January 13, 2026 – New York Times bestselling author and host of the That Sounds Fun podcast, with more than 105 million downloads, Annie F. Downs has signed a four-book deal with WaterBrook.
The deal is anchored by Don’t Let That Hold You Back, a trade book that challenges readers to step into the life they can’t stop thinking about by releasing guilt, fear, and pressure and taking bold action toward what matters most. The project will be accompanied by a forthcoming 40-day devotional that is scheduled for publication in Fall 2026.
The deal also includes a second trade book and a Let’s Read the Gospels Bible, inspired by Downs’ popular podcast by the same name, which pairs the complete books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts with simple prompts designed to help busy readers engage more deeply with Scripture and grow in their relationship with Jesus.
World rights were acquired by Susan Tjaden, Vice President and Executive Editor at WaterBrook, from Lisa Jackson of Alive Literary Agency.
For rights inquiries, contact Denise Cronin at decronin@penguinrandomhouse.com.
WaterBrook is an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group.
