New Leaf Publishing Group, a family-owned Christian book publisher based in Green Forest, Ark., has been sold to a group of investors. The press, which focuses on homeschool curriculum as well as trade books, publishes around 30 books a year through the Master Books, Attic Books, and New Leaf Press imprints.
Owners Tim Dudley, who served as CEO, and his sister Lydia Matthews decided to sell the company as part of an effort to “expand its reach to more students, families, and individuals,” according to a press release. Dudley is part of the new investor group and remains on the board, while Jerrod Vaughan has been appointed CEO. Randy Pratt remains president of the company.
Speaking to PW, Vaughan says there are no immediate plans or specific changes in mind for operations at New Leaf, and that the new owners will maintain New Leaf’s core mission. “Our primary focus is providing high-quality, biblically-focused curriculum and trade publications for our customers,” he says. “The new ownership is committed to investing in the company in order to accelerate NLPG’s growth and expand its kingdom impact.”
New Leaf has an active backlist of approximately 700 titles by authors such as creationist Ken Ham, the late theologian Dr. Henry M. Morris, evangelist Ray Comfort, and more. In 2012, the press expanded to include homeschool curriculum featuring Biblical apologetics, intended for preschool classrooms through high school. Today, curriculum accounts for 70% of books published, with 30% being trade publications.
