A Series for Sparkhouse

Sparkhouse Family’s Andrew DeYoung signed a six-book world rights deal with DNA Productions, the production company behind Owlegories, an animated DVD series that follows young owls as they learn about nature, faith, and God. Although authors, titles, and specific publication dates are yet to be determined, the first books will be published in fall 2017 with the rest following in spring 2018.

Fortress Sings the Blues

Fortress Press acquiring editor Lisa Gruenisen bought world rights to The Last Blues Preacher: Rev. Clay Evans, Black Lives, and the Voice that Woke a Nation by Zachary William Mills. The book is a biography of Reverend Clay Evans, a 1960’s gospel singer, civil rights activist, and prominent leader among Chicago’s black preachers. It’s slated to publish in December 2017.

Zondervan Signs Grammy-Nominated Lisa Gungor

Zondervan's Stephanie Smith acquired world rights from Angela Scheff of the Chris Ferebee Agency to an untitled book by Grammy-nominated songwriter Lisa Gungor. The spring 2018 book will feature Gungor's life story, including experiences with music, faith, doubt, marriage, and raising a daughter with Down's Syndrome.

Liguori Lands a Bad Catholic

Theresa Nienaber-Panuski, acquisitions editor at Liguori Publications, bought world rights to A Bad Catholic's Essays on What's Wrong With the World by Marc Barnes, author of the blog The Bad Catholic. The book, which is slated to publish in August, offers a young Catholic’s perspective of the modern church, sexual ethics, politics, and more.

Three Deals at FaithWords

In a world rights deal, FaithWords editor Keren Baltzer bought Sarah E. Ball’s Fearless in 21 Days. In it, Ball explores solutions to fear, anxiety, panic disorders, and depression through mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual methods. The book is slated to publish in January 2018.

FaithWords editor Adrienne Ingrum took word rights to The Big Deal of Taking Small Steps to Move Closer to God by Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie who suggests very small changes—such as adding just 30 seconds of prayer daily—as a means for strengthening relationships with God. It’s slated for publication on May 16.

Ingrum also took world rights to No Other Gods: The Countercultural Vision of the Ten Commandments by Ana Levy-Lyons, the senior minister of First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn, N.Y. Geared toward readers of all faiths, as well as political progressives who are alienated from religion, the book “reintroduces the Ten Commandments text as a politically and spiritually radical prescription,” according to the publisher. It will go on sale in March 2018.

Kar-Ben Nabs Aussie Bestseller’s Latest

Kar-Ben publisher Joni Sussman bought North American rights to The Family with Two Front Doors by Australian bestselling children’s book author Anna Ciddor. The middle grade novel was first published in Australia by Allen and Unwin in March 2016, and it will release in the U.S. in February 2018. It follows the adventures of the Rabinowitzes: a large Jewish family. Allen and Unwin’s rights director Angela Namoi brokered the deal.

Andy Stanley Re-Ups with Zondervan

Andy Stanley, the author of 2012's Deep and Wide and more than 20 other books, signed a three-book deal with Zondervan. The first book, Irresistible Faith, is slated to release in February 2018. In it, Stanley will attempt to show unchurched readers a new perspective of Christianity and of local congregations. Information about the two remaining books is not yet available. The books were acquired by Ryan Pazdur, associate publisher and executive editor of Zondervan, and John Raymond, v-p and publisher of trade curriculum.