The Episcopal Booksellers Association will move its annual meeting to the Christian Product Expo (CPE), to be held September 16-18, 2012, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Since 1997 EBA has held its annual meeting at the primarily Roman Catholic RBTE (Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit), which convenes in late May-early June in St. Charles, Ill. According to EBA, the decision was based on lower costs of attending CPE (which is organized by the Munce Group), as well as access to specialized training and exposure to a wider selection of books and gifts. Although CPE has primarily served evangelical Christian booksellers--a more conservative market than EBA stores—the association stated that the change met with “enthusiastic support” from its vendor members. Some who have not previously exhibited at CPE—such as Church Publishing, Westminster John Knox, and Oxford University Press--have committed to being there; other EBA supporting vendors are already at CPE, including Wm B. Eerdmans and Ingram/Spring Arbor. “EBA will work with the Munce Group to incorporate into the show elements deemed essential to Episcopal buyers, i.e., vendors of products with sales potential in the EBA niche, events to feature authors of EBA’s selection, and an on-site Episcopal worship service,” the association stated.
Worthy Publishing’s As Good As She Imagined by Roxanna Green (Jan.) steps off into the public spotlight when the Green family will be honored during the national network telecast of the Rose Bowl Parade on Jan. 2. Roxanna Green is the mother of Christina-Taylor Green, the 9-year-old girl who was killed waiting to see Rep. Gabrielle Giffords when the congresswoman was gravely wounded at a constituent event in Tucson in January 2011. Writing with Jerry Jenkins, Green tells the story of her daughter, who was born on Sept. 11, 2001, the events of that fateful day, and how her faith has helped her deal with her daughter’s death. Other major media include: Nightline, Jan. 3; Good Morning America, Jan. 4; CNN’s Piers Morgan, Jan. 5; The View and The 700 Club, Jan. 6; The Today Show, Jan. 9. The Jan. 4 People magazine will contain book excerpts and a feature story.
Kingstone Media Group has released a free Kingstone Comics app for iPad that is available at Apple’s iTunes store. The app includes a free comic book. Kingstone publishes Christian comics and graphic novels. Elsewhere on the app front, B&H Publishing Group has developed a free Discussion Presenter app that allows people using different devices on different platforms to synch up to the same presentation simultaneously.The app makes it easy for book or small groups to follow discussion guides on their mobile devices.It works on iOS and Android platforms. And Thomas Nelson has just released an interactive children’s app for Heaven Is for Real for Kids that features narration by author Colton Burpo, voice recording capability, artwork, sound elements, FAQs, activities, and the ability to gift the app to others. It is available on Apple’s platforms.
White Cloud Press and Orbis Books have both had titles selected by The Huffington Post as among the Top 11 Religion Books for 2011. White Cloud’s I Speak for Myself: American Women on Being Muslim, edited by Maria M. Ebrahimji and Zahra T. Suratwala, took the number two spot. HuffPo religion editors noted, “Everyone has something to say about Muslim women. It was time to hear what they had to say about themselves.” Orbis Books came in at number 10 with The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone. HuffPo editors called Cone “one of the great theologians of the late 20th century [who] forces us to look hard at suffering, oppression and, ultimately, redemption.” The list also featured books from publishers such as Random House and HarperCollins; White Cloud and Orbis were the only small presses to make the list. Another White Cloud title on Muslims in America, The Muslim Next Door by Sumbul Ali-Karamali, has been selected for Silicon Valley Reads 2012, a regional community reading program tin Santa Clara County, California. The author will attend the Silicon Valley Reads 2012 Kick-Off on Wednesday, Jan. 25, and be interviewed onstage by San Jose Mercury-News columnist Mike Cassidy.
Abingdon Press’s The Triumph of Grace by Kay Marshall Strom has been selected as one of 2011’s Top Ten Inspirational Fiction titles by BookList. The Triumph of Grace is the third and final book in the historical Grace in Africa series; the second book, The Voyage of Promise, made the list in 2010. Of Kay Marshall Strom’s39 published books, seven have been book club selections, twelve have been translated into foreign languages, and one has been optioned for a movie. Her writing credits also include the Blessings in India series (Abingdon Press, 2011) and Once Blind: The Life of John Newton (Authentic, 2008).
Zondervan’s Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock has been selected for Library Journal’s Top Ten Best Books list of 2011 in the Christian Fiction category. LJ’s annual Top Ten Best Books list is decided by a consensus vote of eight book review editors. To view the complete list, go to http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/category/books/genre-fiction/christian-fiction/.
Terri Blackstock is a bestselling author who has sold six million books worldwide, according to Zondervan. She is also a winner of the Carol Award (given by the American Christian Fiction Writers) in 2010 for Intervention.
Howard author Katie Davis was named Editor’s Choice for Beliefnet’s “Most Inspiring Person of the Year. ” Davis, who is in the process of adopting 13 children in Uganda, told her story in Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption (see PW’s review http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4516-1206-6).
Signature Websites launched more than 11,000 Christian e-books, downloadable audiobooks and mobile apps on over 300 Christian retailers’ Web sites on December 5. Signature’s digital delivery system, developed in partnership with and powered by eChristian, provides digital content in all formats on retailers’ Web sites through their own secure digital library. The products also are featured in Signature’s new release, bestseller, and sale promotions, “which are proven effective in driving in-store traffic, sales and profits for Christian retailers,” according to a statement from Signature, which also states that “over 6 million unique visitors viewed 180 million product promotions
on 300 retailers’ websites as a part of the Signature Websites Network over the 12 months ending October 31, 2011.”
Patheos Press was launched December 13 by Patheos.com, a Web site for “global dialogue on religion and spirituality.” The new press will publish original e-books; the first titles include Junia Is Not Alone by Scot McKnight, a Patheos blogger; The Tebow Mystique by Patton Dodd, Patheos managing editor; and Discovering Advent by Mark D. Roberts, also a Patheos blogger. Stated Leo Brunnick, Patheos CEO, "We launched Patheos Press to allow these and other writers to share longer-form projects with the millions of readers who visit Patheos each month."
CBA, the association of Christian retailers, is holding a training event, Next 2012, Jan. 12-13, in conjunction with the AmericasMart gift show in Atlanta. According to CBA, “workshops will cover e-marketing and social media; the e-book experience in Christian stores; creating Christian community around your store; and more.” Bob Negen of WhizBang! Training will keynote the event. CBA Executive Director Curtis Riskey stated, “These workshops are not presentations but rather opportunities for retailers to engage with other retailers and ask what they’re doing with what results.” For more information on Next 2012, go to www.cbaonline.org.
ECPA|dp Book Cover Award winners were announced on Dec. 14 via a live webinar. The awards, cosponsored by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and Dickenson Press, recognize “the industry’s most effective book designs; those whose design elements most accurately reflect the title’s targeted consumer group.” On the webinar judging director Rick Hamm of Marshall Marketing outlined the process and “provided analysis of the finalist and winning covers based on criteria set by RISC consumer research relating consumer profiles and buying behavior to book design,” according to ECPA|dp. Winners in three categories included Produced by Faith (Howard), Six Ways to Keep the “Little” in Your Girl (Harvest House), and Folks, This Ain’t Normal (FaithWords). For details about the award criteria and the winning covers, go to http://www.ecpa.org/news/79341/ECPA-Announces-the-Best-Book-Covers-of-the-Year.htm
Image author Father Robert Barron was featured on NBC's Today Show on December 15, discussing his new book, Catholicism, the companion to the 10-episode documentary series that premiered September 22 and is airing on public television stations around the country. Barron hosted and wrote the series, which was produced by Mike Leonard. More than 400 people attended the New York premiere screening of Catholicism at the Times Center, with an introduction by Archbishop Timothy Dolan, on December 14. The companion book has 50,000 copies in print; it has also been issued as an enhanced e-book. For a list of air dates on PBS stations go to www.catholicismseries.com/watch/tv-schedule.
