Religion Publishing

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Religion Publishing Lynn Garrett -- 12/11/00 *Humming Along At Frankfurt Book Fair* There may not have been any superhot books or buzz-worthy deals in the religion category at this year's Frankfurt Book Fair, but the many publishers who spoke with PW reported solid rights business and ample reasons to keep coming back. Across the religion/spirituality spectrum, from Catholic or Protestant Christian houses to publishers of Eastern religion, esoterica and paganism, stands were humming with activity. Though most named Western European countries as their best markets, many publishers expressed the desire to find more Asian partners, especially in Korea. Paraclete Press CEO Lillian Miao said her small house's ecumenical titles sell best into Germany and the Netherlands, with co-editions in the U.K. Parenting books seem to be taking off in Europe, Miao noted. As Western Europeans are increasingly cut off from their religious traditions, "parents are perceiving the kids are lost" and looking for help in the bookstore. Like other U.S. Christian publishers who spoke with PW, Miao expressed surprise that Sweden has become such a good market for their books. Sune Fahlgren, theology editor for Libris Media, told PW that interest in religion books began to rise in Sweden in the 1970s, as people reacted against the state church but were "looking for other impulses that are intellectually solid." For example, books by Bill Hybels (pastor of megachurch Willow Creek in suburban Chicago) do very well in Sweden, Fahlgren said. Another country where many might expect low interest in religion books is Germany, but that is not the case. Christian houses actively sell rights into Germany, as do many other kinds of spirituality publishers. Jewish Lights publisher Stuart Matlins has sold rights to a half-dozen of its interfaith and Jewish-interest titles in Germany. Quest Books editorial director Sharron Brown Dorr told PW, "The stereotype is that Germans are more analytical and intellectual, and readers in Spain and Brazil are the opposite. But we've sold three Ken Wilbur titles into Spain and Brazil, and only one into Germany." Instead, the German publishers continue to buy meditation and feng shui titles, Dorr said, "even though they are overpublished." Llewellyn trade sales manager Rhonda Ogren noted growing interest in its Wicca titles in Germany, as well as in Russia and Brazil, and Ogren said the house would substantially expand its stand at Frankfurt to handle the business volume. Buddhist publisher Weatherhill also noted high interest in its titles in Germany, which, along with Italy, editorial director Raymond Furse named its "standbys." Calling German spirituality "hard to categorize," Donald Weiser of Samuel Weiser Inc. affirmed that the house's varied list appeals to German readers. "There are lots of esoteric bookstores here, and they are able to survive because of price controls. That's good for a specialist like us." Another specialist doing business in Germany is Californian Ford Munnerlyn, who operates a thriving theological bookstore he opened in 1987 in the central Germany town of Giessen. Theologische Fachbuchhandlung now offers 2,500 titles. "I also do a lot of special orders, and I rep books from publishers like Eerdmans, Baker and Zondervan to other bookstores and to Bible colleges here in Germany," Munnerlyn said. Discounting books is illegal in Germany, and Munnerlyn calls such government controls "both good and bad--it helps the small bookstores stay in business, but it also makes them lazy about serving customers." In a refrain U.S. booksellers will find familiar, Munnerlyn noted that although PC ownership still is lower in Germany than in the U.S., he sees increased competition from online booksellers. "Once more people figure out that's available, I don't know what's going to happen, since we can't compete by cutting our prices." U.K. Market Weakening In the U.K., Hodder & Stoughton publishing director Judith Longman characterized the market for Christian books as "weak and waning." She noted that the body-mind-spirit category--what Americans usually refer to as New Age--is "buoyant but not as much so." Sounding a somewhat more positive note was James Catford, publisher of the religious division at Harper U.K., whose current emphases are children's religion, Bibles and developing new products from the work of C.S. Lewis. A tired-looking Tony Wales, international sales director at Lion, reported having 300 meetings at the fair, but admitted to the "gentle decline" of the Christian book market in the U.K. "That's why we have to open up the general market and overseas markets," he said. While the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association section in Hall 6 did not see the volume of foot traffic enjoyed by religion publishers in Hall 8, it was the scene of back-to-back appointments for most exhibitors. ECPA v-p Kelly Gallagher told PW they were up five publishers over last year, with a total of 39 stands. Gallagher said his organization is seeing more Christian publishing start-ups worldwide, as rising democracies have stimulated entrepreneurial vitality among those newly free to publish religion books. Through its outreach organization, Evangelical Christian Publishers Overseas, the association began discussions in Frankfurt with several new potential partners in Malaysia, the former East Germany, Turkey, Croatia and Russia. ECPO currently provides seed money and expertise to Christian publishing houses in Poland (Vocacio) and Bulgaria (New Man Publishers). "Two or three Western European publishers told us here that they also want to donate to the work of ECPO," Gallagher said. New Man managing editor Roumen Papratilov, who founded the house in 1990, told PW that ECPO's support over the past two years had been "very helpful," especially to his efforts to start an association of Bulgarian Christian publishers this past June.

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Religion Publishing
Lynn Garrett -- 12/11/00
Humming Along At Frankfurt Book Fair

There may not have been any superhot books or buzz-worthy deals in the religion category at this year's Frankfurt Book Fair, but the many publishers who spoke with PW reported solid rights business and ample reasons to keep coming back. Across the religion/spirituality spectrum, from Catholic or Protestant Christian houses to publishers of Eastern religion, esoterica and paganism, stands were humming with activity. Though most named Western European countries as their best markets, many publishers expressed the desire to find more Asian partners, especially in Korea.

Paraclete Press CEO Lillian Miao said her small house's ecumenical titles sell best into Germany and the Netherlands, with co-editions in the U.K. Parenting books seem to be taking off in Europe, Miao noted. As Western Europeans are increasingly cut off from their religious traditions, "parents are perceiving the kids are lost" and looking for help in the bookstore.

Like other U.S. Christian publishers who spoke with PW, Miao expressed surprise that Sweden has become such a good market for their books. Sune Fahlgren, theology editor for Libris Media, told PW that interest in religion books began to rise in Sweden in the 1970s, as people reacted against the state church but were "looking for other impulses that are intellectually solid." For example, books by Bill Hybels (pastor of megachurch Willow Creek in suburban Chicago) do very well in Sweden, Fahlgren said.

Another country where many might expect low interest in religion books is Germany, but that is not the case. Christian houses actively sell rights into Germany, as do many other kinds of spirituality publishers. Jewish Lights publisher Stuart Matlins has sold rights to a half-dozen of its interfaith and Jewish-interest titles in Germany. Quest Books editorial director Sharron Brown Dorr told PW, "The stereotype is that Germans are more analytical and intellectual, and readers in Spain and Brazil are the opposite. But we've sold three Ken Wilbur titles into Spain and Brazil, and only one into Germany." Instead, the German publishers continue to buy meditation and feng shui titles, Dorr said, "even though they are overpublished."

Llewellyn trade sales manager Rhonda Ogren noted growing interest in its Wicca titles in Germany, as well as in Russia and Brazil, and Ogren said the house would substantially expand its stand at Frankfurt to handle the business volume. Buddhist publisher Weatherhill also noted high interest in its titles in Germany, which, along with Italy, editorial director Raymond Furse named its "standbys." Calling German spirituality "hard to categorize," Donald Weiser of Samuel Weiser Inc. affirmed that the house's varied list appeals to German readers. "There are lots of esoteric bookstores here, and they are able to survive because of price controls. That's good for a specialist like us."

Another specialist doing business in Germany is Californian Ford Munnerlyn, who operates a thriving theological bookstore he opened in 1987 in the central Germany town of Giessen. Theologische Fachbuchhandlung now offers 2,500 titles. "I also do a lot of special orders, and I rep books from publishers like Eerdmans, Baker and Zondervan to other bookstores and to Bible colleges here in Germany," Munnerlyn said. Discounting books is illegal in Germany, and Munnerlyn calls such government controls "both good and bad--it helps the small bookstores stay in business, but it also makes them lazy about serving customers." In a refrain U.S. booksellers will find familiar, Munnerlyn noted that although PC ownership still is lower in Germany than in the U.S., he sees increased competition from online booksellers. "Once more people figure out that's available, I don't know what's going to happen, since we can't compete by cutting our prices."

U.K. Market Weakening
In the U.K., Hodder & Stoughton publishing director Judith Longman characterized the market for Christian books as "weak and waning." She noted that the body-mind-spirit category--what Americans usually refer to as New Age--is "buoyant but not as much so." Sounding a somewhat more positive note was James Catford, publisher of the religious division at Harper U.K., whose current emphases are children's religion, Bibles and developing new products from the work of C.S. Lewis. A tired-looking Tony Wales, international sales director at Lion, reported having 300 meetings at the fair, but admitted to the "gentle decline" of the Christian book market in the U.K. "That's why we have to open up the general market and overseas markets," he said.

While the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association section in Hall 6 did not see the volume of foot traffic enjoyed by religion publishers in Hall 8, it was the scene of back-to-back appointments for most exhibitors. ECPA v-p Kelly Gallagher told PW they were up five publishers over last year, with a total of 39 stands.

Gallagher said his organization is seeing more Christian publishing start-ups worldwide, as rising democracies have stimulated entrepreneurial vitality among those newly free to publish religion books. Through its outreach organization, Evangelical Christian Publishers Overseas, the association began discussions in Frankfurt with several new potential partners in Malaysia, the former East Germany, Turkey, Croatia and Russia. ECPO currently provides seed money and expertise to Christian publishing houses in Poland (Vocacio) and Bulgaria (New Man Publishers). "Two or three Western European publishers told us here that they also want to donate to the work of ECPO," Gallagher said. New Man managing editor Roumen Papratilov, who founded the house in 1990, told PW that ECPO's support over the past two years had been "very helpful," especially to his efforts to start an association of Bulgarian Christian publishers this past June.