Westbow Publishing is partnering with PW Select, Publishers Weekly’s print supplement focused on self-publishing, to promote Westbow’s stable of some 3,000 self-published authors. Among its successful authors in William Sirls, whose The Reason was picked up by Thomas Nelson and has sold 40,000 copies in the past year. According to Pete Nikolais, director of publishing services, Westbow is doing an e-mail promotion to its authors this week, encouraging them to buy into the PW Select package, which gives them a title listing, the opportunity to be considered for review, and a six-month subscription to the digital edition of the magazine. The next issue of PW Select will be October 14.
The American Academy of Religion (AAR) has selected the 2013 recipients of its book awards. The award for the Best First Book in the History of Religions went to A. Azfar Moin of Southern Methodist University for The Millennial Sovereign: Sacred Kingship and Sainthood in Islam (Columbia University Press, 2012). There were four Awards for Excellence in the Study of Religion in four categories. The awards will be presented at the AAR’s 2013 Annual Meeting in Baltimore on November 24.
CBA, the Association of Christian Retailers, has elected two new board members and confirmed an appointed representative. Their three-year terms begin Oct. 1. Vicki Geist, co-owner of Cedar Springs Christian Stores in Knoxville, Tenn., will serve as director representing independent retailers with annual sales more than $750,000. David Dickinson of Christian Gifts Place in Wilton, Conn., has been elected director representing independent retailers with annual sales less than $750,000. DaySpring senior v-p for commercialization Bill Couey will serve as gift and specialty products director. The directors join new CBA Board Chairman Sue Smith, general manager of Baker Book House (Grand Rapids, Mich.), who also begins her term Oct. 1. Outgoing Chairman George Thomsen’s term expires Sept. 30.
FaithWords author Joel Osteen has passed the one million mark in sales for I Declare ten months after its publication in hardcover, e-book, and audio book formats.The book is now also available in Spanish and in trade paperback. Osteen’s next book, Break Out!, releases on October 1. In other news at the company, Christina Boys, senior editor, has been nominated for the 2103 ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Editor of the Year Award. The ceremony will be held on September 15th in Indianapolis, where winners determined by an ACFW voting committee will be announced. Among Boys’ authors are Carla Stewart, Ginny Aiken, Lauraine Snelling, and Jane Myers Perrine. FaithWords is an imprint of Hachette Book Group.
Bible Gateway, described as the Internet's largest Christian Web site, is now featuring devotional content by renowned Christian author C. S. Lewis. Lewis, an Oxford and Cambridge professor who died 50 years ago, is the author of The Chronicles of Narnia series and more than 30 other books, including literary criticism, children's books, fantasy titles, and popular theology. Daily meditations drawn from eight of Lewis’ most famous books are available to Bible Gateway visitors and email subscribers. The site is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing; the online material is provided through a collaboration of HarperOne and the C. S. Lewis Estate.
Moody Publishers author Bruce Strom (Gospel Justice) and Administer Justice, his free legal clinic in Elgin, Ill., have been recognized by WORLD Magazine with the Hope Award for Effective Compassion for the Midwest region. Hope Award recipients—Christian poverty-fighting ministries that are local and dependent on donations rather than government grants--are nominated by WORLD readers. Administer Justice will receive a $4,000 cash award as well as national publicity. In October, readers of WORLD Magazine can cast a vote online for the organization to receive an additional gift of $25,000.
Regal Publishing has launched a new imprint, Regal for Women. The line will include books by such high-profile authors and speakers as Suzie Eller of Proverbs 31, a women’s ministry; Holly Wagner, pastor at Oasis LA and Women of Faith conference speaker; Pam Stenzel of abstinence education organization Enlighten Communications Inc.; Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller of the online community Spiritually Mismatched Marriages; and others. Regal for Women is the first step in Regal’s plans to promote their authors to target audiences through churches and ministry organizations.
Send The Light Distribution has launched a new gifts section on its Web site, offering expanded information and search capabilities to Christian retailers. The new section, found by clicking on the banner “New & Expanded Gift Lines” on the right-hand side of the landing page, makes it easier for retailers to find new gift lines offered by STL, according to the company.
