CBA convention’s special events highlight significant fall trade titles from Max Lucado, Kevin DeYoung

Fans of the printed word found much to satisfy at June’s International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in St. Louis.

From powerhouse novelists such as Karen Kingsbury to potential best-seller Danny Gokey—whose Hope in Front of Me details his American Idol experience and the loss of his first wife, Sophia—to custom-published authors along Author Avenue and members of the Christian Small Publishers Association—all found a voice on the exhibit floor.

Jonathan Cahn drew a crowd as he signed his two FrontLine books from Charisma House Book Group, The Harbinger and The Harbinger Companion With Study Guide, for two-and-a-half hours.

Abingdon Press author  Sarah Kovac made her debut with In Capable Arms, releasing in September. Kovac was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, which left her shoulders, arms and fingers shortened and lacking muscles. She signed nearly 125 books with her feet.

Sunday night’s Worship Him gave Max Lucado the opportunity to share from his fall release, You’ll Get Through This, from Thomas Nelson. It also was announced that there will be a mass-market paperback of the book for the Salvation Army to provide to clients in crisis. Through the Give Hope Where It Counts campaign, Christian retailers are invited to ask consumers to purchase the special edition for $5.

Crazy Busy author Kevin DeYoung keynoted the publisher’s 75th-anniversary banquet Monday evening. Special guests Bryan Chappell and J.I. Packer put in an appearance—Packer via live video—to commemorate the evening.

Retailers at Monday’s CBA Member Luncheon listened in as Chris Fabry facilitated a discussion with The Shack author William Paul Young, who talked about his newest novel, Cross Roads (FaithWords).

Suzanne Kuhn of SuzyQ hosted the Christian Fiction: Authors, Retailers, Readers event Tuesday that allowed authors, including Cecil Murphey and James Rubart, to connect with retailers.

Lysa TerKeurst spoke at the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association’s Golden Scroll Awards and Munce Group’s ice cream social along with Robin Wolaver of the Annie Moses Band.

ICRS was also the stage for a number of awards announcements, including Christian Retailing’s Best, the Christy Awards and the Golden Scroll Awards.