Zondervan and its outside PR firm, Lambert, Edwards & Associates, with Beyond the Box (BTB), have been awarded the 2007 Silver Anvil Award by the Public Relations Society of America for the launch of the Inspired By…The Bible Experience (New Testament) audiobook. The award is PRSA’s highest honor, and follows Zondervan’s and LE&A’s 2006 win for the launch of the Today’s New International Version of the Bible. In the wake of the Inspired By… campaign, the product received more than 420 print stories and 31 radio and 15 TV spots. The audio sold 33,000 units during Christmas week alone, making it the fastest-selling Bible during the holidays. It has sold more than 310,000 units to date, becoming Zondervan’s fastest-selling new Bible, and garnered the Audiobook of the Year Award from the Audio Publishers Association.

Thomas Nelson made several announcements yesterday (June 26): Author John Maxwell—who has published many of his bestselling books with Nelson—was voted the most influential leadership guru in a worldwide poll conducted by leadershipguru.net. Others in the winners circle included Robin Sharma, Harvey Mackay, Anthony D’Souza and Laura Ingraham. This September, Nelson will re-release the 10th anniversary edition of Maxwell’s The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, with more than 70% of the content revised and updated. Nelson also announced the appointment of Susan Hagenau by its Corporate Brands publishing unit as brand manager for John Maxwell, Charles Stanley and Charles Swindoll. Hagenau had formerly been with Nelson’s legal department. And Thomas Nelson was recently recognized by Levy Home Entertainment as Inspirational Publisher of the Year. Each year Levy recognizes top publishers in the inspirational, hardcover trade, mass market, children’s, YA and ethnic categories.

Bridge-Logos Publishers has announced the appointment of Lloyd B. Hildebrand as publisher and CEO of the Orlando, Fla.-based company. Hildebrand has worked at the press in various capacities since it was founded in 1968 as Logos International Fellowship in Plainfield, N.J. He was most recently senior editor, working closely with Guy Morrell, the company’s cofounder and former president and CEO, who died in May. Bridge-Logos also has appointed Steve Becker COO. Becker has been director of sales and marketing at the company for the past five years, and will also continue in those roles. Bridge-Logos publishes such authors as Ray Comfort, Kirk Cameron and Jack Hayford.