rush-to-press
The Week's News in Christian Publishing
  • Industry News
  • Milestones
  • Media Announcements
  • Product News
  • Other News

PRH Christian Publishing Group announces promotion of Susan Tjaden to VP, executive editor, and additional divisional promotions

(COLORADO SPRINGS, CO—January 13, 2025) Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group (PRHCPG) is delighted to announce the promotion of Susan Tjaden to Vice President and Executive Editor and is excited to share changes to several other roles across the editorial, publicity, and creative services departments.

In her nearly 13 years at PRH, Tjaden has become an invaluable member of the team, having shaped numerous bestselling and award-winning titles, including Own Your Everyday by Jordan Lee Dooley, The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker, I’ve Seen the End of You by W. Lee Warren, M.D., The Love Everybody Wants by Madison Prewett Troutt, and Midnight Mom Devotional by Becky Thompson and Susan K. Pitts. She has built a well-deserved reputation for identifying commercial concepts and shaping them into stellar works that connect with their audience in a meaningful way. In addition to acquiring and editing adult nonfiction titles, Tjaden oversees the Ink & Willow gift line, featuring such popular products as The Bible Is Funny Card Game and Whatever Is Lovely, an adult coloring book that has sold nearly 700,000 copies.

“Susan serves as a thoughtful guide for first-time authors and a trusted mentor for her colleagues while helping seasoned authors further hone their craft,” says Laura Barker, VP and Publisher. “She is celebrated by her colleagues as a vital source of insight and encouragement, as she brings creativity and energy to her work at every stage.”

Bunmi Ishola has been promoted to Senior Editor. In her four years with PRHCPG’s children’s publishing program, Ishola has helped shape the vision driving many of the program’s incredible picture books, including the STEM-based series, “Big Adventures for Growing Minds,” starting with God’s Little Astronaut; the series authored by Esau McCaulley, including the just-released Andy Johnson and the March for Justice; and many other joy-filled stories like Be My ValenSlime, authored by Kris Tarantino and illustrated by New York Times bestseller Cori Doerrfeld. In addition, the first two middle grade series acquired and edited by Ishola, “The Restorationists” and “Noah Minor,” have garnered strong accolades. She recently signed bestselling author Bunmi Laditan for a chapter book series featuring a BIPOC and neurodivergent protagonist.

Barker adds, “Bunmi is a true team player who continues to promote diversity across our list. She is universally beloved and trusted by the authors and agents she works with. She has a keen eye for commercial opportunities, closely tracks the trends in the children’s space, and offers crucial insights that contribute to our program’s success and innovation.”

CREATIVE SERVICES

In the creative services department, Sonia Persad has been promoted to Art Director, Illustrated Products. Persad joined PRHCPG from the Random House Illustrated team under the brilliant leadership of Jenny Davis. Before that, she worked at Clarkson Potter where she designed and art directed a wide variety of titles, including Matzo by Michele Streit Heilbrun and David Kirschner, Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne, and The Thai Pepper Cookbook by Pepper Teigen and Garrett Snyder. Persad has spearheaded stunning designs and art programs for such books as What Color Is God’s Love? by Xochitl Dixon, I Gotta Sing! by Alice Faye Duncan, The Prince of  Yorsha Doon by Andrew Peterson, and Holy Night and Little Star by Mitali Perkins, a Christianity Today award-winning entry in the children’s category.

Creative Director Kristopher Orr said, “Sonia’s passion for excellence, strong leadership, attention to detail, and excellent sense of good design all merit this new level of responsibility over all aspects of the children’s list.”

PUBLICITY

In publicity, Shauna Carlos has been promoted to Publicist, working on nonfiction and fiction titles. She has been a vital part of bestselling campaigns for Michael Todd’s Damaged But Not Destroyed and A Cup of Love, Church Girl by Dr. Sarita Lyons, The Book of Belonging by Mariko Clark, and Do It Anyway by Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and more. Upcoming releases on her roster are A Better Friend by Grace Valentine, Out of the Wilderness by Angela Halili and Arielle Reitsma, Chichi and Didi Love Their Names by Peace Amadi and Ndidi Amadi, A Gardin Wedding by Rosey Lee, and God Chose Me by Charles Henry Metcalf, III. Within PRH, Carlos has served as a divisional DEI officer and in 2023 was named an ECPA Emerging Leader.

“Shauna is a quick learner and astute about the ever-changing media landscape,” says Beverly Rykerd, VP, Publicity Director. “She brings her full self to every project, offering strategic insights, executing on tactics at a high level, and building her portfolio of press relationships. Her colleagues across the board enjoy her energy and curiosity as well as her desire to serve our authors and books well.”

PUBLISHER’S OFFICE

In addition, Campbell Wharton, SVP and Publisher PRHCPG, announced Tina Richey-Swanson is promoted to Executive Assistant, continuing to report to Wharton and Tina Constable, EVP, Business Development.


Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group is a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.

Contact: Beverly Rykerd, VP Publicity Director brykerd@penguinrandomhouse.com

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 THE ISRAEL DECREE
AMIR TSARFATI
2 LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN
MAX LUCADO
3 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
4 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
5 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
6 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
7 JESUS CALLING FOR GRADUATES WITH SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
SARAH YOUNG
8 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
10 JESUS CALLING FOR MOMS
SARAH YOUNG
View All
1 WHEN GOD SPEAKS
JOSHUA GILES
2 SEEING THE SUPERNATURAL
LEE STROBEL
3 EXPERIENCE JESUS. REALLY.
JOHN ELDREDGE
4 THE TRUST JOURNEY
LYSA TERKEURST
5 AMBUSH
COBLE, COLLEEN
6 A MILLION TINY MOMENTS
EMILY A. JENSEN AND LAURA WIFLER
7 THE MARRIAGE YOU WANT
SHEILA WRAY GREGOIRE AND KEITH GREGOIRE
8 TOUGH TOPICS
KELLY K
9 LIFT YOUR EYES
WHITNEY NEWBY
10 MAKE SENSE OF YOUR STORY
ADAM YOUNG
View All
1 SILENT HORIZONS
CHAD ROBICHAUX
2 EVERY HOUR UNTIL THEN
GABRIELLE MEYER
3 THE HIDDEN PRINCE
TESSA AFSHAR
4 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
5 WHEN CRICKETS CRY
CHARLES MARTIN
6 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
7 A LINEAGE OF GRACE
FRANCINE RIVERS
8 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES: AN ENGAGING VISUAL JOURNEY
HANNAH HURNARD
9 THE KEEPER
CHARLES MARTIN
10 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
View All
1 THE ISRAEL DECREE
AMIR TSARFATI
2 LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN
MAX LUCADO
3 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
4 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
5 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
6 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
7 JESUS CALLING FOR GRADUATES WITH SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
SARAH YOUNG
8 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
10 JESUS CALLING FOR MOMS
SARAH YOUNG
View All
1 THE ACTION BIBLE
SERGIO CARIELLO
2 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
3 THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
SALLY LLOYD-JONES
4 THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
JOANNA GAINES
5 WHEREVER YOU GO, I WANT YOU TO KNOW...
MELISSA B. KRUGER
6 GREAT AND SMALL PRAYERS FOR BABIES
PAMELA KENNEDY
7 MOSTLY WHAT GOD DOES IS LOVE YOU
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE
8 THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BIBLE
JANICE EMMERSON
9 THE WORLD NEEDS THE WONDER YOU SEE
JOANNA GAINES
10 BEDTIME PRAYERS FOR LITTLE ONES
MAX LUCADO AND DENALYN LUCADO
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
2 WELCOME TO ADULTING
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
3 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
BEN STUART
4 THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE SELECTED THOUGHTS AND SCRIPTURES FOR THE GRADUATE
RICK WARREN
5 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
6 POCKET PRAYERS FOR GRADUATES
MAX LUCADO
7 YOURS, NOT HERS
KARI KAMPAKIS
8 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
9 GOD IS WITH YOU EVERY DAY
MAX LUCADO
10 THE PRAYER MAP FOR TEENS
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
View All
1 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST JOHN
2 ONE-MINUTE INSIGHTS FOR MEN
JIM GEORGE
3 ONE-MINUTE INSPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN
ELIZABETH GEORGE
4 THE GOSPEL STORY
MARY WILEY
5 365 READ-ALOUD BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES
DANIEL PARTNER
6 KNOW YOUR BIBLE
PAUL KENT
7 MINI DEVOTIONS GRACE FOR TODAY
SOLLY OZROVECH
8 BIBLE PROMISE BOOK - KJV
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
9 199 PROMISES OF GOD
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
10 HEAVEN
RANDY ALCORN
View All
1 KJV BIBLE GIANT PRINT FULL SIZE BIBLE
CHRISTIAN ART PUBLISHERS
2 ESV CHURCH BIBLE
CROSSWAY
3 ESV STUDY BIBLE
PACKER, J. I.
4 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Grey
MYERS, RAECHEL
5 KJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
HOLMAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS
6 ESV STUDENT STUDY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
7 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
8 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
9 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
10 NIV LARGE PRINT VALUE THINLINE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
View All
1 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 ESV ECONOMY HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS
CROSSWAY
3 ESV ECONOMY LARGE PRINT BIBLE
CROSSWAY
4 KJV ECONOMY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
5 NIV LARGER PRINT HOLY BIBLE, ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
6 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
THOMAS NELSON
7 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
8 NLT LARGE PRINT ECONOMY HOLY BIBLE, OUTREACH EDITION
TYNDALE
9 NLT ECONOMY TEXT BIBLE
TYNDALE
10 NIV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
ZONDERVAN
View All
1 New International Version
2 English Standard Version
3 King James Version
4 New Living Translation
5 New King James Version
6 Christian Standard Bible
7 Reina Valera
8 New International Reader's Version
9 New Revised Standard Version
10 New American Standard Bible
View All
1 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
3 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR EDICION REVISADA
GARY CHAPMAN
4 EL PODER DE LA MADRE QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
5 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
6 EL PODER DE LA MUJER QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
7 UNA MUJER CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
ELIZABETH GEORGE
8 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO
RICK WARREN
9 DE MENOS A MAS
RASHEL DIAZ
10 DESTINADO AL EXITO
DANTE GEBEL
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro tapa dura
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, ROSA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro imitacion piel
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
DIAZ-PABON, LUIS ANGEL
5 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA LETRA SUPERGIGANTE
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
6 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, TURQUESA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE APUNTES
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
8 RVR1960 SANTA BIBLIA EDICION PORTATIL CON CREMALLERA
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA TIERRA SANTA LETRA GRANDE
VIDA
View All
1 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
3 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
4 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
5 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
6 DEVOCIONALES DE 3 MINUTOS PARA HOMBRES
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
7 UN HOMBRE CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
JIM GEORGE
8 JESUS SALVA AL MUNDO
VIDA
9 ESTUDIO BIBLICO DE 5 MINUTOS PARA MUJERES
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
10 ESCOGE EL GOZO
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
View All

Upcoming Events

ECPA webinar: Building and Managing an Effective Intern Program
July 11 | 10 am central
ECPA webinar: Communicating Appreciation in the Workplace
August 8 | 10 am central
ECPA Asia Rights & Export Fair
September 1-2, 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand
ECPA C-Suite Symposium
September 7-9, 2025 | Tucson, Arizona
ECPA PubU Online
Oct 31 through Nov 14, 2025

Career Center

Marketing Manager, Christian Publishing Group
Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, Colorado Springs, Colorado or Remote
Key Account Sales Coordinator
Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois
Accounting Assistant
Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois
Book Marketing Manager
Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL | Hybrid
Purchasing and Supply Coordinator
Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois
Book and Bible Typesetter
Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois
Acquisitions Editor
Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon
ECPA LOGO
submit icon

Submit a News Item

Submit industry related news releases to rushtopress @ecpa .org for consideration. Rush to Press is sent every Monday and eligible releases must be received by end of day Friday prior to the Monday’s publication.

announce icon

Career Posts

To announce a job opening in Rush to Press, post it first at the ECPA Career Center and your announcement will appear in the next issue.

subscribe icon

Subscribe

To receive Rush to Press, along with other industry updates from ECPA, please follow the instructions here to create or modify your ECPA community profile. To subscribe to Rush to Press without using a profile, subscribe here.

unsubscribe icon

Unsubscribe

If you would like to be removed from the Rush to Press distribution list, please edit your ECPA profile preferences or email info @ecpa .org.

advertise icon

Advertise

If you would like to reach over 3,300 industry subscribers and media contacts each week, consider advertising in Rush to Press. Contact sponsorship @ecpa .org for more information.

More news at RushtoPress.org. #RushtoPress @ECPA
This is a publication of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For more information about ECPA, contact info@ecpa.org or visit ECPA.org.
Copyright © 2025 · ECPA