January 18, 2021 Edition
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy to a friend.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
Industry News
ECPA releases bestseller lists for 2020 and Christmas
The results are in for the Bestselling Books and Bibles for 2020 produced by ECPA member publishers, based on POS data provided by NPD BookScan, January through December. The 5 Love Languages by Pinnacle Award winning author Gary Chapman (Moody) was the bestselling book of 2020. In addition, the bestselling Christmas 2020 lists were posted in Non-Fiction, Fiction, and Juvenile.
View bestselling book and Bible lists for 2020
View bestselling Christmas titles for 2020
Faithlife reveals most popular worship songs and sermon topics of 2020
Data compiled by Faithlife, makers of integrated church technology products including Logos Bible Software, in the Year-End Song & Sermon Report provides insight into the worship songs, sermon topics and Scriptures most prevalent in churches across North America throughout 2020 and during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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After a slow start, U.S. print book sales rose 8.2 percent in 2020
Print book sales in the United States had their best year since 2010. Growth occurred across every major super category, including adult non-fiction, adult fiction, juvenile, and teen categories. Unit-sales volume in 2020 rose 8.2 percent, year over year, to reach 751 million units, according to The NPD Group.
Christian retailers report Christmas season sales increase amid pandemic
Contrary to headlines announcing the demise of brick-and-mortar retail, Christian retail shoppers have returned to stores and Christian bookstores have rebounded at an encouraging rate. Drawing on sales data reported to ParableConnect, same-store sales were up 4.7% in independent Christian stores during the ever-important 8-week holiday season (November 1 – December 24) as reported by U.S. Christian retailers across marketing groups, church stores, and other independents.
New dates announced for LittWorld conference in Hungary: April 24-29, 2022
Media Associates International announces new dates for the LittWorld global publishing conference in Hungary. The conference will be held April 24-29, 2022—six months later than previously announced.
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The Bindery expands: Trinity McFadden, John Blase, and Estee Zandee join agency
The Bindery announces they have expanded their team with the addition of three new agents: Trinity McFadden as Literary Agent and John Blase and Estee Zandee as Associate Literary Agents. They join Ingrid Beck, Managing Director at The Bindery, who also represents a number of authors at the agency.
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Webinar
NetGalley hosts webinar for Christian publishers, Jan. 28
NetGalley will host a webinar for ECPA publishers on January 28, at 2 pm Eastern time. NetGalley helps publishers promote digital review copies to book advocates and industry professionals. Hundreds of publishers make digital review copies and audiobooks available for the NetGalley community to discover, request, read, and review. Join Kristina Radke, NetGalley’s VP of Business Engagement, to learn about:
- Up-to-date stats about the NetGalley community and activity
- How ECPA members use NetGalley’s tools to reach important audiences and receive a discount on
- NetGalley’s subscription service
- Ways that NetGalley Advanced can help track and analyze pre-pub trends
- How audiobooks on NetGalley are performing
- NetGalley’s marketing promotions to help expand your reach
Product News
David C Cook, Integrity Music, and Compassion International partner to release the FAITHFUL Project
The ministries of Compassion International, David C Cook, and Integrity Music are thrilled to announce their collaborative release of the FAITHFUL Project, bringing together authors and songwriters Amy Grant, Ann Voskamp, Ellie Holcomb, Lisa Harper, Ruth Chou Simons, Trillia Newbell, Amanda Bible Williams and Raechel Myers (both from She Reads Truth), Christy Nockels, Kelly Minter, and many more artistic contributors. The FAITHFUL Project encompasses a book, album, podcast, ticketed livestream event, and multi-city tour, telling the story of God’s faithfulness to women throughout Scripture to the present day.
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Tommy Nelson to publish new book featuring YouTube sensation, Dude Perfect
Tommy Nelson, a children’s book imprint within HarperCollins Christian Publishing, announced the publication date of June 8, 2021 for “101 Dude Perfect Tricks, Tips, and Cool Stuff.” Garnering more than 54 million YouTube subscribers and more than 12 billion video views, Dude Perfect has gone from making trick shots in their backyard to making fans all over the world.
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Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth named General Editor of forthcoming Bible project with B&H
Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, founder of Revive Our Hearts, will serve as General Editor for the study notes in a new Bible from Holman Bibles (B&H Publishing). The project, which is underway now with a 2024 target release date, will feature the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB) and fresh content leveraging Nancy’s decades-long ministry of Bible teaching.
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Rabbit Room Press to release second volume of “Every Moment Holy”
Rabbit Room Press is releasing a brand new volume of EVERY MOMENT HOLY, titled Death, Grief, & Hope. This new book of prayers and liturgies releasing in February is written for seasons of dying and grieving. The book contains over 100 prayers including those for “the Scattering of Ashes,” “the Loss of a Spouse,” “the Wake of a National Tragedy,” “Embracing Both Joy & Sorrow,” and many more.
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Media Announcements
Bestselling author Max Lucado hosts first ever online Reading Club starting January 25
Award-winning and bestselling author Max Lucado, who has over 140 million products in print, is inviting people internationally to start 2021 afresh, abandoning fear, worry, and hopelessness from the crises of 2020 and looking forward to personal restoration and renewal in the new year.
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Zondervan author Emily Stroud has partnered with Pure Flix to create a new TV series
Entrepreneur, financial advisor of more than 20 years, and the author of the popular Zondervan book: "Faithful Finance," Emily G. Stroud passionately helps people move past fear to find joy and peace in their personal finances. Her new TV Series “Faithful Finance LIVE” is now streaming on Pure Flix.
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INDUSTRY
PUBLISHING
- Reflections on the 2020 American Market in Sales and Deals
- Self-Improvement Boom Sets Book Sales Off on Fast Start in 2021
- Amazon Hit with E-book Price Fixing Suit
- Random House Group Promotes Top Execs to New Roles
- Oxford University Press Puts Its Full ‘World Classics’ List Online
- NYT: Consumer Groups Target Amazon Prime’s Cancellation Process
- Melinda Gates Donates $250,000 to New Prize for Fiction by Women
- Industry Members Unite to Block Trump Administration Book Deals
- Book Aid International’s Year: 867,567 Books to 19 Countries
