Last year, Knapp reappeared, releasing a statement on her Web site that she was indeed returning to making music and offered a preview song.

Using an example to make his point, he said that if a writer sent a "blank book" with a title, author's name and payment to a vanity publisher, it would be published. Why? "Because it's a business transaction," he said. Jenkins didn't elaborate on the finer points that differ from company to company in the self-publishing world.

Point of Grace performs "Love and Laundry," a song from the March 2 release, No Changing Us (Word Records).

Canadian quartet Newworldson gets a boost for its self-titled sophomore release, with spotlight promotions from LifeWay Christian Stores, Mardel Christian & Education and the Parable group.

The chain offers the 12-track release for $7.99, with the online offer including the free download of more information about the band. The same price is presented by Mardel.

Meanwhile online shoppers at Parable stores are being given the opportunity to buy the new CD for $5.99—and register to win a four-day, three-night trip to the Bahamas.

LifeWay's email promotion also offers Guy Penrod's Breathe Deep for $11.99, $2 off the regular price and four favorites for $10 each: Michael W. Smith's A New Hallelujah, Selah's You Deliver Me, Jeremy Camp's Speaking Louder Than Before and Newsboys' In the Hands of God. LifeWay also offers a $10 savings card with each $40 buy through March 6, in-store only.

The Parable promotion includes music specials that sell TobyMac's Tonight for $9.97 instead of $13.99 and Casting Crowns' Until the Whole World Hears for $11.19 instead of $15.98. There is also a pre-buy price of $9.97 for the new VeggieTales release, Pistachio: The Little Boy that Woodn't, available from this weekend.

Mardel also offers more than a dozen new T-shirt designs for $12.99 each and 50% off select books and Bibles. Included are Willard F. Harley Jr.'s His Needs, Her Needs for $9.99 and Emmerson Eggerichs' The Language of Love and Respect for $7.49.

Family Christian Stores focuses on deals for "thought-provoking fiction," with $5 off selected Francine Rivers titles with a pre-purchase of her forthcoming Her Mother's Hope for $18.74 instead of $24.99. Karen Kingsbury's Take Three, the next in her filmmaker series, can be ordered in advance for $11.24 instead of $14.99.

Which plan will you go with? The subtitle for Dwight Robertson's You are God's Plan A, releasing March 1 from David C. Cook, specifically says "there is no plan B" but Pete Wilson, who's releasing Plan B on May 4, apparently didn't get the memo.

Michael W. Smith assembled a large group of Christian and country music artists for a benefit single for Haiti relief. The video features Smith, Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Mark Hall, Nicole C. Mullen, Wynonna, Lee Greenwood, TobyMac and many others.

Come Together Now - Music City Unites For Haiti from Provident Label Group on Vimeo.

Two leading chains present half-off specials with an emphasis on children's products.

Mardel Christian & Education Supply is knocking 50% off items in Sheila Walsh's "Gigi, God's Little Princess" line. That prices DVDs Gigi's Big Break and Gigi: Bursting With Readiness at $7.49 each, God's Little Princess Devotional Bible hardcover at $8.49, Gigi's Royal Scepter at $5 and Gigi: God's Little Princess Doll at $9.99.

Family Christian Stores' "Share Your Faith With Your Kids" promotion sees Stephen Elkins' 100 Bible Stories, 100 Bible Songs reduced to $9.99 while Gwen Ellis' Read and Share Bible retails for $8.49. DVDs featured include Facing the Giants ($7.49) and the Wonders of God's Creation six-disc pack ($29.99).

The chain's offer also includes products for parents. Among them are Have a New Kind by Friday by Kevin Leman ($8.99), The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian ($6.99) and Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages of Children/Teens ($7.49).

Also part of the Family email is a pre-buy offer on the hit faith-based film, The Blind Side. Available on DVD March 23, the Oscar-nominated film can be purchased in advance for $24.97, $4.01 off the regular price.

Mardel's 50%-off list also includes more than a dozen items in a Heartsong collection that includes a petite hurricane tea light holder with finch design and a 3x3 photo frame with a butterfly and bird design (both from $19.99 to $7.99) and a wall plaque featuring a white flower and bird (from $16.99 to $7.99).

Known for her good reputation, Rylee is amazed when she is mistaken for the thief the newspapers are calling the "Robin Hood Burglar." The incriminating evidence, according to local detective Nate Campbell, is that most of the victims of the crimes are clients of Rylee's. As Rylee and her new reporter friend Logan Woods work together to solve the crimes, they deal with feelings of concern for each other and Logan's skepticism of those helping her.

A central theme explored in Beguiled involves trusting God to make things right, as well maintaining integrity and honesty. Although it end ups being a good love story, the twists and turns of the excellent plot make it a good read for anyone from young adult to adult.
-Beth Anderson

Beguiled

Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand

Bethany House Publishers (Baker Publishing Group)

softcover, 336 pages, $14.99

978-0-764-20628-3

As a columnist for his local newspaper, Damien Underwood makes his living through the power of words. With love for his safe and picturesque hometown of Marlo, he writes to influence his friends and neighbors in positive ways. Though his family, complete with a wife and two teenage children, is not perfect, they fit quite normally within the quiet town.

Strange happenings in Marlo begin with a few domestic incidents that catch the attention of Officer Frank Merret. As outbreaks of violence increase daily, the only evident source for all the conflict lies with a Web site where private conversations of the town's residents are being published for everyone to read. Though at first the site is only a menace, hardly warranting a serious police investigation, it eventually turns the town down an unforgettable path of hurt, resentment, fear and violence.

Listen offers readers a gripping plot and a significant message that spoken words carry more weight than anyone can know.
-Bonnie Bruner

Listen

Renee Gutteridge

Tyndale House Publishers

softcover, 432 pages, $12.99

978-1-414-32433-3

Marketing consultant and long-time friend of Christian stores Steve Miller has offered a good talking point for retailers thinking through how they can differentiate themselves from other channels.

A presenter at the International Christian Retail Show who has also worked with CBA on the look of its summer show passed along a lesson he learned from a recent experience with his bank, in a video blog post at his Two Hats Marketing Web site.

A parishioner has made them both joint beneficiaries of an old theater, but the conditions state they must live together for six months before they can inherit it. Now Maura must face both Nick and the congregation she left behind. Somehow, she doubts she can satisfy either of them, nor Nick's God whom she used to serve so fervently. Complicating matters, it appears that Nick may have a younger and much more suited love interest, even though he is still legally married to Maura. Although the plot is simple, the book is an interesting read, especially when Nick and Maura begin to realize their mistakes.

Embracing the sanctity of marriage as well as the concept of free will, this book would be a good read for most any woman, especially those who have sometimes felt that their marriage was not necessarily made in heaven.
-Beth Anderson

The Pastor's Wife
Jennifer AlLee
Abingdon Press
softcover, 288 pages, $13.99
978-1-426-70225-9

Jonathan Acuff, author of Stuff Christians Like (Zondervan), speaks with DeWayne Hamby, assistant editor about Christian humor and how his blog spawned the book and a fundraising effort.

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Read the related story, "Looking At the Lighter Side of Faith" here.

The Katinas posted some behind the scenes footage from the charity recording "Come Together Now," recorded last night in Franklin featuring Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Wynonna, Newsboys and many others.

Here's another video--featuring gospel artists like BeBe and CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams--organized by Kirk Franklin during the Stellar Awards weekend.

Amy Grant, who released her self-titled album in 1977, has been a constant in the Christian music industry for more than 30 years. For myself and many others, Grant's music has been the soundtrack to significant points in our lives, rejoicing with her in the pop celebration of Heart In Motion and mellowing out with Lead Me On or Behind the Eyes.