Unholy Alliances

The Christian Publishing Industry

Fair Use NoticeThis presentation contains some copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in (processed as of May 13, 2006) section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this presentation is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this presentation for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

“The fact that the world can so easily tolerate us, and that we are devoid of any reproach, let alone of persecution, is, itself, a shameful testimony that we are so like the world that we cannot be distinguished from it. We ought, rather, to be citizens of another Kingdom, citizens of Heaven, but there simply is no way to get there except through the Cross”. Art Katz

THE PRINCIPLE

2Cor. 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?:And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (KJV)

THE PROBLEM

WORLD

Christia

n Publis

hing

UNHOLY ALLIANCESThe Christian Publishing Industry

A study conducted by CBA shows the retail value of Christian products sold by CBA member suppliers through all distribution channels reached $4.63 billion in 2006, up from $4.34 billion in 2004, $4.2 billion in 2002, and $4 billion in 2000.  The Christian Retail Channel continues to distribute the majority market share (52.4%) of a still-expanding marketplace of Christian products, while the general market channels (i.e. warehouse clubs, mass merchandisers, and big-box bookstores) sold 32.6% and other channels (including direct-to-consumer, church, and nonprofit ministry sales) sold 15.1%.

Size of the Industry:$4.63 billion

“Competition is always a factor in business.”

“We have seen competition increase dramatically within the industry as was as from outside the industry.  As chains and buying groups within our industry become more sophisticated in business practices, they continue to raise the bar so that competition among them becomes livelier.  Availability of our products in more outlets means more competition, but also means increased awareness, availability, and consumer service for our products. The general market is increasingly interested in selling Christian products, but they do not carry a depth of product. The Christian retail channel is the primary seller of backlist products. General-market retailers are mostly interested in selling titles that have a proven track record as bestsellers established in the Christian market first.” - Bill Anderson, CBA President and CEO

Private equity firm buys Thomas Nelson (2006)

A group of investors led by private equity firm Inter media Partners VII purchases Thomas Nelson Inc. in a $473 million deal that took the publishing company private.

Intermedia Partners VII

(purchased 2006)

•Cool Springs Press (S)•West Bow Press•Rutledge Hill Press•Nelson Business•J. Countryman•Nelson Current•Nelson Books•Tommy Nelson•Nelson Bibles•W. Publishing Group•Nelson Impact•Nelson Reference Integrity Publishers

(Purchased 2006 after buyout)

Authors: David Jeremiah, Beth More, John TownsendHenry Cloud, Gary Smalley, Emerson Eggericht,Jerry Jenkins, Stephen Elkins.

Leo Hindery Jr

In Radical Reorg, Nelson to Drop Imprints

In a move called the One Company Initiative, Thomas Nelson is eliminating all of its imprints and reorganizing its publishing functions around strategic publishing units keyed to BISAC category codes. The company’s 18 imprints (as well as the three it just acquired with its purchase of Integrity) will be phased out effective April 1

by Lynn Garrett, Religion BookLine -- 10/18/2006

Michael Hyatt

Over the past several years, we have experienced significant growth at Thomas Nelson. We have added new imprints, new editors, and scores of new authors. Unfortunately, we have not always had alignment internally with our own mission and values. Some of us have “colored a bit outside the lines.” (I’ve been guilty myself.) This has led to some corporate soul searching, discussion, and even debate.

“From Where I Sit” Personal blog site

“We are a Christian publisher.” BUT……

• After a year of internal reflection among our executive team, we came back to our legacy as a company. The bottom line is this: We are a Christian publisher.

• Like other Christian publishers, we want all of our books to be written from the perspective of a Christian worldview. This is the foundation of our publishing program. However, unlike most Christian publishers, we want our authors to explore any subject they wish.

“…after all we are a commercial publisher”

We also want to publish books that deal with the other aspects of life: business, culture, politics, entertainment, etiquette, cooking, family, etc. And, of course, we want to publish fiction. Lots of it! No topic is off limits, provided it is written from a Christian worldview, written well, and has commercial value. (We are, after all, a commercial publisher.)

“…never referencing anything spiritual”

“….all truth is God’s truth. Some of the books we publish will be explicitly Christian (mentioning the name “Jesus” or citing specific Bible verses); others will be implicitly Christian (never referencing anything spiritual). Both are acceptable and appropriate, depending on the author’s purpose and audience. The important thing is that the content flow out of a Christian worldview.

We want to publish:

Authors who profess a personal faith in Jesus Christ. We want to work with people who are willing to say, “I am a Christian.” We do not try to judge their profession or assess the validity of their faith. Only God knows their hearts (1 Samuel 16:7). Nevertheless, we want to work with communicators who claim to be Christians and are not ashamed of it.

“we want to allow latitude”

Authors who embrace the central truths of historic Christianity. Such ancient documents as the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds are simply convenient summaries of these truths and nearly all Christians can agree on them. Beyond these basic truths, we want to allow latitude—and even disagreement!—on non-essential doctrines.

“My goal is for Thomas Nelson to become a top three trade publisher by

2012.” M Hyatt

Top Ten Trade PublishersRank PublisherMarketShare

1Random House 17.2%2HarperCollins* 13.3%3Simon & Schuster 9.2%4Penguin 8.7%5Hachette 5.9%6Thomas Nelson 4.8%7St. Martin’s 3.2%8Tyndale 1.9%9John Wiley & Sons 1.7%10Scholastic 1.6%Total Top Ten 67.5%

Wednesday, December 20, 2006- From Where I sit-

Random House, Inc

OWNS THESE COMPANIES WHO PRODUCE CHRISTIAN MATERIAL

Multonomah Publishers(Purchased 2006)

Shaw Publishers (Purchased 2000)•Backlist of about 300 Backlist of about 300 titlestitles•Shaw's top-selling series is itsShaw's top-selling series is its Fisherman Bible Studyguide Fisherman Bible Studyguide lineline, which has sold more than , which has sold more than 3.3 million books. 3.3 million books. Madeleine Madeleine L'Engle, Lewis B. Smedes, L'Engle, Lewis B. Smedes, Lloyd J. Ogilvie and Luci ShawLloyd J. Ogilvie and Luci Shaw are among the publisher's are among the publisher's bestselling authorsbestselling authors

•Publishes more than 100 new Publishes more than 100 new titles annually by such popular titles annually by such popular authors as Randy Alcorn, Shaunti authors as Randy Alcorn, Shaunti Feldhahn, Robin Jones Gunn, and Feldhahn, Robin Jones Gunn, and Andy StanleyAndy Stanley•Backlist of more than 600 works of Backlist of more than 600 works of fiction and nonfiction includes fiction and nonfiction includes classic books of faith by Dr. James classic books of faith by Dr. James Dobson, Francine Rivers, and Dobson, Francine Rivers, and Joshua Harris, and THE PRAYER Joshua Harris, and THE PRAYER OF JABEZ by Bruce Wilkinson, the OF JABEZ by Bruce Wilkinson, the eight-million-copy #1 New York eight-million-copy #1 New York Times bestseller and the bestselling Times bestseller and the bestselling book published in the U.S. in 2001book published in the U.S. in 2001

Evangelical Christian publishing

bestselling and well-respected authors -Kay Arthur, Jane Kirkpatrick, Liz Curtis Higgs, Steve Arterburn, Michelle McKinney Hammond and Charlie Peacock

(Launched1996)

Random House, Inc., the world’s largest English-language trade book publisher -the book division of Bertelsmann AG, one of the world’s leading media companies

Don Jacobson

President and Publisher

Random House Purchases Shaw

(2000)Founded in 1968, Shaw has a well-regarded backlist of about 300 titles that will complement the three-year-old WaterBrook's frontlist program, according to a Random spokesperson. Shaw's top-selling series is its Fisherman Bible Studyguide line, which has sold more than 3.3 million books. Madeleine L'Engle, Lewis B. Smedes, Lloyd J. Ogilvie and Luci Shaw are among the publisher's bestselling authors. Dan Rich, president and publisher of WaterBrook, told PW the addition of Shaw "significantly enhances WaterBrook's prominence in the CBA market."

Random House Inc. Owns Waterbrook Press

WaterBrook Press was launched in September 1996 as an autonomous evangelical religious publishing division of Random House, Inc. Since the release of their first books in February 1998, their publishing program has grown dramatically, and now includes such bestselling and well-respected authors as Liz Curtis Higgs, Stephen Arterburn, Kay Arthur, Joanna Weaver, Shannon Ethridge, Jane Kirkpatrick, and Kathy Troccoli.

Random House, Inc Acquires Multnomah

(August 2006)Random House, Inc., the largest English-language trade book publisher, announced today that it has purchased one of the nation’s leading evangelical Christian book publishing houses, Multnomah Publishers. The Oregon-based Multnomah publishes more than 100 new titles annually by such popular authors as Randy Alcorn, Shaunti Feldhahn, Robin Jones Gunn, and Andy Stanley. Its active backlist of more than 600 works of fiction and nonfiction includes classic books of faith by Dr. James Dobson, Francine Rivers, and Joshua Harris, and THE PRAYER OF JABEZ by Bruce Wilkinson, the eight-million-copy #1 New York Times bestseller and the bestselling book published in the U.S. in 2001.

History of Multnomah• In May 1987, Donald C. Jacobson founded Questar Publishers in Phoenix,

Arizona. His vision was to establish a new, bold company that would clearly communicate the Word of God to His people and His church. The next few years were a time of building as, one by one, Jacobson assembled the team that he felt was called to an eternal purpose.

• Nearly two years later, Questar's leaders discovered a community with a strong sense of values and kinship that was conducive to raising their young families. The company relocated to Sisters, Oregon, in March 1989.

• A strategic move for the company was the 1992 purchase of Multnomah Press from Multnomah Bible College and Bible Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jacobson has a rich history with both the college and the company. He received a bachelor's degree in religious education from the college and later worked as marketing director at Multnomah Press. In the acquisition, many Multnomah Press staff members joined the new company and relocated from Portland to Sisters.

• The Multnomah name, long associated with high Christian standards, was a deciding factor in the company's decision to officially change its name on July 1, 1997 from Questar to Multnomah Publishers.

Donald C. Jacobson

“The decision to sell Multnomah was a difficult one,” said Mr. Jacobson, “but in Random House we have an acquiring publisher with a strong shared commitment to our mission for our authors and their books and the resources to bring their writing to the widest readership. In my new consultant capacity, I will do all I can to make the efforts ahead as smooth as possible for everyone.”

Random House spokesman Stuart Applebaum

"We've admired Multnomah from afar for many years, and have always regarded them as one of the most interesting and significant publishing houses," Applebaum said. "We couldn't be more pleased to have them as part of our publishing effort."

• Copyright 2006Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

ZONDERVAN

• The company, founded 75 years ago by Pat and Bernie Zondervan, continues to thrive under the umbrella of HarperCollins Publishers, the New York media conglomerate that purchased Zondervan in 1988 for $56.7 million.

• $250 million publisher. • The company chose to advertise its new Bible

geared to young people in Rolling Stone magazine in 2005, part of a $1 million ad blitz for Today's New International Version Bible.

1988 –Becomes a division of HarperCollinsPublishers, one of the world's largest publishing companies.

Zondervan services major bookstore chains and groups, including Family Christian Stores, The Parable Group, LifeWay Christian Stores, Berean Christian Stores, The Logos Bookstore Association, Christian Supply, Lemstone Christian Stores, Munce Group, WaldenBooks, Borders, and Books-A-Million.

Zondervan services major distributors, including Spring Arbor Distributors, Ingram Book Group, Appalachian Distributors, Anchor Distributors, and Baker & Taylor.

Revenues that top $1 billion annually

RUPERT MURDOCH

Created in 2006

(NIV)1970. Zondervan becomes a publicly held company

Maureen "Moe" Girkins President & CEO

Zondervan has 41 Bibles and books with more than 500,000 copies of each in print, including one bestseller with more than 30 million copies in print worldwide (The Purpose Driven® Life by Rick Warren).

• Zondervan maintains more than 5,000 Bible, book, and other product titles in its catalog. Zondervan publishes approximately 40 Bible editions, 125 books, over 200 gift items, and 50 new media products each year.

HarperCollins/Zondervan

These two books are printed by HarperCollins-parent company of Zondervan

THE SATANIC BIBLE SATANIC RITUALS

By Anton La Vey

Do they run Christian Bibles and The Satanic Bible on the same press???

One of Zondervan’s Sisters

Once bitten, twice shy, and sexy PI Jackie Morrisey wasn't going there again. Vincent Argeneau may be the hottest guy she's ever met, living or dead, but she's here to stop a killer from turning this vampire into dust, not to jump into bed with him.

Kerrelyn Sparks introduces readers to a demon world that is curiously parallel to the human world.

Did I mention the other SISTER?

Erin's been left alone in the lab . . . with her hard-bodied new assistant, Kale Alexander, a sexy stud who has "playboy" written all over him.

There are no boundaries or taboos, only needs to be fulfilled. Here women and men risk everything in pursuit of sexual satisfaction—and business always mixes with pleasure.

Copyright © 2006 HarperCollins Publishers, All rights reserved.10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022

“In today's marketplace, Erotica is one of the fastest-growing segments of women's fiction. Avon Red is committed to providing the best, most sophisticated erotic fiction available in the industry, written by the most talented authors. With our striking cover designs and steamy narratives, Avon Red is in a class by itself.”

The good SISTER

New Inspirational Fiction Line from Leading Publisher Celebrates the Grace and Power of Love

INTRODUCING

“These stories, written by some of the most respected and beloved authors in the inspirational fiction category, lift the heart and spirit; Avon Inspire novels are engaging stories that Christian readers can trust and love,” says Avon publisher Liate Stehlik.

Inspirational Romance

“Inspirational romance is an important category in the both the romance market and the Christian fiction market. The 2005 market industry report put out by Romance Writers of America reported that inspirational romance is the second preferred subgenre of romance, after suspense.”

“ ….a holy stick”

“Today's readers want more than a two-dimensional, page-turning, emotional ride. They want, and in these turbulent times, need, the spiritual dimension, too--without being beaten over the head with a holy stick.

Corporate Press Release- 9-20-2006

Christian Romance Publishers

Why A Romance Writer?

Number of Romance Readers

• 64.6 million Americans read at least one romance novel in the past year.

• 2002: 51.1 million readers in America

• 1998: 41 million readers in America

•Romance Writers of America

“Show Me the MONEY!!

• Romance generated $1.2 billion in sales in 2004.

• There were 2,285 romance titles released in 2004.

• Romance fiction comprises 54.9% of all popular paperback fiction sold in North America.

• Romance fiction comprises 39.3% of all popular fiction sold.

•Romance Writers of America

In Defense of Romance: A Heartfelt Matter

by Andrea Boeshaar © Copyright 2004 Christian romance is literature...and it sells. Christian romance touches lives and, by God's Holy Spirit, it can change hearts. Romance is about relationships. Conversely, our interactions with others, with friends, family, spouses, are the very essence of our beings. In addition, romance is the core of our salvation; from the beginning of time, God has courted mankind, wooing, pleading, persuading until the decision is made. "Yes, Lord, I accept You..."

“My novels influence, and affect readers.”

But after praying, and seeking the Lord's direction for my work, He has shown me over and over again that the stories I write play an important part in furthering His will. My novels influence, and affect readers. I don't mean to sound prideful or haughty. I only mean to convey the responsibility I feel towards my writing. After all, the written word is a powerful tool - and it's one God can and does use!

“A romantic mood”“Because the Christian romance genre has evolved from secular romance, I think we walk a very fine line in portraying romance the way God intended it. The formula for secular romance is so incredibly unrealistic and skewed from the way God ordained romantic love to be. Having said that, I will also say that I gobbled up Janette Oke's novels as a young bride and I truly believe her portrayals of romantic love made my marriage even better. I have even recommended romance novels to young mothers who are almost too tired to be the wives their husbands need when they come home. I have recommended that young mothers put the children down for a nap and curl up with a Christian romance before their husbands come home. It can relax them and put them in a romantic mood. I truly think I am a better wife and mother today because of Janette Oke's books.  I think there is very definitely a place for stories that portray the beautiful love relationship between a man, a woman, and their God.”

What doe these two have in common?

Same Company!!!!

Steeple Hill Books offered by Christianbooks.com

• Harlequin Enterprises Limited is the global leader in series romance and one of the world's leading publishers of women's fiction. The Toronto-based company publishes over 115 titles a month in 25 languages in 94 international markets on six continents. These books are written by over 1,300 talented authors worldwide, offering women a broad range of reading from romance to psychological thrillers to relationship novels. With 131 million books sold in 2005 — half overseas and a tremendous 96% outside Canada — it is both the country's most successful publisher and one of its most international businesses.

• Harlequin's success in 2005 confirms that the company is moving toward its stated goal of being the world's leading publisher of women's fiction. Harlequin titles appeared on the New York Times bestseller lists for a record 188 weeks — an increase of 20 percent over 2004. Since its inception, Harlequin has shipped approximately 5.22 billion books.

HEARTSONG Presentspublished by Barbour Publishers

Escape into the pages of romance, adventure, and inspiration.Do you want to be swept off your feet by a timeless romance novel? Want to solve your way through the twists and turns of a shadowy mystery? Want to have your breath taken away by a heart-pounding story of suspense?

Wherever your heart and imagination want to go Barbour's line of inspirational Christian fiction will take you there.

A Barbour Classic

Tormented by his wife's apparent demise, Edmund Merrick sails away to drown his sorrows-only to find himself trapped in the dark world of a demented Frenchman. When his mind clears from its rum-induced haze, will Edmund find the will to escape? Seemingly abandoned by her husband, Charlisse is thrown into the clutches of the vengeful pirate Kent. Will she be swept away by the undertow of treachery and despair? Can Edmund and Charlisse steer their way to the faith-filled haven they so desperately seek, or will they ultimately lose their love and lives to the sea?

And they sell this book!

Rick Warren Partners with Readers Digest

We have been blessed with an incredible opportunity! In partnership with the Reader's Digest organization, we are launching a new magazine and companion website titled "The Purpose Driven Connection." The Project is a multimedia platform and membership program that will serve pastors, churches and seeker interested in Christian values through a new suite of resource tools including: 1) Purpose Driven with Rick Warren magazine - that will contain Small Group Curriculum in each issue; and 2) a state-of the-art interactive website at www.PurposeDriven.com

“All to help pastors and leaders worldwide lead their churches to health and balance in order to more effectively fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.”

About RDA• Reader's Digest, the largest-selling magazine in the

world, now appears in 50 editions and 21 languages, following new launches during the past year in Romania, Slovenia and Croatia. The magazine is sold in more than 60 countries.

• The company reaches millions of consumers through more than 25 other magazines,

• It markets collections of music, from Beethoven to Ella Fitzgerald to today's pop divas, and videos and audio books.

• On March 3, 2007, an investor group led by Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C. completed an historic transaction resulting in the acquisition of RDA, returning the company to private ownership status after 17 years. Two other companies in Ripplewood's portfolio, WRC Media and Direct Holdings Co., were brought into RDA, making the total value of the transaction approximately $2.6 billion.

TYNDALE HOUSEThe largest privately owned Christian publisher

Mark Taylor, CEO of Tyndale House….

Met with authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins to discuss a partial manuscript for a book they were calling Left Behind, about those remaining on earth after the Rapture.

“Christian fiction established”

Several publishers had already rejected the manuscript. But Taylor told the authors, "If the rest of the book is as good as the first chapter, we could sell 500,000 copies." The book spawned a series that has brought in more than $650 million and helped establish Christian fiction as a huge market.

MAY 23, 2005

New Line Cinema

TYNDALE PUBLISHERS

($850 million)

Exclusive PARTNERS FOR “THE NATIVITY”

CATHOLIC

FaithWords

FaithWords

Publishes these Christian Authors

Also Publishes these Books

Hachette Book Group USA (HBG) was created when Hachette Livre, a French publishing company, acquired Time Warner Book Group from Time Warner in 2006 (see the Brief History sidebar below for more details). Hachette Livre is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lagardère, a company that is active on a worldwide basis in the areas of communications and media (books, press, audiovisual and distribution/retailing of cultural products). HBG is comprised of the following publishing divisions:

• Copyright 2006 by Hachette Book Group USA

Rolf Zettersten/FaithWords

TimeWarner in 2001 hired Rolf Zettersten, a senior executive at Thomas Nelson, to start Warner Faith. With his contacts, he signed best-selling Christian author Joyce Meyer, and with the TimeWarner distribution clout doubled her sales to 2 million. This success story attracted other big name authors, including Joel Osteen, whose Lakewood Church in Houston is America's largest.

• Copyright © 2006 WORLD MagazineJuly 02, 2005, Vol. 20, No. 26

Zettersten’s Predection

May 23,2005 Cover Story/OnlineExtraINTO THE MAINSTREAM.  Then Zettersten convinced Joel Osteen, pastor of Houston's Lakewood Church -- America's largest -- that TimeWarner could do a better job than a purely Christian house in building mass demand for his book. "We're the fastest-growing division at TimeWarner books," says Zettersten, who predicts Warner Faith will become the industry's third-biggest player within three years. Copyright 2005, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.

No faith-healing books here!!!

Rolf Zettersten, former publisher of the prominent Christian house Thomas Nelson and now head of AOL Time Warner's Evangelical line, said that he would no longer publish certain genres of Evangelical books, like books about faith-healing.

"I wouldn't do anything to embarrass the company," he said.

• By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK-John Mark Ministries. Articles may be reproduced in any medium, without applying for permission

“You go big or you go home.”• “It has always been my position that Hollywood and the New York

media world were not anti-Christian, they were merely pro-profits," Zettersten says. "There may have been some misunderstanding about who evangelicals are, and there may have been some prejudices. But I can assure you that those prejudices do not overshadow media companies' desire to run profitable businesses. With sales of 50 million books, the Left Behind series got everyone's attention, and now the moguls have discovered that there's this great big population out there that's willing to spend money on Christian products."

• Zettersten says such big bids are required of any house that wants to be part of the publishing mainstream. "You get up to the plate, you make your best guess, and you take your swing," he says. "You go big or you go home.“

• No Longer Left BehindAn insider's look at how Christian books are agented, acquired, packaged, branded, and sold in today's marketplace.By Steve Rabey | posted 04/12/2002

Mega Tactics For Mega-Hits

What does it take to power a first-time author's book into sales of a million copies in 90 days? Publisher Rolf Zettersten at Warner Faith doesn't want the competition to know. "A lot of publishers are already talking about how they're going to imitate our success," Zettersten says. But he will talk in broad brush strokes about how his current bestseller, Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Now achieved that status, nipping at the heels of the Purpose-Driven Life juggernaut. "It's really a shock-and-awe approach to promotion that involves every element of media in our arsenal—every weapon."

•by Juli Cragg Hilliard — May 23, 2005 Library Journal.com

“You don’t have to be a Christian….”

Warner Faith now is targeting consumer categories, such as business people. Zettersten says Your Best Life Now is "inclusive, not exclusive, as many religious books are. So you don't have to be a Christian to appreciate the content or the advice that is given.“

•by Juli Cragg Hilliard — May 23, 2005 Library Journal.com

Dekker Signs Two-Book Deal with Hachette

Bestselling Christian author Ted Dekker has signed to do two novels geared to the general market for Hachette's Center Street imprint. Dekker, who's penned thrillers, fantasies and mysteries (as well as some YA books), is published by Thomas Nelson, but has been on the radar of the trade houses for some time, especially after his novel Skin hit the New York Times bestseller list in 2007. Dekker's first book from Hachette—both will be thrillers—is slated for an April 2009 release.Thomas Nelson has also been doing its part to find a bigger audience for Dekker. In January the publisher inked a deal with comics writer J.S. Earls to do graphic novel adaptations of a number of Dekker's novels. Dekker, who's written 22 novels, has sold more than three million copies, according to Hachette. There are also two film adaptations of his books in the works--House will be distributed by Roadside Attractions (Super-Size Me) in October and Adam is in development at Lionsgate. (An adaptation of Dekker's novel Thr3e was released in 2006.)

Publishers Weekly June 8, 2008

Warner/Walk Worthy Press

• Warner has the Walk Worthy Press imprint for the Christian African American market.

• Walk Worthy Press was founded by Denise Stinson, a successful literary agent and former journalist. These titles are published in a co-publishing venture between Walk Worthy Press and Warner Books. While the sensibility is Christian, the novels will embrace the full range of contemporary concerns, with characters leading recognizably modern lives marked by betrayal, tragedy, heartbreak and joy.

The Wicks Group of Companies, L.L.C. Acquires Standard Publishing

"In its 140 years, Standard has built an excellent reputation as a publisher of market-leading, scripture-based materials," said Thibeau. "We look forward to leveraging the expertise of Standard's talented staff to further strengthen its position in the religious publishing market. We will continue to produce the highest quality products for our customers in church markets while also developing new titles and products for additional areas we believe are poised for growth. We are truly excited by this opportunity."

The Wicks Group of Companies, L.L.C. (www.wicksgroup.com) manages private equity funds that invest in selected segments of the communications, information and media industries. Such funds currently own or have owned companies in educational publishing, consumer publishing, medical information services, community newspapers, radio broadcasting, television broadcasting, magazine publishing, outdoor advertising, newsletter publishing, and cable television distribution.

A Glance of Wicks Portfolio

The Rainbow Study Bible

• Standard Publishing announced today that Standard has acquired Rainbow Studies International, publisher of The Rainbow Study Bible®. The transaction closed on December 28, 2006. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.

• Standard Publishing is a major supplier of Christian resources to churches and families.

• Rainbow Studies International, founded in 1986, publishes The Rainbow Study Bible, the world’s only totally color-coded Bible.

Church & Ministry

October 2006

• (1)  Standard Lesson Commentary 2006-07 KJV Standard,

• (7)  Standard Lesson Commentary 2006-07 NIV Standard,

• (19)  Standard Lesson Commentary 2006-07 KJV (large print) Standard,  

CBA Top Sellers

This list is based on actual sales in Christian retail stores in the United States and Canada during September, using STATS as the source for data collection. All rights reserved. Distribution and copyright ©2006 CBA and Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.

SIMON & SCHUSTER

HOWARD PUBLISHING

SIMON & SCHUSTER ACQUIRES HOWARD PUBLISHING

Agreement with Growing Christian Publisher Marks S&S Entry into Christian Publishing Marketplace

Founded in 1969, Howard Publishing releases approximately 45 titles a year, with a backlist of about 350 titles. Their areas of editorial expertise include Christian living, gift books, devotionals, fiction, and children's books.Notable authors-Andy Stanley, Ed Young, Ken Canfield, Sandi Patty, and Point of Grace

Howard Folding into Touchstone Fireside

• by Lynn Garrett, Religion BookLine -- Publishers Weekly, 8/22/2007Simon & Schuster president Carolyn Reidy announced this morning that its Howard Books unit—acquired in February 2006 as the house's entrée into the evangelical Christian market—will join the Touchstone/Fireside group of imprints effective immediately. John Howard, executive v-p and publisher of Howard Books, will report to Mark Gompertz, executive v-p and publisher of Touchstone/Fireside. Until now, Howard had reported directly to Reidy.In an internal memo, Reidy stated, "I believe that moving forward Howard will benefit to an even greater degree by having a closer, day to day working relationship with our publishing and marketing staff in New York." The goal, Reidy continued, "will be to grow the presence of Howard's core publishing program in the mainstream retail marketplace."Gompertz said the move, "is really just a reporting change, and what we are talking about is advocacy. John and his people have been great about coming up for meetings, but my New York staff and I are here—we can go to all the meetings and present the books and advocate for them." He stressed there would be no position losses at Howard, and no loss of duties or autonomy for John Howard. He and his staff will remain based in their offices in West Monroe, La.Asked which retail channels need to grow, Gompertz said, "Howard has always been strong in the CBA, and there's been some movement into the ABA, into the chains and so on. Howard is also acquiring more trade-like books, and it's just time to give it a bigger push."

Joel Osteen signs with Simon & Schuster (2007)

• Recent reports indicate that Osteen signed a multimillion-dollar book deal with Free Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, which is said to potentially be one of the richest for a nonfiction book, surpassing the $8.5 million or more received in 1994 by Pope John Paul II, according to The New York Times.

• Simon & Schuster may also be making a contract with Osteen's wife, Victoria, who plans to publish a book possibly with the publisher's children's division.By Audrey Barrick

• audrey@christianpost.com

UPDATE

Osteens advance may have been as high as……..

$13,000,000

Best Seller

All in the family!

Erotic ReadsJoel Osteen’s mother

Same Publisher

T.D JAKES Joins the Family…And what a family it is!

Succulent features twenty-seven tantalizing short stories to tease and please both him and her. For couples who want to heat things up or for singles who want to spark a fire, there are stories written especially for women, and others are penned expressly for men.

Carlton Pearson

The Gospel of Inclusion: Reaching Beyond Religious Fundamentalism to the True Love of God

A New Book in March 2008

Let’s not compete boys…..

Macomber Signs with Howard for Nonfiction

• by Matthew Thornton Romance writer Debbie Macomber, who has over 100 million copies of her novels in print, has just inked a deal with Touchstone Fireside's Howard Books for two nonfiction inspirational titles. Howard senior editor Cindy Lambert won world rights in an auction conducted by Wendy Lawton at Books & Such. The first of the two, Fishes and Loaves: Living in a Spirit of Generosity, will expound on Macomber's belief that a willingness to live in a spirit of giving will yield unforeseen miracles; in the book, she'll share stories from her own life and from others who commit intentional acts of generosity. 

• Publishers Weekly June 18, 2008

Publisher of these books:

Publishers of these books:

Paranormal Romance

Penguin Group’s first venture into CBA market came about eight years ago with the release of T. D. Jakes’ The Lady, Her Lover & Her Lord, which has sold more than 700,000 copies in hardcover and paperback

Penguin has formed Penguin Praise

Penguin Praise, stressed Penguin spokesperson Marilyn Ducksworth, is not an imprint, but rather an approach that will team Praise books with books from other Penguin imprints. For example, John’s Story: The Last Eyewitness, the first book in the new Tim LeHaye and Jerry Jenkins series, will be released under the Putnam/Praise banner.

• Penguin in New Christian Program

• by Staff, PW Daily -- 4/5/2006

Is it about the money?

No books will be released solely as Praise books. Fotinos (Joel Fotinos, its director of religious publishing ) said that pairing a Praise book with other imprints will give the religion line access to all the resources of Penguin, while making it easier to grow authors in the Christian market.

• Penguin in New Christian Program

• by Staff, PW Daily -- 4/5/2006

Penguin “more clout and focus”

The move "gives (Penguin) more clout and focus in the Christian market," said Lorraine Shanley, a principal at publishing consultant firm Market Partners International. "All of the majors have developed Christian imprints to this is Penguin's answer to that."

"Praise will be able to publish a greater array of Christian titles," Mr. Fotinos said. Titles by bestselling authors T.D. Jakes and the team of Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins will be among the first books to fall under the Praise logo.

Penguin launches program for Christian booksby Catherine Tymkiw COPYRIGHT 2006 CRAIN COMMUNICATIONS INC.

Great Abominations

Putnum Praise Authors

(2008)

(2008)

Gloria Copeland Debuts on the New York Times and USA Today

Bestsellers List• June 20th, 2008

Gloria Copeland's new book, God's Master Plan for Your Life, debuted on The New York Times Hardcover Advice How-To Extended Bestsellers List at #11 on June 1, 2008 for sales ending week of May 24, 2008. In the same week, God's Master Plan for Your Life also placed on USA Today's Online Bestsellers List for the top best selling books in America. Lab Law Weekly

Publisher Joel Fotinos of Putnam Praise:

• "We are so thrilled for Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries on this great accomplishment. We are very proud of this book and believe it will touch the lives of many."

Lab Law Weekly

Salem Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:SALM) is a leading U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider and magazine publisher focused on Christian and family-themed content and conservative values. In addition to its radio properties, Salem owns Salem Radio Network®, which syndicates talk, news and music programming to approximately 2,000 affiliates; Salem Radio Representatives™, a national radio advertising sales force; Salem Web Network™, a leading Internet provider of Christian content and online streaming and Salem Publishing™, a leading publisher of Christian-themed magazines. Upon the close of all announced transactions, the company will own 104 radio stations, including 66 stations in 24 of the top 25 markets. © Copyright 2006, Salem Communications Corporation,

Salem Communications Purchases Xulon Press

Title-for-title, Xulon Press is the largest publisher of Christian books in North America. The original on-demand publisher for aspiring Christian authors, we’ve helped more than 2,700 authors and printed 150,000,000 book pages.

Founded by Christian author and publisher Tom Freiling, Xulon is now a part of Salem Communications Corporation. Salem is the country’s leading Christian communications company with interests in radio, Internet, and magazine publishing. This means you can rest easy; Salem is a fast-growing and financially secure company with a successful 40-year track record.

• Copyright © 1999 - 2006 Xulon Press

Owns & publishes the following-

Singing News Magazine

10.18.05 Salem Communications to Acquire the Singing News Magazine; Publication Ranked First in Southern Gospel Music

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 2005--Salem Publishing, a division of Salem Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:SALM) announced today that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire The Singing News Magazine and its related Internet properties. The acquisition is expected to close in January of 2006.

‘We will be able to leverage The Singing News brand with Salem's

radio and Internet businesses.’• Jim Cumbee, president of Salem Publishing, said "The acquisition of

The Singing News strengthens Salem's position as the nation's preeminent publisher of Christian music magazines. The Singing News fits perfectly into our family of titles, including Homecoming Magazine and CCM Magazine.“

• Cumbee continued, "We will be able to leverage The Singing News brand with Salem's radio and Internet businesses. We own the Solid Gospel radio network, which broadcasts southern gospel music to more than 100 affiliate radio stations, and via our Salem Web Network, we reach millions of Christians each month on the Internet. We will offer a complete integration of print, radio, and Internet for artists and advertisers who want to cost-effectively reach the huge audience for southern gospel music."

• The Singing News Magazine has paid subscribers in all 50 states and is read each month by more than 200,000 fans of southern gospel music.

• Gaither.com

Video with nude scenes

Bent on conquest, King Canute and his Viking legions invade England in 1016, cutting a bloody path across the peaceful countryside. In an overwhelming show of force, Canute, the feared dragon king, destroys the town of Coventry, and a young girl watches as her once idyllic life is turned into a deadly nightmare. Ten years later, the young girl has grown into the beautiful Lady Godiva. In the midst of Canute's quiet empire, she has managed to rebuild her life and town and even find love. But the dragon king rises once more and threatens to devour her beloved Coventry. Can she save her people without betraying her faith and losing her very soul?

http://www.whitakerhouse.com/DeskTop.aspx?page=MediaJukebox&VideoClip=godiva_trailer.mpeg&VideoItem=213671

Published by

Author Biography

David Rose is the former CEO of Santa Monica Studios and has been an innovative entrepreneur in numerous businesses for more than 30 years. He has produced two theatrical films and dveloped more than 40 screenplays. VisionArt, his special effects company, created scenes for Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager and won multiple Emmys for its work on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. VisionArt also created stunning visual effects for the Academy Award-winning movie Independence Day. Rose's career spans designing products in Jerusalem to building American castles to the oil and gasoline industries, where his exploration of computers led to his becoming a special effects innovator and expert. His life experiences encompass the two great passions of his life: caring for others and creating stories. Godiva is his first novel.

Berean Christian Stores acquired by JMH Capital

• In a separate transaction, it was announced today (Aug. 2) that Berean Christian Stores, a 16-store chain owned by Standard Publishing parent Standex International prior to Standard’s acquisition by Wicks, has been acquired by Berean management and JMH Capital, a Boston-based private equity firm.

• Scott Steele, managing director of JMH, was quoted by the Cincinnati Business Courier as saying, "We believe in the growth potential of Christian retail, and we look to forward to working with management to realize this potential."

• He was formerly a Director of Family Bookstores, Inc.

Berean Acquires Provident Stores10/30/2006

• Berean Christian Stores is acquiring all four Provident stores from Mennonite Publishing Network. The stores are located in New Holland, Souderton, and Montgomery County, PA; and Wooster, Ohio. Berean, which also is opening a store in Chandler, AZ, later this week, will have 22 stores when the transaction closes. Berean President Les Dietzman confirmed the acquisition but said one lease assignment has yet to be completed before the company can close on the deal.

• “This is more like a merger than an acquisition,” Dietzman said. “While Berean is acquiring Provident, they have a very long and storied history going back well over 50 years. We feel fortunate to blend the histories of these two great companies.” He said Berean and Provident have discussed an acquisition for a couple of years.

• Berean hired nearly all of Provident’s staff and will continue to operate the stores under the Provident name for about five to six months, while the transition to Berean operations systems is made. Provident Long-time Provident Stores Director Ken Reinhard will stay to help with the transition.

• “We’re very grateful to Ken for the leadership he’s given,” Dietzman said. He added, “I had the chance to meet the people at Provident, and they’re wonderful people, very dedicated.”

• Provident stores will continue to carry a strong Anabaptist line. Dietzman said the two chains have much in common—they tend to be large stores with extensive inventory. “Provident stores are very active in serving churches of all denominations, and may be more aggressive in carrying general-market product. I think both our assortments will change as we learn from each other.”

• Provident, which had eight stores a year ago, sold stores in Goshen and Berne, IN, last year and its Newton, MA, location a month ago. The remaining store in Ephrata closed last month. Mennonite Publishing Network cited increased general-market competition and a desire to focus on its primary mission to publish as reasons for divesting itself of the stores.

Parable Acquires IRG/Lemstone

• (December 18, 2007) – Parable Franchising, LLC has acquired Insight Retail Group, parent company of Lemstone Christian Stores, solidifying Parable's position as the No. 2 buying force in CBA with more than 200 stores overall

• "We're thrilled to welcome Insight's stores to the Parable family," says Parable CEO Steve Potratz, whose company currently serves 118 member and 64 franchise stores. "This is a great opportunity for all of us to learn from one another. Our stores will see positive improvement from Insight's operational and buying expertise, and Insight stores will benefit from the marketing and merchandising strengths of Parable."

Parable, Outreach Sign Major Author For Exclusive Book

(September 5, 2006) — Joining in a one-of-a-kind industry partnership, The Parable Group and Outreach, Inc. have signed best-selling authors Bodie and Brock Thoene to create an exclusive non-fiction book series, the Little Books of WhyTM. The first book in the series, Why a Manger? is scheduled to release mid-September. The books will be sold exclusively through Parable Christian Stores and Outreach direct-to-church channels (Outreach is a leading provider of church communication and outreach tools).

Finding those “NEW REVENUE Streams”

• The exclusive book deal signals a key shift in the industry. As independent Christian retailers struggle to remain profitable, new revenue streams must be found. Exclusive products provide much-needed margin for stores.

• "This Christmas millions of people will see The Nativity Story in theaters but that doesn't necessarily mean they will make the spiritual connection," said Lynne Marian, vice president, Outreach, Inc. "Why a Manger helps make that connection," she said. "It will be a powerful tool for outreach in the hands of churches and individual Christians.“

• "We have made a focused effort to develop exclusive products for stores, creating gift items, devotionals and CDs that add margin for stores and value for customers," says Parable CEO Steve Potratz. "Parable has always been passionate about new ideas, and we believe this new book deal will play an important part in helping stores grow."

•© 2006 The Parable Group, Inc

Guideposts adopts an advertising-supported business model

• Guideposts has converted to an ad-supported business model - after existing for more than 50 years as a subscription-only magazine.

• The magazine, whose articles often chronicle debilitating illnesses, hasn't had any trouble attracting pharmaceutical marketers. But now it's making inroads with a broader ad base, including packaged goods companies. Among the new advertisers in its March issue are Kraft and Nestle. "These are category breakers for us," says publisher Janine Scolpino. "We've always done tremendous in the pharmaceutical market, but until now we were not able to get the attention of the food category."

• COPYRIGHT 2003 Copyright by Media Central Inc., A PRIMEDIA Company.

Graphic Novels

Christian publishers use graphic novels to depict biblical warriors as cool

• Comic books traditionally haven't been a medium for biblical characters and Christian content. But Christian publishers have been taking note of the increasing popularity of new book-length-style comics -- called graphic novels -- and are beginning to launch their own to appeal to a mainstream audience of preteen and teen-age readers.

• "If you can give them something really cool, even a non-Christian kid's going to get into it," said Ricky King, associate publisher of B&H Publishing Group, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources, which this year started "Spirit Warriors," its first line of graphic novels."If it's cool and appeals to them, they're going to understand the content. As a Christian publisher, we have a desire to communicate the passion of Christ, and this is a great new avenue."

By Anita Wadhwani Gannett News ServiceSeptember 26, 2006

$245 Million

Slick-papered, book-length graphic novels accounted for some $245 million in retail sales last year, a steadily increasing chunk of the $570 million comic book market, according to Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest English-language comics distributor. In recent years, mainstream bookstores like Border's have set aside special sections for the books. Their core readers are males 18-34, according to Diamond

LifeWay (Baptist Publisher)

• A sub-genre of the books that has attracted many girls and young women readers is "manga," a Japanese-style graphic novel wildly popular in Asia and Europe that generally avoids superhero plot lines, focusing more on stories that explore everyday life and relationships.

• LifeWay's "Spirit Warriors" follows the adventures of six rebellious teens mysteriously orphaned as children who have uncommon God-given strengths. They unleash their "holy fury" to protect a local church when an evil villain "sucks the righteousness right out" of it.

Acts of the Spirit

“Acts of the Spirit, deftly combines the 1st century tales of Jesus' resurrection and the beginning of His Church with a taut modern-day thriller involving archaeological discoveries, kidnappings, and car bombs. Each page layout jumps out at the reader with creative bleeds, color contrasts, muscular heroes, creepy angels, and menacing use of shadows. This book matches up to anything out there today” Heather HuntInfuse Magazine

“targeting the skater crowd”

• The series of books is the brainchild of actor and born-again Christian Stephen Baldwin, who King says "has a passion to reach the fringe kids, the skater crowd" that doesn't typically buy Christian books but who are among graphic novels' big consumers.

• Barbour Publishing was among the first Christian companies producing comic novels.

More of the WORLD..

The Christian-themed books have attracted the attention of the mainstream comics industry. Diamond Comic Distributors has begun placing them on the shelves of mainstream and comics bookstores. The company's executives now attend Christian booksellers conventions in search of new titles. And Christian publishers have begun setting up tables at the industry's Comic-Con conventions, where comic books make their debuts.

Barbour to Publish More Inspirational Manga

Serenity's bad attitude creates a culture clash with a group of teens from the local Prayer Club, but eventually their unconditional tough love wins her over.  This inspirational message has helped Barbour get the Serenity graphic novels into over 300 Family Christian bookstores and 400 LifeWay Baptist stores (Barbour's books are available to regular comic shops via Diamond Comic Distributors).  An impressive total of more than 350 stores are on autoship for 12-copy Serenity counter displays.

“…come away with a Christian world view.”

The series in traditional comic genres include Time Flies, a story about time traveling cyborg flies; and Tomo, the story of a 13-year-old Japanese girl who comes to San Francisco pursued by creatures from a parallel dimension.  Nuffer emphasized that although these titles are not in a Biblical setting, they still have Christian messages.  "Readers will come away with the Christian world view," he said.    

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/8259.html

Chick Lit Books

What makes a book Chick Lit? • A Chick Lit book focuses on a single

young woman

• usually a professional, dealing with struggles at work, self-image, family stress, and the pleasure and pain of trying to find a guy who will stay forever.

• An element of romance is important

• She's putting action to her faith and going on the offensive to invent the future she wants.

Who reads it?

• The targeted audience was the under-35 female, but I have readers across the board from grandmothers to teenagers. I don't think you have to be young and single to relate to Chick Lit. I think you just have to be female and breathing. I've gotten email from a few guys too. I write in a subgenre because I write Chick Lit mystery, so I think that's where the male readership might come from.

• Is usually about a single, twentysomething or thirtysomething heroine;

© Copyright 2007, FaithfulReader.com. All rights reserved.

Thomas Nelson

W, part of publishing company Thomas Nelson Inc., launched Kristin Billerbeck's What a Girl Wants, about a 31-year-old patent attorney looking for a nice Christian guy who doesn't live with his mother.

© Copyright 2007 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc

Multnomah Publishers

Multnomah Publishers published Sisterchicks Do the Hula by Robin Jones Gunn.

© Copyright 2007 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc

THE PROPHETIC

Ezek 27:3 …….. O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a

merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD;….. thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.

Ezek 27:8 The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners: thy wise men, O Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy pilots.

Ezek 27:25 The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas.

CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING INDUSTRY

FaithWords

Penguin Praise

Shaw

Berean

Waterbrook Press

Provident Stores

Xulon Press

Parable

Howard Publishing

Guideposts

Barbour

Avon InspireMultnomah

LifeWay

Tyndale House

Charisma

Joel Osteen

Standard Publishing

WORLD

Ezek 27:26 Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas.

Eze 27:27-31 Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin.The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots. And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land; And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes: And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.

Ezek 27:32-35 And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea? When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise. In the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall. All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance.