-
Max Lucado Signs New Three-Book Contract with Thomas Nelson
Thomas Nelson and bestselling author Max Lucado have a signed a new three-book, nonexclusive contract. The first title will release in fall 2013; others will follow over the next five years. Thomas Nelson also will publish ancillary products for the children’s, gift, and curriculum markets.
-
Zondervan Signs Tutu for New Children's Book
Zondervan has signed Nobel Peace Prize-winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu to collaborate with bestselling author and illustrator Nancy Tillman to produce a picture book telling the creation story from Tutu’s Children of God Storybook Bible, which he published with Zondervan in 2010. Tillman will illustrate Tutu’s narrative. Zondervan holds world rights and plans to release the book in spring 2014.
-
'Nearing Home' Named Christian Book of the Year
Nearing Home by Billy Graham (Thomas Nelson) has been named 2012 Christian Book of the Year by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).
-
Faith and Writing Fest Blooms Again in Michigan
As tulips and redbuds blossomed, close to 2,000 people--publishers, authors, students, editors, book lovers--came together April 19-21 for the biannual Festival of Faith and Writing on the campus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., the festival’s permanent home. Marilynne Robinson (pictured), Jonathan Safran Foer, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie closed each of the festival days with evening plenary addresses, and 120 daytime sessions featured more than 100 writers discussing themes, techniques, and business.
-
Editor’s Note
Last week people who care about books and portrayals of faith in them gathered in Michigan to listen to some of today’s top authors, whose books wouldn’t be labeled “religion,” but who nonetheless treat its timeless themes in their writing. This bounty is only offered every other year, and fans of the Festival of Faith and Writing, held at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, look forward to it eagerly, not only for the chance to hear authors speak, but also for the opportunity to gather with others who share their passion for books and expressions of faith in them. The scaffold of beliefs—whether religious or antireligious--that underlies the human experience yields richness to which authors will always return, no matter how attitudes toward religion may evolve.
-
Catholic Publishers Celebrate a Century of Service
Two Catholic publishers are marking their 100th birthdays in 2012. Our Sunday Visitor, the Indiana-based publisher of Catholic books, Bibles, a weekly newspaper, and church resources celebrates its anniversary with a slate of events beginning next month. Chicago-based Loyola Press also turns 100 this year. Though Loyola is not planning any events, it has marked the milestone by commissioning an original portrait of St. Ignatius Loyola, who founded the Society of Jesus in 1540, and by publishing a book that seeks to make the saint more accessible for contemporary Catholics.
-
May 2012 Christian Bestsellers: Adult, Children’s, Young Adult, Bibles
Peretti’s Illusion cracks the top ten; another winner from Joyce Meyer; a new Kingsbury tops the paperback list; Not a Fan charts in paper now; reappearances for Brunstetter and Lewis. For kids, an Easter Bible from Thomas Nelson does well; Melody Carlson’s 2008 Easter book makes the list. In Bibles, The Story holds on to #1; American Bible Society’s value Bible debuts at #5.
-
Religion in Review: April 2012
Reimagining Christian symbols for the postmodern age; the neuropsychology of enlightenment; critiquing partisan politics in the church; limning the difference between Islam and Islamism; celebrating Why Catholicism Matters; spiritual lessons from 44 shamans. For children, the inspiring story of Martín de Porres; in YA fiction, a tale of two sisters; a boy makes a friend who sees demons. Sneak Peeks from the May 14 PW: a moving account of a beloved man; predicting the Implosion of America; stars for a lively commentary on the Book of Ruth and for a sharp examination of morality in an antimoral world; plus a Web Exclusive review of a look at Buddhism’s influence in the post-war era.
-
Short Takes
A new imprint for progressive Christian books; the first faith-based e-book on Jeremy Lin releases; Swedenborg names its third Bridge Book Awards winners; an award for best faith-based Web site is open for nominations; Eerdmans wins awards from the Academy of Parish Clergy; a new DVD series on the history of American Christianity features top scholar/authors; the Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Awards are announced; a Tyndale author urges seminary leaders to teach environmental awareness; B&H hires two marketing strategists; a Harvest House veteran announces his retirement.
-
Jonathan Merritt: Taking the Politics Out of Church
Jonathan Merritt grew up in the inner sanctum of the religious right. With a father (James Merritt) who held the presidency of the 16-million-member Southern Baptist Convention, the author got to know political power brokers such as Jerry Falwell from a young age. Yet rather than reap the spoils of his A-list connections, he’s taken them to task in A Faith of Our Own: Following Jesus Beyond the Culture Wars, lamenting how in his view churches, on the right and left alike, have been corrupted by embracing partisan politics. Merritt prescribes a more hands-off approach that puts spiritual and moral concerns ahead of partisan ones.
-
Ann Voskamp: Farm Wife and Publishing Phenom
Ann Voskamp has six children; 600 acres in rural Ontario, Canada; 1,000 piglets she and her farmer husband raise; and a book that has sold 450,000 copies. One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are (Zondervan, 2011) is her first book. Voskamp’s own story may be at least as compelling as her book, a series of poetic reflections on her life, beginning with painful memories of the death of her young sister and ending in Paris in grateful communion with God.
-
Mommies, Dear: for Mother’s Day, a Bouquet of Books
You’ve heard of soccer moms and tiger moms. Meet Writing Moms and their new books, in case you’re stuck for an idea for the mother(s) in your life or in case you think you’re the only mom screaming and running after her kid with a wooden spoon. There's counsel for realistic parenting and a careful choice of battles; reflections on finding the right daily rhythm; stories of a complicated family; and a program to teach kids basic life skills, delivered with humor.
-
It Is Written: News in Bibles and Sacred Texts
Our Sunday Visitor is publishing its own Bible for the first time; it had previously published Bibles only in partnerships. The OSV New American Bible Revised Edition releases in November. Also in November, OSV is publishing the Saints Devotional Bible, edited by Bert Ghezzi. The Torah: A Beginner’s Guide by Joel S. Kaminsky and Joel N. Lohr (OneWorld, Nov. 2011) is among the newest titles in the Beginners Guide series from the publisher. It provides an entry-level approach to study and appreciation of the first five books of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. The U.K. publisher’s books are distributed in the U.S. by NBN.
-
Thomas Nelson Sees Sales Bump on Blue Like Jazz Movie Opening
The movie based on the bestselling book Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller (Thomas Nelson, 2003) opened April 13 in 55 cities. Said Brian Hampton, senior v-p and publisher for the nonfiction trade group at Thomas Nelson, “We’ve been tracking sales overall and regionally since the movie premiered. We are seeing significant sales increases on the original trade paperback and the movie edition, which released prior to the movie opening. Overall, we've seen a 75% increase.”
-
Chuck Colson, 1931-2012
Watergate figure, prison minister, and author Chuck Colson died Saturday (April 21) at the age of 80. Colson became infamous as a creator of “dirty tricks” for Richard Nixon and for his role on the Committee to Re-elect the President as it put in motion actions that led to the burglary of the Democratic National Committee offices in 1972, and eventually to Nixon's resignation in August 1974. Before going to prison Colson became a born-again Christian; despite skepticism of the sincerity of his conversion, he went on to found Prison Fellowship and to write more than 20 books.
-
Dalai Lama Wins Templeton Prize
The Dalai Lama has been awarded the 2012 Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion. Formal presentation of the prize will take place May 14 at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
-
Editor’s Note
Thank God for libraries—that’s what religion publishers are saying these days, as places for readers to encounter their books have narrowed. Library sales are important in and of themselves, but libraries also are key places for readers to discover authors and their books (sometimes with the help of a knowledgeable librarian), and when they like what they read, they often decide to buy. That’s why the library conferences—PLA, ALA, and the many regional meetings—have drawn religion houses as exhibitors. In tough times, library patronage is up, and it seems even book lovers on a budget will find a way to the books they enjoy.
-
It Is Written: News in Bibles and Sacred Texts
A Qur’an devotional from Kube; a new verse translation of The Bhagavad Gita from Norton; Nelson releases the complete The Voice Bible; Searchlight Press publishes another volume in its Latin Testament Project; The Action Bible New Testament is now out in paperback.
-
Short Takes
Moses up as sales director at Harvest House; eChristian promotes Paschall to sales manager of eC Publishing Group; Humanist Press is focusing on e-books; Nelson and World Vision gather $540,000 in aid to Africa; Charisma House launches Passio imprint; Tyndale House forms Tyndale Momentum.
-
April 2012 Christian Bestsellers: Adult, Children’s/YA, and Bibles
A new face from WaterBrook/Multnomah at #10 in hardcovers; a 2009 Sarah Young title makes the list; The Vow debuts at #2 on the paperback list; new fiction from Terri Blackstock at #9; Heaven Is for Real for Kids cracks the top ten in children’s, but Zondervan takes half the spots; Crossway makes the Bibles list at #4, The Story holds onto the top spot; the NIrV for Early Readers debuts at #6.
Browse archive by date:
