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A QUARTERLY RESOURCE FEBRUARY 2011 VOL.50
www.bethanyhouse.com • Available from your sales rep or call Bethany House Publishers (800) 877-2665.
Bethany House Publishers is a division of the Baker Publishing Group
Religion Update Feature
From A to Z:
the 19th-century Regency-era novels by
Julie Klassen. Long says a new genera-
tion of authors “who are going to be writ-
Strategies,
ing for a long time” is making its way
into the marketplace; he cites Karen
Witemeyer and Jody Hedlund among
those new authors.
Opportunities,
Reconfiguring at B&H included the
elimination in January of the position of
executive editor Karen Ball, a fiction vet-
eran who continues as a consultant there
Successes
and freelance editor. “We’re still focusing
on suspense and thriller, and just starting
to move forward into straight romance,”
says Ball, who developed the house’s Pure
By Marcia Z. Nelson Enjoyment brand. B&H signed longtime
Zondervan suspense author Brandilyn
H
Collins to a three-book deal that begins
ere’s one informal measure of graphic limits. “There is an entire seg- with Over the Edge (May). Tosca Lee,
growth in the market for what ment of young people looking for litera- whose previous novels Demon and Havah
some call Christian and others ture that speaks to them, and Amish won attention and acclaim, next takes on
call inspirational fiction. In cozies may not be it,” she says. Like other the traitorous Iscariot (Jan. 2012). Like
2010, the number of novels faith-based fiction publishers, Abingdon other publishing veterans, Ball is keenly
received by PW’s religion is growing its line modestly, potentially aware of the need to do fresh things, espe-
department for review consideration doing as many as 25 titles annually. cially to reach younger readers, who may
increased by 15% over 2009. That’s one At Barbour, one of the market lead- be reading several books loaded on an
eye-catching indicator of just how hot ers, business is holding steady and expan- electronic device instead of curling up in
this corner of the fiction market is, and sion is in the offing for 2012, senior fic- a chair poring over a print novel. “Cap-
more publishers have been jumping in tion editor Rebecca Germany tells PW. turing them and getting them to engage,
(see “Joining the Fiction Frenzy,” p. 12). Romance is the house’s best genre; that’s the key,” says Ball.
As in general trade, a handful of estab- “romance lifts the soul during trying David C. Cook was not known for
lished novelists—Karen Kingsbury, times,” Germany observes. The house fiction, and getting its identity estab-
Francine Rivers, Beverly Lewis, Ted plans a new line of brides and weddings lished as a fiction publisher was a “rocky
Dekker, and Joel Rosenberg—dominate romances, and is touting a new—of road,” says Don Pape, publisher for trade
the category. Yet as publishers look for sorts—author: Grace Livingston Hill, a books. Cook’s foray into fiction began
the next generation of writers and read- prolific 20th-century romance author years back, when it quietly launched
ers, they say they’re open to new voices. who died in 1947. Her work is being what became the wildly successful Mit-
“Fiction is huge,” says publishing vet- revived in trade paper editions. ford series by Jan Karon. Cook’s 12–15
eran Ramona Richards, editor for fiction Bethany House, which almost single- titles per year are about 20% of its list.
at Abingdon Press. Richards recently handedly invented the category with the “I would probably say, from the proposal
took over for Barbara Scott, who founded 1979 publication of Janette Oke’s prairie side, we see fiction 10 to 1,” Pape says.
the United Methodist house’s fiction line romance Loves Comes Softly, is “having a Cook’s target readers are women, and its
in 2009. She thinks the niche for specula- nice year,” says senior acquisitions editor genres include suspense and historical.
tive fiction, always small but steady, is David Long. He says sales are improving Authors Travis Thrasher and Lisa Ber-
growing a tad, and points to the popular- in big-box outlets and growing a little in gren have also begun YA series; Bergren’s
ity of steampunk novels in the general Christian chains like Family Christian River of Time series began with Waterfall
market. “I’m open to [steam punk in this Stores. “That feels like the recession com- (Feb.)
market], and I have not heard of anyone ing out of its slumber a little bit,” he “Our FaithWords fiction program is
writing one,” Richards says. Abingdon is says. One hallmark of the house is his- definitely growing,” says Christina Boys,
developing a few Amish fiction authors, torical fiction; Long says authors are dig- FaithWords editor. Fiction appeals as
but recognizes that market has demo- ging more deeply into different eras of escape, but readers also want “characters
2 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY ■ F E B R U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
Feature | Religion Update
Recipe for an Amish novel
Take
One young woman (Sarah, Katie, or Rebecca).
One young man (Jacob, Daniel, Samuel).
W W W . P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY. C O M 3
Religion Update | Feature
they can relate to who deal with ist in speculative fiction, publishing six
complex and realistic conflicts,” books a year, and they’re good—the
she says. His Other Wife by Debo- house has won both Christy and Carol
American Christian Fiction Writers: A Training Ground for Authors
4 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY ■ F E B R U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
Feature | Religion Update
PW’s Top Inspiration Fiction Picks for
Spring/Summer
Forthcoming Christian/inspirational novels from
new and established authors, eras historical and Hearts in Flight by Patty Smith Hall (Love Inspired
contemporary: Historical, July) highlights women as aviation pio-
neers in WWII.
An Eye for Glory by Karl Bacon (Zondervan, Apr.).
A debut novelist and student of the Civil War The Doctor’s Lady by Jody Hedlund (Bethany House,
traces the journey of Union soldier Michael Palmer Aug.). Hedlund’s first novel, The Preacher’s Bride,
into the battle of Gettysburg, an event that changes was well reviewed, debuted on the CBA bestseller
the Civil War and Palmer’s life. list, and took a less traveled historical road.
Snitch by Booker T. Mattison (Revell, May). Present The Second Messiah by Glenn Meade (Howard,
tense speeds up the urban action from a young Aug.). Irish author Meade gives the thriller genre a
writer-filmmaker. boost in a tale of archeological finds, the pope, and
conspiracy—sound familiar?
The Promise of an Angel by Ruth Reid (Thomas Nel-
son, June). Crowd-pleasers meet in this novel with Edge of Grace by Christa Allan (Abingdon, Aug.).
angels and Amish. A young woman who becomes estranged from her
brother when he reveals he is gay is forced to evalu-
Pompeii: City of Fire by T.L. Higley (B&H, June). A ate her choices and attitudes when her brother
nonbiblical historical offers a new perspective on becomes the victim of a hate crime.
ancient times.
Space Available by Adam Palmer (Marcher Lord, no
The Canary List by Sigmund Brower (WaterBrook, date) is a sci-fi comedy being written on Twitter.
June). This suspense thriller wrestles with the pos- Really. Check it out: twitter.com/AdamAuthor.
sibility of demons in the world. —M.Z.N.
set in the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s. Romantic son expects to grow its list of 40 new Tyndale is one of the few publishers
suspense and author Irene Hannon are titles by seven. “We’re looking at adding not doing Amish fiction. “No one needs
also doing well. Publishing veteran staff in 2012,” says Arnold, calling the us to do that,” says Karen Watson, associ-
Doering says she doesn’t see new topics publisher’s growth plans “aggressive.” ate publisher for fiction. But the house is
and themes as much as a difference in He sees opportunities in YA, historical, happy with the bestselling success of
how narrative is done: less description, and Amish. Nelson wants to publish new authors Francine Rivers and Joel Rosen-
faster pacing, more and crisper dialogue. authors, “because they are going to be berg and likes its strength in the com-
“Readers are changing even when they tomorrow’s bestsellers.” As longtime petitive category of contemporary fic-
don’t know they’re changing,” Doering Nelson author Ted Dekker moves tion. It adds new writers by publishing
says. increasingly into general fiction, Arnold the winner of the annual Operation First
“I’m very bullish on the future,” says also sees a sweet open spot for an author Novel contest run by the Jerry B. Jenkins
Allen Arnold, senior v-p and fiction pub- of supernatural thrillers, and he’s got a Christian Writers Guild. Jenkins also
lisher at Thomas Nelson. One of the candidate: Robert Liparulo. His The 13th helped Tyndale build its reputation in
top-tier fiction publishers, Thomas Nel- Tribe is due in fall 2012. the 1990s with the Left Behind series of
W W W . P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY. C O M 5
Religion Update | Feature
12 apocalyptic novels written by him tennial of the conflict. An Eye for Glory by
and Tim LaHaye, which sold 42 million debut novelist Karl Bacon is the house’s
copies. The Rapture still hasn’t hap- opening salvo. While chick lit is still
pened, so the series is being repackaged dead, women want to read about female
for a new generation of readers. The first friendship, so this fall’s Barcelona Calling
volume, in case you forgot, is Left Behind by Jane Kirkpatrick (see profile in this
(Apr.). issue), who usually does historical novels,
Both lines at WaterBrook/Mult- fills that bill. Within the historical cate-
nomah aim at the core market for wom- gory, Brower also sees possibilities in
en’s fiction, addressing topics in depth, ancient times that aren’t tied to Jesus. Set
says senior editor Shannon Marchese. The in the time of King David, Cliff Graham’s
house is also doing some middle-grades/ the Lion of War series, starting with Day
young adult fiction, mining the current of War (Apr.), has epic scale, a movie
taste for fantasy elements with its authors option, and male readers in mind. n
Donita K. Paul and Chuck Black.
Marchese cites authors David
Gregory and Sigmund Brower for
thriller themes and treatment that What’s
appeal to male readers. She’s keep-
ing an eye on how digital publish-
Hot:
Amish, thrillerish suspense, 20th-
ing is changing the landscape.
“You need to think about the next century historicals (pre-1960), YA
five years,” she says. with fantasy/supernatural elements
Zondervan executive editor
Sue Brower pinpoints a number of What’s
trends that the house’s fiction pro-
gram is addressing. She foresees
opportunities for the next four
Not:
Cozy mystery, dark and edgy
years in Civil War–related fiction
as the nation marks the sesquicen-
6 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY ■ F E B R U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
fiction
A good book means a great adventure.
history • intrigue • romance • mystery
love • laughter • faith • truth
LBJ111000007 PACP00963095-01
Old New
Mey plans a year-long social media
and campaign for Thunder in Heaven that
includes a Joshua Jordan Facebook page
with constant updates, as well as several
By Ann Byle chapters free via the Internet.
P
ublishers of inspirational fiction sites, “We’ve got to be the Author Efforts Are Key
are blending new and old tricks most boring marketers in the Michele Misiak, marketing
to tempt readers to buy, whether world,” Oates says. “We’re not manager for Revell, credits
at Christian bookstores, reinventing; we’re doing the her fiction authors with creat-
megastores, or via the Internet. basics really well.” ing their own Facebook and
Past successes—print ads, shelf- The basics—print ads fea- Twitter pages and keeping
talkers, word of mouth—are augmented turing several books, book- them current. “Most authors
with the newest technology to reach store end caps, really good embrace social media because
savvy fans. covers—are working, as the they get immediate feedback,
Zondervan is add- historical fiction genre, Beth- most of which is positive,”
Ginia Hairston
ing to its strategy any’s hallmark, continues to says Misiak. “We find fiction
playbook with video draw readers. “I want to spend my first authors easy to work with and eager to
trailers for top-sell- dollars on store placement, then on help- connect with readers.”
ing authors. These ing the store talk to customers, and Facebook parties have been very suc-
high-end book pro- finally on radio, Internet, and magazine cessful, she says, as has cross-author pro-
mos are posted on ads,” says Oates. motion among Revell writers. “We’re
video-sharing sites David C. Cook’s Ginia Hairston, senior definitely trying to change the mix, to try
such as YouTube as director of marketing for books and mul- new things,” Misiak says.
well as author and timedia, points to the company’s empha- Eric Mullett, marketing director for
Tom Dean publisher Web sites, sis on book trailers for every fiction title fiction at Thomas Nelson, calls author
but the company takes marketing one as “the most successful tactic in market- involvement crucial. “We’re presenting
step further by buying national cable ing for fiction.” The trailers are posted on the author as a brand, and part of the
time via Google TV for pennies on the video sharing sites, used by Christian appeal for fans following authors online is
dollar. retailers on their Web sites, and sent to the feeling of being behind the scenes.”
“Is it risky? Absolutely,” says Tom book club Web sites such as Authorbuzz. He adds, “Readers need to feel that their
Dean, senior marketing director. “But we com and dearreader.com. All print media favorite authors are listening and respond-
want to try something new. If we want to now include a QR (quick response) code, ing to their questions and preferences in
get a new audience, we have to reach a two-dimensional bar code that links books, and that they’re getting to know
them in new ways.” consumers directly to videos, provided the interesting personalities behind the
Dean oversees marketing strategy for they have appropriate scanning technol- novels they love to read.”
Terri Blackstock, Zondervan’s top-selling ogy on phones or Apple devices. Trust is key, says Mullett. Along with
suspense author. The house is buying ads Zondervan is using QR codes to link great content and the ability to stand out
in magazines such as Ellery Queen, hoping readers to video featuring Joshua Jordan, in the crowded inspirational fiction mar-
to tap new fans. the main character in Tim LaHaye and ket, trust is what keeps readers coming
For Bethany House, reach- Craig Parshall’s the End back to an author’s work, and then they
ing its solid fan base doesn’t Series. With book two, Thun- tell their friends. No longer can publish-
mean constantly plowing new der in Heaven, due out soon, ers just use ads designed to persuade read-
ground. “A lot of it for us is senior marketing director Ali- ers to buy the book. Those readers will
reputation,” says Steve Oates, cia Mey plans a strong push check consumer reviews, talk with Face-
v-p of marketing. “We know for the video via Facebook, book friends, go to author Web sites, and
what we’re doing and people Twitter, and other sites. use all of the other interactive opportuni-
respond to that.” “People attach themselves ties there are to make decisions about
While the publisher sends to a character, so we are using what they buy. “The value of word of
review copies via Kindle and character-driven ads,” says mouth looks very different [today], and
buys advertising on Web Steve Oates Mey. “Social media is a good tapping into it does as well,” says Mullett.
8 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY ■ F E B R U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
Feature | Religion Update
Tyndale credits “We provide our authors with upfront tion” T-shirts will hand out the Redeye, the
pre-pub cam- knowledge of marketing and all that is Chicago Tribune’s free newspaper, at 15
paigns and book available to them via our ‘self promotion’ high-traffic el stations; the paper will fea-
tours in the packet,” say Rea and Kerwin. “We then ture a Post-it note on the cover promoting
authors’ top mar- partner with our authors in individual the book, as well as a full-page ad inside.
kets for its suc- marketing plans. Authors who take con- The winning combination for inspira-
cesses, along with trol of their own social media platforms— tional fiction publishers is a multifaceted
author speaking Web site, fan page, blogging, Twitter— package of marketing methods. Book-
events and Skyp- actually do more to help themselves than store staples such as shelf-talkers and end
Michele Misiak ing with book marketing dollars could.” caps now feature QR codes; authors still
groups. According to Babette Rea and talk to readers, but now through Face-
Cheryl Kerwin, senior marketing manag- Street-Level Campaigns book and Twitter. Authors hawk their
ers for Tyndale, marketing their bestsell- Still Work books on street corners, but also on Skype
ing authors is almost easy thanks to their While Web-based marketing is vital, and through blogging. Christian radio,
name recognition and established fan publishers and PR professionals still take bookstore promotions and catalogues,
base. The challenge comes with market- to the streets. Rebeca Seitz, president of and advance reader copies are still healthy
ing authors with small fan bases where Glass Road Public Relations, had The techniques; magazine ads and e-blasts
the goal is to acquire new readers. Topkapi Secret author Terry Kelhawk (Pro- not so much.
The house began shifting away from metheus, Sept. 2010) in Times Square Says Mullett of Thomas Nelson: “The
marketing to retailers and reviewers several this Valentine’s Day handing out post- models to support new consumer habits
years ago. The new focus is direct-to-cus- cards about her book. are still evolving, but adapting quickly
tomer: social media, bloggers, book groups, Zondervan will promote Lee Strobel’s and creatively will be the hallmarks of
libraries, radio promotions, and book first novel, The Ambition, on the streets of those that thrive in the new environ-
trailers on YouTube.com and Tangle.com. Chicago in May. People wearing “Ambi- ment.” n
SHEED & WARD SHEED & WARD ROWMAN & ROWMAN & ROWMAN & ROWMAN &
2010, 224 pages 2010, 216 pages LITTLEFIELD LITTLEFIELD LITTLEFIELD LITTLEFIELD
978-1-58051-234-3 978-1-58051-236-7 Apr 2011, 240 pages 2010, 192 pages 2010, 220 pages May 2011, 240 pages
$29.95 cloth* $16.95 paper* 978-0-7425-7031-3 978-1-4422-0577-2 978-0-7425-9959-8 978-0-7425-6473-2
*Distributed to the trade by *Distributed to the trade by $24.95 paper $29.95 cloth $34.95 cloth $35.00 cloth
National Book Network. National Book Network.
EBOOK EBOOK EBOOK EBOOK
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R
Trying Different Strategies
eaders of inspirational fiction more books as a fiction reader, and thus Publishers are trying to keep pace with
have a story of their own to tell the value is right to make a move to [less an electronic landscape that’s shifting by
these days: they love e-books, expensive] e-books.” the month. The past year has witnessed
especially when the price is the iPad’s debut, a
right. But can publishers keep Free Is a Good Price Kindle price drop
them coming back after the nov- Short-term offers of free downloads con- to $139, and the
elty wears off? tinue to fuel buzz, not only for new books arrival of Google’s
For now, publishers in this niche are but for entire series. Abingdon, which e-bookstore. Tech-
riding a wave. E-books make up a larger launched a fiction line in 2009 and now niques to boost
percentage of sales in Christian fiction draws 12% of fiction revenue from sales last year
(5.4%) than in any other trade category, e-books, gives away free copies of a dif- might not work
according to a Pub- ferent e-book just about every week. this time around.
Track Consumer In a strategy that’s also used by Thomas In Christian fic-
survey of book- Nelson, Abingdon’s giveaways are often tion, publishers are
buyers’ habits the first book in an author’s series. One using e-books as a Allen Arnold
between January week last summer, readers downloaded tool to re-energize backlists.
and September 30,000 copies of Judy Christie’s first “No consumer sees fiction as back-
2010. Evangelical novel, Gone to Green. While boosting list—it is simply a title they haven’t read
publishers com- sales of e-books and print versions of yet,” says Allen Arnold, v-p and pub-
monly derive Gone to Green, the promotion also helped lisher of Thomas Nelson Fiction. “The
8%–10% of their generate attention for Goodness Gracious digital world gives us even more oppor-
Christian fiction Green, her soon-to-be-released second tunities to bundle collections, offer free
Mark Kuyper sales from e-books, book. The new title received about 25 first novels in a series, and [give] bonus
says Mark Kuyper, president and CEO of reviews on the Web in one day, according content to readers.”
the Evangelical Christian Publishers to Maegan Roper, marketing and public- One early-stage strategy: price-cut-
Association. ity manager for Abingdon Press Fiction. ting. Baker has in the past offered a free
It’s a rapidly growing business. Tyn- To date, publishers have been using e-book download in conjunction with a
dale has seen e-book sales climb from free e-books as a hook to grow readership. 53% discount on other e-books in the
2.5% of fiction sales in 2009 to 10% in Baker has expanded its reach by attract- same series. This spring Baker will also
2010. At Baker, with the Revell and ing mainstream readers who might have try bundling three e-books for the price
Bethany imprints, fiction accounts for never bought a Baker title, according to of two. Tyndale plans to experiment with
just 38% of all sales (print and e-book), David Lewis, executive v-p of sales and different price points while continuing
but it accounts for a whopping 67% of marketing. But free give- to offer free downloads for
all e-book sales. aways aren’t boosting sales as titles by emerging authors,
Industry insiders say inspirational fic- strongly as they did at first, according to Andrea Lind-
tion is a natural fit for e-books because Lewis says. gren, associate publisher for
e-reading devices like the Kindle, Nook, “We’ve been taking the marketing.
and iPad work especially well for vora- easy, low-hanging fruit,” he Marketing experiments
cious pleasure readers on a budget. notes. “We now need to focus tend to focus on the Internet.
“You’re reading it as a leisure read and more specifically on the Zondervan, which publishes
not with pen in hand because you won’t opportunity and the change in close to 30 fiction titles
need it as a reference later on,” says Don the economy that e-books are annually, is concentrating
Gates, Zondervan’s v-p of marketing for bringing to publishing.” resources on blog tours,
trade books. “And you’re reading many Baker continues to offer David Lewis social media campaigns, and
10 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K L Y ■ F E B R U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
Feature | Religion Update
e-mail blasts since the Internet is a logi- ning to blur. Kuyper notes how publish- in nonfiction to allow e-readers access to
cal place to find readers of e-books. Some ers are designing e-books to serve as a related video and audio, such as by click-
publishers are also including QR codes launching pad for making new connec- ing to hear an author’s sermon on a rele-
in their online or print advertisements, tions. vant topic. Fiction, though, adds a new
Kuyper says. This allows an interested “Someone was just telling me they wrinkle in that Zondervan can’t just tap
reader to scan the code with a smart- went to highlight a line in a book and an author’s electronic library for content.
phone, connect instantly to layers of it said, ‘within your community’— It needs to produce original video. The
information about the book, and, of however that was defined—‘87 other company expects to recoup these addi-
course, buy it. people have highlighted this,’ ” Kuyper tional costs in part by charging about $3
Experimentation goes beyond market- says. “You could tell who they were. more for what the industry is calling
ing. Publishers are developing new con- You’re actually going to be able to con- “enhanced e-books.”
tent to complement the fiction text. nect with those people and have dia- For now, publishers are still enjoying
Thomas Nelson, for example, plans to logue on it.” the add-on effect in sales, as free e-book
bring more readers together around At Zondervan, novels will soon take on downloads spur more e-book and print
shared reading interests. Just as fans of new dimensions in e-book formats that sales. But they’re also aware the climb is
Amish fiction now meet up at amishliv- come to life, especially on the iPad. likely to get steeper.
ing.com, similar online communities When former journalist Lee Strobel “We may find that [free downloads]
will spring up and help shape story lines comes out with The Ambition this spring, are only effective for a certain amount of
in years ahead, according to Arnold. the novel’s e-book version will include time, and [maybe then] we’re going to
video of Strobel visiting Chicago sites do it to drive interest for those books that
Unique Features, New where he reported on events and found are part of a series,” Roper says. “For now,
Opportunities inspiration for particular scenes in the though, we feel we’ve tapped into some-
In some cases, lines between narrative book. thing that works, so we’re sticking with
content and social networking are begin- The project echoes Zondervan’s efforts our strategy.” n
“This book enriches not only those moving into their later
years but also the ones who are watching those they love
grow older.”
—Jan Johnson, author of Abundant Simplicity
formatiobooks.com 800.843.9487
Religion Update Feature
Joining the
of its inspirational fiction when it
acquired Ellie Claire and its Summerside
Press line last November. Ellie Claire’s
Fiction Frenzy
president, Carlton Garborg, is now
senior v-p at Guideposts and is oversee-
ing fiction, which will maintain two
separate imprints. “We feel we can reach
By Kimberly Winston more customers with distinct brands
C
and increase our shelf space,” Garborg
hristian fiction remains an Broken Glass, a first novel by Christa says.
attractive market to many pub- Allan, which looked at addiction and Summerside Press’s Love Finds You
lishing houses, with several of grief. “Our books are about Christians series has topped more than a million
them expanding their presence living in the real world and living with units sold. “We typically see 30,000 to
or jumping in for the first time. real world social and family issues,” says 50,000 units of every title we release in
But with the cranky economy, Clement. Also key is a dedication to fresh that series, and it continues to grow,”
the shifting landscape of retail outlets, packaging. “We have upscale covers for Garborg says. Among the new titles are
and the ever-finicky reader, houses look- all our trade paper that make promises Love Finds You in Tombstone, Arizona by
ing to play in the competitive category the interiors follow through on,” says Miralee Ferrell (Feb.), and ...in Camelot,
say they must have a sharp focus and a Clement. Abingdon plans to release Tennessee by Janice Hanna (Feb.). New in
clear plan. approximately two dozen new titles a Summerside’s series titled after popular
season. songs are Love
Rookie Success Letters in the Sand
Abingdon Publishing Mining Out-of-Print Gold by Diann Hunt
entered the Christian fic- Hendrickson Publishers enters (June) and
tion market in fall 2009 the Christian fiction market for Unforgettable by
and quickly exceeded its the first time this spring—with Tr i s h P e r r y
expectations. Says associate a caveat. “We determined that (Mar.). Summer-
publisher Pamela Clement, there are already so many play- side will launch
who joined the Abingdon ers that we could spend a lot of a new western
team in January after stints time and money to rank maybe series this fall
at Thomas Nelson and 25th in the Christian fiction called American
FaithWords, “[Abingdon] world,” says Rick Brown, pub- Tapestries. The
has been very market savvy. They looked lisher. “Then we looked at what we do imprint’s Signature line features stand-
at the kind of books that are working and well, which is reprints.” alone titles by both new and well-known
were careful to select for the initial roll Hendrickson is working with former authors, such as Bodie and Brock
out mostly new voices that wrote well editors from some heavyweight publish- Thoene.
and could grow.” ing houses to cull the best out-of-print Guideposts typically markets its fic-
Much of that growth has been in series, titles. First up are Nana’s Gift and the Red tion through direct-to-consumer lines,
something the house remains devoted to Geranium by Janette Oke and The Story then repackages the most successful for
developing. New this spring are The Glory Jar by Deborah Bedford and Robin Lee retail. Its Tales from Grace Chapel Inn
of Green: The Green Series #3 by Judy Chris- Hatcher, both April releases. Next are series has also hit the million mark, and
tie (Mar.), A Time to Heal: Quilts of Lancaster the one-volume The Napoleon of Notting new at retail are Never Give Up: Tales from
County #2 by Barbara Cameron (Mar.). Hill and The Man Who Was Thursday by Grace Chapel Inn and Keeping the Faith:
But there is room for the stand-alone G.K. Chesterton (June), and Phantastes: Tales from Grace Chapel Inn, both by Pam
title, too, like Sweet Baklava by Debby A Faerie Romance for Men and Women by Hanson and Barbara Andrews (Feb.).
Mayne (Mar.). “I don’t think that one or George MacDonald (June). Garborg will work closely with Guide-
the other is driving the publishing pro- Successful reprints require excellent posts v-p and editorial director David
gram for us,” Clement says. One key to packaging, Brown says, and all these Morris to repackage Guideposts fiction.
the house’s success, she says, is its fic- titles feature new, original cover art; They will also place Summerside’s titles
tion’s unflinching appraisal of contempo- some have new four-color interior illus- in Guideposts’s direct-to-consumer cata-
rary issues: she cites last year’s Walking on trations. logues, Web sites, and e-blasts. n
12 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K L Y ■ F E B R U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
PUT FAITH FACE OUT Combine for Discount.
Call for catalogs 800-962-4544
2 Caren Goldman
A powerful and thought-provoking look at humankind’s timeless,
universal and deeply spiritual desire to reunite with people,
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IN
Profile
attention at the time,” says Cramer, who
lives just south of Atlanta.
Yet family history grabbed his
attention once again, so it’s back to
Amish tales for Cramer. Paradise Valley
(Bethany House, Jan.), the first in the
Daughters of Caleb Bender series, taps
Dan Walsh like Hallmark movies, but Deepest Waters into his father’s past one more time.
is more like Masterpiece Theatre,” Walsh “I was casting about looking for a new
says. topic and asked my father why he was
Walsh got the idea for The Deepest born in Mexico,” says Cramer. “He told
Waters (reviewed in this issue) while me a story about what amounted to
watching the History Channel, where he religious persecution in Ohio before he
saw a story about divers finding the SS was born.”
Central America, which sank off the shores The Bing Act, passed in Ohio in 1921,
of North Carolina in 1857. The paddle- required children ages six–18 to attend
wheel steamship was full of gold. In his school. The Amish believed otherwise,
Sounding research he learned of a honeymooning which prompted legal action against
deepest waters couple who were separated after a them. A number of Amish decided to set
Dan Walsh’s colleagues in pastoral min- hurricane capsized the ship, but little up a colony in Mexico to avoid the forced
istry—who steeped themselves in theo- else was known of them. Walsh was schooling of their children.
logical and scholarly works—were inspired to write a “what if” tale about This colony, in Paradise Valley,
amazed at his love for reading and writ- the couple and a miraculous rescue of Mexico, is the setting for Cramer’s novel.
ing fiction and poetry. some of the survivors. Caleb Bender and others purchase land
“I’m a writer who became a pastor; With The Deepest Waters, Walsh in a country just coming out of the
back in 11th grade I got bit by the bug,” establishes himself as the writer he Mexican revolution. Their journey is
says Walsh, who dedicated his first book, started out to be before taking a 25-year arduous and the land is filled with
The Gift, to Mrs. Connie Longnecker, his detour into ministry: a writer of bandits, but the Benders persist in their
high school English teacher. character-driven historical fiction, efforts to build a new home.
So after a 25-year pastorate at a church crafted by a man who’s been telling Cramer adds a fair share of romance for
in Florida, Walsh is returning to a love stories to a live audience for a quarter of several of the Bender daughters, though
of writing he developed when Mrs. a century. —Greg Taylor he doesn’t categorize the book as a
Longnecker took him aside and inspired romance. Instead, he calls it a generational
him. Dale Cramer prequel to Levi’s Will (Levi Mullet
As a pastor, he wrote 6,000–8,000 marries Emma Bender) and a novel that
words a week for his sermons, so he had considers issues of church and state.
plenty of practice before 2010, when he “A lot of writers shy away from
stepped down as a full-time pastor and conflicts such as those of church and
became a full-time writer. “My blood state, as well as how the Amish as pacifists
pressure is doing much better as a writer. have to defend themselves against
Writing has been really a relaxing thing bandits, but all of that makes great
for me, very calming,” Walsh says. fodder for a book, and that’s what I like
His church was not calm watching to explore,” he says.
Walsh’s young replacement take the Asking the Cramer found scant information about
pulpit, but, says Walsh, “half the church right questions the Amish settlement; he researched the
love fiction,” so the congregants were Dale Cramer doesn’t want to be typecast geography and history of Mexico at the
excited that their former pastor would as a writer of Amish fiction. He’s written time, then created the tale of the Bender
publish three books with Revell. He three stand-alone novels without Amish family based on how it might have been.
recently signed a deal for three more. themes or characters, along with Levi’s “The setting and times are as accurate as
The Unfinished Gift (2009) and The Will (Bethany House, 2009), which is I could make them, but a lot of what
Homecoming (2010) were both set during loosely based on his father’s story of leav- happens is pure invention,” Cramer says.
WWII, but The Deepest Waters is set in ing the Amish community. “I write Paradise Valley is the first in a three-
the 19th century. “The first two are more whatever story seems to demand my book series—the others will release in
14 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K L Y ■ F E B R U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
Stay In Bed All Day Fiction
From sweeping sagas to tender romance novels to
edge-of-your-seat thrillers. It’s just worth giving up a Saturday.
Religion Update | Profiles
late 2011 and 2012—and Cramer is characters, people like the ones you faith in God, and her discovery of a
using his online presence (dalecramer know. Kirkpatrick—a former social vocation to write.
.com) to build his fan base. worker, wife to Jerry for 25 years, step- More than 26 years and 19 books later,
“I believe fiction is more of a parable, mother to two adult children, and grand- Kirkpatrick’s writing has earned acclaim,
a story that asks readers a question they mother of five—has lots of hard-won including the Wrangler Award from the
can answer,” he says. “I don’t necessarily experience with the messy business of Western Heritage Center and National
want to provide answers, but I want to living. And she knows how to place her Cowboy Hall of Fame. Her books have
ask the questions.” —Ann Byle multifaceted characters in stories that been finalists for the Christy Award, Spur
continue to engage readers. Award, Oregon Book Award, WILLA
Jane Kirkpatrick Kirkpatrick began writing after she Literary Award, and Reader’s Choice
and Jerry moved in 1984 from Bend, awards.
Ore., to a hardscrabble 160-acre property More novels are on the way. Kirkpatrick
in the eastern part of the state known as is a contributor to the forthcoming
Starvation Point. It was seven miles from collection A Log Cabin Christmas
the house to their mailbox and 11 miles (Barbour, Sept.) and is a contributing
to paved roads. The long “driveway” author to The Midwife’s Legacy, a
skirted heart-pounding drop-offs and collection of four novellas (Barbour, Mar.
wound through land inhabited by 2012). Her first book for Zondervan—
rattlesnakes, sagebrush, and quiet. and her first contemporary novel—
Life and Kirkpatrick’s first book, Homestead Barcelona Calling, releases in September.
fiction are (Word, 1991; WaterBrook, 2005), Kirkpatrick also has contracted for three
messy business narrated the heartbreaks and joys of this historical novels with WaterBrook; the
To read a Jane Kirkpatrick novel is to experience—fires, farming failures, first is The Daughter’s Walk (Apr.;
enter a world of complex and flawed family member addictions and tragedies, reviewed in this issue). Set in 1896 and
RELIGION UPDATE II
Issue date 5/9/11
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ZONE based on a true story, it tells of a mother Agnes Sparrow, Abingdon Press, 2009),
1-BrilliancePW102510_1-BrilliancePW102610 10/18/10 4:54 PM Page 1
and daughter, in danger of losing their Magnin is publishing her third work in
Tom Clancy Is Back…
PublishersWeekly.com
Bringing His Greatest
Fictional Characters with Him!
family farm, who are promised a cash the series, Griselda Takes Flight
prize if they can walk across the (Abingdon, Apr.; reviewed in this issue).
O ctober 25, 2010 $8.00
ON SALE DECEMBER 7
from BrillianceAudio “Finding peace and love and grace within like trips to the doctor—the people
is inspiring, and offers readers ways of looked taller, their fingers longer, she
looking at their lives with new eyes.” She notes. “It speaks to things that are true
adds, “I try to give readers things to but over the top, with a curlicue on it,”
PublishersWeekly.com
O ctober 4, 2010 $8.00
w w w. r e g n e r y. C O m
breathe in—through landscape, she says.
RegneRy Publishing
hits AnotheR home Run
relationships, spirituality, and work— When she teaches writing workshops,
Country’s Leading Conservative
Publisher Lands Another even if the story doesn’t always have the Magnin tells students that a distinctive
#1 Best-Seller
How Does This
Independent
‘met my prince’ ending. My stories may voice and story are more important than
Publisher Defy
The Odds?
not always have happy endings, but they some moral theme, and clearly she has
have hopeful ones.” taken her own advice. She knows her
Although Kirkpatrick and her fictional town as though it truly exists (a
husband still own the ranch at Starvation map of Bright’s Pond is on her Web site).
Point, they recently moved back to Bend. Not only does she “live and breathe
Publishers Weekly, Life there is less complex, at least in one
respect: “The postman actually rings the
Bright’s Pond,” Magnin says, but she also
has taken the time to research her
the go-to voice for the bell and delivers packages instead of our characters’ activities. For the new book, in
publishing industry having to drive seven miles to the which the main character takes flying
is launching mailbox.” —Cindy Crosby lessons, Magnin contacted a friend to
learn about small aircraft. To depict the
Job Zone— Joyce Magnin town’s pumpkin contest, she researched
hybrid pumpkin seeds developed in the
Publishers Weekly’s new 1970s.
job board that will reach Magnin says she wants readers to
publishersweekly.com’s identify with the characters, with their
400,000 unique monthly struggles and triumphs. “Maybe at some
point one of the things that my characters
users. What does this
are going through might relate to
mean to you? Engaging something someone in a book club is
the most qualified and going through, and the people in the
talented employment Putting on the book club will help her along,” she says.
seekers in the publishing curlicue “It’s not about reading in isolation but
industry. Post your job Joyce Magnin grew reading for community.” Magnin has
for $250 monthly and up attending a quirky church in Drexel visited the book clubs of some of her
relax while PW Hill, Pa. She remembers the hellfire and readers and hopes to continue that as
recruits the industry’s brimstone sermons and the politics at readers explore her latest book.
best talent for potluck dinners. Whether it was the The quirk will also continue. Magnin’s
your employment church or her humorous parents or her fourth Bright’s Pond novel (Blame It on the
opportunity. own offbeat nature, Magnin says this Mistletoe) is slated for release in September
environment contributed to her writing 2011, with three more Bright’s Pond
ZONE style. Writing “quirk” has helped her novels to follow. She also recently signed
make sense of a strange childhood. a deal with Zondervan to write a novel
JOBp After writing two books about about a woman who travels cross-country
characters in the fictional town of using every form of transportation except
www.publishersweekly.com/jobzone Bright’s Pond (including The Prayers of buses and airplanes. —Jackie Walker n
Books in I n book three of the Bright’s Pond series, The Deepest Waters
Magnin gives Griselda Sparrow, sister of Dan Walsh. Revell, $14.99 trade
the physically large and pious titular char- paper (304p) ISBN 978-0-8007-1980-7
Brief W
acter of The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow, center alsh, a pastor turned full-time
stage. As Griselda explores new personal writer, surprises with a swashbuck-
freedom, with Agnes being cared for in a ling tale of a sunken pre–Civil War era
nursing home, an unfolding mystery dom- steamship and its cargo of gold—and a
inates the town gossip. The country bump- newlywed couple who must make a har-
H The Daughter’s Walk kin language (“gee whilakers”) returns to rowing decision. When a steamship heads
Jane Kirkpatrick. WaterBrook, the scene, along with character names fit directly into a hurricane on the Atlantic
$14.99 trade paper (400p) ISBN 978-1- for a Roald Dahl tale (“Mildred Blessing”). coast, John and Laura Foster must choose
4000-7429-7 Balancing kitschy fun with sober reality, to stay together or be separated when
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Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became Featuring Suzanne Woods Fisher
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