November 13, 2023 Edition
Industry News
ECPA presents record number of Top Shelf Book Cover Awards for design excellence
ECPA announced 41 winners of the 2023 Top Shelf Book Cover Award during ECPA PubU Online, the industry’s publishing training program gathering over 300 publishing professionals for training and networking. ECPA president Jeff Crosby announced the record number of winning designs from 16 publishers in four categories: Bibles, Fiction, Children, Non-Fiction.
The Christy Award® winners will be announced on Thursday in online webcast
This Thursday evening at 7 pm CST, The Christy Award program winners will be announced in nine fiction categories, from among the 32 finalists. Also named will be the 2023 Christy Book of the Year and The Amplify Award, for stories from under-represented perspectives. Hosted by award-winning novelist and radio host Chris Fabry, the program will also feature legendary authors Davis Bunn and Janette Oke, along with other past Christy award-winning authors.
Kristi Smith named VP of marketing for Thomas Nelson Gift and Zondervan Gift
HarperCollins Christian Publishing has announced the promotion of Kristi Smith to vice president of marketing for Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Gift Book imprints. Smith joined the company 24 years ago, and throughout her tenure has been integral to the marketing strategy of some of the company’s top titles.
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ECPA member webinar on December 1st: Action plan for organizational change
In the midst of racial tensions and cultural confusion about diversity, equity, and inclusion, many in Christian publishing have been working towards sustainable change to ensure their publishing programs better reflect, include, and serve God’s kingdom and church. But working towards lasting organizational change can bring dead ends, misunderstandings, and resistance. Global diversity strategist and author of the upcoming book “Unfractured” (Chosen Books), Skot Welch, will break down an action plan for Christ-Centered organizational change.
Crossway’s One Million Bible Initiative enters next phase
On November 8, Crossway announced the launch of an end-of-year fundraising campaign to aid the ongoing effort to distribute one million ESV Bibles around the world. Achieving this goal would help Crossway to surpass the halfway mark of the overall goal of distributing one million Bibles.
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Milestones
Joshua Giles’ “Mantled for Greatness” becomes USA Today and ECPA Bestseller
Dynamic Minneapolis pastor and prophetic voice Joshua Giles was named a USA Today and ECPA bestseller. On October 3, his new book, “Mantled for Greatness” (Chosen Books), was No. 32 on USA Today’s Booklist. He also achieved a No. 3 placement on the ECPA November Bestseller List.
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Lexham Press celebrates two recent awards
“The King of Easter: For All God’s Children” received Moonbeam’s Silver award for the category of Religion, and won first place in the American Book Fest’s Religion category. FatCat follows Jesus as he seeks and saves the lost. Whether friends or enemies—if they are lost, Jesus came to seek and save them. At every step, he brings his new friends to join the search.
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Product News
David C Cook releases first in series of graphic novels inspired by TV series, The Chosen
Based on Season 1 of the hit television series and the largest crowd-funded media project of all time, The Chosen, David C Cook has released the first graphic novel adaptation of the powerful story of the life of Jesus and his followers: The Chosen: Volume 1, Called by Name.
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WaterBrook acquires Bunmi Laditan for children's book
From the USA Today bestselling author and humorist behind the social media phenomenon “The Honest Toddler,” Bunmi Laditan’s DAVID’S DIARY, a children’s chapter book series that reimagines the boyhood adventures of King David, now cast as a spunky, neurodivergent fourth grader living in today’s world, to Bunmi Ishola at WaterBrook, for publication in 2025, by Jevon Bolden at Embolden Media Group in an exclusive deal in a three-book exclusive deal (world).
Tyndale Momentum to release “Praying with Saint Patrick”
Tyndale House Publishers will release “Praying with Saint Patrick: Prayers and Devotions Inspired by the Irish Hero of the Faith” by Aaron Burns and Matt Mikalatos on February 6, 2024. Just as Patrick experienced God’s presence through prayer as he took risks to serve others—including women, slaves, and the poor—and through a period of intense prayer during his own enslavement, readers will be invited to experience God’s presence in a powerful way.
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Nonfiction writer’s debut novel with WaterBrook tackles loss and renewal
What if? That’s the question haunting the pages of “Between You and Us” by Kendra Broekhuis, WaterBrook’s contemporary novel releasing March 12, 2024. A decade of writing nonfiction, one stillbirth, and countless prayers led Broekhuis to create her first work of fiction – a gripping page turner for anyone second guessing what life may be like if one thing had been different.
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Media Announcements
David C Cook Imprint, Esther Press, announces est.HER Women’s Conference
Esther Press, David C Cook’s imprint for women’s books, Bible studies, and devotionals, announced this week an all new conference for women of all ages called est.HER. The three-day event will take place April 11-13, 2024, in Spring Hill, Tennessee, just south of Nashville.
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Authors Ed & Lisa Young talk about moving through grief on Jesus Calling Podcast
Senior pastor of Fellowship Church Ed Young and his wife Lisa recently joined the Jesus Calling Podcast to share the heart-wrenching story of their daughter’s struggle with addiction. Their book, “A Path Through Pain,” is available from Zondervan.
“Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself” author is on Jesus Calling Podcast
Dr. Morgan Cutlip recently joined the Jesus Calling Podcast to share how she looked forward to motherhood, but was quickly faced with the real struggles that came alongside it. She made it her life’s work to help mothers cope with that loss of self, and show them how to remember who they are again. Dr. Cutlip’s book, “Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself,” is available from Thomas Nelson.
Other News
INDUSTRY
- Religion Scholars Gather for Reaffirmation in San Antonio
- Religion books on disagreeing: Zondervan, Baker, NavPress, Thomas Nelson
- Religion Book Deals for Nov 8: WaterBrook, IVP, Zondervan, Thomas Nelson
- Religion/Spirituality Book Preview, Dec: IVP, Bethany House, Barbour
- HarperCollins Signs a Global Deal for the Pope's Next Book
- CT on the Christian X-odus: Believers retreating to other platforms
- MAI webinar Nov 21: AI ethics for Christian authors and publishers
- Booksmarts Podcast: Klaus Krogh on Sustainable Typesetting and Bible Design
PUBLISHING
- Circana BookScan: US Print Gained Momentum in October
- The 'Wall Street Journal' Drops Its Bestseller Lists
- Taking a Closer Look at the FTC Lawsuit Against Amazon
- Spotify Audiobooks: Expanded to US Premium Subscribers
- Barnes & Noble Expects to Open 50 New Stores in 2024
- NEA Finds Worrying Drop in Reading Participation
- A Treatise on the State of Middle Grade and Young Adult Publishing Today
- HC Posts Big Gains in First Quarter of Fiscal 2024
- PRH Makes More Small Gains in Diversifying Its Workforce
- PRH India Deploys 100-Percent Recycled Paper
