September 8, 2025 Edition
Rush to Press is taking a fall break so there will not be an edition next week. The next issue will be published on September 22.
Industry News
Flagler Law Group announces elevation of Attorney Craig Gipson to Partner
Flagler Law Group proudly welcomes veteran intellectual property attorney Craig Gipson as the firm’s newest equity partner. Craig combines deep publishing and IP experience with forward‑looking insight into how emerging technologies—especially artificial intelligence—continue to reshape the legal landscape for publishers and content creators.
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ECPA rights community gathers for debut Asia Christian Rights & Export Fair
Last week, 70 publishers and rights professionals from 11 countries met in Bangkok, Thailand to build meaningful connections and conduct rights and licensing business to help expand the reach of Christian publishing across the region. By creating this new event, ECPA continues to support the global advancement of Christian publishing worldwide. For more information on the work of the ECPA Global Collective, visit the Events menu at ECPA.org.
Magazine Training International reports on Global Christian Publishing Symposium
The MTI Global Christian Publishing Symposium concluded last month in Colorado with a summary of challenges to be addressed by the international publishing community. Participants from nine countries identified research and data collection; training workers; organizational capacity and sustainability; integration of new technologies; cross-border distribution; and establishment of quality standards for Christian publishing.
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Nominations due September 19 for Emerging Leader scholarship & mentor program
ECPA PubU–the industry’s “Publishing University” for Christian publishing professionals–hosts the Emerging Leader program each year. Recipients attend PubU on scholarship and get matched to an industry mentor for the year. ECPA members are encouraged to identify emerging talent in their organizations for this special opportunity. Deadline for nominations is September 19 to participate this fall in ECPA PubU Online.
The Christy Award® finalists announced by webcast on September 19
Finalists in nine fiction categories will be announced for The Christy Award program on September 19 at 10 am central via webcast. Gathering the Christian novelist community, the webcast will be hosted by ECPA president Jeff Crosby and Award winning novelist and radio host Chris Fabry, to celebrate the year’s best in Christian fiction.
ECPA PubU Online Track Spotlight
Sessions and speakers announced for Editorial track
ECPA PubU Online track leader Katara Patton, executive editor at Our Daily Bread, has developed the Editorial track for editors in Christian publishing, ranging from first year through seasoned veterans. Industry editors will connect and meet once a day, Nov 3-7 at 10 am (central), to learn from experts and each other around these topics:
- Help for New Editors: Grow into and Become a Great Editor
- Technology & Trends, New & Old: AI, Diversity, and more
- Developmental to Proofreading: Becoming the Editor an Author & Publisher Needs
- What’s Next: Editorial Career Progression in Publishing
Learn about 35+ sessions & recordings available for one low price at ECPAPubU.org.
Early bird registration ends September 26
Emerging Leader nominations due September 19
Milestones
Kate Strickler’s “I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen” debuts on NYT & PW bestsellers
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce that Kate Strickler has achieved New York Times bestseller status with her new book, “I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen.” Strickler also made her debut on the Publishers Weekly bestseller list the same week.
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SPCK Group receives two Christian Resources Together Awards
SPCK Group has won Christian Book of the Year and Autobiography of the Year at the Christian Resources Together (CRT) Awards 2025, for two of its leading titles: “The Girl from Montego Bay” by Britain’s first Black woman bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, and “Discovering Christianity” by Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury.
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Product News
WaterBrook wins two-book deal with Marcus Stanley
Marcus Stanley, inspirational internet prayer advocate who reaches over 100 million people each month, will release “Praying Like Your Life Depends On It”in 2027–sharing his experiences of suffering and trauma after being shot eight times and pointing readers to healing, connection, and the redemptive love of God– and an untitled 365-day prayer book with WaterBrook in 2028.
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Zondervan to release Amy Duggar King memoir in October, National Speak Up Month
Abuse doesn’t always leave bruises. Sometimes, it hides behind smiles, religious platitudes, and the picture-perfect image of a reality TV family. Amy Duggar King knows this all too well. In her explosive memoir, “Holy Disruptor: Shattering the Shiny Facade by Getting Louder with the Truth” (Zondervan, October 14, 2025), Amy is telling the truth—all of it.
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Faith Words releases “Healing the Wounds of Rejection” by Joyce Meyer
On September 9, Faith Words will release “Healing the Wounds of Rejection,” an intimate, vulnerable and compassionate conversation about the pain of rejection, filled with practical, biblical guidance to heal and move on with personal stories from Bible teacher Joyce Meyer, Ginger Stache, and other women who have risen from the ashes of loss.
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Iron Stream releases “God Adopted Us First” by Alice H. Murray on October 7
With warmth, candor, and 35 years of experience as an adoption attorney, Alice H. Murray invites readers into the heart of adoption in her powerful new book, “God Adopted Us First” (Iron Stream, October 7, 2025). This unique devotional pairs poignant, true adoption stories with scripture, reflective questions, and practical steps for spiritual growth.
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Other News
INDUSTRY
- Call for Submissions: 2026 Christian Book Award® program, until Sep 30
- PW: Authors & publishers putting new spins on the traditional devotional
- PW: Religion Book Deals for September 3: IVP and WaterBrook
- PW: New Releases on Apologetics Evangelize Through Culture
- New Barna Data: Young Adults Lead a Resurgence in Church Attendance
PUBLISHING
- Anthropic settles with authors in first-of-its-kind AI copyright infringement lawsuit
- B&N Agrees to Acquire Books Inc.
- BISG webinar on Sep 9: Reducing Royalty Resource Drain Through Automation
- Wiley Touts AI Strengths in First Quarter Report
- Mindset around short stories shifting’ as readers embrace slim fiction
- Library Of Congress Cues Up the 25th National Book Festival
- Brazil's Book Business: A Fourth Industry-Wide Meeting
