October will see a number of books on witchcraft just in time for Halloween, Anne Graham Lotz's book of prayers, Robert Schoen's What I Wish My Friends Knew About Judaism, which received a PW starred review, and more.
Nonfiction
Oct. 1
Witch Hunt: A Traveler’s Guide to the Power and Persecution of the Witch by Kristen Sollee (Weiser, $21.95, ISBN 978-1-57863-699-0). Sollee combines history, travelogue, and memoir in this guide to the historic witch hunts, including sites in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the U.K., and the U.S.
Oct. 2
Awaken My Heart: 52 Weeks of Giving Thanks and Loving Abundantly: A Yearly Devotional for Women by Emily Wilson Hussem (Ave Maria, $16.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-64680-021-6). YouTuber Hussem leads readers on a yearlong plan with 52 reflections about noticing God, practicing gratitude, and serving others.
Oct. 6
The Light of His Presence: Prayers to Draw You Near to the Heart of God by Anne Graham Lotz (Multnomah, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-525-65117-8) Graham Lotz, a Bible teacher and daughter of Billy Graham, shares her personal prayers for fostering more intimate conversations with God.
Power of Hex: Spells, Incantations, and Rituals by Shawn Engel (Chicago Review, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-64160-448-2) encourages witches to use their power in inclusive ways as a catalyst for social change.
Blessing and the Curse: The Jewish People and Their Books in the Twentieth Century by Adam Kirsch (Norton, $40, ISBN 978-0-393-65240-6). Kirsch, an editor at the Wall Street Journal, follows up his 2016 The People and the Books with this exploration of works of 20th-century literature by renowned authors including Saul Bellow, Martin Buber, Franz Kafka, and Elie Wiesel.
Good Mourning by Theresa Caputo (HarperOne, $27.99, ISBN 978-0-06-301456-5). Caputo, star of TLC’s Long Island Medium, seeks to teach readers how to make use of daily losses, create mourning rituals, move through the pain, and begin to heal.
The Courage to Stand: Facing Your Fear without Losing Your Soul by Russell Moore (B&H, $22.99, ISBN 978-1-5359-9853-6). Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, explores the role of courage in Christianity.
Chakra Healing Therapy: Awaken Spiritual Energies and Heal Emotional Wounds by Glen Park (Destiny, $24.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-64411-049-2) seeks to teach readers to work with the chakras to heal emotional wounds, release physical tensions, explore psychic abilities, and awaken spiritual energies.
Forward: Discovering God’s Presence and Purpose in Your Tomorrow by David Jeremiah (Thomas Nelson, $26.99, ISBN 978-0-7852-2402-0). Jeremiah, founder of Turning Point ministry, warns Christians against relying on virtuous deeds and achievements or dwelling on past sins and failures.
Aftershock: Overcoming His Secret Life with Pornography: A Plan for Recovery by Joann Condie (Focus on the Family, $15.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-58997-697-9). Therapist Condie uses biblical principles to help women heal and receive restoration for themselves, their husbands, and their marriages after porn addiction or other sexual infidelities.
Modern Witch’s Handbook to Magickal Self-Care: 36 Sustainable Rituals for Nourishing Your Mind, Body, and Intuition by Tenae Stewart (Skyhorse, $16.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-5107-5431-7). Stewart guides readers through witchy self-care practices, including a bewitching bubble bath, a hex on the patriarchy, and rituals based in astrology.
Republican Jesus: How the Right Has Rewritten the Gospels by Tony Keddie (Univ. of California, $24.95, ISBN 978-0-520-35623-8). Keddie, professor of religious studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, explains right-wing distortions of Christ’s message, where they came from, what Jesus really stands for, and why the Republican cherry-picked version of Jesus is a fraud.
October 13
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Is in the Air: 101 Stories about the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Amy Newmark (Chicken Soup for the Soul, $14.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-61159-070-8) delivers 101 real-life stories to help readers get into the holiday spirit, including Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas tales and miracles.
I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion but Found My Faith by Lecrae Moore (Zondervan, $26.99, ISBN 978-0-310-35803-9). Two-time Grammy winner Lecrae shares his personal story of abuse, physical trauma, addiction, and depression, and the strong (though not always assured) faith that guides his life.
Grimoire: A Personal—and Magical—Record of Spells, Rituals, and Divinations by Arin Murphy-Hiscock (Adams Media, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-5072-1424-4) offers a place for readers to keep their witchcraft knowledge, secrets, new spells, and divinations, including design-based lunar phases and popular herbs and crystals.
Plant Spirit Reiki: Energy Healing with the Elements of Nature by Fay Johnstone (Findhorn, $16.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-64411-104-8) explores ways of channeling Reiki energy for connecting with plants and the natural world, including simple exercises and meditations.
What I Wish My Christian Friends Knew about Judaism by Robert Schoen (Stone Bridge, $16.95 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-61172-065-5) introduces readers to Judaism and Jewish life, especially Christian readers interested in the connections and differences between their faith and Judaism.
Faith, Farming, and Family: Cultivating Hope and Harvesting Joy Wherever You Are by Caitlin Henderson (WaterBrook, $22, ISBN 978-0-525-65418-6). Henderson, who is married to a farmer, writes of her life raising a family on a farm and how she’s learned to recognize God’s beauty.
Oct. 15
His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illustrated Biography by Tenzin Geyche Tethong (Interlink, $35, ISBN 978-1-62371-877-0). Tethong, a close aid to the Dalai Lama, offers readers unprecedented access to Tibetan Buddhism’s leader.
Oct. 16
Recovering Benedict: Twelve-Step Living and the Rule of Benedict by John Edward Crean (Morehouse, $14.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-64065-326-9) compiles daily meditations inspired by the wisdom of the Rule of Saint Benedict and Alcoholics Anonymous’s template for sobriety and humbleness.
Oct. 17
In Conversation: Samuel Wells and Stanley Hauerwas by Stanley Hauerwas (Church Publishing, $14.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-64065-277-4). Christian thinkers Wells and Hauerwas share thoughts on the Trinity, parish ministry, nonviolence, marriage, family, and even baseball.
Oct. 19
108 Teachings: The Path to the True Self by Keiko Aikawa Yogmata (Natus, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-58177-180-0) provides an introduction to the Himalayan wisdom tradition with concise lessons and daily meditations.
Oct. 20
Discovering the True Self: Kodo Sawaki’s Art of Zen Meditation by Kodo Sawaki, trans. by Arthur Braverman (Counterpoint, $16.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-64009-377-5), compiles the writings and sayings of Kodo Sawaki (1880–1965), a Zen master whose life bracketed the most influential period of Zen practice in Japan and America.
How Millennials Can Lead Us Out of the Mess We’re In: A Jew, a Muslim, and a Christian Share Leadership Lessons from the Life of Moses by Iqbal Unus, Mordecai Schreiber, and Ian Case Punnett (Rowman & Littlefield, $21.95, ISBN 978-1-5381-3410-8). An Israeli-born rabbi, a Pakistani-born Muslim scholar, and an ordained Midwestern American tell the story of the prophet Moses and offer lessons for readers of any faith.
Crystal Craft: How to Choose, Use, and Boost Your Crystals, with 25 Creative Projects to Display and Wear by Nicole Spink (Sterling, $19.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-4549-4177-4) teaches readers how to craft crystal-adorned home décor and jewelry, including a dream catcher, terrarium, trinket box, key ring, aura wand, and crystal elixir.
Cosmic Calendar: Using Astrology to Get in Sync with Your Best Life by Christopher Renstrom (TarcherPerigee, Oct. 20, $20 paper, ISBN 978-0-525-54108-0). Renstrom, horoscope columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, explains the “time stamp” the stars give everyone when they are born and provides insights to help readers work with the stars.
Oct. 27
Reflections on the Sunday Gospel by Pope Francis (Random House, $21, ISBN 978-0-593-23815-8). This collection offers meditative reflections from the Pope aimed at helping readers live more purposeful lives.
Reach Out, Gather In: 40 Days to Opening Your Heart and Home by Karen Ehman (Bethany, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-7642-3795-9) is part-devotional, part-plan for Christians seeking to make their homes welcoming, hospitable places.
When Rabbis Bless Congress: The Great American Story of Jewish Prayers on Capitol Hill by Howard Mortman (Cherry Orchard, $28 paper, ISBN 978-1-64469-344-5) examines Jewish prayers delivered to Congress at the opening of sessions over the past 160 years, including more than 400 rabbis giving more than 600 prayers.
Fiction
Oct. 1
The Heart of the Midwife: 4 Historical Stories by Darlene Franklin et al. (Barbour, $14.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-64352-665-2). Four midwives in the late 19th century overcome prejudices and superstitions of their profession while finding love.
Oct. 27
Truly, Madly, Deeply by Karen Kingsbury (Atria, $26, ISBN 978-1-982104-38-2). Eighteen-year-olds Tommy Baxter and Annalee Miller’s plans to marry are put on hold when Annalee falls ill. Tommy also struggles to reconcile his desires to become a police officer with his mother’s wishes for him.
