offer this journal as a companion to So God Made a Mother. It gives women a chance to share their own stories in their own handwriting—and that’s a gift anyone who knows and loves a mom will cherish.”

Leslie Means is founder and owner of the popular website Her View From Home, which features heartfelt contributor stories on motherhood, marriage, faith, and grief. She is a former news anchor and a weekly columnist, and she has published several short stories. She is married to a very patient man named Kyle, and together they have three fantastic kids: Ella, Grace, and Keithan. When she’s not sharing too much personal information online or in the newspaper, you’ll find her somewhere in Nebraska spending time with family and friends.

Leslie is represented by Claudia Cross and Katherine Latshaw of Folio Literary Management, LLC.
For more information contact Amanda Woods, amandawoods@tyndale.com, 630-784-5125.

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: Amanda Woods, amandawoods@tyndale.com, 630.784.5125

(Nashville, Tenn.) September 14, 2023 – Bestselling author, storyteller, and sought-after speaker, Tori Hope Petersen has signed a two-book deal with Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson. The first book Love Like You’ve Never Been Hurt will be released in February 2025.

The first of Petersen’s works will serve as a milestone in understanding codependent tendencies and the necessity of healing through Biblical truths and personal stories. Emphasizing the importance of acknowledging past wounds and will deliver groundbreaking solutions for improving relationships and comprehending the impact of childhood trauma. Petersen’s personal journey exposes her struggle with codependency and how her healing process can serve as a roadmap for others.

Her second book slated to release in 2026 will be based on her branded phrase, “I love you already,” the book will include vignettes about ordinary people who love in extraordinary ways.

“We are absolutely delighted to introduce Tori Hope Petersen as the newest addition to the Nelson Books family,” said Andrew Stoddard, VP & Publisher. “With a remarkable background and exceptionally bright future, Tori brings an unwavering passion for foster care reform, adoption advocacy, and serving vulnerable populations. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of God’s love in changing lives.”

Andrew Stoddard, VP and Publisher of Nelson Books, and Executive Editor Janet Talbert, secured world rights from agent Austin Wilson of Wolgemuth & Wilson.

About Tori Hope Petersen: Learn more at torihopepetersen.com

Tori Hope Petersen: Tori Hope Petersen is the bestselling author of Fostered and sought out national speaker, inspiring audiences to overcome, hold onto hope, and change the world with what they have, right where they are, by loving the people in front of them.  Petersen’s impact extends far beyond writing, as she captivates audiences nationwide with her powerful story and inspiring message at conferences, churches, and beyond.  In addition to her incredible work, Tori finds joy in her loving family. Alongside her husband, Jacob, she cherishes their precious children: Leyonder and Ezzeri, their biological son and daughter, and Sar, their adopted adult son, and the foster children they welcome into their home. https://www.instagram.com/torihopepetersen/

About Thomas Nelson: Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit ThomasNelson.com.

Contact: Lisa Beech, Director of Publicity, Lisa.beech@harpercollins.com, 719-439-9403

The Gift of the Outsider Celebrates the Blessings of Unbelonging

“My friends on the margin preach a whole sermon with their lives. May God use Alicia’s wisdom, experience, and words to reveal his heart for the outsider to you.”
—Jen Oshman, Author of Cultural Counterfeits and Speaker

EUGENE, OR —  In her second book, The Gift of the Outsider: What Living in the Margins Teaches Us About Faith, author Alicia J. Akins takes readers on a journey of what it means to be an outsider. Opening with a compelling foreword from author Jen Oshman, Akins herself leaves no stone unturned as she details the outsider experience, poignantly weaving in her own story along the way. The Gift of the Outsider celebrates the blessings found in unbelonging—and encourages Christians of all backgrounds to love and listen to their community’s outcasts.

In The Gift of the Outsider, Akins looks at four categories of gifts—sight, dependence, freedom, and suffering—that encapsulate the outsider’s experiences. Readers will find themselves understanding more clearly what it means to be discarded in the margins, and how Jesus calls us to grow in both understanding and help. As much as The Gift of the Outsider is a balm to those who are unseen and misunderstood, it is a blessed revelation to those who are squarely on the inside—heartening readers to truly see and embrace the outsiders in their midst, not as other, but as fellow brothers and sisters uniquely equipped by God.

Compassionate and biblically grounded, The Gift of the Outsider encourages and enriches broader conversations and is sure to challenge outsiders and insiders alike. Akins ends each chapter with Reflection Questions that help readers process what they have read. Perfect for individual study or small group study, The Gift of the Outsider will broaden perspectives, while exploring the Biblical truths so needed in our diverse world today.

The Gift of the Outsider
Harvest House Publishers
ISBN13:  978-0736984232
September 2023 ,  Softcover
224 pages, $17.99

Alicia J. Akins is an author who finds herself at home both nowhere and anywhere. Her interest in how differences can be our strengths has taken her across the globe and after living and working in Asia for five years, she considers it a second home. She is a master’s student at Reformed Theological Seminary, Washington D.C., and has previously published Invitations to Abundance, also with Harvest House. You can find more of her writing at FeetCryMercy.com​ and follow her on Twitter ​@FeetCryMercy.

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: Jeane Wynn,918-630-9695, Jeane@wynnwynnmedia.com

Ada, Mich. (August 28, 2023)—On Saturday, August 26, the American Christian Fiction Writers organization (ACFW) announced the 2023 Carol Award winners at a gala held at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.

Five Baker Publishing Group authors were recipients of this prestigious award, including Sara Brunsvold, whose debut novel, The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, came out on top in the Debut Author category. Additional Carol Award winners for Baker Publishing Group include The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano (Historical), Word of Honor by Hallee Bridgman (Romantic Suspense), Written on the Wind by Elizabeth Camden (Historical Romance), and Turn to Me by Becky Wade (Romance).

ACFW is a professional organization devoted to the craft of Christian fiction. Its mission is to help authors tell their stories by inspiring them to partner with God in the creative process, learn the craft, and find their audience. The Carol Awards were created by ACFW to recognize the best Christian fiction published in the previous calendar year. For the complete list of winners, please visit https://acfw.com/acfws-2023-christian-fiction-and-industry-awards/.

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DEBUT AUTHOR

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold
(Revell; ISBN 9780800740276; Ebook ISBN 9781493436354; $15.99)

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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HISTORICAL 

The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano
(Revell; ISBN 9780800736910; Ebook ISBN 9781493438747; $17.99)

Concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant’s life is interrupted when she assumes responsibility for a patient at Hurstwell Asylum—a woman the asylum claims never existed. The woman’s portrait is shockingly familiar, compelling Vivienne to discover what happened to the figure she remembers from childhood dreams.

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ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Word of Honor by Hallee Bridgeman
(Revell; ISBN 9780800740214; Ebook ISBN 9781493438914; $17.99)

Former college sweethearts FBI Special Agent Lynda Cutler and Sergeant Bill Sanders of the Special Forces A-Team must team up to play husband and wife to stop an ecoterrorist organization in Istanbul. Can they put aside past hurts for the needs of their nation?

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HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Written on the Wind by Elizabeth Camden
(Bethany House; ISBN 9780764238444; Ebook ISBN 9781493437306; $16.99)

Natalia Blackstone relies on Count Dimitri Sokolov to oversee the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Dimitri loses everything after witnessing a deadly tragedy and its cover-up, but he has an asset the czar knows nothing about: Natalia. Together they fight to save the railroad while exposing the truth, but can their love survive the ordeal?

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ROMANCE

Turn to Me by Becky Wade
(Bethany House; ISBN 9780764235627; Ebook ISBN 9781493425235; $17.99)

When Luke Dempsey’s fellow inmate lay dying, Luke promised to protect the man’s daughter, Finley, and help her find the treasure he had hidden. Upon Luke’s release, he and Finley uncover the clues, and their reasons for resisting each other begin to crumble. Luke will shield her from unseen threats, but who’s going to shield him from losing his heart?

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

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