Zondervan Author wins Christian Prize; Baker Promotions, Top-10 September Catholic Titles; Speakers at Jewish Children's Book Writer's Conference
by Daisy Maryles, Religion BookLine -- Publishers Weekly, 9/24/2008
Camy Tang, author of Zondervan's popular Sushi Series, won the 2008 American Christian Fiction Writers' award for best book in the debut author category for her 2007 novel Sushi for One? Publishers Weekly's review called the book a "sassy narrative" and said it was "refreshing to have Tang's voice in Christian fiction." Tang continues the series in Only Uni and more recently with Single Sashimi.
Baker Publishing Group announced several promotions including Jennifer Leep, who has assumed the position of editorial director for Revell. She has been an acquisitions editor for the last eight years and has been with Baker since 1996. Leep replaces Lonnie Hull DuPont, who has become executive editor at Revell. DuPont recently chose to transition into a role that would allow her to continue in acquisitions, but also work on her own writing. Jim Kinney is being promoted to associate publisher, while also continuing as editorial director of Baker Academic. Kinney has worked in the publishing industry for 20 years, since 1996 with Baker. Robert Hosack is being promoted to executive editor, Baker Academic and Baker Books. He has been a senior acquisitions editor, serving Baker Academic and Baker Books, since 2001. Vicki Crumpton is also being promoted to executive editor, Revell. Crumpton began her publishing career with Broadman & Holman Publishers in 1989. She joined Baker in 2001 as senior acquisitions editor.
The top-10 hardcover bestsellers on the September Catholic Bestseller List are: Render Unto Caesar by Charles Chaput (Doubleday); No One Sees God by Michael Novak (Doubleday); Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To by Anthony DeStefano (Doubleday); The Fathers by Pope Benedict XVI (Our Sunday Visitor); The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly (Beacon Publishing/Hyperion); Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly (Beacon Publishing); Celebration of Discipline: 25th Anniversary Edition by Richard Foster (HarperOne); A Persistent Peace by John Dear (Loyola Press); Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright (HarperOne); and Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI (Doubleday).
The 92nd Street Y Buttenwieser Library and the Jewish Book Council are cosponsoring the Tenth Annual Jewish Children's Book Writers' Conference at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan on Sunday, November 23, 2008, from 9a.m. to 5p.m. Featured speakers are associate agent Michelle Andelman of Andrea Brown Literary Agency; publisher David E. Behrman of Behrman House; executive editor Michelle Frey of Knopf and Crown Books for Young Readers; editor Larry Rosler of Boyds Mills Press, director Joni Sussman of Kar-Ben Publishing, and illustrator's agent Melissa Turk of Melissa Turk & The Artist Network. The day will include sessions on publishing and writing in Israel, the Sydney Taylor Book Award and Manuscript Competitions, and individual consultations with editors and agents from past conferences. The registration form is available for download at www.92y.org/content/pdf/jewishchildrensbookwriters.pdf.
