Two-time GRAMMY-nominated rock band Skillet saw its 2009 blockbuster album, Awake, recently certified Platinum. The group hopes to have that kind of success with its new project Rise (Atlantic Records/Word Records/Word Distribution), releasing June 25.

Skillet—composed of John Cooper, bass/lead vocals; Korey Cooper, keyboard/guitar/vocals; Jen Ledger, drummer/vocals; and Seth Morrison, guitar—recorded the new album in Los Angeles, where the band teamed up again with producer Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, All American Rejects).

Frontman John Cooper offered his thoughts on the band and new album:

This album has a coming-of-age theme relating to the typical American kid. Were you surprised by how it developed?

I knew that there were a lot of themes running through the songs; however, being that I wrote 72 songs for the album, I was not sure which ones would get picked. Afterwards, it was, in fact, surprising to see how all the songs came together with such intertwined stories, yet [they] have such diverse topics. It is quite improbable that this could happen outside of God’s plan and timing!

How was the cover art chosen?

After we started talking about the story for the record and the themes therein, my wife, Korey, and I along with our drummer, Jen Ledger, began talking about possible artwork options. Jen liked the idea of trying her hand at drawing it, and upon first look, we loved it. Korey and I had an initial reaction that this artwork was perfect for the story. It was mysterious, emotional, and it had a certain sadness to it that mesmerized me.

You worked with Howard Benson again on Rise. Was your experience similar to working with him on Awake?

In some ways, it was similar in that I knew how Howard likes to work. He is involved during songwriting and pre-production times. Howard is good with songs and helping pick songs that catch his ear. I know that if Howard is being moved by something that I have written, I would be smart to pay attention to that. Next, Howard does not really get overly involved during the guitar tracking and tends to leave that to the band. I quite like that approach because I enjoy trying new things, whether it be guitar parts, sounds, rearranging the songs, etc. It’s nice to not have someone constantly looking over your shoulder and trying to make you fit into a box. Howard lets us do our thing in the studio, then he pays strict attention to vocals. He records all of his own vocals and is extremely picky about the takes he chooses!

“Not Gonna Die” has some interesting choral input. How would you describe the sound on this album?

This entire record is extremely cinematic, musical and even theatrical at times. It seemed like we should try some new elements to help bring the story across and have some fun at the same time. It suddenly crossed my mind that having a chamber choir singing opera with leading into a song as theatrical as “Not Gonna Die” would be the last thing anyone would ever expect. I knew it would either be really awesome or really terrible! I guess the jury is still out on which it turned out to be because no one has heard it yet! But we loved it.

Why did you choose “Sick of It” as the first single?

I knew that “Sick Of It” was the first single ever since the day we started recording the guitars for it. It is just a really fun song to listen to. It’s extremely aggressive, but it also has a groove dance beat to it. Also, the lyrics are surprisingly uplifting and positive for such an angry-sounding song. I think that dichotomy makes people want to hear it over and over because it makes them feel good. And when you break it all down, that’s what makes a great song to me.

You asked fans to submit photos of what they are sick of. What was the response?

We got thousands of responses. It was overwhelming how many people are hurting and want to be heard.

Christian retailers will be intrigued by the song “Salvation,” in which a child quotes from Isaiah 53. Tell us about it and the song “My Religion.”

“Salvation” is the climax of the story. This is the point in the story in which our “hero” is faced with the fact the he will never live up to his own expectations. He realizes that he will be let down at times by those he loves. He realizes that he can never be a “good” enough person to find the peace and acceptance that he desperately is searching for. At this crossroad, he chooses to ask God to save him from himself. He experiences the love of God, and his life is changed forever. Side note, the child reading the scripture from Isaiah is my daughter, Alex!

 “My Religion” is a song that is breaking down the walls of false Christianity. It talks of stained glass and steeples and priests, etc. Not that those things are evil by any means! But we know that God has called us to be the church, which is the body of Christ. We can enter into His presence at all times because it is God who lives inside our hearts. This song says, “You are my priest, you are my truth, you are my religion, my religion is you.” We also sing a stanza of “Amazing Grace” in this song, which I think is a cool way to get the sentiment across.

Your social media following is pretty incredible. How did you build it to many millions?

Skillet is intentional on spending time getting to know our fans. We signed autographs for years, sometimes hours at a time to let them know how we appreciated them. We also give them tons of access to the band online via podcast, interviews, live photos, etc. We have always appreciated their support and try to be “real” with them rather than treat them like fans, while we are “super-important rock stars.” We are not afraid to act goofy and tell corny jokes, laugh at ourselves when we fall accidentally on stage, etc. It lets people know that we are with and for them.

You’re popular in the mainstream as well as Christian markets. Will that change the band in any way, do you think?

Skillet has always been confident of who we are, whether we are playing a Christian music festival, touring with TobyMac or Winter Jam, or whether we are opening for a mainstream band on a tour that is sponsored by a brand of beer. We have always encouraged Christians to live their faith in an uncompromising way. We have always encouraged Christians to love people and show Christ’s love for the world by our eagerness to accept them rather than be judgmental. On the flip side, we have always been consistent to share our faith on and off stage at mainstream performances as well. There have seen hundreds of emails, tweets, letters, phone calls to my manager from youth ministers and parents who came to watch Skillet perform in front of a mainstream act, mainly to prove what they thought they already knew—which was that ‘Skillet is a sell-out Christian band who never talks about Jesus,’ and they do not want their kids listening to our music. But they came to the show and something happened they did not expect: Skillet shared Jesus from stage in front a beer-drinking crowd! We have never backed down from our faith, and have consistently been vocal about Jesus on and off the stage. I dare say that Skillet is one of, if not the single most outspoken crossover Christian band when it comes to speaking about Jesus on stage. It’s who we are and I don’t ever plan on that changing.

How can Christian retail stores best sell Skillet albums?

The biggest roadblock for Skillet selling records at Christian retail has always been that parents or youth workers or even other Christian kids have heard that Skillet is a “mainstream” band. They wonder if Skillet members are actually serious about our faith. And frankly, I don’t blame them! I grew up listening to Christian bands, and I know what it’s like to love a band and support them for years, only to see them “go mainstream” and then try and act like they were never a Christian band to start with. Subsequently, those bands may have never shared their faith, and even sometimes have denied their belief in God after they became successful in the mainstream. What I hope to see happen is for the fans who have seen us play, and have been affected by our music and message, to spread the word of Skillet’s consistent loyalty to Christ and Christian music with those who are skeptical about our faith. Explain that even though our lyrics are sometimes ambiguous, or “open to interpretation,” it does not mean that we are not sharing the message. We view our songs like I view Jesus’ parables. They are little bits of truth being scattered on the ground. Hopefully, the Holy Spirit will water those seeds, and some will take root.

ASK THE AUTHOR: Creston Mapes
LATEST PROJECT: Fear Has a Name (9780781408165, $14.99, June 1).
PUBLISHER: David C Cook.

What challenges does Jack Crittendon face in Fear Has a Name? 

First, he is working on an investigative story for his newspaper about a missing pastor and his family; that story in itself and the mysteries he discovers are harrowing. At the same time, his family has experienced a home invasion. As time goes on, it appears the “robbery” was not random, but that someone is stalking Jack’s wife, Pamela, and endangering their two young girls.

What inspired this novel? 

Many years ago we experienced a home break-in while my wife was at home with our first baby. The man entered the house violently. My wife was forced to grab the baby and run next door to a neighbor’s house. Many years later, I had a dream about a man loitering around the front door of a family’s home, ready to break in. I woke up and wrote down everything about that man. He is Granger Meade, the antagonist in Fear Has a Name. One of the interesting things about Granger is that he was unwanted by his parents and bullied as a youth. It is a timely story.

What is the story’s premise?

We all have our own unique personal fears. Some of those fears might have to do with threats from other people or circumstances out of our control. The premise of the novel deals with facing such fears, surviving and overcoming them, and, ultimately, choosing to love.

How do the characters handle fear?

That’s what I hope readers will find intriguing. All of the characters deal with fear differently. Pamela’s mother is a paranoid alcoholic, and Pamela battles tendencies of fear and paranoia. Although Jack is strong and courageous, he is up against unthinkable trials—and fears. Granger, the antagonist, fights fears of his own that stem from a troubled childhood and from having been brought up by parents who were legalistic religious fanatics. 

The plot clips along at an exciting pace and yet the characters are well-developed. How did you accomplish this?

I always try to start a manuscript with unique likeable characters who are thrown into trying circumstances. Because I am not a plotter, the characters—the type of people they are—determine how they respond to those trials. Once I get set in my mind what those characters are like, I do not stray from that, and I let their personalities determine how they respond. It’s as if I am just an observer saying, “Oh my, Jack’s old temper is going to flare,” or, “Oh wow, Pamela is going to insist they get a gun in the house.” My characters often surprise me, scare me and take me on thrill rides—often to places I’d rather not go. But, in doing so, I know the reader is going to be glued to the pages.

Why did you incorporate bullying in this thriller?

Ever since I was a boy I have had a soft spot in my heart for underdogs, including people who are bullied, overweight and unpopular in the world’s eyes. I do not like bullies! And I think bullying is one of the lowest things a person can do to another human being. I wanted to explore the topic a bit in this book and follow a boy who was bullied and unwanted into adulthood. I thought it would touch people’s hearts, help us become more concerned about other people’s feelings and make for a thrilling and thought-provoking story.

What faith-building ideas do you think readers will take away from this novel?

It is easy to say, “No matter what, God is sovereign.” It is easy to say, “All things work together for good.” But what about when the unthinkable happens? When it strikes hard and deep and turns our worlds upside down? What does that do to our faith? I actually don’t know what it would to do my faith or my relationship with God, but I wanted to explore that in this novel. Hopefully, readers will take away the thought that they need to reserve judgment and wear another person’s shoes before judging or criticizing anyone else—whether that person is a Christian or not.

Will there be more books featuring Jack Crittendon?

Yes! Fear Has a Name is the first book in the new series known as “The Crittendon Files.” We just finished the cover design for book two, Poison Town, a book that readers are going to love. I’m halfway through writing the third novel in the series. My publisher and I are confident once fiction-lovers get a hold of this first book, they are going to be clamoring for more. 

What other information would help Christian retailers recommend Fear Has a Name?

Express to customers and book-lovers that Fear Has a Name is not a horror story. As a reader myself, I don’t read books that are simply scary. It must have a solid plot and intriguing characters. Fear Has a Name is thought-provoking. It has spiritual depth. It deals with topics like bullying, gun control, depression and how people deal with unthinkable trials. It is a book that book clubs will love to discuss.

Thomas Nelson is making available its New Spirit-Filled Life Bible in the New Living Translation for the first time this month. The new edition comes in a number of bindings and colors, including hardcover ($44.99), brick red Leathersoft ($79.99; $89.99 with indexing) and black bonded leather ($79.99; $89.99 with indexing).

The KJV Life Application Study Bible is available this month in a brown/tan TuTone color combination. The King James LeatherLike edition is thumb-indexed retails for $79.99. The popular Life Application Study Bible features notes that explain difficult passages and give information on Bible life and times. It also shows how the reader can “take it personally,” speaking to life circumstances, and has nearly 10,000 Life Application notes. 

The Premium Slimline Reference Bible in the New Living Translation is available from Tyndale House Publishers June 1 with thumb-indexing and large-print text in a slim binding. Retailing for $49.99, this TuTone brown/tan LeatherLike edition has classic reference features such as words of Christ in red, a dictionary/concordance, full-color maps, presentation pages, two ribbon markers, gilded page edges, a presentation page and a favorite-passages index.

Edited by Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation, The Mission of God Study Bible in the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation comes in two new colors—desert sand and cameo rose—June 1 from Holman Bibles (B&H Publishing Group). The study Bible includes more than 150 writings from leading voices in the church about what it means to live in the mission of God, and “Letters to the Church” from elder statesmen such as Billy Graham and Jack Hayford speak to the grand narrative of God’s mission in Scripture. Each of the LeatherTouch Bibles retail for $49.99.

Latest project: Resurrection Year: Turning Broken Dreams Into New Beginnings (9780849964800, $15.99, Thomas Nelson).

What is a resurrection year, and where did you first hear of this concept? I’d describe a resurrection year as a year of new life following the death of a dream. I’d love to take credit for the phrase, but it was the British author Adrian Plass who suggested it to me. I was talking to Adrian off-air one day after interviewing him on my radio show. We’d gotten to know each other a little over the years and so I told him about the difficult journey my wife, Merryn, and I had recently been on, and how we were thinking of starting the new year afresh. He listened intently and then said, “In the Christian scheme of things, new beginnings come after the death of something, just as Jesus’ resurrection followed his crucifixion. After what you’ve just told me, I think a ‘Resurrection Year’ is just what you need.”

What prompted you and Merryn to leave Australia, travel Europe and resettle in Oxford, England? Our broken dream was not being able to start a family. We had pursued that dream for 10 years—through special diets, healing prayer, numerous rounds of IVF [in vitro fertilization] and even a two-year wait on the Australian adoption list. By the end of that 10 years, Merryn was in a mess. She needed a new beginning. Apart from longing to become a mum, Merryn’s only other dream was to live and work overseas. When she was offered a job at Oxford University, we saw it as God’s way for that secondary dream to become a reality. 

What made you finally decide to stop trying to have a child? In short, because we couldn’t continue on anymore. Proverbs 13:12 says that hope deferred makes the heart sick. Well, Merryn’s heart was sick. The constant waiting picks away at the fabric of your being—waiting each month when you’re first trying for a child; waiting for blood test results when you’re doing IVF; waiting for the phone call when you’re waiting to adopt. Your emotions get a battering during this wait, as your hopes are constantly raised then dashed. As we approached our 10th year of waiting and also approached the age of 40 when fertility becomes even harder, we decided to try one last round of IVF before bringing the journey to an end. As readers of Resurrection Year will discover, that final round was eventful.

You left a significant platform in Australia as a national radio show host, best-selling author and speaker. Why? Because Merryn needed me to. … Having seen her reduced to tears night after night from having her first dream denied, I couldn’t watch her miss out on a second. But I wasn’t the hero in this. Leaving my career and ministry in Australia was hard. I didn’t leave it with a light heart or the joy of a saint who delights in sacrifice. In the book, I describe our experience of infertility as our “wilderness” journey. To some degree, leaving Australia and coming to the U.K. plunged me into a second wilderness experience—not knowing who I was or what my purpose was to be. But God has been up to something all along, and this book is part of it. A whole new season of ministry is beginning—a very unexpected one.

How did your travels before settling in England help you and Merryn move on? Our travels through Europe … helped us to see the “bigness” of life again. The historic and artistic glories of Rome opened our eyes to a larger world than we’d been seeing. The lovely Italian ritual of la passeggiata—an evening stroll through the village when one catches up with the neighbors—was restorative. The natural beauty of Switzerland was overwhelming. All up, our European trip was a chance to play again, to be amazed by beauty and to let some of the dead leaves of our old life float away.

How is this book about even more than infertility? Resurrection Year is a book for those who have experienced a broken dream or for those who know someone who has. … I hope Resurrection Year will breathe new life and hope into these and other readers, helping them to realize that a broken dream doesn’t have to define one’s life, and that while God is sometimes silent, He is never absent.

What else should Christian retailers know about Resurrection Year? Thomas Nelson has put a great marketing plan together for the book, and I’ll be doing a lot of media and speaking to get the message out. Those who’ve read Resurrection Year have told me, almost to the person, that they have five friends they’re buying the book for. I hope Christian retailers feel confident carrying quantities of the book and in giving it a prominent position in store! Something seems to be building around this little memoir.

Amy Grant has found a new label home in Capitol Christian Music Group (formerly EMI CMG Label Group). Her first full studio project in 10 years, How Mercy Looks From Here (Sparrow Records/Capitol Christian Distribution) releases May 7.

Where did the project’s title come from?

I believe the title was [label President] Peter York’s idea. I love the title because I think it sums up the feeling of the record. During the last 10 years, I have had to bury several dear friends and my beautiful mom, Gloria Grant. Yet in spite of those times of real grief, I have felt God’s presence and have also felt genuine joy at how life continues to unfold. At age 52, it is nice to have lived enough to really know that God is present in good times and bad and that His mercy continues to make all the difference.

Are there one or two songs that are special to you on this album?

It is hard to pick one or two songs on this project. The inspiration for the entire project was based on one of the last lucid conversations I had with my mom. I had stopped by to spend some time with her before catching the tour bus for the “2 Friends” tour with Michael W. Smith. When it was time for me to leave, I told my mom that I had to go sing. She looked at me with genuine surprise and asked, “You sing?” My mom was the first person I ever sang a song to as a teenager and the fact that she didn’t remember that I was a singer put a huge lump in my throat. I swallowed hard and said, “Yes, mom, I do.” She asked me what kind of songs I sang and I told her songs about life, love, family and faith. She asked me to sing something before leaving and so I started an old hymn that I knew she had sung a hundred times before. About halfway through I asked her if she remembered this song. She replied, “No, but I love it! Please keep singing!” So I swallowed another lump in my throat and finished the song. When it was over, I kissed her and said I needed to leave. She looked me in the eye and said, “When you get on that stage to sing, will you do me a favor? Sing something that matters.” All of the songs on this record really matter to me. 

What was it like working with producer Marshall Altman?

I had never met Marshall before, but upon first meeting him, I felt an instant familiarity. I immediately related to his sort of creative organized chaos, and his warm and open personality made me feel safe as an artist. We started this project by meeting once a week. I would show up and play him some songs and he would critique them and then we would discuss them. I really respected his artistic opinion, but also appreciated that he wanted me to push back and fight for what I believed in. We met every week for several months pulling together the songs we thought were special. We wrote together and tore apart existing songs to recast them in very different light. When it came time to record the record, we had already done so much pre-tracking work that we had a strong sense of what we wanted the album to sound like. What I also love about Marshall is the creative community he surrounds himself with. Every day there are people stopping by the studio—artists he has worked with, writers, musicians, friends—and he welcomes them all. I loved making the record in the midst of all that creativity.

‘Jimmy’ encourages viewers to look past the obvious in relating to the mentally challenged

Based on a best-selling novel by Robert Whitlow, Jimmy (095163885410, $19.95) tells the story of mentally challenged 14-year-old Jimmy Mitchell (Ian Colletti). Jimmy  is “slow,” according to the people in his hometown of Piney Grove, Ga.

However, Jimmy has an uncanny ability to see and hear a lot, including angelic beings he calls “Watchers.” When his lawyer father Lee Mitchell (Patrick Fabian) asks Jimmy to testify in a crucial trial, the town’s residents are amazed when his testimony saves a man from going to jail, while leading to far-reaching consequences for himself and the people he loves.

Directed by Mark Freiburger, the movie features the tag line: “Once you see the world through Jimmy’s eyes, it will never look the same again.”

“Jimmy is a charming story with heartfelt performances, reminding us to value each and every child,” said brothers Jon and Andy Erwin, who directed last year’s pro-life drama October Baby.

Singer-songwriter Matthew West added: “As a storyteller myself, I always look for a movie to tell a great story and move me. Jimmy did just that.”

The film has garnered some strong reviews, including one reviewer who said it has its “share of thrills, drama, compassion, love and perseverance.”

 Another reviewer added: “Filled with Southern characters at once familiar and unexpected, Jimmy is an extraordinary tale about growing up in the midst of real struggle. From the first encounter with Jimmy to the last triumphant goodbye, Jimmy will enthrall and delight.”

 After the movie was screened for the first time in Charlotte, N.C., where it was filmed, Whitlow said, “there weren’t many dry eyes in the crowd by the time the credits started to roll.”

“Jimmy has always occupied a special place in my heart, and it is a thrill to see the characters come to life on the screen,” he added. 

Releasing this month, the 95-minute, Dove Foundation-approved film is distributed by Bridgestone Multimedia Group. For more information, visit www.jimmymovie.com. 

To order, call Bridgestone at 800-523-0988.