March 8, 2021 Edition

Industry News

Zondervan celebrates the life of Celebrate Recovery co-founder, John Baker

Zondervan author and co-founder of Celebrate Recovery, John Baker, died on February 23, 2021 at age 72. Baker co-founded Celebrate Recovery with Rick Warren out of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, after participating in Alcoholics Anonymous and desiring a Christ-centered 12-step program to help people overcome their hurts, habits, and hang-ups.

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Died: Author Larry Crabb, Christian counselor who kept exploring

CT — Larry Crabb, a popular Christian counselor who went looking for a deeper approach to spiritual care, died on February 28 at the age of 77.  Crabb was a clinical psychologist who turned to biblical counseling and then to spiritual direction. He authored more than 25 books in the process, writing the popular textbook Effective Biblical Counseling and then more than a dozen titles, including Inside Out, Shattered Dreams, Pressure’s Off, and SoulTalk, teaching people to see their own brokenness as a longing for God and new creation.

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ECPA releases March 2021 Christian Bestsellers

The two top selling books in February switched places this month, with Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages (Moody) returning to the top of ECPA’s Top 50 bestsellers for March.  After two months at #1, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa TerKeurst (Thomas Nelson) comes in at #2. TerKeurst once again places five books in the Top 50 list this month. Craig Groeschel, founding and senior pastor of Life.Church, has the #3 book, Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Zondervan).

View the March Christian Bestseller Lists

R.H. Boyd celebrates 125th Anniversary

R.H. Boyd Publishing Corp. celebrates 125 years of service and five generations of leadership this year. Founded in 1896 by Rev. Dr. Richard Henry Boyd, the R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation continues to be a beacon of excellence in the printing, publishing, and global distribution of Christian materials and church supplies under its fifth president/CEO, LaDonna Boyd.

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Early bird registration is now open for ECPA Virtual Leadership Summit

Early bird registration has opened for the upcoming ECPA Virtual Leadership Summit that will feature more than 15 online webinars and forums for the management teams in Christian publishing, held April 27-29 and May 4-6.  Opening the Practicum week on April 27 will be a keynote by NPD’s Kristen McLean on “Reading is Thriving: Opportunities for Christian Publishers.”  Opening the Thought Leadership week on May 4 will be author Tod Bolsinger (Tempered Resilience: How Leaders Are Formed in the Crucible of Change, IVP) on “Leading with Resilience in this Cultural Moment.”  The conference will conclude on May 6 with the ECPA Awards Celebration, featuring bestselling author Max Lucado and the naming of the Christian Book Award® winners.

Register

RBmedia expands Christian Audio offering with three exclusive publishing deals

RBmedia, the largest audiobook producer in the world, has announced exclusive partnerships between its Christian Audio brand and three leading Christian publishers. In addition, RBmedia has welcomed Mark Warner as the new Christian Audio publisher. Christian Audio continues growth of its audiobook catalog with new content from three leaders in the Christian publishing space: InterVarsity Press (IVP), Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing (P&R), and 1517 Media.

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David C Cook names Amy Konyndyk as VP for The Action Bible® portfolio

Since its 2010 release, The Action Bible® has become the best-selling comic-based version of the Bible as well as a fixture on national bestseller lists. The Action Bible family of products now includes more than a dozen resources, such as illustrated Bibles, curriculum, video, and devotionals, with 82 million units in print across 41 languages. To ensure the brand’s long-term growth and success, publisher David C Cook has appointed Amy Konyndyk to a newly created role: Vice President for The Action Bible Portfolio.

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ECPA to host free & online International Christian Publishing Conference, April 7-8; Bestselling author Gary Chapman to keynote

The upcoming International Christian Publishing Conference, developed by ECPA rights professionals, will bring publishing and distribution professionals together from around the globe for a 2-day online conference.  The conference will start on April 7 at 8 am central time with a word of inspiration from international bestselling author Gary Chapman (The 5 Love Languages).  Other workshops include: “The State of Global Publishing,” “Doing Rights Without Conventions,” “Expanding Distribution through Audio & Ebooks,” and “Leveraging & Using Platforms to Drive Sales.”

Register

Christian Product Expo (CPE) Winter Conference 2021 brings renewed life to industry

After a challenging year, Christian Product Expo (CPE) Winter 2021 was a much-needed time of refreshing. CPE Winter 2021 was held February 14-16 at the Embassy Suites and Concord Convention Center in Charlotte, NC, making it the first time the winter regional show has been held in the southeast.

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Deep River Books renews for third year with FrontGate Media

Deep River Books has extended the agreement with Frontgate Media, one of the world’s leading Faith and Family marketing agencies, to assist their authors with Coaching and Consulting for PR, Social and Digital Marketing.

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Milestones

Max Lucado’s “One God, One Plan, One Life” surpasses 100,000 copies sold  

Thomas Nelson announced that “One God, One Plan, One Life”” by New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado has surpassed more than 100,000 copies sold. “The devotional messages in ‘One God, One Plan, One Life’ offer teens a clear perspective as to how much God loves them and that He has a plan for their lives,” said Laura Minchew, senior vice president, Children's and Gift Group publisher for HarperCollins Christian Publishing.

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Max Lucado’s “Just in Case You Ever Wonder” surpasses 100,000 books sold

Tommy Nelson announced that the new edition of “Just in Case You Ever Wonder” by New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado, has surpassed more than 100,000 copies sold bringing the total units sold for this remarkable book to more than 1.8 million copies.

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Baker Academic titles named Outreach Magazine Resources of the Year

Outreach magazine recently announced the winners of their Resources of the Year. Baker Academic titles received two top honors. “A Public Missiology” by Gregg Okesson in the Cross-Cultural and Missional category. “Models of Evangelism” by Priscilla Pope-Levison in the Theology and Biblical Studies category. “Exiles on Mission” by Paul Williams (Brazos Press) was also recommended in the Cross-Cultural and Missional category.

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“Exodus Old and New” named 2020 Center for Biblical Studies Book of the Year

IVP Academic is pleased to announce that Exodus Old and New by L. Michael Morales was chosen as the 2020 Book of the Year by the Center for Biblical Studies (CBS) and also received the CBS Book Award for the best book in the Biblical Theology category.

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“Lead Like It Matters to God” named Christian Leadership Alliance 2021 Outcomes Conference Book of the Year

“Lead Like It Matters to God” by Richard Stearns, president emeritus of World Vision US, has been named the Christian Leadership Alliance (CLA) 2021 Outcomes Conference Book of the Year. Stearns will speak about his new book and the theme of thriving as Christian leaders at the Outcomes Conference June 15-17 in Orlando, Florida.

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“Sent” named Resource of the Year in Outreach Magazine

For the 18th year, Outreach Magazine is celebrating the best outreach-oriented books and curricula by honoring them as Outreach Resources of the Year. “Sent: Living a Life that Invites Others to Jesus” (Moody Publishers, August 2020) by Heather & Ashley Holleman has been selected as a winner in the Evangelism and Apologetics category.

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Iron Stream Media wins 3 Illumination Book Awards

Iron Stream Media is excited to announce three Illumination Book Awards revealed in January 2021. The Illumination Book Awards are designed to recognize exemplary new Christian books and bring them the publicity and credibility to further market them in this fast-growing segment of the publishing market.

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Product News

Baker Publishing Group signs Entrusted Women founder Kia Stephens

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, announces the signing of Entrusted Women founder Kia Stephen’s first published book in a deal negotiated by Jevon Bolden of Embolden Media Group. “As a woman of color, it is important that I partner with a publisher that sees me and is excited about the unique message God has given me to share with the world,” said Kia Stephens.

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Baker Publishing Group signs bestselling author and pastor Samuel Rodriguez

Chosen Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, has signed a two-book deal with renowned writer, speaker, and pastor Samuel Rodriguez. “It is our great privilege and pleasure to partner in publishing with Pastor Sam Rodriguez,” says Jane Campbell, the Editorial Director for Chosen.

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Tyndale House Publishers releases “Les Misérables: An Engaging Visual Journey,” latest title in Tyndale’s Visual Journey series

“Les Misérables: An Engaging Visual Journey,” Tyndale House Publishers’ newest release in the Visual Journey series, offers Victor Hugo’s masterpiece as a mixed-media special edition, complete with French-inspired watercolor paintings, decorative script, vintage imagery, and rich character bios.

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Thomas Nelson releases The Open Bible®, for the first time in the NIV

Thomas Nelson, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is pleased to announce the release of The Open Bible, now available for the first time in the widely-read New International Version (NIV) translation.

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Author, Pastor Patrick Linnell launches “Grace Bomb” on May 1 from David C Cook

Author, Pastor Patrick Linnell releases a timely resource with "Grace Bomb: The Surprising Impact Of Loving Your Neighbors" on May 1 from David C Cook. The book is a gateway to personal and corporate revival, inspiring readers to put into practice Jesus’ command to love our neighbors. The Grace Bomb Movement is growing internationally as Christians respond.

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Media Announcements

Podcast host and licensed professional counselor Debra Fileta launches new book with podcast series

Preceding the launch of her latest book, Are You Really OK? Getting Real About Who You Are, How You’re Doing, and Why It Matters (May 18, 2021, Harvest House Publishers), Debra Fileta’s Love + Relationships podcast will host Christine Caine, Matt Chandler, Jeremy Camp, Natalie Grant, and others ,for broadcast counseling sessions that dive deep into their spiritual and emotional health, asking them: Are You Really Ok?

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Iron Stream Media presents the Gospel Challenge

Iron Stream Media has partnered with The Readable Bible and BOTT Radio to present the Gospel Challenge through April 30, 2021. The challenge provides a copy of the Gospel of John to keep and one to share with a friend for a nominal donation of $15 to The Gospel Challenge Foundation to complete the work of The Readable Bible translation.

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Other News