Barbour Publishing has launched a free business-to-business Web site, barbourbooks.biz, to provide retailers and distributors with downloadable sales sheets and catalogs, as well as information on the specials, deals, and programs Barbour offers. For retailers, there are marketing materials-- postcards, bookmarks, book trailers, and promotional ideas—for key titles. Barbour Publishing releases more than 200 frontlist titles per year. Access to the site is free to Barbour’s business partners, who can get a username and password from their Barbour rep or at www.barbourbooks.biz/contact.
Guideposts Books has produced a new four-book series of short, inspirational e-books called Spirit Lifters. First titles include 101 Moments of Prayer by Elizabeth Sherrill and 101 Moments of Trust by Marion Bond West (retailing at $2.99 each) and two story collections from the editors of Guideposts magazine, The Power of Forgiveness: 15 Inspiring Stories of Love and Reconciliation, and God’s Healing Touch: 15 Inspiring Stories of Triumph over Affliction, which retail for $1.99 each. Guideposts will publish additional e-books on a three-season schedule, with the next titles releasing in March 2013.
Whitaker Corporation has hired former Fisher Scientific executive Lee W. Yeckel to lead its newly restructured sales and customer service departments. Yeckel’s experience at Fisher Scientific included positions in finance, purchasing, distribution, customer service, and sales management. Yeckel will serve as director of sales for both divisions of Whitaker Corporation: Anchor Distributors, and Whitaker House, the publishing arm.
Christian Authors on Tour will host its 2012 Christian Writer’s Literary Festival on December 8th from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Md. The annual event for Christian fiction and non-fiction authors features panel discussions, a book exhibits, and materials about using writing as a tool for Christian ministry. Participating authors include Steven Haymon, Deborah D. Jenkins, Sonya Privette-James, Kevin Wayne Johnson, Melody Ravert, and Andrea Freeman. Christian recording artists Carmen Calhoun and Nicois will perform and offer songwriting tips. The is free, but attendees are expected to bring new personal hygiene items and clothing to be distributed to The Karis Home and The Baltimore Rescue Mission in Baltimore. Visit 2012 Christian Writer’s Literary Festival for more information.
Cat Hoort has been hired as marketing manager for Christian fiction and Christian living titles at Abingdon Press in Nashville, Tenn., effective in early December. She was marketing and publicity manager at Kregel Publications in Grand Rapids, Mich. Hoort will continue to offer freelance social media consulting with Open Book Promotion. Contacts at Kregel after her Nov. 30 departure include Adam Ferguson, chief publicist; Noelle Pederson, manager of Lion Hudson Distribution; and Dave Hill, executive director of sales and marketing.
Bayard Canada has appointed Glenn Byer associate publisher for Novalis English books, resources and periodicals, effective December 3. Byer was most recently responsible for the publication of the Roman Missal as Publishing Director for CCCB Publications in Ottawa; prior to that, he was e-products director for Church Publishing in Denver, Colo., and served various roles at Oregon Catholic Press, including leading the creation of Liturgy.com. Byer will oversee Novalis sales and marketing operations and have operational responsibility for the publishing program.
Our Sunday Visitor has created its first mobile app in response to Pope Benedict XVI’s invitation to “witness to the Gospel in the digital age.” The My Year of Faith mobile app and blog offer short daily reflections, a daily challenge, and suggested prayer, reading, or actions. It features many well-known Catholic bloggers, authors and speakers, bishops, priests and local laymen and women. Developed with Little i Apps, LLC, the My Year of Faith app is available for iOS and Android devices and can be purchased in iTunes and on the Android Market for $0.99.
