Religion Publishing Update Fall 2014: Biblical Scholarship - Old Characters, Fresh Readings

There’s a scene early in the recent film Noah in which Noah plants a seed from the garden of Eden. It sprouts and spreads into a lush and glorious forest as quickly as critics scrambled to find biblical precedent.

The Stories Keep Coming: PW Talks with Lauraine Snelling

Novelist Lauraine Snelling has authored 80 books since she began her writing career in 1982, has more than two million books in print, and has just published the first in her fifth historical series set among Norwegian immigrants to North Dakota, where her mother was born and raised: “Strong women are my forte.”

HCCP Takes Majority Ownership of Thomas Nelson Brasil

HarperCollins Christian Publishing has acquired an 85% stake in Thomas Nelson Brasil (TNB) from Rio-based Ediouro Group, its joint venture partner in creating TBN in 2006.

Howard Books Signs 'Shack' Author to New Deal

Howard Books, the Christian imprint of Simon & Schuster, will publish two new books by William Paul Young, author of the bestseller 'The Shack.'

Hybrid Publishing Is Hot at Christian Fiction Conference

In a year in which four publishers closed, paused, or slimmed down their fiction lists, members of the American Christian Fiction Writers held their annual conference Sept. 25-27 in St. Louis to honor their best, talk shop, and see who was still standing, though all agreed there are still opportunities for growth. The buzz this year was about “hybrid” authors, publishing via some mix of digital, indie, and traditional means.

Chicago Is Sweet Home for Religion Publishers

Chicago and its suburbs are home to a number of religion publishers, the result of migration patterns, the city’s historic role as a transportation hub and center for printing, and a high concentration of Christian colleges and seminaries.

Short Takes: Religion Publishing News Briefs, September 24, 2014

Name change for Logos; new TV program features Kregel author; Chalice forges partnership with ministry organization.

Publishing Vet Builds His Own Cathedral, One Rock at a Time: Bill Henderson

Bill Henderson, founder of Pushcart Press and recipient of the National Book Critics Circle’s Lifetime Achievement Award, tells the story of “an aging man who builds a holy place in his backyard” in his new book. The memoir features bugs, cancer, spiritual wavering, and rocks. Lots of rocks.

Religion On-Sale Calendar: October 2014

New books from Max Lucado and Rob Bell are among big October titles from religion publishers.

Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, September 24, 2014

A dying woman writes a book about life's end; a psychotherapist explores the untapped power of the will.

The High Holy Days: New Books Take Fresh Approaches

Readers with introspective and questing spirits have three new books for the Jewish High Holy Days--beginning with Rosh HaShanah at sundown on September 24--offering poetry, alternative liturgies, theological essays, and thoughtful explorations of Jewish identity.

The Quest for Manhood: PW Talks with John and Sam Eldredge

Father and son John and Sam Eldredge talked about everything in weekly conversations after Sam graduated from college. These talks with his father eased Sam's transition to manhood, and now they are captured in a book for the benefit of other young men.

Short Takes: Religion Publishing News Briefs, Sept. 10, 2014

American Academy of Religion recognizes excellence in scholarship; another big hit for Lysa TerKeurst.

Religion Books of Note, September 2014

A powerful debut memoir of grief and the Buddha's guide to office politics are among the notable religion books publishing in September.

Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, September 10, 2014

Joel Osteen offers more encouragement in his newest book; James Carroll explores the meaning of Jesus for today.

Philip Gulley: From Harmony to Hope

Philip Gulley wrote nine novels featuring Quaker pastor Sam Gardner in his popular Harmony series. Gulley's latest book kicks off a new series that follows Pastor Sam as he heads to a tiny church in another small fictional town in Indiana called Hope.

High-Profile Authors Offer Marriage Advice

Pastors and their wives, and a former baseball star and his spouse, take a swing at marriage advice in several new books.

B&H Kids Acquires 90 Titles from Standard Publishing

Children’s religion publisher B&H Kids has acquired 90 children’s titles from Standard Publishing, including works by such popular authors as Sally Lloyd Jones and Andy Holmes. The deal also covers series like My Goodnight Bible and The Young Reader’s Bible.

Restoring the Whole Bible: PW Talks with Joel Hoffman

In ‘The Bible’s Cutting Room Floor,’ Joel Hoffman makes accessible the books left out of the Bible as we know it today, showing how they can enlighten reading of the Bible and be the source of surprising insight into modern lives.

Religion Update 2014: Books in Brief