September 22, 2025 Edition
Industry News
David C Cook announces new parent brand as growth continues
Christian publisher and music company David C Cook is celebrating its 150th anniversary with the unveiling of a new parent brand—Cook Media Global—signaling the nonprofit ministry’s commitment to growth in the ever-evolving media landscape.
Read More...
September Christian Bestsellers now available
ECPA has released the September 2025 Christian Bestseller lists, featuring the top titles across 15 categories including books, Bibles, and Spanish-language resources. The top bestselling title is “Tame Your Thoughts” by Max Lucado (Thomas Nelson), followed by “I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen” by Kate Strickler (Bethany House).
View the full lists at ReadGoodBooks.com.
Deadline this Friday: Early bird rate for ECPA PubU Online ends Sept. 26
Don’t miss your chance to register at the lowest rate for ECPA PubU Online — the premier training event for the Christian publishing community, presented throughout October 31 – November 14 for professionals at all levels and roles in Editorial, Marketing & Publicity, Production & Operations, Sales, Rights, and Children’s Books.
What You Get: Access to 35+ webinars and live sessions led by top publishing experts.
Early Bird Rate: Just $109 for full access (increases to $149 after Sept. 26)
Customize your learning experience and stay ahead in your field — all at an unbeatable value!
View sessions and register now at ecpapubu.org.
HarperCollins announces expanded DTC roles and staff updates
Over the last several years, HarperCollins has been growing capabilities in the areas of direct-to-consumer (DTC) platforms, data engineering, and product development and announces the following staff promotions and updates.
Read More...
Amplify Marketing Services brings Netflix Ads to book publishers
Amplify Marketing Services LLC, a leading book marketing agency specializing in Amazon Ads, is excited to announce it is now offering Amazon Ads on Netflix through the Amazon Demand Side Platform (DSP), giving book publishers powerful new ways to reach highly engaged audiences.
Read More...
MetaComet® Systems launches new “Agents” feature in Royalty Tracker® Software
For many book publishers, calculating and paying agents’ fees is an additional task tacked on to an already time-consuming royalty management process. Delivering the specific and customized royalty information that agents need adds further complications and stress to the process.
Read More...
IPG announces direct local comic shop sales with special discounts
Independent Publishers Group (IPG), driven by swift growth in high impact manga, graphic novel, RPG, and comic publishers on our distribution roster, is launching direct-to-store terms for the local comic shop market.
ECPA PubU Online Track Spotlight
Sessions and speakers announced for Children’s Book Summit, Nov. 10–14
As the digital world reshapes how kids engage with content — and with Gen Alpha’s reading habits still evolving — Christian publishers must adapt with fresh strategies and insights. ECPA PubU Online’s Children’s Book Summit is here to help. Curated by track leaders Shannon Marchese (VP & Publisher, Tommy Nelson) and Dr. Mary Manz Simon (children’s literature expert), the Summit will feature daily live sessions at 2:00 PM (CT), November 10–14. Sessions include:
- How Children’s Publishers Stay Discoverable and Desired
- Navigating the Challenges of Engaging Teen and Preteen Readers with Christian Content
- Navigating Trends and Lasting Themes in Children’s Christian Publishing
- AI and Publishing to AI Natives
- Open Forum: Ask the Experts in Children’s Publishing
Plus, access 35+ PubU sessions and recordings — all included for one low price.
Early Bird Rate Ends Friday, September 26.
Register now at ECPAPubU.org.
Milestones
ECPA announces the finalists for The Christy Award® in nine fiction categories
On Friday, ECPA named 35 finalists for The Christy Award program in an online webcast. The Christy Award exists to celebrate excellence in the art of Christian fiction and to honor the power of faith in story. Three finalists were named in nine fiction categories, with eight resulting ties. They are:
‘THE AVATAR’ debuts at No. 1, marking Jonathan Cahn’s 10th bestseller
With his newest book, “THE AVATAR: The Return of the Ancients & the Future of America,” Jonathan Cahn has officially scored his 10th bestseller, debuting at No. 1 on Publishers Weekly Hardcover Nonfiction list and No. 3 on The New York Times’ Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous list.
Read More...
10Publishing’s “The Man on the Middle Cross” by Alistair Begg surpasses 150,000 copies sold
10Publishing is pleased to announce that Alistair Begg’s evangelistic book “The Man on the Middle Cross” has surpassed 150,000 copies sold since its release on September 1st.
Read More...
Revell authors claim triple victory at prestigious 2025 Carol Awards
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, proudly announces that three of its acclaimed authors—Robin Jones Gunn, Lynette Eason, and Lynn H. Blackburn—received major honors at the 2025 Carol Awards during the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) awards gala on September 6.
Read More...
Media Announcements
NavPress launches Good Books, Big Questions Podcast on faith and writing
In continued celebration of its fiftieth anniversary, NavPress is launching the Good Books, Big Questions podcast on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Hosted by Karen Stiller, the new podcast will feature candid interviews with NavPress authors and staff on the complex issues that inform their writing, ministry, and personal spirituality.
Read More...
IVP launches The Wholehearted Households Podcast
InterVarsity Press is excited to announce the launch of The Wholehearted Households Podcast, a new resource for everyday family discipleship. The podcast launches on Monday, October 13, with new episodes releasing each Monday to provide a moment for parents and caregivers to breathe and connect with the breath-giver himself.
Read More...
Crossway celebrates The Sing! Hymnal launch with Keith and Kristyn Getty
Crossway celebrated the release of The Sing! Hymnal at the 2025 Sing! Conference, September 1–3, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference, hosted by hymn writers and recording artists Keith and Kristyn Getty, welcomed 7,000 attendees.
Read More...
Product News
Whitaker House releases new book to unite churches globally
In newly released “Dear Unity: Overdue Love Letters to Heal a Divided Church,” more than thirty Christian leaders from different dominations across the globe come together to share their personal reflections, teachings, and backstories to unite the body of Christ and heal the world.
Read More...
WaterBrook Children's to publish Gabriel and the Guardians graphic novels
Two graphic novels by Colossul Studios, based on their animated television series Gabriel and the Guardians, is scheduled for Fall 2028 publication by WaterBrook. The series follows a celestial guardian, a giant hunter seeking redemption, and a mysterious alchemist princess as they seek to recover a powerful artifact stolen from the celestial realm,
Zondervan pairs NYT bestselling authors Judah Smith and Dr. Les Parrot
A pastor and his therapist become America’s most unexpected mental health duo in their debut new book, “Bad Thoughts: A Preacher and a Shrink's Guide to Reclaiming Your Mind and Soul” (Zondervan, 9/23/2025), a raw, practical and sometimes humorous conversation between Churchome pastor Judah Smith and psychologist Dr. Les Parrott.
Read More...
John Mark Comer’s “Sabbath Meditations” goes to WaterBrook
New York Times bestselling author John Mark Comer’s and the ministry Practicing the Way’s “Sabbath Meditations” will be published by WaterBrook in April 2026. “Sabbath Meditations” is a collection of readings and Bible passages inviting readers into intentional Sabbath practice with their family or faith community.
Read More...
Leafwood Publishers releases Brittany Tinsley’s “Stories Our Scars Tell”
Brittany Tinsley’s dual perspective as both an expert and someone who has walked through the darkness of self-harm provides a unique and compassionate guide for readers. “Stories Our Scars Tell” is a powerful reminder that healing doesn’t happen overnight but is a continual reckoning between who we’ve been, who we are, and who we’d like to become.
Read More...
Focus on the Family teams up with award-winning songwriter on Christmas devotional
Focus on the Family, in partnership with Tyndale House Publishers, announces the October 7, 2025, release of “Manger Throne: Celebrating Christmas through Song,” a 28-day Christmas devotional by songwriter Tony Wood.
Read More...
Abi Byrd leads women through 40 days of devotions from Romans
In “You Stand in Grace: Devotions for Walking in Faith” (New Growth Press/ September 15, 2025), conference speaker Abi Byrd invites women to walk with her through Romans and experience firsthand how the gospel transforms lives by revealing God’s great mercy.
Read More...
Other News
INDUSTRY
- AAP's StatShot: US Industry Down 1.3% in June; Religious presses up 2.2%
- Religion Book Deals for Sept. 17, 2025: WaterBrook, Paraclete, Brazos
- Ebury Launches PRH UK’s First Christian Imprint
- Dr. Katherine Hayes launches new Christian publishing company, Dressed In Love
- EPA to Host 6th Annual Virtual Conference October 21-22, 2025
PUBLISHING
- ReaderLink Agrees to Buy Baker & Taylor
- Germany’s Bookwire Pushes into AI Content Licensing
- Judge Delays Preliminary Approval in Anthropic Copyright Settlement
- AAP Endorses the US$1.5 Billion AI Settlement Proposed in Anthropic Case
- Apple Sued by Authors for Copyright Infringement
- Federal Judge Tosses Trump’s Lawsuit Against PRH, ‘NYT’
- Adult Fiction Sales Fell 5% in Soft First Half of 2025
- Amazon Adds Benetech Accessible Metadata to E-books
- Spotify Launches BookTok Hub
- What Publishers Can Learn From Netflix’s Recommendation Engine
- Global Illiteracy Is On the Rise, New Report Finds
- IPG Adds 4 Publishers to its Sales & Distribution Programs
- Barnes & Noble will open 30 stores across the U.S. before the end of 2025
