Erickson ‘Roves’ to Fortress Press

Acquisitions editor for Fortress Press Tony Jones nabbed world rights to Holy Rover by veteran travel writer Lori Erickson. The memoir, which is based on Erickson’s blog Holy Rover on Patheos, and blends spirituality with details of the author’s travels to Iona, Machu Picchu, Bear Butte, and many places in between. Erickson was represented by agent Greg Daniel of the Daniel Literary Group. Holy Rover will be published through Fortress’ Theology for the People line in spring 2017.

Fortress Closes A Double with Rev. Boyd

Rev. Dr. Gregory A. Boyd, the founding pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul and the author of Letters from a Skeptic and God at War, sold the world rights to two titles to Fortress’ Tony Jones. The first book, The Crucifixion of the Warrior God, will be released in April 2017. Boyd has been working on it for over a decade, according to a press release. “This is my life’s work,” said Boyd. “The culmination of my thoughts on the nature of God, Jesus, and the Bible.” The second book, tentatively titled Cross Vision: How the Crucifixion of Jesus Makes Sense of Old Testament Violence, is slated to publish in August 2017.

Biles Brings ‘Courage’ to Zondervan

Four-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World all-around gymnastics champion Simone Biles is sold her autobiography, Courage to Soar, to Zondervan. Written with Michelle Burford and featuring a foreword by Mary Lou Retton, the title will go on sale on November 15, 2016. Biles’s agents, Farley Chase of Chase Literary Agency and Janey Miller of Octagon, brokered the deal with Zondervan’s developmental editor Jacque Alberta and Annette Bourland, senior v-p and group publisher at Zondervan.

Zondervan Inks Richards-Ross to Triple

A second Olympic gold medalist, Sanya Richards-Ross, is sharing her life story in three books slated to publish at Zondervan over the next two years. The first untitled work, set for release in July 2017, is a memoir chronicling Richards-Ross’s childhood in Jamaica and her rise to track stardom. Following in August 2017, Richards-Ross will share stories from her running career and key messages of faith in Run With Me, intended for ages 8-12. Lastly, Zondervan plans to release a young adult nonfiction book in 2018 based on Richards-Ross’s personal story that will provide tips on setting and reaching goals as well as how to stand out in a crowd. Richards-Ross is represented by the Creative Artists Agency’s David Larabell, who brokered the world rights to each book with Zondervan’s executive editor Carolyn McCready and acquisitions editor Jillian Manning.

Revell Revels in ‘Glory’

Kelsey Bowen, associate acquisitions editor for Revell, signed up Southern Living senior travel editor Valerie Fraser Luesse for two novels. In her debut novel, Glory, Alabama (Spring 2018), Luesse explores issues of race, class, and religion with a story set in the 1960s in rural Alabama. The second work of Southern fiction, not yet titled, is tentatively scheduled for release in Spring 2019. Leslie Stoker of Stoker Literary represented Luesse.

Hyatt Signs A Triple with Baker

Baker Books’ editor Chad Allen closed a three-book deal with Michael Hyatt, former chairman and CEO of Thomas Nelson. Releasing in spring 2018, spring 2019, and spring 2020, the three yet-to-be-titled books will focus on personal development and productivity—topics Hyatt has explored on his blog, podcast, and in his online courses. Bryan Norman at Alive Literary represented Hyatt and negotiated the deal with Baker Books.

NPR Correspondent Heads to RWW Imprint

At Red Wheel/Weiser’s Hampton Roads imprint, associate publisher Greg Brandenburgh closed a world rights deal with Judith Valente, a PBS and NPR correspondent, for Silence and Simplicity: Meditations on Happiness, Meaning, and the Rule of St. Benedict. Slated to publish in spring 2018, the book explores passages from the Rule, a book of precepts written for Benedictine monks, and features 52 reflections—one for each week in the year. Amanda O’Connor at the Trident Media Group represented Valente.

W, Passion Publishing Partner Again

Passion Publishing, the publishing arm of the Passion Conferences for young adults, signed its second author in its partnership with the W Publishing Group. In August 2017, the two publishers will release Single, Dating, Engaged, Married by Ben Stuart, the founder of Breakaway, a weekly bible study on the campus of Texas A&M University. The book explores the purpose of four relationship stages—single, dating, engaged, married—that the majority of 20-somethings will experience. Kevin Marks at Passion Publishing brokered the world rights deal with W’s senior v-p and publisher Matt Baugher.

Chole Re-Ups with W

Alicia Britt Chole, the author of 2016’s 40 Days of Decrease, signed with the W Publishing Group once again on The Sacred Slow: A Holy Departure from Fast Faith. The book, which will be published in September 2017, looks at the cultural shift from fast food to health food in both the physical and a spiritual sense, with Chole urging readers to take an unhurried, honest approach to having a relationship with God. W’s Matt Baugher brokered the world rights deal directly with the author.