On his blog, Soong-Chan Rah--author and associate professor of church growth and evangelism at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago--called the authors and publisher to task for "pimping out" Asian culture in order to sell books. Rah detailed his concerns and correspondence with the authors and publisher on the blog, culminating with the recount of a Nov. 4 conference call with the authors--where the writers apologized and agreed to remove online videos related to the book.

Palin will begin the tour at a Barnes & Noble store in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Nov. 18, followed by stops at the chain's locations in Roanoke, Va. (Nov. 22); Orlando, Fla., and The Villages, Fla. (Nov. 24); Sioux City, Iowa, and Sioux Falls, S.D. (Dec. 6); and Bloomington, Minn. (Dec. 7).

Meanwhile, Bardin & Marsee Publishing, creators of the new Waterproof Bible, launched a BOGO (Buy One, Give One) program last week. When a customer purchases one of the Bibles--available in the New International Version or King James Version--the Birmingham, Ala.-based publisher will donate a Bible to a distributor, who will then send it to someone in a Third World country.

The CEO of America's Research Group (ARG), known for his Christian retail channel studies, said that consumers are under so much financial pressure this year "that even children will feel the pinch."

Transition is usually uncomfortable, but it's also a fact of life. There comes a point when a leader can go no further. We see that clearly in the Bible. When we reach that place we can be grateful for what they have done, but also be clear about what still needs to be achieved.

We are now starting to gather information on upcoming releases--books, Bibles, gifts, music and DVDs/videos/software--through our new online submission service. Product information we receive through this service may be covered online and in print in our new-look product sections, to come in January 2010.

You can win his personalized greeting or one of five autographed copies of his latest release, Fearless, by visiting the Christian Retailing Virtual Christmas Showcase.