Bestseller Bytes

by Daisy Maryles, Religion BookLine -- Publishers Weekly, 9/24/2008

Bestselling author Gary Chapman breaks love into seven essential "characteristics" in his new Doubleday book, Love as a Way of Life, which he believes will make a difference in marriage, parenting and the workplace. They are: Kindness: Discovering the Joy of Putting Others Before Yourself; Patience: Accepting the Imperfection of Others; Forgiveness: Finding Freedom from the Grip of Anger; Courtesy: Treating Others as Friends; Humility: Stepping Down So Someone Else Can Step Up; Generosity: Giving Your-self to Others; and Honesty: Revealing Who You Really Are.

According to Tyndale, Jerry B. Jenkins had two people from his past that he used as the inspiration for his new bestseller Riven—a pastor/teacher/mentor of his and a kid who was always getting into trouble. October is Pastor's Appreciation Month, and Tyndale has put together a radio promotion for that—people who call in to participating stations to share comments or prayer for their pastors will receive promo copies of Jenkins's book. Riven has more than 100,000 copies in print after two printings.

Joel Osteen will appear with his wife, Victoria Osteen, on her tour for Love Your Life: Living Happy Healthy & Whole that begins in New York City October 14—her book and Osteen's Become a Better You Daily Readings both from Free Press pub on that date. Joel Osteen continues to fill arenas for his Night of Hope tour appearances, which usually include book signings. He just did an event at the Verizon Center in D.C. for more than 15,000 fans; Books-A-Million held a signing at its DuPont Circle store. Next stop—the American Airlines Center in Dallas on October 12.

A recent blog posting on HarperOne's CSLewis.com discusses whether Mere Christianity, first published in 1952, is still relevant in the 21st century. The book covers a lot of ground, ranging from a moral argument for the existence of God to Christian ethics to theology. "Is Mere Christianity a strange relic or does it retain contemporary relevance? In some respects Lewis would question this line of inquiry, as it implies that something that is old is, by default, no longer relevant. 'Chronological snobbery' is the term Lewis used to refer to the flawed concept that newer ideas are supposedly always better than old ones."

Wanda Brunstetter's book tour for October–November, according to Barbour, will go to Ohio's Amish region, including several locations in Holmes County, where the Sisters of Holmes County series is set. At these appearances, she'll be signing copies of all her books, especially A Sister's Hope and her new holiday release, White Christmas Pie.

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