August 21, 2017 Edition

Alex Field leaves WaterBrook and Multnomah

Tina Constable, Senior Vice President & Publisher Christian Publishing, Crown Publishing Group announced to the WaterBrook and Multnomah staff the bittersweet news that Alex Field, Vice President, Publisher WaterBrook and Multnomah will be leaving the company in September to start up a new author-consulting business.  In her comments to the staff, Constable said, “Since Alex  joined us in 2014, he has been a true partner in helping me position WaterBrook and Multnomah for the future.  He was integral in our Christian consumer analytic marketplace overview, helping to refine our imprints’ mission statements and working with the team to shape a vision for our acquisition strategy. Alex is a man of deep faith, and his in-depth knowledge of the Christian landscape combined with his joyful spirit and exuberant smile will be missed by all.”  With Field’s impending departure, Constable has begun a search for his successor, and she hopes to find someone soon who will collaborate with her and the WaterBrook and Multnomah team in honoring the company’s commitment to grow its Christian publishing program.  Recent bestselling publications for WaterBrook and Multnomah include books by Tim Tebow, Jennie Allen, Mark Batterson, and Steven Furtick.

Stated Stan Jantz, executive director of ECPA: “We will miss Alex’s valuable contribution to the ECPA board of directors and wish him the best in his new endeavors.”

ECPA PubU announces new speakers; early bird discount deadline nears

The PubU Brain Trust, the team of top publishing leaders charged with developing the annual PubU program for Christian publishing professionals, continues to build a strong docket of exceptional experts and presenters for the industry’s annual networking and publishing event held November 7-8 at Lipscomb University in Nashville.  Session schedules for Marketing & Publicity, Design, and Editorial are now complete. The most recently added PubU presenters in Rights, Reader Engagement, and Data, Delivery, Workflow include:

• Jolene Barto, Marketing Manager, Audiobooks, HCCP
• Aryn Van Dyke, Assistant Marketing Manager, HCCP
• Anna LeBaron, “Book Launch Guru”
• Proverbs 31 Ministries Team
• Brittyne Lewis, Head of Product, LibreDigital
• Gabe Wicks, VP of Creative Services, HCCP
• Nadiyka Gerbish, Eastern Europe Rights Mgr, Russia/Ukraine
• Dr. Kornel Herjeczki, CEO of Harmat Publishing, Hungary
• Olimpiu Filip, General Manager, Scriptum Publishing, Romania
• Marcos Simas, Managing Editor/Consultant, Brazil
• Robert Downs, Director, Licensing & Subsidiary Rights, HCCP
• Sam Curphey, Entertainment Law Attorney
• Jim Baird, Director, B&H Academic & WORDsearch Bible
• Dwayne Ewers, Institutional Relations Mgr, B&H Academic

ECPA PubU connects, trains and inspires industry professionals. Every Christian publishing professional is invited. Extended programming on November 8th includes the Art of Writing conference and The Christy Award™ Gala.

Full program and registration is at ECPAPubU.org.
Early bird discount ends August 31. 

Submission deadline nears for Top Shelf Book Cover Design Awards

Publishers are asked to submit their nominations for the Top Shelf Book Cover Awards by August 31. Covers are judged by top designers who select the best covers of the year.  Winners are officially announced and presented with an award at ECPA’s annual PubU among the industry’s designers, editors, and marketers.  PubU is held November 7-8 at Lipscomb University in Nashville. Winning covers are also beautifully featured in an annual designed by Faceout Studio and printed by Color House Graphics.  

Submissions

Continued Surge in Sales for THE SHACK

Since the March 3, 2017 release of the major motion picture based on THE SHACK novel , the seminal work by Wm. Paul Young has enjoyed a major resurgence in sales. The book has appeared on the  New York Times Paperback Fiction Bestseller list 13 weeks so far in 2017 and reached an astounding total of 151 weeks as a New York Times bestseller since it’s original publication. Hachette Book Group and Windblown Media announced in May 2008 a co-publishing venture to bring the phenomenal bestseller to a global readership. Hachette Book Group has since assumed responsibilities for sales, marketing, distribution, licensing, and manufacturing.  THE SHACK was written by Wm. Paul Young. It is the story of a man whose young daughter is abducted during a family vacation, and who four years later receives a note, apparently from God, inviting him back to the shack where his daughter’s blood had been discovered. THE SHACK reveals provocative and poignant views of God and his relationship to humanity.

Lisa Harper and daughter Missy featured on The 700 Club

Bestselling author, Bible teacher, and speaker Lisa Harper was invited to be an in-studio guest on Christian Broadcasting Network’s The 700 Club to talk about her latest book The Sacrament of Happy. Show host Terry Meeuwsen interviewed Harper about her recent trip to Haiti with her daughter Missy, why happiness is a gift from God for his people to enjoy, and the story of Harper’s adoption of Missy from Haiti.

Watch the full episode here

Bible Gateway interviews Erin Loechner, author of ‘Chasing Slow: Courage to Journey Off the Beaten Path’

How should you focus on the few things that truly matter? How can you upgrade your life by downsizing it? How can such steep climbs as a husband’s brain tumor, bankruptcy, family loss, and public criticism be handled by God’s grace? Bible Gateway interviewed Erin Loechner (@erinloechner) about her book, Chasing Slow: Courage to Journey Off the Beaten Path (Zondervan, 2016).

Read this interview

Bible Gateway interviews Jean Thomason (Miss PattyCake), author of ‘Sharing God’s Big Love with Little Lives’

The psalmist’s admonition to “rejoice and be glad” extends to everyone. How can that concept best be taught to young children? What are age-appropriate teaching tools that center on communicating the love of God and help kids see that praising God is a game changer in life? Bible Gateway interviewed Jean Thomason (aka Miss PattyCake) (@PattyCakePraise) about her book, Sharing God’s Big Love with Little Lives: A Can-Do Guide for Parents and Caregivers (Worthy Publishing, 2017).

Read this interview

Two-time Dove Award winning singer/songwriter, Ginny Owens joins Jesus Calling podcast

Ginny Owens joins the Jesus Calling podcast and candidly admits her biggest challenge is doing battle with her own insecurities and being distracted from what’s important by doubts and fear.  Ginny’s latest book, Transcending Mysteries: Who Is God, and What Does He Want from Us? (Refraction) released from Thomas Nelson in 2015.

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Shauna Shanks lives by the letter of love

Shauna Shanks is a wife, mother, and author of A Fierce Love: One Woman’s Courageous Journey to Save Her Marriage (Zondervan). Shauna joins the Jesus Calling podcast to share about how she faced the shock and rejection of her husband’s actions and how she endeavored to live by the words of 1 Corinthians 13 as she determined to restore her marriage.

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