Zondervan will publish a new biography of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the running mate chosen by Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

To be released Oct. 10, Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader by Joe Hilley will explore Palin's career in politics, her life as a hockey mom and committed Christian faith, explaining how they influence her style of leadership and aligns with the country's changing economy in the information age, Zondervan officials said.

"Regardless of your political persuasion, it is clear that Sarah Palin has quickly electrified the 2008 election and sparked a nationwide dialogue and debate," said Moe Girkins, president and CEO of Zondervan.

Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader is the second biography to be released this year about Palin, who has been called "the most talked-about woman in America" since McCain's surprised announcement.

Fairbanks, Alaska-based Epicenter Press released Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down by Kaylene Johnson in May. Ingram Publisher Services—Ingram Book Group's distribution, sales and marketing services for publishers—recently agreed to print and distribute more than 30,000 copies of a paperback version of the book.

David C. Cook Distribution Canada has announced that it has reached an agreement with CMC Distribution to sell, market and distribute all product lines held by Canada's largest Christian music distributor. Financial details of the transaction, which closed Aug. 31, weren't disclosed.

All finance, operations and customer service functions of CMC Distribution will be integrated and run from David C. Cook's facility in Paris, Ontario. Cook will maintain its current sales and marketing structure, company officials said.

In addition, Cook will create a new music and media sales and marketing division, which will be led by Steve Nicolle, CMC Distribution president and CEO. Joining Nicolle will be the sales, marketing and promotional personnel from CMC, including Tamara Schaaf, who will manage the marketing area.

"Having CMC and their talented sales and marketing staff join David C. Cook fits perfectly into our global mission of transforming lives by producing and distributing life changing resources throughout the world," said C. Ryan Dunham, senior vice president of sales and marketing for David C. Cook's global operations.

"Already having Kingsway Music out of Eastbourne, United Kingdom and distributing music product in Canada should enable us to leverage resources and consolidate operational costs in a way that is good for the whole industry," Dunham added.

CMC Distribution has been distributing Christian music and video for more than 25 years.

Mark Schultz has taken over the top spot of SoundScan's Christian/Gospel music Christian retail chart for sales the week ending Aug. 31, supplanting Third Day, which held the No. 1 spot for four consecutive weeks. Meanwhile, the inspiring women's basketball movie Believe in Me by GT Media (EMI CMG Distribution) remained atop the Christian Videos best-sellers list.

Following Schultz's expanded edition of Broken & Beautiful (Word Records/Word Distribution) are: 2. Revelation by Third Day (Essential Records/Provident-Integrity Distribution); 3. Daylight Is Coming by Remedy Drive (Word Records/Word); 4. Still by The Katinas (Universal Music Christian Group/EMI CMG); 5. Satisfied by DecembeRadio (Slanted Records/Word); 6. Relentless by Natalie Grant (Curb Records/Word); 7. Country Bluegrass Homecoming Volume One by Bill Gaither & The Homecoming Friends (Gaither Music Group/EMI CMG); 8. Country Bluegrass Homecoming Volume Two by Bill Gaither & The Homecoming Friends (Gaither Music Group/EMI CMG); 9. What If We by Brandon Heath (Reunion Records/Provident-Integrity); and 10. This Is Our God by Hillsong (Integrity Music/Provident-Integrity).

After Believe in Me, the best-selling DVDs are: 2. Tomato Sawyer & Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue, VeggieTales (Big Idea/Word); 3. Country Bluegrass Homecoming Volume One by Bill Gaither & The Homecoming Friends (Gaither Music Group/EMI CMG); 4. Country Bluegrass Homecoming Volume Two by Bill Gaither & The Homecoming Friends (Gaither Music Group/EMI CMG); 5. Lambasting the Legions of Laziness, Bibleman, "PowerSource" series (Thomas Nelson/Thomas Nelson); 6. It's Probably Just My Thyroid by Anita Renfroe (Bluebonnet Hills Music/Word); 7. LarryBoy and the Bad Apple, VeggieTales (Big Idea/Word); 8. How Great Is Our God by Louie Giglio (sixstepsrecords/EMI CMG); 9. Hermie and the High Seas, Hermie & Friends (Thomas Nelson/Thomas Nelson); and 10. Sing Along Songs and More, VeggieTales (Big Idea/Word).

The video listings, drawn from a national sample of mainstream and Christian store sales, with music listings based on sales solely at Christian stores, were produced for the Christian Music Trade Association by Nielsen SoundScan.

Expolit, the largest trade fair in the U.S. for the Spanish-language Christian literature and music world, has donated $22,000 to a children's program in Cambodia and a refugee project in Thailand.

According to officials for Editorial Unilit—the organization that coordinates the fair—offerings were taken for two Operation Mobilization missions projects during Expolit, held May 15-20: Myanmar refugees who live in the border region with Thailand and abused children in Cambodia victimized by forced prostitution. "We promised them (attendees) that Expolit would duplicate the amount collected," Expolit spokesperson Angelica Reynosa said.

The missionary projects initiative was launched after Unilit President David Ecklebarger and Unilit Vice President Luis Fernández visited Cambodia and Thailand. Expolit organizers said the fair would continue to help missions organizations in 2009.

Held annually in Miami in May, Expolit draws more than 5,000 people a day to view exhibits and attend nightly concerts.

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association is accepting online entries through Oct. 1 for its 2009 Christian Book Awards.

Submissions are accepted in six categories for entries published from December 2007 to October 2008: Bibles, Bible Reference & Study, Children & Youth, Christian Life, Fiction and Inspiration & Gift.

The book award winners will be announced as part of the publisher group's Christian Book Expo, debuting in Dallas, March 20-22 next year.

For more information, visit ecpa.org

Christian novelist Karen Harter, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer nearly four years ago, died Aug. 19, at a hospital in Mount Vernon, Wash. She was 55.

Harter's Where Mercy Flows (Center Street) won a First Novel Christy Award in 2007 and her novel, Autumn Blue (Center Street), was a finalist in the Best Inspirational Romance category of the RITA awards this year. Autumn Blue was also a finalist in the Long Contemporary category of the 2008 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year awards.

"The doctors gave her three months to live four years ago, so the only thing for her to do was write a couple of award-winning novels, help me plant a church and love everyone around her like nothing mattered," Jeff Harter, her husband of 26 years, told Christian Retailing. "It's pretty much the richest four years of my life."

The couple was founding pastors of The Valley Church in Mount Vernon. Besides her husband, Harter is survived by her three sons. For more information about Harter, visit www.KarenHarter.com

Hachette Book Group USA has announced the hiring of Pamela Clements as associate publisher of marketing for its Center Street and FaithWords imprints.

Senior Vice President of Hachette and Publisher of Center Street and FaithWords Rolf Zettersten said Clements' "expertise and industry knowledge will be key assets as we continue to grow our authors and brands in the marketplace."

Clements, who has an extensive background in the publishing industry, will focus primarily on publicity and promotions. She spent 16 years at Thomas Nelson Publishers, where she served in several executive roles.

Most recently, Clements was publisher of Nelson's General Interest & Lifestyle division, formerly Rutledge Hill Press. "Hachette Book Group has a stellar reputation in the publishing industry and I am proud to be on the team," she said.

Indiana-based gift company Dicksons has announced the promotion of Dennis Stuckwisch to vice president and chief financial officer, effective Aug. 1. Stuckwisch will provide overall strategic direction and expertise for the company's finance and accounting activities.

Stuckwisch "has exhibited an excellent sense of overall financial management in his time at Dicksons," said Jim Potts, company president. "His prior experience in accounting and money management functions set the stage for him to join Dicksons and quickly make a difference."

A certified public accountant, Stuckwisch has 29 years of experience in the finance and accounting industry.

Dicksons brands include Cross Gifts and Harbor House Witness Gifts.

Fervent Records' new singer/songwriter Francesca Battistelli's song "Behind the Scenes" was featured last night on MTV's reality show The Hills.

The song was from Battistelli's debut album My Paper Heart (Word Distribution). The special episode of The Hills aired before the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.

Sue Edwards, author of Ephesians: Finding Your Identity and Purpose in Christ (Kregel Publications), was scheduled to appear today on James and Betty Robison's Life Today program to discuss taming appetites versus deliverance.

Click here for stations and airtimes.

Faisal Malick, author of Positioned to Bless (Destiny Image Publishers), is scheduled to appear Sept. 24 on the LeSEA Broadcasting Network's The Harvest Show to discuss his latest book.