Paraclete Signs New Nellist Series, Poetry Book
Paraclete Press director Lillian Miao has secured world rights for a new series from prolific author Glenys Nellist and illustrated by Natalie Merheb. The Bedtime Blessings series includes God's Perfect Peace, God's Great Love, and God's Care. Written for children up to age five, the rhyming books explore God’s peace, love and care that wraps around them every minute. Included are blessings for parents to speak over children. Publication is slated for Winter 2025, Spring 2026, and Fall 2026. The author is unagented; the illustrator is represented by Vickie Savanella at Advocate Art, Inc.
In second Miao purchase, this one for Paraclete's Iron Pen imprint, Miao acquired world rights to The Incremental Life by poet Luci Shaw. Publication is set for April 1, 2025. The author, who represented herself, said the book is “a collection of poems reflecting on the daily ideas and activities as they arrive, bit by bit, to illuminate with their wisdom and enlarge on the meanings of human experience. This is how life happens, one day at a time, in increments.”
Baptism Picture Book to Church
Phil Marino at Church Publishing has acquired world rights to The Gift of Baptism by Roger Hutchison, illustrated by Claire Westwood. Church said the book, intended for ages 3-8, shares the mystery of the Baptismal Covenant, nurtures understanding of concepts like the Holy Trinity, and affirms childrens’ belovedness as members of God’s family. Keely Boeving of WordServe Literary represented the author and the illustrator. Publication is planned for early 2025.
Eerdmans Pays Attention to Bellm
Lisa Ann Cockrel at Eerdmans Publishing has acquired world rights to The Sacrament of Paying Attention: Contemplative Practices for Restoring Sacred Human Communion by Cameron Bellm. Bellm, a contemplative Catholic writer, draws from the work of poets, mystics, novelists, and activists to explore what it would mean to cultivate paying attention as a spiritual practice. Keely Boeving at WordServe Literary negotiated the deal, with the book to set to be published in Fall 2025.
Devotional Draws from Award-Winning Book
In an unagented deal, Brazos Press’ executive acquisitions editor Robert Hosack has negotiated a world rights agreement with Kelly M. Kapic for the tentatively titled The Gift of Being Human, to be released in Summer 2025. The book is a 40-day devotional drawn from his award-winning You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News (Brazos, 2022). Kapic is professor of theological studies at Covenant College in Georgia and a prolific author.
Brazos Takes Scripture Rediscovery
Brazos Press editorial director Katelyn Beaty has acquired world rights to Zach W. Lambert's tentatively-titled Better Ways to Read the Bible. Lambert, a lead pastor and community activist in Austin, Tex., offers four lenses for reading Scripture to help people wounded by harsh and legalistic church leaders rediscover the goodness and life-giving power of the Christian story. Jonathan Merritt with the Christopher Ferebee Agency negotiated the deal. A summer 2025 publication is planned.
