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November 26, 2008

Behind the News

• Paula Frederiksen signing copies of her new book, Augustine and the Jews, at the Doublday booth.

  "The Great Divorce," part two: Good vibes, good sales mark SBL meeting
  "Energy" was a term frequently heard, as was the ka-ching of sales being rung up, as religion publishers exhibited, and sold, their wares at the second meeting this month for religion and biblical scholars. The Society of Biblical Literature met Nov. 21-25 in Boston, a magnet city for academics, attracting 5,500 biblical studies scholars from the U.S. and abroad. Most of the meeting's 86 exhibitors were publishers, and they were happy--and relieved--campers. more » » » 
• Cutbacks at Augsburg Fortress
  Augsburg Fortress, the publishing arm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has begun a process of restructuring that will close nine bookstores and halt acquisitions by its consumer-oriented imprint. The changes will eliminate 55 jobs at the company and leave it in the business of producing resources for congregations and materials for higher education. more » » » 

• Strong Sales for Berenstain Bears
  
  Zonderkidz launched its first four faith-based paperbacks under the Berenstain Bears Living Lights banner on September 30 and has sold a combined total of 100,000 copies in the first six weeks. The books, The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule, The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School, The Berenstain Bears Say Their Prayers and The Berenstain Bears: God Loves You!, are the first of a total of 12 titles planned, with the next two scheduled for spring. more » » » 

Short Takes

• Merkh joins William Morris Agency; Lockhart and Bolinder head up IBS-STL Global; new Canadian distributor and a new academic web portal for B&H; ESV Study Bible's many digital platforms
  Jonathan Merkh joined the William Morris Agency, focusing on projects for the Christian Faith book market. He will be based out of WMA's Nashville office. Merkh worked for Thomas Nelson for 14 years and was senior v-p and publisher of its book division. Most recently, he was v-p of book publishing for Guideposts. At Nelson, Merkh worked with many bestselling authors Robin McGraw, Dave Ramsey, Deborah Norville, Donald Miller, John & Stasi Eldredge and Denise Jackson. more » » » 

Author Interview

• A Conversation with Templeton's New Editor-in-Chief
  Susan Arellano took the helm of Templeton Press in September, ready to guide the nearly 12-year-old book publisher in a new direction and broaden the types of books it publishes. The press was founded by the John Templeton Foundation in 1997. Both organizations support each others' mission of disseminating knowledge. more » » » 

RELIGION IN REVIEW

• Sneak Peeks: Two Reviews Coming in PW on Monday, Dec. 15
  
  A Code of Jewish Ethics, Volume 2: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
  Joseph Telushkin. Harmony/Bell Tower,$32.50 (512p) ISBN 978-1-4000-4836-6
  
  In 2006, Telushkin, a scholar, writer, lecturer, teacher and rabbi, presented the first of his projected three-volume series on Jewish ethics. Subtitled You Shall Be Holy, the initial contribution focused on character development. This second volume uses the biblical commandment, “love your neighbor as yourself,” to explore ethical behavior in interpersonal relationships. Among the topics considered are hospitality, visiting the sick, obligations to the dead, comforting mourners, kindness, advice-giving, charity, relationships between Jews and non-Jews, treatment of animals, self-defense, justice and tolerance. Masterfully presented, Telushkin’s straightforward opinions are supported by enlightening anecdotes drawn from the Bible, Talmud and Midrash as well as contemporary Jewish and non-Jewish thinkers. While this superlative compendium focuses on Jewish ethics, people of all faiths will find the precepts so unambiguously presented here to have significant value. (Feb.)
• Hard as Nails: A Mission to Awaken Youth to the Power of God’s Love
  Justin Fatica. Doubleday/Image, $14 paper (256p) ISBN 978-0-385-52717-0
  
  Fatica, cofounder of the Hard as Nails youth outreach, chronicles his progression from recalcitrant high school student to “unordained Catholic minister” in this account of his life and work with young people. Fatica’s in-your-face ministry, the subject of a 2007 HBO documentary, is known for such controversial methods as the “Cross Walk,” in which blindfolded participants “experience” Christ’s torture and death through a reenactment that uses music, shouted words and sounds to mimic the scourging and nailing of Christ to the cross. Hard as Nails Ministries grew out of Fatica’s work at a Catholic high school in New Jersey, and since has spread to other areas, including Barbados, reaching marginalized young people with a simple, unaffected message and methods borrowed from evangelical Protestants. Fatica writes simply and conversationally, complementing his words with moving stories and heartrending letters from young people. He also includes practical “Call to Action” steps for youth with particular problems and questions. Parents, youth workers and all adults who interact with young people will find this interesting and illuminating reading. (Feb.)

Bestseller Bytes

• Bestseller Bytes
  An October AP story about Anne Rice's new memoir, Called Out of Darkness, points out that the 67-year-old writer doesn't disavow the two decades she spent writing erotic books on vampires, demons and witches. "To be able to take the tools, the apprenticeship, whatever I learned from being a vampire writer, or whatever I was—to be able to take those tools now and put them in the service of God—is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful opportunity." Knopf reports a 100,000-copy first printing. more » » » 

PW Reliigon Bestsellers November 2008

• Hardcover

  1. What in the World Is Going On?
  David Jeremiah. Thomas Nelson, $22.99 ISBN 978-0-7852-2887-5
  2. Love Your Life
  Victoria Osteen. Free Press, $25 ISBN 978-0-7432-9693-9
  3. Before You Do
  T.D. Jakes. Atria, $25 ISBN 978-1-416-54728-0
  4. Multiple Blessings.
  Jon & Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson. Zondervan, $19.95 ISBN 978-0-310-28902-9
  5. Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession.
  Anne Rice. Knopf, $24 ISBN 978-0-307-26827-3
  6. Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile.
  Rob Bell and Dan Golden. Zondervan, $19.99 ISBN 978-0-310-27502-2
  7. Mother Angelica's Private and Pithy Lessons from the Scriptures.
  Raymond Arroyo. Doubleday, $17.95 ISBN 978-0-385-51986-1
  8. Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires, the Respect He Desperately Needs.
  Emerson Eggerichs. Thomas Nelson, $21.99 ISBN 978-1-5914-5187-7
  9. Sinner: A Paradise Novel.
  Ted Dekker. Thomas Nelson, $24.99 ISBN 978-1-5955-4008-9
  10. Become a Better You.
  Joel Osteen. Free Press, $25 ISBN 978-0-7432-9688-5
  
   Paperback
  1. The Shack.
  William P. Young. Windblown Media, $14.99 ISBN 978-0-9647292-3-0
  2. The Love Dare
  Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick. B&H Books, $14.99 ISBN 978-0-8054-4885-6
  3. 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life.
  Don Piper with Cecil Murphey. Revell, $12.99 ISBN 978-0-8007-5949-0
  4. Sunset
  Karen Kingsbury. Tyndale House, $13.99 ISBN 978-0-8423-8758-3
  5. The Five Love Languages.
  Gary Chapman. Moody/Northfield, $14.99 ISBN 978-1-881273-15-8
  6. The Longing.
  Beverly Lewis. Bethany House, $13.99 ISBN 978-0-7642-0312-1
  7. Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul.
  John and Stasi Eldredge. Thomas Nelson, $14.99 ISBN 978-0-7852-8909-8
  8. The God Delusion.
  Richard Dawkins. Mariner Books, $15.95 ISBN 978-0-618-91824-9
  9. White Christmas Pie.
  Wanda E. Brunstetter. Barbour Books, $10.97 ISBN 978-1-5978-9937-6
  10. The Purpose-Driven Life.
  Rick Warren. Zondervan, $14.99 ISBN 978-0-310-27699-9
  

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