Avon Inspire Debuts at ICRS
By Daisy Maryles -- Publishers Weekly,07/11/2007
A garden party on the exhibit floor of International Christian Retail Show in Atlanta on Tuesday (July 10) welcomed retailers, agents and media to the official launch of a new Christian romance imprint, Avon Inspire. Authors of its first two titles, Tracey Bateman (Defiant Heart) and Linda Windsor (Wedding Bell Blues), were on hand to autograph their new books. The line’s titles are being published by Avon Books in partnership with HarperOne, with sales to CBA outlets handled by HarperOne sales director Jeff Hobbs. Since these authors have penned successful books for both the ABA and CBA markets, acceptance was immediate, and Avon publisher Liate Stehlik noted good coverage from the Christian media.
Acquisitions editor Cindy Di Tiberio noted that Avon Inspire’s two fall titles—Blessed Assurance by Lyn Cote and The Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck—are also by authors with both ABA and CBA success, a tactic that the publisher will continue. “We will continue to look for authors who already have a reputation in the CBA marketplace,” Di Tiberio said. Ten to twelve titles per year are planned.
Post a comment Return to article View other article discussions
| Submitted by: | Sue Dent (sdent1@bellsouth.net) 5/18/2009 10:27:55 AM PT |
| Location: | Mississippi |
| Occupation: | Author |
ABA and CBA success?
Perhaps it would be less confusing to say these authors who write for a CBA affiliated imprint of a larger publishing house do well within their market.
ABA is the American Booksellers Association and they work with Independent publishers (publishers who don't qualify to be called a large publisher yet) to help them find homes for their authors (Independent bookstores so they're not swamped by the big-dogs.)
CBA is an association for a niche market of Christian readers and was created by a group of Christian Booksellers in the 1950's to provide fiction for that very specific audience.
CBA affiliated authors do seem to do well within their market but not so well with readers of the broader general market. Of course, that stands to reason since it isn't their goal to appeal to the general market reader. :)
Post a comment Return to article View other article discussions
