‘Organic’ Christian fiction:
As her third novel, Act Two (David C. Cook), releases author Kimberly Stuart says she is “a Christian who writes, rather than a writer of Christian fiction. It's not an issue of dragging Christianity in. It's an organic part of the story. If it fits, it does. If not, it feels forced and preachy." The Des Moines Register

Reprieve for Toronto store
Once earmarked for closure, the Anglican Book Centre in Toronto now looks like a viable operation for the future, according to its new manager, the Lutheran publisher and retailer Augsburg Fortress.The (Toronto, Ont.) Anglican Journal

Oliver North book signing
Lt. Colonel Oliver North, USMC (Ret.) signs his latest book, American Heroes In The Fight Against Radical Islam (B&H Publishing) at the Lifeway Christian Store in Bowling Green, Ky. WYKN (Bowling Green, Ky.) News

Music, ministry and manuscripts
Wife of pastor Brian Coumeaux and Minister of Music at Victory Christian Center in Houma, La., Kim Coumeaux is also the author of 13 books of inspirational historical fiction with Barbour Publishing.The (New Orleans, La.) Times-Picayune

‘More than just rosaries’
Sharon Woloszyn, manager of the Inspirational gift Shoppe run by Immaculate Conception Church in Ithaca, N.Y., says that the store is “more than just rosaries and Bibles … We cater to the spiritual side.” The Ithaca (N.Y.) Journal

‘God thing’ saves store
The Vineyard Christian Bookstore and Coffee Shop in Beaver Dam, Wisc., seemed set to close after seven years on owners’ David and Merry Larkin’s retirement until “a God thing” led Pat Davis, a local music teacher, to take it over. The (Beaver Dam, Wisc.) Daily Citizen

New sports-themed Christian tees
Tara Gibson of Port Orange, Fla., “is betting on Tsidkenu Sports, a brand of T-shirts that she sells, someday joining the ranks of favorites… among Christian athletes.” The Daytona-Beach (Fla.) News-Journal

Internet retail buyout
Peabody, Mass.-based Christianbook.com purchases DiscountChristian.com, an Internet retailer from California. The Salem (Mass.) News

Marketing expert shares insights
Pam Perry, a marketing expert in the African-American Christian market, is to speak on using non-traditional media like blogs and social networking sites to get messages out, at the Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism in San Juan, Porto Rico, May 15-19. South Florida Caribbean News.com

Store manages to stay afloat
For LeRoy and Vicki Cramer, co-owners of Good Shepherd Christian Books and Gifts in Bluffton, Ind., the biggest accomplishment of the last year has been “making the necessary changes to cut expenses so that we could remain in business.” The (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Gazette