Christian books such as Tracey Bateman's Thirsty (WaterBrook Press), Beth Felker Jones' Touched By a Vampire (Multnomah Books), Eric Wilson's "Jerusalem's Undead" trilogy (Thomas Nelson) and Ted Dekker's Green (Thomas Nelson) are targeting customers interested in vampire stories.

The annual event, for established and up-and-coming authors, will feature a keynote speech from Debbie Macomber and a variety of workshops taught by authors Jim and Tracie Peterson, Margaret Daley, Rachel Hauck, Susan May Warren, Allen Arnold, Karen Ball and Rene Gutteridge. Workshops today include "Writing the Breakout Novel," which will be led by Donald Maas. A book signing will be held Saturday, Sept. 19.

Through a Twitter posting yesterday, Warren--pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and author of The Purpose-Driven Life (Zondervan)--announced that whoever submitted a design used for the final cover would receive $3,000. Zondervan today increased the winning design prize to $5,000.

"The reality is that it is still a tough economy," Munce Group Chief Operating Officer Kirk Blank told Christian Retailing. "There was a great variety of retailers and vendors who were either up, flat or down. Through it all, every retailer is committed to their ministries, businesses and communities.

During a plenary session this week at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ridgecrest, N.C., LCR President Thom Rainer told the trustee board that "tremendous expense control" was the key reason, Baptist Press (BP) reported.

The Hope You Need was inspired by an eight-part sermon series Warren preached at his Saddleback Church in Orange County, Calif., and focuses on the power in the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples.

"We are thrilled to partner once again with our longtime friend to bring this timeless and timely message to everyone," said Zondervan CEO Moe Girkins. "Gaining insight and meaning to the way Jesus prayed to His Father no doubt will inspire all of us."

Zondervan also published two titles in the "Living With Purpose" series in 2006. God's Answers to Life's Difficult Questions and God's Power to Change Your Life were based on previously published material.

In October 2008, Warren's The Purpose of Christmas was published by Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. It was a gift book based on Warren's most famous Christmas message.

The Hope You Need will release simultaneously in English and Spanish worldwide on Nov. 17. For more information, go to www.thehopeyouneed.com.

Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Casting Crowns and MercyMe are among those who will be performing at a "Save the GMA" fund-raising event in Nashville on Oct. 12. The tickets for the strolling dinner and concert at The Loveless Barn are $1,000 each.

Support for the event is "vital to GMA's ability to continue operating," said association President Ed Leonard in an invitation circular. "What would it be like if events like GMA Music Week, the Dove Awards and Immerse went away and there was no organization to bring us all together?"

Leonard said that the GMA had not been immune from the current economic hard times. "We have incurred significant obligations while running our events in a time of restricted sponsorship dollar availability and financial hardships faced by the members and attendees of our events," said Leonard, who is president of Daywind Music Group. He said that he hoped the event would raise $800,000.

Earlier this month the GMA announced that John Styll, president and CEO for the past six years, was stepping down from the role as the organization refit itself as "a more volunteer-driven operation." Styll remains a board member.