Christian Retailing

Making waves in the mainstream Print Email
Written by Lindsay Williams   
Thursday, 05 September 2013 04:03 PM America/New_York

Christian artists seeing favor on the national stage offer retailers an opportunity

Thousands of fans will flood large arenas on the West Coast this January. When the lights go down and the smoke makes its way to the rafters, raucous applause and cheers will fill up domes where professional athletes scored victories only the night before. But it won’t be U2 or Coldplay taking the stage. The applause will be for Christian artists and the cheers will be directed to the One it’s all for as the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular heads out on its annual three-month trek.

For the past three years, the popular multi-artist tour has topped Pollstar’s Top 100 Tours chart, meaning it’s the largest first-quarter tour of any genre in the world. This year alone, Winter Jam saw a record-setting 42 sellouts, hitting 44 of the country’s largest arenas and playing to a combined total audience of nearly 554,000 people. Pepsi will serve as the tour’s leading sponsor in 2014.

MandisaRobinTobyIn the past 13 months, two Christian releases have topped the Billboard all-genre charts: TobyMac’s Eye On It  (ForeFront) and Chris Tomlin’s Burning Lights (sixstepsrecords). When Eye On It became the best-selling album in the country the week of Sept. 5, 2012, it was the first time a Christian album had hit No. 1 on the all-genre chart in 15 years and only the third time in history.

In the last year alone, Matthew West appeared on Katie; For King & Country made its late-night debut on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Skillet rocked on Conan; Mandisa performed three times on Good Morning America; and Jamie Grace, TobyMac and Amy Grant were all featured on The View.

matthew_west-0362_PR2The lines are blurring, and Christian music is no longer confined to the walls of the church. Rather, it is going head-to-head with mainstream music, shattering walls, defying naysayers and testing limits. A variety of factors come into play, but perhaps the most obvious is the fact that today’s Christian music is equally as good sonically as anything in secular music. 

For a genre that’s always been defined by lyrical content versus sound, it’s also important to note that Christian artists are now singing about all aspects of life, making their songs more universal, all while writing from a Christian perspective. A song that tells a good story has the ability to make a connection regardless of the belief system of the listener. At the end of the day, a good story is a good story. Good art is good art. Christian artists are telling stories people want to hear and creating art that’s resonating with a broadening audience—and mainstream culture is taking notice.

 

THE PITCH

It’s important for Christian retailers to pay attention to when and where Christian music is popping up in the mainstream. If something is labeled “Christian,” even non-believers are looking to the Christian subculture to provide product, both online and in store. High-profile public relations has become the new gateway to mainstream audiences. Retailers need to pay attention to where the music they sell in their stores is appearing, whether in a highly circulated magazine or newspaper, on a morning news program, in a popular television show or in the credits of an upcoming film. While there’s not always a direct correlation between publicity and sales, it definitely presents an opportunity for increased sell-through, and retailers should be ready.

“Morning TV still tends to be where sales increase following appearances,” said Velvet Kelm, owner of the boutique PR firm The Media Collective, which reps some of the biggest acts in Christian music, including MercyMe, Skillet, Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Tomlin and TobyMac. “Sometimes you don’t see any movement at all, but I do believe it impacts the overall perception [and] image of an artist and drives further media interest even if the sales do not immediately follow.”

As publicists look for opportunities to “pitch” their Christian clients to the media, it’s important to align artists with outlets that are natural fits. Sometimes, it’s the artist’s story that grabs the attention of media gatekeepers, but other times, it’s an artist’s sales history. 

Bozeman Media represents a roster of Christian artists ranging from Aaron Shust and Jason Gray to Building 429 and Montell Jordan. Owner and veteran publicist Janet Bozeman said her pitching approach looks different for every artist and every media outlet.

“If it’s one of the late-night music shows, the music would have to be a fit for the program with strong sales and Billboard chart numbers playing a big factor in a booking decision,” Bozeman said. “If you’re looking at more of a talk program or a mainstream magazine, then the story angle will play a bigger role, but the editors [and] bookers will still need to know the artist has had good success in the marketplace. The mainstream outlets are looking to drive up numbers just like we are on the music side.”

While it’s a mix of numbers and connecting points, an overarching narrative is always going to be a significant factor. That’s why it’s important for retailers to know the stories behind the albums they’re selling and the artists they’re representing. 

For Matthew West, who was recently interviewed by Katie Couric, West’s song “Forgiveness” has resonated with listeners because it’s based on a true story about a woman whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver. Years later, while the driver was in prison for taking a life in the accident, the mother visited him, told him she forgave him and actually appealed his sentence, cutting it in half. The powerful real-life story behind the song struck a chord and became an attractive selling point for the bookers at Katie.

“From the beginning of our discussions, they loved the story behind ‘Forgiveness’ and wanted to find a way to make it work in the show,” Kelm said. “Ultimately, they also loved how Matthew has told so many people’s stories in song. They even had him write an in-depth blog on Katie’s site about this song and the process of making The Story of Your Life and Into the Light.”

Skillet-CREDIT_ReidRollsFor other artists, like Switchfoot and Needtobreathe, the fact that they are making waves in two markets is a compelling story in and of itself. Skillet also has seen success in dual markets. When handling a crossover act, Zach Kelm, owner of Q Management, which represents rock acts Skillet, Decyfer Down and We As Human, contends the best way to reach consumers is to meet them where they are instead of asking them to come to you. 

“You want to market where those audiences live (where they spend their time, buy their music, get news and info, communicate with their peers, etc.), and, therefore, you have to point your marketing where it will be effective,” he said.

Bozeman admits it’s a delicate balance attempting to juggle aspects of faith with the aims of mainstream media outlets. She asserts that an artist’s faith is what cements them in the Christian genre in the first place, but that there are many ways of telling the same story depending on the audience. 

“For mainstream media, I never hide the fact that it’s a Christian artist, but you can’t use ‘Christianese’ terms in your pitch,” she said. “You have to relate to that booker/editor and speak at their level, while at the same time not compromising the integrity of an artist’s ministry.”

Zach Kelm adds that mainstream gatekeepers are always surprised by the loyalty and passion of Christian music fans, an important differentiating factor. 

“Because our artists can have large fan bases without having all of the drivers that mainstream artists normally get to attain the same number of fans, it instills a level of loyalty and passion,” he explained. “In turn, that level of passion for an artist is an attractive selling point of our genre to the mainstream culture and its gatekeepers.”

 

The Opportunity

While Christian artists are becoming more accepted by mainstream culture due to compelling stories and loyal fan bases, social media has also changed the landscape for artists. 

“We are all connected like never before, which brings about unique opportunities,” Q Management’s Kelm said. “If an artist or song strikes a chord, it can get exposure and traction in a variety of ways versus in the past where it could only really succeed if it garnered crossover radio [success].”

In addition to high-profile PR, intentional social media efforts and traditional methods like touring, advertising and radio impressions, artists have more opportunities for film and television placement than ever before. Songs from The Afters, Britt Nicole, TobyMac and Francesca Battistelli have all recently been used in commercials, TV promos and shows, and movies. 

John J. Thompson, director of creative and copyright development at Capitol Christian Music Group, said Christian music has become a positive option for music supervisors. 

“The gates have significantly opened for Christian artists over the last decade because music supervisors have discovered that it’s not all Bible study material,” Thompson said. “In many ways, faith-based music is the best choice for supervisors because there are no profanity issues, the music tends to be uplifting, and there are rarely samples that need to be cleared.”

Thompson also observed that the abundant number of options for awareness and placement today can be a detriment. Consumers are overwhelmed by information, making it hard to grab their attention. However, in the end, marketing and publicity efforts converge to create an overall brand—which translates into sales.

“It’s best to think of sync placements as part of the process of generating awareness, and not a slam-dunk victory in and of themselves,” Thompson said. “The public’s attention is so fragmented there is almost no show or film that everyone sees. But especially in the case of developing new artists, the extra exposure can be very helpful.”

NeedToBreathe-CREDIT_EricRyanAndersonOne media appearance is a win, but every foray into the mainstream is a building block. Case in point: Needtobreathe. In 2011, Taylor Swift, arguably the most popular artist in today’s contemporary music scene, personally asked Needtobreathe to open for her on her record-setting Speak Now tour—simply because she was a fan. That high-profile slot catapulted the under-the-radar band into the spotlight and onto late-night television. The rock band, which has been named the Gospel Music Association’s Group of the Year multiple times and garnered a string of hits at Christian radio, made the late-night rounds, performing on Leno, Letterman, Fallon and Conan.

“Multiple appearances have the impact to really reach people,” said Bozeman. “Before long, I think the music will start to resonate with people new to Christian music since the music is as good as anything in the mainstream world, while at the same time it offers comfort and support with the lyrics.”

 

The Open Door

As long as the content is faith-based, there will always be a barrier of some sort between mainstream and Christian music. The topics and perspectives of Christian music can be, at times, controversial to a non-believing audience, and generally speaking, secular gatekeepers have an obligation to ruffle as few feathers as possible when booking talent. It’s not a perfect science, but the tide is turning in favor of faith-based artists.

“I definitely feel it’s opening up more for Christian acts than when I first started working in the Christian music industry 13 years ago, but it’s still not happening as quickly as I would like to see it happen,” Bozeman said. “The most hopeful trend I have seen is when Christian artists have multiple mainstream interviews/appearances, as that’s when an artist has truly broken through on the mainstream side.”

Logos Bookstore Music Buyer Mike Hawver, of Kent, Ohio, maintains that lyrical content drives mainstream exposure. He poses the insightful question: “Do you think the mainstream is truly becoming more accepting of Christian music/artists or just those songs/artists that don’t necessarily talk about Christianity?” 

While songs with universal topics or veiled references to faith might have a better chance at mainstream success, it’s not just the “crossover” acts garnering attention. 

JamieGraceChris Tomlin was lauded by TIME magazine as “most likely the most often sung artist anywhere.” Jamie Grace appeared on The View because hosts Sherri Shepherd and Elizabeth Hasselbeck were fans of her song “Hold Me.” President Obama took it upon himself to ask Natalie Grant to sing at the White House because of her advocacy work for human trafficking. The reasons for opportunities vary, but the reality is the same. 

“The same opportunities have existed for Christian retail for years, and we’ve taken advantage of them,” Hawver said. “We’ll continue to love people as they come into our doors for the first time and to point them toward a CD or book that will help them in a relationship with God.”

The playing field is leveling. Culture is taking notice of Christian music, and the best thing Christian retailers can do is seize every moment. Although increasing sales is the end goal, it’s also important to realize retailers have the chance to be a cheerleader for this genre of music. The opportunity for Christian retailers remains—to be a beacon of light in their community. 

 

How Christian retailers can turn mainstream attention into sales

With more Christian artists popping up in the mainstream, it presents key opportunities for retailers. Here are a few tips to keep in mind in regard to your music section:

Pay attention. Make sure your store’s music buyer is receiving press releases from music labels. Be aware of when and where Christian artists are featured in mainstream media. Do your homework. Read articles online. Watch television appearances. Seek out the magazines and newspapers where Christian artists are interviewed. Learn as much as you can.

Champion Christian music. With every media appearance, you have a chance to support Christian music in your community. Is a Christian artist featured in your local paper? Cut out the article, and hang it on a bulletin board near the music section so your customers can see it. Has an artist been featured on a high-profile news show? Feature the interview and/or performance on a loop beside a display of their CDs. Get creative.

Become an expert. More than just selling music and knowing the release dates of popular albums, have a few key people on your staff who are passionate about music and who can do more than just sell an album. Choose some key support staff who can provide background on the various artists represented in your store. Be the place consumers come to learn about Christian music, not just purchase it.

Be prepared when opportunity knocks. To maximize opportunities surrounding high-profile publicity, be sure you have ordered the right amount of stock and consider placing the featured artist in a high-traffic location. Make customers aware of the reason you’re featuring the artist. Create a sign that says, “As Featured on The Tonight Show on Wednesday Night” Have a stack of magazine and newspaper clippings on a table near the display that lauds the featured band.

Act as an “entry point” for non-Christians. If a non-Christian is intrigued by the music, there’s a possibility that if they find out it’s a Christian artist, they will come to your store looking for the product. This is a great way to invite new traffic into your store, and to introduce people to Christ. While it’s true that many non-believers would likely first go to a mass retail chain, quantity may not be as readily available in that chain’s Christian/gospel section. That’s where you come in. Never underestimate the ways customers find your store, and be ready to offer them quality, friendly assistance when they come. You never know when you might be someone’s first example of Christ.

 
By the Book: Scholarly titles reach more than the academy Print Email
Written by Ken Walker   
Thursday, 05 September 2013 03:59 PM America/New_York

BakerAcademic-BonhoefferTheAssassinBooks that are ‘built to last’ have enduring value to many a thoughtful Christian reader

Eric Metaxas’ 2010 biography, Bonhoeffer, packed an unexpected sales punch for publisher Thomas Nelson. reaching New York Times best-seller status. Now, an October scholarly release on the legendary Dietrich Bonhoeffer likely will create retail interest beyond academic circles.

The reason: Bonhoeffer the Assassin? (Baker Academic/Baker Publishing Group) challenges the widely held view that the German theologian participated in a plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler. 

“As the authors show, it is difficult to believe that Bonhoeffer would so quickly abandon his ethic of peacemaking demonstrated throughout his writing,” said Bryan Dyer, marketing manager for Baker Academic and Brazos Press. “The book is a needed corrective to a prevalent notion in the increasing popularity of this significant Christian figure.”

IVP-TheLostWorldOfScriptureThe book’s three authors— Mark Thiessen Nation, Anthony G. Siegrist and Daniel P. Umbel—don’t subscribe to the conspiracy view, but rather argue that Bonhoeffer maintained his commitment to peacemaking until he was put to death by hanging about three weeks before the end of World War II.

The Baker title will be followed next month by The Bonhoeffer Reader, a collection of Bonhoeffer’s theological writings. The title is from Fortress Press, part of Lutheran publisher Augsburg Fortress.

Gavin Stephens of Westminster John Knox Press (WJK) isn’t surprised by the recent proliferation of titles on Bonhoeffer, saying the increase “should help people see what a rich and complicated thinker he was.”

Not only does this interest demonstrate how scholarly inquiry can branch into wider circles, but Jeff Crosby, executive director of sales and marketing for InterVarsity Press (IVP), said reference materials possess considerable backlist potential. Crosby said it is not uncommon for second-year net unit figures for IVP Academic titles to be as high or higher than IVP’s trade books.

Moody-TheMoodyBibleCommentary“That results from it taking a bit longer to be recognized among the members of the academy, to garner peer reviews in key journals and to be adopted by professors,” Crosby said. 

“Some of the textbooks are slow out of the gate,” agreed Stephens, WJK’s sales and marketing director. “They reach sales momentum when they make it to the backlist. Other books—particularly big-idea monographs—can reach higher numbers in their first year.”

Chris Reese, a freelance writer and editor with Moody Publishers, sees a budding community of Christians outside academia who also are interested in apologetics. One of Moody’s forthcoming titles that illustrates that is The Soul: How We Know It’s Real and Why it Matters by J.P. Moreland, releasing in March 2014.

Some trade titles that may cross over into academic are How to Talk to a Skeptic by Donald Johnson (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group, October); Big Bang Big God by British scientist Rodney Holder (Lion Books, Nov. 1); and iGods by Craig Detweiler (Brazos Press/Baker Publishing Group, November).

Zondervan-TheStoryOfGod“Their numbers and interest have grown in large part in response to the writings and media influence of the ‘new atheists,’ ” Reese said. “These kinds of books are more important than ever as Christians interact with ‘religious nones’ who have no background in the Christian faith.”

 

INTERPRETING GOD’S WORD

In an effort to help believers “rightly divide” the Scriptures, biblical explorations and expositions represent a mainstay of this genre, with numerous titles hitting the market this fall. 

Among these releases are The Psalms by Andrew Schmutzer and David Howard Jr. (Moody, October); The Old Testament is Dying by Brent Strawn (Baker Academic, October); and Feasting on the Gospels—Matthew edited by Cynthia Jarvis and Elizabeth Johnson (WJK Press, Volume 1, November; Volume 2, December). Other November releases are Biographical Bible by Ruth Tucker (Baker Books/Baker Publishing Group) and Visions of the Apocalypse by Bruce Chilton (Baylor University Press).

This month Zondervan will release the first two of its 43-volume “The Story of God Bible Commentary” series, which launches with two installments, The Sermon on the Mount by Scot McKnight and Philippians by Lynn Cohick. McKnight and Tremper Longman are general editors of the series, which will span a decade.

Barbour Publishing will release a pair of Bible resources during the first quarter of 2014: Navigating the Bible by Christopher Hudson (February) and The Complete Bible Companion (March), an updated volume of study helps, one-year reading plans and other tools. Other forthcoming titles are 100 Tough Questions About God and the Bible by Stephen Miller (Bethany House, April) and The Moody Bible Commentary written by the faculty of Moody Bible Institute and edited by Michael Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (February)—a commentary five years in the making.

IVP Academic has two November releases that review the nature of evangelical biblical interpretation, The Lost World of Scripture by John Walton and The Future of Bible Interpretation by Stanley Porter and Matthew Malcolm. 

B&H Academic, an imprint of B&H Publishing Group, has a pair of November resources planned as well. Illustrated Bible Survey by Ed Hinson and Elmer Towns includes introductions to 66 books, photos, maps, charts and other study aids. An Introduction to Biblical Ethics by David Jones explains the nature, relevancy and structure of moral law as revealed in Scripture.

Those volumes follow October’s release of a revised edition of Theology of the Reformers by seminary dean Timothy George and The Anabaptists and Contemporary Baptists by theology professor Malcolm Yarnell. 

 

ENGAGING THE MIND

The kickoff of the school year and church programming makes fall a major season for academic books, observed Baker’s Dyer, adding that seminarians and pastors launching sermon series need thoughtful resources.

“Getting these books out in front of these customers is helpful not just for sales, but for making sure they have access to the finest resources created by the brightest minds in the Christian academic world,” he said. 

That includes such books as Baker Academic’s recently released third edition of Christian Theology by Millard Erickson, which Dyer said has had a huge influence on seminaries and churches.

Reese said two enduring titles that represent accessible introductions to theology for laypersons are The Moody Handbook of Theology and Charles Ryrie’s Basic Theology. He also recommends retailers remember the “tribe” of evangelicals who gravitate toward academic books and such popular authors as John Piper, D.A. Carson and N.T. Wright.

Reese favors promotions aimed at students and academicians getting into the new school year.

“It’s rare to see a display devoted to academic books, but that would be beneficial,” he said.

These books are “built to last,” with higher price points and longer life cycles, said WJK’s Stephens.

 “Represent the core backlist well,” Stephens said, who believes a strong in-store selection “is crucial for driving traffic and will help stores differentiate themselves from online sellers.” 

 
By the Book: Called to boldly ‘live out their faith’ Print Email
Written by Ken Walker   
Monday, 05 August 2013 04:50 PM America/New_York

BakerBooks-AdaptOrDie‘Manly’ books appeal to men from all walks of life—from battlefields to business

Men’s books represent but a sliver of overall sales in the Christian market, but the wealth of forthcoming titles demonstrates publishers’ belief in the genre’s viability.   

“Men have demonstrated they will indeed buy a book if it addresses a felt need in their lives,” said Joey Paul, executive editor of the FaithWords imprint of Hachette Book Group. 

Nick Harrison, senior editor at Harvest House Publishers, recalls meeting such a need. An insurance man visited Harrison recently to tell of buying 100 copies of the gift edition of One Minute Prayers for Men. As a result, he formed authentic relationships with many prospective clients, not to mention his coffeehouse barista. 

“It’s the kind of story that tells me we’re doing things right in publishing the books we do,” Harrison said. “Men from all walks of life are hurting, including Christian men.”

Men are always interested in practical books that make an impact, said Tracy Danz, vice president and publisher of Zondervan Trade Books. He lists Zondervan’s October release, Fight by Craig Groeschel, and January’s Bad Dads of the Bible by Roland Warren as examples.

One of the newer Christian publishers targets men with five of its 40 annual titles. The newest release this month from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas is Up by Bob Ravener, executive vice president for Dollar General Corp.

Acquisition Editor Eddie Jones said that Up will appeal to men by illuminating such values as hard work, resilience and creativity in a culture that glorifies posturing and good looks.

Ironically, Jones sees unemployment as a primary reason why men are reading more. In the past, men may have been busy reading reports, spreadsheets and manuals for work, but in unemployment, many have more time to read books. With nonfiction, Jones thinks men are seeking help in finding employment, God’s call on their lives and significance in a culture that discounts their worth.

“As more men find themselves outsourced, out of work and shoved to the end of the bench, books of this nature will continue to find male readers,” the Lighthouse editor said.

POWERFUL POTENTIAL 

HarvestHouse-AnOldGuysGuidetoLivingYoungWhile lagging far behind women’s nonfiction in sales, men’s books have produced a number of classics, such as John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart, Stu Weber’s Tender Warrior and Point Man by Steve Farrar.

More recently, B&H Books’ The Resolution for Men by Stephen and Alex Kendrick—spawned by their hit film Courageous—boosted category sales last year by 47%. 

Harvest House also sees considerable potential in men’s books. In addition to August’s With Dad on a Deer Stand by Steve Chapman and this month’s In It to Win It by Steve Lawson, the publisher releases An Old Guy’s Guide to Living Young by Bob Barnes in October.

Thomas Nelson has three upcoming men’s books, starting with an updated version of The Book of Man by former U.S. Education Secretary William Bennett (October). 

It follows in November with Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men by best-selling author Stephen Mansfield and retired Lt. Gen. William Boykin. They examine manly virtues through the lives of such leaders as George Washington. 

On a lighter note, January brings The Dude’s Guide to Manhood by Darrin Patrick.

Among other forthcoming material is Know When to Hold ‘Em by John Blase (Abingdon Press, Oct. 1). Subtitled “The High Stakes Game of Fatherhood,” the author encourages fathers to become adventurers and risk-takers. 

In How God Makes Men (WaterBrook Press, Nov. 5), men’s ministry leader Patrick Morley reviews 10 key principles that emerge from epic stories of men.

The Baker Books division of Baker Publishing Group releases two men’s titles in October. Gen. Rich Lynch teams with Mark Dagostino for Adapt or Die, a review of leadership principles taken from the battlefield and business, while human rights leader Bob Fu exhorts men to take a stand for their faith in God’s Double Agent

ThomasNelson-TheDudesGuideToManhood

LEARNED LESSONS

With many an eye trained on the military, No Place to Hide (Zondervan, February 2014), brain surgeon W. Lee Warren relates how he discovered meaning amid the carnage of war in Iraq. 

Though not in the military, anti-human-trafficking activist Danny Smith is nonetheless engaged in battle. He shares his own life-threatening experiences in Shouting Into the Silence: One Man’s Fight for the World’s Forgotten (Lion Books/Kregel, Sept. 1).

Tullian Tchividjian, best-selling author and pastor, discusses freedom from failure, fear and guilt in One Way Love (David C Cook, Oct. 1), while Pastor David Jeremiah encourages men to deal with their fears in What Are You Afraid Of? (Tyndale, Oct. 13). Church planter Kevin Myers, along with best-seller leadership author John C. Maxwell, relates how a personal “train wreck” turned his life around in Home Run (FaithWords, February 2014). 

Additionally, three devotionals are among the new titles that will find male audiences. 

In 40 Days of Grace: Discovering God’s Liberating Love (Monarch Books/Kregel Publications, Sept. 1), ministry leader Rich Miller discusses sexual freedom. Kingdom Man Devotional (Tyndale House Publishers, Oct. 13) is based on Pastor Tony Evans’ 2012 preaching series, and Stand Firm: Let Nothing Move You (B&H Books, Oct. 15) aims to equip men as leaders in their homes, churches and communities.

CATEGORY CROSSOVER

Because men’s titles often don’t sell in great numbers, Harvest House Senior Editor Steve Miller thinks retailers may overlook their possibilities. They need to take into account the Christian Living crossover effect, said Miller, who lists such examples as The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby.

Tyndale House-KingdomManDevotional

Danz sees year-round potential in men’s books, with small groups and reading groups always looking for new material. Given this search, the Zondervan executive encourages Christian retailers to ask male staffers or pastors what books have affected them most.

“Collect all of those titles onto one table,” Danz said. “Make a note on the table of how these titles were selected. Male consumers trust recommendations.”

FaithWords’ Paul suggests tying promotional opportunities to seasons, such as fall for football and winter for hockey and basketball, and such labeling as “sports biographies” or “marriage books for men.”

Don Pape, vice president of trade publishing for David C Cook, said training store staff is also helpful.

As an example, while America’s recent wars have produced popular books, wise retailers can use these to introduce customers to past men of faith like Adoniram Judson and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, he said.

“I think men want to be called out, challenged and provoked,” Pape said. “Men’s materials can’t be passive. Invite men to live out their faith—to be bold and radical.” 

 
‘Right-sizing’ fiction Print Email
Written by Natalie Gillespie   
Monday, 05 August 2013 05:10 PM America/New_York

BethanyHouse-UnspokenDigital shift brings a new opportunity for CBA retailers as big-box stores cut back

When describing the state of Christian fiction today in a single word, “flux” springs to mind. Dictionary.com defines it as “continuous change, passage or movement.” Christian fiction print sales have taken a beating at brick-and-mortar stores in the past few years, declining in dollars and shelf space in big-box retailers and Christian stores alike, while e-book sales have gained ground due to “flash” sale pricing and the increase in popularity of e-readers. That has turned the fiction category into a roller-coaster ride not only for retailers, but also for publishing houses. 

Guideposts announced in July the end of its fiction retail sales; Moody Publishers’ young fiction imprint, River North, said it will cut back on new titles this year; and B&H Publishing Group “reset” its fiction line in May, announcing it will only publish new fiction that ties in with ministries, external film partners and the like. It was only six years ago that B&H announced it would be investing heavily in fiction, hiring well-known editor Karen Ball and launching the website www.pureenjoyment.com the following year.

On the up side, this fall Zondervan is launching new Young Adult (YA) imprint Blink, which will publish mainly fiction for teens (with select nonfiction and autobiographies); the FrontLine imprint of Charisma House Book Group hit the fiction big-time with runaway best-seller The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn; and Howard Books announced it is beefing up its fiction offerings this year after signing a 10-book deal with Christian fiction’s reigning romance queen, Karen Kingsbury, whose hardcover novel The Chance debuted in the No. 1 spot on the New York Times best-seller list in March. 

Even with all the ups and downs, Christian publishers report feeling hopeful about fiction overall—hopeful that sales at Christian retail can rebound, that the effects of digital downloads are becoming more predictable and that Christian retailers should be able to poise their stores once again to be the go-to destination for Christian novels rather than big-box competitors.

TURNING THE TIDE

Christian Retailing spoke to representatives from the editorial, marketing and publicity teams of several Christian publishers, including HarperCollins Christian Publishing (parent company of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan), WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, Howard Books and Bethany House (Baker Publishing Group) about the state of Christian fiction today, what trends they foresee and how Christian retailers can rebuild their sales in this category. 

“I think it is probably not an overstatement to say that the Christian fiction category has been the most aggressively challenged category in CBA because of the shift to online publishing,” said Daisy Hutton, vice president and publisher at HarperCollins Christian Publishing’s fiction division. “Our category has lost more shelf space, and we feel like we have been really fighting for the hearts and minds in this category.”

“I think we can say that it is stabilizing,” said Noelle Buss, fiction publicist for Bethany House. “While the market has been very volatile over the last few years, we are now seeing a leveling off and some rebounding.”

“I think we are coming into a time of right-sizing, as opposed to downsizing,” said Shannon Marchese, senior editor of fiction for WaterBrook Multnomah. “In part, it’s because of the explosive growth of Christian fiction 10 to 15 years ago, followed by declines in the last seven years. I think we’re coming into a right-sizing era now. We’re not throwing as much against the wall to see what will stick.”

Christian fiction sales quadrupled from $1 billion annually to $4 billion from 1980 to 2000, jump-started in the late-1990s by the best-selling “Left Behind” series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, according to a study presented at the 2009 International Christian Retail Show. 

When the post-rapture series took off, Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, Target and Sam’s Club hopped on the bandwagon and began aggressively stocking Christian fiction, and Christian retailers found themselves struggling to keep up with the discounted pricing. Then online powerhouses Amazon and Christian Book Distributors began to help themselves to large pieces of the Christian fiction sales pie; and in the last few years, e-readers and digital downloads carved out yet another big chunk of sales dollars. As orders shifted to online retailers and digital downloads, fiction sales at general market and Christian brick-and-mortar stores suffered.

The 2013 BookStats report from the Association of American Publishers and the Book Industry Study Group shows that e-books have grown 45% since 2011 and now constitute 20% of the trade market. The largest e-book sales category? Adult fiction. Strangely, Christian market publishers feel that may actually bring a ray of hope to Christian retailers. Why? Because since readers are turning to their tablets for the latest titles, big-box stores are now pulling back, stocking fewer print titles for shorter amounts of time. CBA publishers say this gives Christian stores a renewed chance to pick up sales, if they are willing to give the category another look.

“With a smaller footprint in the big-box stores, there is definitely the opportunity for Christian retailers to offer more diversity,” Marchese said. “Consumers will look to them to be the place to go to find that depth and diversity.”

Blink-RemnantsThe ongoing challenge for publishers is to connect with consumers in many places and spaces in order to help them find Christian fiction amidst the wealth of fiction, nonfiction, films, television shows, newspapers, magazines, games, websites that constitute consumers’ daily media menu. 

“There has been such a resurgence of epic fantasy in the larger culture, and I have wondered why that hasn’t spilled over to stronger book sales in the category,” Hutton said. “Part of the answer, I think, is that in that category, we’re not just competing with other Christian books or even general market books, but also every TV show, every film and every video game in this space. Consumers just have so many choices now for how they spend their time being entertained, and we are competing directly for their attention with those other forms of media.”  

CBA publishers are trying to drive consumers to buy Christian fiction in any format they can manufacture, be it virtual or physical—so that they can keep publishing, period. Readers no longer discover books they like or uncover new authors they might want to follow at local bookstores. Instead, fiction audiences are developing their reading tastes online through “word of mouth” on Facebook, blogs, author websites and book-dedicated websites. 

“Ask people how they are finding new authors, and they say ‘online’ or they got a recommendation from someone who found the author online,“ said Steve Oates, vice president of marketing, Bethany House. “There is no longer one gathering place for us to find our audience, so we have to go to 15 or 20 of them and think about how to reach readers in all of these spaces.”

Thousands of bloggers review Christian books, “blog tours” abound to get the word out about new authors and titles, and many a website is dedicated exclusively to Christian fiction. Zondervan created BookSneeze.com, a site where bloggers can request free books in exchange for reviews on their blogs and on retail sites like Amazon. For consumers, LifeWay hosts the Christian fiction blog “A Novel Bookshelf,” and WaterBrook Multnomah launched NovelCrossing.com last year, a site dedicated to becoming the “intersection of fiction and faith,” as its tag line reads. The site offers reviews of books from many publishers, author interviews, an interactive community and graphic resources to “pin” on places like Pinterest, Facebook and blogs. 

NovelCrossing.com is less than a year old, so the proof is not in the pudding yet,” Marchese said. “But we are hopeful.”

INVESTING IN AUTHORS

Christian fiction does seem to be succeeding in content. The quality of stories in the Christian market has increased significantly in the last decade, and publishers are branching out into many genres, as well as putting new spins on the tried-and-true.

“What’s interesting to me is the new books that fit into an older genre but have something that makes them a little bit unique,” said Beth Adams, senior editor for Howard Books. “We have the Amish title Promise to Return [by Elizabeth Byler Younts, October] about a young Amish man who gets drafted in World War II. Because the Amish are pacifists, he is sent to a public service camp, where he realizes that he wants to enlist and go fight. This book fits squarely into the Amish category, yet it has a unique quality that makes it stand out.”

HowardBooks-PromiseToReturn“Amish is incredibly strong for us, but the requirement more and more is for something that makes those books distinctive,” agreed Hutton. “We are past the point where we can turn out vanilla titles. We also want to find books that transcend genre, and those are often the hardest to publish because they don’t fit into any one slot.”

Hutton points to the upcoming contemporary debut novel Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay (Thomas Nelson, November) as a good example.

“It is one of the more literary books that we would ever publish, yet it has strong commercial sensibility and lots of hooks,” she said.

“Romantic suspense is really growing for us,” Oates said of Bethany House, which publishes popular suspense author Dee Henderson. “And historical fiction has helped us. Some of the top authors are rebounding, and we have been curiously watching the sort of nonfiction-fiction titles like The Harbinger and The Shack. But those kinds of books are either huge or don’t do much.”

“We are focusing less on trends and more on voices,” Marchese said of WaterBrook Multnomah. “We are focusing on a group of 12 to 15 authors with really strong voices. We found a great new voice, Tim Lewis, whose first book is coming out this fall. His book Forever Friday is in the same vein as Nicholas Sparks.”

Publishers agree they are all continually looking for the next big thing—big idea, big audience, big voice. They look for new authors at writers’ conferences, through agent submissions and via blogs and self-published books in digital stores. As competition becomes stiffer, first- and second-time authors usually must have a built-in audience for a publisher to sign them or keep them on their list.

“If a new author’s first book is not a hit, we are not seeing as many get a second and third chance,” Marchese said. “If an author’s first series didn’t launch like we wanted it to, but it got great reader feedback and had just what we want to hear spiritually, we want to keep investing in that author. We need to. But that part feels harder.”

“It may be harder to invest in those authors, but it is definitely something you have to do,” Buss agreed.

ThomasNelson-DearMrKnightley

TRACKING WITH TEENS

One area that has always had room to grow in Christian fiction is Young Adult. In the general market, teens pick up fiction at Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart or order it online. In the Christian market, teens generally don’t shop on their own at Christian retail. The teen books that sell in the Christian market tend to be nonfiction, books that parents pick up for their kids to read or youth pastors use in their youth groups. If teens do walk into Christian stores, publishers say they sometimes shy away from fiction because it is often shelved next to the kids’ section.

“YA has been a very difficult market. I don’t think that’s new news to anyone,” said Jacque Alberta, acquisition editor, YA fiction for Zondervan and Blink. “Part of that has to do with shelving and part with who is going to the stores. We have had success with YA nonfiction [such as] perennial purity titles, student adaptations of best-selling authors’ books and books that youth pastors can use in their ministry. But we have not seen a lot of teens shopping at Christian bookstores, so fiction has been harder.”

In a move to capture a slice of the YA audience, Zondervan debuts new imprint Blink this fall, with six titles that will not contain overt Christian content, but instead will have “moral content” and be “hopeful” in tone.

“There will be nothing overtly violent or sexual,” Alberta said. “Our guideline is that you should be able to give a Blink book to a 14-year-old without worrying. There will still be adherence to Christian values, but not done in as overt a way.”

Blink books have been developed with the general market in mind to offer teens and parents alternatives to the graphic content found in popular teen fiction today, but Christian retailers also have been enthusiastic about the line.

“I’ve been on the Zondervan team for five years, and since I started, it has always been our initiative to help CBA stores get teens into their stores and to help it be a successful category for them,” said Sara Merritt, senior director of marketing for Zondervan and Blink. “We offer to have authors come in and do signings. We’ve had Christian retailers ask if authors can do video interviews, and we talk to retailers about shelving strategy and how moving YA could help sales. We want the Christian retailer to succeed.”

WaterBrook-ForeverFriday

YA books need to be near music, T-shirts and jewelry—or at least away from the children’s section, publishers say, noting that teens don’t see themselves as kids and don’t want to be associated with the children’s department.

Among the Blink debut novels for fall are Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon, a fantasy romance loosely based on the classic musical Brigadoon; Merlin’s Shadow, a book by Robert Treskillard that takes a new look at King Arthur’s court; Running Lean by Diana L. Sharples, the story of a teen couple dealing with real-life personal issues and tragedies; and a dystopian title, Remnants, by well-known CBA author Lisa T. Bergren.

Alberta says outside of Blink there has been some YA movement in the historical category, as long as it offers a “new way of looking at the past.”

“Like the Tudors, as seen by some of the secondary characters,” she said. “I think we will see more of that, especially with common core educational standards coming into play.”

“We have seen some movement in YA if the author has a presence in the homeschool market, if the author is tied into the homeschool shows,” Marchese said. “Chuck Black is on the Multnomah list, and his books do well. We will have a new book with him next year.”

CLICKING WITH CUSTOMERS

For Christian retailers, fiction is a category with room to grow—if they can entice customers to put down their digital devices and drive to the store. E-book sales may be here to stay, but that doesn’t mean all brick-and-mortar Christian stores are doomed. With each arrival of a new media format, there have been predictions that older formats would die. In some cases, that prediction has come  true. Cassette tapes did replace 8-tracks. CDs replaced cassettes. DVDs replaced VHS tapes. However, television did not signal the end of movie theaters. Redbox and Netflix have not shuttered all theaters either. Instead, time has shown that consumers like to watch movies across many channels. 

Likewise, the newest digital devices and delivery systems have just squeezed into the existing media mix, perhaps taking more sales than their fair share, but not necessarily taking over. Yes, consumers read news online, but many also still like to hold a newspaper or magazine. E-readers are handy for carrying an entire library around all at once, but not many want to take them to the beach or the pool, not to mention that it’s hard to wrap an e-book and take it to a friend’s birthday party. 

The problem for physical retailers is that online content needs to point customers to their stores, not just fuel online sales. It’s easy for consumers to read a review, decide they want the title and click through to buy it and begin reading immediately. But for Christian fiction consumers, the ease and unlimited virtual shelf space can be both a blessing and a curse. There is more to choose from than ever before, but that certainly doesn’t mean all the books are good or that they can all be trusted to provide clean, hopeful or gospel-based content.  

Zondervan-ToKnowYouChristian retailers can win back customers by offering online marketing and old-school customer service they can trust, by finding readers online through Facebook and Pinterest, and by offering digital coupons, flash sales, exclusive events and other in-store-only opportunities. Retailers can keep customers engaged by Tweeting; investigating ways to participate through sites like Shopkick, Foursquare and Groupon; and by surveying their customers about their online communities and spaces. Publishers say they’ll help by connecting stores with their customers’ favorite authors through book signings, online chats, links to author websites and custom editions, with several publishers making exclusive editions available to retailers.

Once customers have an online incentive to walk in the door, stores can make sure they get exactly what they need. Possibly more than any other book category, fiction is a section frontliners need to know. Fiction readers love to talk to other fiction readers. They want recommendations from others who clearly demonstrate a knowledge and passion for it. Good, old-fashioned hand-selling is still a key ingredient to fiction sales. 

“We have unique content and a message the world is hungry for,” Adams said. “And fiction readers are the most loyal readers out there. If you get them hooked on a book or an author or a genre, they’re going to come back. I think that’s what makes fiction fun.”

 
By the Book: Publishers expand reach of small group studies Print Email
Written by Ken Walker   
Monday, 08 July 2013 03:16 PM America/New_York

Abingdon-ThisIKnowForSureParticipants benefit from accountability and accessibility with today’s study offerings

While daily Bible reading may be trending down, interest in small group book and Bible studies remains intense—a fact that one editor believes signals that this market is alive and well.

Recent research, including a survey released last fall by LifeWay Research, has identified a long-term decline in Bible reading. Only 19% of Protestant churchgoers reported reading their Bible daily. However, NavPress Senior Editor Jeremy Maxfield pointed out that weekly (59%) and monthly (82%) Bible readership is still high.

“Even if an actual decrease in market does exist, what other business would not try to serve and grow a potential market share of 40% of the nation’s adults engaged in a niche interest at least once a week?” asked Maxfield, editorial director of the company’s church resources division.

Nancy Guthrie, author of the Crossway series “Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament,” attributes this fervent participation to the accountability that helps participants stay on track with their Bible reading.

“We also need the wisdom of those who have studied more than we have and the insights of others to help us to understand and apply what we read to our lives,” said Guthrie, whose fifth title in the series releases next May.

The benefits of this interaction are fueling interest in small groups as well as congregation-wide emphases, said an executive with Abingdon Press.

“With Adam Hamilton’s recently released The Way, a church can launch a fall kick-off with all ages involved,” said Susan Salley, associate publisher for ministry resources. “From a group study and video to worship downloads for sermon preparation to a kids’ app, there are many tools to choose from.”

As church growth through small groups has accelerated—particularly via multi-site megachurches—P&R Publishing has targeted more titles to meet those needs, said Ian Thompson, vice president of sales and marketing.

“If it is possible for a book to be used by a small group, we make it so,” said Thompson, whose company annually publishes 40 new releases, about a third designed for small groups.  

DavidCCook-The30DayPraiseChallengeACCESS AND APPS

Publishers see other trends in small-group studies, most notably DVDs accompanying printed materials.

That is the case with such titles as a forthcoming participant guide and DVD for Joanna Weaver’s classic, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (WaterBrook Press, Nov. 19); Hamilton’s Love to Stay (Abingdon, August); gospel singer Babbie Mason’s This I Know For Sure (Abingdon, Sept. 1); and the DVD linked to Liz Curtis Higgs’ new edition of Bad Girls of the Bible (WaterBrook, July).

Salley said participation improves with easily accessed material, prompting the Nashville publisher—and many others—to mesh print and video via apps and facilitate online communities.

Still, books can extend the teaching period beyond group time, said P&R’s Thompson, whose company often produces printed studies in partnership with video producers. 

In addition, over-reliance on DVDs can dull group interchange, cautioned Amy Nappa, executive editor for adult and church leadership at Group Publishing.

“While the DVD study is popular with some, there are many others—especially younger adults—who are not interested in someone talking at them,” Nappa said. “They want to participate in the conversation. People never get tired of sharing their stories.”

Not surprisingly, the three latest titles in Group’s “E-412” series this summer are solely comprised of 80-page, six-lesson paperbacks: Better Together, Leading Out and This Means Love.

Likewise-FreeWOMEN AND MEN

Women represent the leading audience for small-group materials, said Jim Stropnik, marketing manager with Concordia Publishing. 

Among the titles releasing this month appealing to women are a pair by author Margaret Feinberg for the “Women of Faith Study Guide Series,” God’s Living Word and In His Eyes (Thomas Nelson).

Harvest House Publishers releases two this month from Stonecroft Ministries, Discovering the Joy of Jesus: A Guide to Philippians and Growing in the Christian Life: A Guide to James, while David C Cook offers The 30 Day Praise Challenge, with Becky Harling challenging women to praise God 20 minutes a day for a month. Questions are online for Harling’s study.

Other studies for women include Becoming Myself (David C Cook, Aug. 1) by best-selling author Stasi Eldredge and The Women of Christmas by Higgs (WaterBrook Press, Sept. 17), which originated with the author’s Bible study blog. 

Studies for men and women include a pair from InterVarsity Press that look at putting God first in one’s life: A Guide to the Blessing Life by Gerrit Dawson (IVP Books, September), a companion to The Blessing Life trade book, and Free by Mark Scandrette (Likewise, August), which includes a group study guide in the book. InterVarsity is also creating eight downloadable Free videos that are accessible by code to those who purchase the book.

Pastor Greg Laurie follows up spring’s Essentials (NavPress) study with Following Jesus in September, and Brett McCracken looks at interacting with popular culture in Gray Matters (Baker Books/Baker Publishing Group, August).

WaterBrook-HavingAMaryHeartParticipantGuideBRAND AND BUTTER

Industry figures see a number of ways to promote these studies, with Maxfield suggesting retailers publicize group discounts. He said the goal is building a trusting relationship, not just a sale.

“When people see (the NavPress) brand, our desire is they know what they are getting, regardless of the author or topic,” Maxfield said.

Before promoting, Abingdon’s Salley said a retailer must understand the particular church’s goals, such as starting home groups, reaching young mothers or reinvigorating Sunday school.

With some programs including a dozen components, Salley said retailers can help leaders see the possibilities.

“One way is to offer review copies so a leader can watch the video and have time to lay out all the resources,” she said. “Another is to direct customers to online reviewing. Many publishers have extensive clips and samples available.”

Nappa thinks retailers should host small-group meetings. 

“Think of it like a book club,” said the Group editor. “Offer a discussion group that uses content from a discussion-based study and see what happens, or post information from local churches to let customers know what churches are offering different Bible studies.”

Enthusiastic responses can fuel repeat business for stores. Many Bible study veterans have contacted Guthrie to relate how her Old Testament series helped them see the “big picture.” 

“They tell me every week they have ‘I never saw that before!’ experiences,” Guthrie said. “These are books that they thought they knew and understood so well.”

 
Enjoying the ‘timeless experience’ of Christmas Print Email
Written by Leslie Santamaria   
Monday, 08 July 2013 03:41 PM America/New_York

From novelty to nostalgia, a variety of new books celebrate the holiday’s true meaning

As retailers gear up for the critical holiday season, Christian publishers are making books available that foster nostalgia and illuminate the real hope that the birth of Christ brings.

Many of the holiday fiction titles are either historical, Amish or both, providing the sense of returning to simpler times. From Zondervan comes Tricia Goyer’s first Christmas novella, A Christmas Gift for Rose, which features a young Amish woman born in the midst of the Great Depression. 

Daisy Hutton, vice president and publisher of fiction at HarperCollins Christian Publishing, says readers enjoy stories about how Christmas was experienced in the past.

Our Christmas celebrations, Hutton said, “center around the retelling of stories from the past and the collective experience of the power of those stories in the current moment. This sense of continuity comforts us. … We look for those timeless experiences that make us feel a part of something larger, something timeless and eternal.”

In nonfiction, Ann Voskamp, best-selling author of One Thousand Gifts, takes readers back to the Old Testament to explore Jesus’ lineage in The Greatest Gift from Tyndale House Publishers. Using the Advent tradition of the Jesse Tree, Voskamp’s holiday book retraces the history of mankind paired with daily readings pointing to why Christ was born and why we celebrate His birth. 

Also reminding readers of the first Christmas story and the peace it offers the world is a gift book by Katherine Paterson, acclaimed author of Bridge to Terabithia and other novels, who twice won the National Book Award and twice the Newbury Medal. Published by Westminster John Knox Press, A Stubborn Sweetness and Other Stories for the Christmas Season is a collection of short stories Paterson originally wrote to be read during her church’s Christmas Eve service.

Stacie Kizer, marketing and publicity associate for the Presbyterian publishing company, explains that this is a different kind of Christmas book: “People from all walks of life are represented [in the collection] in a very relatable way. Each story, while not always resolved, leaves the reader with a feeling of comfort and encouragement in the midst of difficult circumstances.”

Following are a selection of this year’s Christmas book offerings:

CATHOLIC

AdventWithStFrancis
ADVENT WITH ST. FRANCIS
Diane M. Houdek 
Franciscan Media
9781616367053
$3.99, July 16

For daily reflection and application, Houdek pairs the Scripture readings for Advent with the words and deeds of St. Francis of Assisi to help readers grow in their faith and spiritual practice.

 

 

TheAdventOfChrist
THE ADVENT OF CHRIST
Edward Sri 
Servant Books (Franciscan Media)
9781616366513
$12.99, July 16

With entries for each day of Advent and through the Christmas season, this book of reflections guides readers through the treasures of the Gospels and takes a fresh look at the Christmas story.

 

 

 

CHILDREN’S

FantasticChristmasStable
FANTASTIC CHRISTMAS STABLE
Juliet David; illustrated by Steve Smallman
Candle Books (Kregel Publications)
9781859859506
$19.99, Sept. 1

This large hardcover book opens to display a full-color, 3-D nativity scene with opening flaps, pop-ups and press-out figures to add to the scene. A 16-page book telling the story of Jesus’ birth is also included.

 

ItsyBitsyChristmas
ITSY BITSY CHRISTMAS
Max Lucado; illustrated by Bruno Merz
Thomas Nelson
9781400322626
$14.99, Sept. 10

In this 32-page picture book, Lucado tells the story of two mice, Itsy and Bitsy, who hear that a King is coming to Bethlehem and set off to find him. Although they are told along the way that they are too little and unimportant for a king, they learn that Christ has come for everyone—big or small, young or old.

 

MyCarryAlongChristmas

 


MY CARRY-ALONG CHRISTMAS
Jocelyn Miller
Lion Children’s Books (Kregel Publications)
9780745964171
$9.99, Sept. 1

With a die-cut carry-along handle, this Advent activity book includes crafts, puzzles and stickers to keep kids busy.

 

 

PeaceOnEarth
PEACE ON EARTH: A CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
Mary Engelbreit
Zonderkidz (Zondervan)
9780310743408
$17.99, Oct. 1

Along with her engaging illustrations, Engelbreit celebrates the season with classic carols, poems and the story of Jesus’s birth.

 



ThePerfectChristmasPageant
THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Joyce Meyer; illustrated by Mary Sullivan
Zonderkidz (Zondervan)
9780310723547
$15.99, Sept. 24 

Meyer tells youngsters about the miracle of Christmas in this fourth installment of the “Everyday Zoo” series. Hayley Hippo and her quirky animal friends set out to put on an annual pageant, but learn that Christmas isn’t about glitz, but about Christ.

 

COOKBOOKS

TasteOfChristmasCB
TASTE OF CHRISTMAS COOKBOOKS
Rebecca Currington (Snapdragon Group)
Barbour Publishing
$4.99 each, September

Each paperback in this quartet of cookbooks contains recipes and holiday inspiration for bread lovers, chocolate lovers, cookie lovers and candy lovers, respectively. They include: Have Yourself a Toasty Little Christmas (9781624161346), I’m Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas (9781624161339), O Christmas Cookie (9781624161353) and Walkin’ in a Winter Candy-Land (9781624161360).

FICTION

AChristmasGiftForRose
A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR ROSE
Tricia Goyer
Zondervan
9780310336785
$15.99, Sept. 24

Inspired by a true story, Goyer’s first Christmas novella tells the story of Rose, born during the Great Depression and raised in an Amish family. When Rose learns she was born Englisch and was abandoned, she is filled with questions. 



 

APioneerChristmas
A PIONEER CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
Lauraine Snelling, et al. 
Barbour Publishing
9781624161902
$19.99, September

Set in the 1840s, the nine romances in this book are written by Christian fiction authors, including Lauraine Snelling, Kathleen Fuller and Vickie McDonough.

 

 

 

 

ASimpleChristmasWish
A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS WISH
Melody Carlson
Revell (Baker Publishing Group)
9780800719654
$15.99, Sept. 14

Rachel Milligan is caring for her 7-year-old niece, Holly, when Holly’s parents suddenly die. When an Amish relative is awarded guardianship, Rachel takes Holly to the Amish community to seek custody, but also encounters family secrets and experiences the healing of old wounds.



 

AnAmishFamilyChristmas
AN AMISH FAMILY CHRISTMAS
Murray Pura
Harvest House Publishers
9780736952378
$10.99, Oct. 1

When young Rebecca Shrock’s brother, Levi, returns from combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, things get complicated. Levi has been rejected by his old flame and shunned by the Amish community of Paradise for joining the military. As God works in hearts, will there be faith and reconciliation at holiday time?

 



AnniesChristmasWish
ANNIE’S CHRISTMAS WISH
Barbara Cameron
Abingdon Press
9781426733895
$14.99, October 

When Annie’s family takes her to New York City to experience English life and decide whether or not she will be baptized in the Amish faith, a young Amish man who has long been attracted to her grows concerned that she won’t return to their quieter life. Will Annie go home, or stay and pursue her dreams? This title is part of Cameron’s “Quilts of Lancaster County” series.

 

 

 

ChristmasAtHarmonyHill
CHRISTMAS AT HARMONY HILL
Ann H. Gabhart
Revell (Baker Publishing Group)
9780800719821
$15.99, Sept. 15

Fans of Gabhart’s Shaker stories will recognize Harmony Hill, where this tale is set in 1864. When Heather Worth discovers she is expecting while working as a laundress in her husband’s army unit, he insists she go home, where her father refuses to forgive her for marrying a Yankee. She retreats to a Shaker village where she and her aunt are in need of love and forgiveness as Christmas approaches.

 

 

TheChristmasQuilt
THE CHRISTMAS QUILT
Vannetta Chapman
Abingdon Press
9781426752773
$12.99, Oct. 15

Featuring Annie, from Chapman’s best-seller A Simple Amish Christmas, this contemporary romance follows Annie’s preparation of a crib quilt for her sister-in-law, who is expecting. When the baby arrives early, Annie discovers the quilt may hold more significance than she imagined. This book is part of the “Quilts of Love” series.

 



TheDawnofChristmas
THE DAWN OF CHRISTMAS
Cindy Woodsmall
WaterBrook Press
9780307732132
$14.99, Oct. 15

Sadie is pressured by her Old Order Amish family to settle down after four years of mission trips to Peru. She joins forces with Levi, a confirmed bachelor, to keep their families from meddling, only to discover that the walls they have built around their hearts are crumbling.

 

 

 

TwiceLoved
TWICE LOVED
Wanda E. Brunstetter
Barbour Publishing
9781624162671
$12.99, September

It’s Christmas 1945 when widow and single mother Bev Winters discovers unexpected kindness and romantic love. Also included are 1940s’ recipes, handcrafts, stories and trivia.

 

 

 

GIFT BOOKS

AStubbornSweetness
A STUBBORN SWEETNESS AND OTHER STORIES FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON
Katherine Paterson 
Westminster John Knox Press
9780664239152
$15, September

This compilation of stories is about realistic characters who have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas due to loss, pain or life circumstances. In unexpected ways, each realizes that even in darkness the joy of Christmas shines bright.

 

 

 

OnThisHolyNight
ON THIS HOLY NIGHT
Max Lucado, Rick Warren, David Jeremiah, John Maxwell, Jack Hayford, Bill Hybels
Thomas Nelson
9781400323456
$14.99, Oct. 8

Six well-known communicators explore various aspects of the Christmas story in this gift book.

 

 

 

SilentNight
SILENT NIGHT

Barbour Publishing
9781624162640
$7.99, September

In this full-color devotional gift book, readers learn the stories behind 40 Christmas carols.

 

 



NONFICTION

AdventAtoZ
ADVENT A TO Z
John Indermark and Sharon Harding
Abingdon Press
9781426760273
$11.99, September

This 26-day study is based on Advent-related words with each reading organized around a word that begins with a successive letter in the alphabet. Also included are discussion-starters, games, crafts, meditations and outreach projects.


 

 

FindingBethlehem
FINDING BETHLEHEM IN THE MIDST OF BEDLAM

James W. Moore
Abingdon Press
9781426760822
$12.99, Sept. 17

With five sessions, this study focuses on how the Messiah breaks into the chaos and confusion of life and brings Christmas.  A youth study and a children’s study are also available

 

 

 

GodsBlessingsOfChristmas
GOD’S BLESSINGS OF CHRISTMAS
Billy Graham
Thomas Nelson
9781400323357
$2.99, Oct. 1

Graham celebrates Christ’s birth in this devotional booklet with  excerpts from the best-selling This Christmas Night, hymns, scripture and poetry by his wife, Ruth Bell Graham.

 

 

 

 


OpenHeartsinBethlehem
OPEN HEARTS IN BETHLEHEM

Kenneth E. Bailey
InterVarsity Press
9780830837571
$10, July

This drama presents the biblical story of Jesus’ birth, rather than what some traditional portrayals offer. A music CD including five original folk songs is also available.

 



TheGreatestGift
THE GREATEST GIFT
Ann Voskamp
Tyndale House Publishers
9781414387086
$19.99, September

Using the Advent tradition of the Jesse Tree, Voskamp traces the history of mankind from Adam to Christ to help readers celebrate God’s greatest gift.

 

 

 

TheWomenofChristmas
THE WOMEN OF CHRISTMAS
Liz Curtis Higgs
WaterBrook Press
9781601425416
$14.99, Sept. 17

This Bible study explores the stories of the women who played key roles related to the birth of the Savior: Elizabeth, Mary and Anna.

 

 

 

 

SPANISH

Historias
HISTORIAS DE NAVIDAD PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR (CHRISTMAS STORIES FOR BEDTIME)
Renae Brumbaugh; illustrated by David Miles
Barbour Publishing
9781624162220
$5.99, Sept. 1

Christmas Stories for Bedtime includes 30 stories drawn from Scripture, challenging children to consider the meaning of the first Christmas.

 
Bloggers build brands through product awareness Print Email
Written by Natalie Gillespie   
Tuesday, 28 May 2013 05:37 PM America/New_York

Community engagement through the popular journaling and product-reviewing sites creates buzz—for good or bad

People around the world began posting their thoughts in journal format on the World Wide Web starting in the late 1990s. Short for “weblog,” the “blog” format grew in popularity, and today Wikipedia claims there are close to 200 million blogs in existence.

Read more...
 
By the Book: Empowering Christians to live the abundant life Print Email
Written by Ken Walker   
Tuesday, 28 May 2013 05:50 PM America/New_York

Biggest book category may be ‘crowded’ but does much more than take up shelf space

One of the Christian publishing’s most wide-ranging and prolific categories, Christian Living is taking on a grittier edge, symbolized by select New Hope Publishers’ titles tied to a new anti-pornography campaign.

Read more...
 
Getting behind a cause Print Email
Written by Lindsay Williams   
Wednesday, 29 May 2013 09:31 AM America/New_York

Every link in the Christian retail chain is needed to serve a world in need

Christian retailers are realizing more and more that they can be change agents in their communities and beyond. Several have found success in leading movements to evoke change, especially at the local level, as they foster support for community engagement with ministries and charitable initiatives.

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Show with a mission Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Wednesday, 29 May 2013 09:56 AM America/New_York

CBA INT13 show logo_CMYKSt. Louis event to emphasize outreach efforts, understanding future customers

Two significant outreach efforts by best-selling author Max Lucado and renowned evangelist Billy Graham will be emphasized at the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS). A second major focus—understanding the future customer—will have major emphasis during CBA’s marquee summer event, held June 23-26 at the America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis. 

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Appealing to the kids’ book buyer Print Email
Written by Rhonda Sholar   
Wednesday, 29 May 2013 10:05 AM America/New_York

Publishing quality children’s books that sell demands considering all shopper motivations

Getting parents to exchange their hard-earned cash for a kids’ book can be a challenge in a down economy, but moms and dads will still plunk down the money if they are motivated.

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Make your store a destination Print Email
Written by Deonne Lindsey   
Wednesday, 29 May 2013 10:17 AM America/New_York

Unusual events draw new and longtime customers to the place-to-be location

Planning and getting the word out about a special promotion or event takes no small amount of time and money—as many Christian retailers can attest. If an event goes well, it can drive new and returning customers into your store, generate sales and get some positive word-of-mouth going in your community. But, if things don’t go so well, it’s extra clean-up and back to the drawing board. So what does it take to make a solid event? 

Christian Retailing talked with six retailers who gave their take on the answer to that age-old question.

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By the Book: Audio formats enrich reader experience Print Email
Written by Ken Walker   
Tuesday, 30 April 2013 02:52 PM America/New_York

eChristian-VisioneeringValue-added versions of books encourage family togetherness and engage commuters

While Heaven Is for Real’s 8 million in print sales far outdistance the audio version, author Todd Burpo considers dramatized readings an important extension of the book’s ministry. The audiobook prompts considerable conversation at book signings and product tables, including tales of families listening while on vacation.

“I am impressed that these ‘family moments’ are shared with us repeatedly,” said Burpo, a Wesleyan pastor. “I expected and still appreciate the ongoing conversations with commuters headed to work or the elderly who have difficulty seeing enjoying the audio, but this new twist for family trips has surprised us.”

Jonathan Cahn’s The Harbinger, which continues to sell strongly more than a year after its release, is another example of a best-seller whose influence has extended via audio.

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ICRS 2013: Learning the trade Print Email
Written by Natalie Gillespie   
Tuesday, 30 April 2013 04:14 PM America/New_York

Product Intelligence Tours Bibles 1editPrepare to take in training opportunities at the International Christian Retail Show

Retailers headed to CBA’s International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in St. Louis may think that this year’s theme—Your Show, One Mission—means they should see all the new products they can and place upcoming orders for their stores at show discounts. But organizers of the June 23-26 show say there’s a lot more to ICRS than just the exhibit floor. In addition to opportunities to network and worship together, ICRS offers educational sessions designed to help stores boost their business and increase their ministry in their communities and beyond.

“The workshops offered at ICRS are important because CBA is trying to educate on best practices related to the topics that our retailer members are telling us are the most important to them,” said Curtis Riskey, president of CBA.

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Reaching Women With Story-Based Nonfiction Print Email
Written by Ken Walker   
Tuesday, 02 April 2013 04:37 PM America/New_York

No matter the genre, authors appeal to readers interested in learning through relationship

When the digital image of a three-story-high book cover appeared recently in New York City’s famed Times Square, it seemed to represent the emergence of women’s nonfiction in the Christian market—and beyond.

Zondervan-OneLightStillShinesOne Light Still Shines: My Life Beyond the Shadow of the Amish Schoolhouse Shooting (Zondervan, Oct. 1) is by Marie Monville, whose husband shot 10 Amish girls at a Pennsylvania school in 2006 before turning the gun on himself. At the onset of the shooting, his wife had just returned from leading a weekly prayer group.

“I think there’s a deeper interest in stories in general in our culture,” said Wes Yoder, whose Ambassador Agency represents Monville. “I think that people want stories that somehow inspire them and connect them to the real world.”

Although many women gravitate to Christian fiction, they also are exerting a stronger presence in nonfiction.

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