Rodale has formed a joint venture with Beliefnet Inc. to publish a minimum of 10 books, plus magazine columns and custom publications, over the next four years. The publications will be based on materials developed by Beliefnet, a media company that develops religious and spirituality content for the Web, television and books. The two companies came together earlier this fall to publish From the Ashes, a book about America's spiritual response to the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Stephanie Tade, executive editor of Rodale's general books group, will oversee the book program, which will include compilations, author-driven titles, gift books and issue-oriented books. Tade said most books will consist of original material supplemented by content from Beliefnet's Web site. "Our goal is to develop a voice on as many topics as we can," Tade said. The first title under the new publishing venture is expected out in fall 2002.
