Advice about life from the highest-ranking members of the Mormon Church’s First Presidency in We're With You: Counsel and Encouragement from Your Brethren debuted at #6 on our religion nonfiction list for December. Latter-day Saint book publisher Deseret Book, which owns a chain of LDS bookstores across the Western U.S., promoted We’re With You in stores as well as on its website. Deseret estimates that 60% of sales occurred through its own retail channels, while 40% went through Amazon.
Shaken, Tim Tebow's memoir about surviving life's storms, saw brisk sales over the holiday season and moved up one spot to #2 in December. The former quarterback for the Denver Broncos continues to promote the book at his speaking engagements as well as on ESPN's SEC Nation, where he serves as an analyst.
Sarah Young's 365-day devotionals were also holiday favorites. Different editions of her two devotionals claimed three spots on our religion nonfiction list. Jesus Always, published in October, maintained its spot on top of the list, while Young's original 2004 edition of Jesus Calling slipped one spot to #3. The deluxe 2015 edition of Jesus Calling reappeared at #10 after falling off the chart in November.
The upcoming film adaptation of The Shack starring Octavia Spencer and Sam Worthington is breathing new life into Wm. Paul Young’s hit novel. The 2007 version, which sold over a million copies in its first year according to Windblown Media, took #3 on our religion fiction list, while the newly released movie tie-in featuring a new chapter from Young followed at #4. Marketing and publicity for the movie tie-in included a national and Christian media campaign (Washington Post, New York Post, beliefnet), promotion on social media, and outreach through Wmpaulyoung.com. The film hits theaters on March 3.
