Christian Retailing

Surprise sellers Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Thursday, 30 June 2011 10:42 AM America/New_York

With more than 2 million in sales, a children’s version due to release in November and a movie adaptation, Heaven is for Real (Thomas Nelson) has been one the surprise hits of the Christian publishing world, since its release last fall.

Like William P. Young’s best-seller The Shack, it is one of those titles that has been propelled more by word-of-mouth recommendation than advertising and promotion.

We talked with representatives of publishers of similar titles, which have racked up sales of more than a million without a major marketing push, about handling such unexpected successes and the role Christian retail stores have in their impact.

Taking part in the discussion were: 

  • Woodley Auguste, director of marketing and publicity for Charisma Media’s book division, Charisma House (23 Minutes in Hell by Bill Wiese, 2006) 
  • Don Gates, vice president of marketing for trade books at Zondervan (The Man in the Mirror by Patrick Morley, 2000) 
  • Laura Minchew, vice president & publisher, children and gift specialty books for Thomas Nelson (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, 2004) 
  • LaRae Weikert, vice president of editorial for Harvest House (The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian, 1995) 
Auguste_WoodleyGates_DonMinchew_LauraWeikert_LaRae

Woodley
Auguste

Don Gates

Laura
Minchew

LaRae
Weikert