Latin music distributor CanZion has formed an alliance with Kingsway and Integrity Music, the music divisions of David C Cook, for distribution in Latin America and to independent, non-CBA Hispanic retail accounts within the United States.

As part of the agreement, effective Feb. 21, CanZion will relaunch in all its territories the most recent Spanish-language albums from Danilo Montero, Julissa, Ingrid Rosario, Christine D'Clario, Vertical, Jacobo Ramos and other Latin artists signed to Kingsway and Integrity.

The deal that will create a new powerhouse in Christian publishing is still being finalized more than a month after the expected completion date.

When HarperCollins announced its acquisition of Thomas Nelson in October—a move that will make Nelson a division alongside long-time rival Zondervan—the purchase was said to be set to be finalized by the end of 2011.

HarperCollins' Vice President of Corporate Communications Erin Crum told Christian Retailing this week that the company had “no information on a definite date for the acquisition to be finalized.” The regulatory review period was continuing, she added, “but we expect the review will be concluded in due course.”

Crum said that the original closing date had been only an estimate given by the two parties “and going beyond the end of 2011 should not be taken as any indication of how the review process is going.”

While details of HarperCollins' future plans have not been disclosed, the company has said that Zondervan and Nelson will continue as separate entities. Some consolidation is expected as a result of the deal, which will make HarperCollins a dominant book publisher and the major Bible publisher.

As the acquisition process continues, Nelson has marked a record with the highest number of titles ever (11) on various New York Times bestseller lists in a single week. With six titles spread across seven categories in the Jan. 22 listings, the company held more positions than all other Christian publishers combined.

Among the successes was Real Marriage by debut Nelson authors Mark and Grace Driscoll, which reached the No. 1 spot on the “Advice, How-To and Miscellaneous” list after releasing Jan. 3. Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent has appeared on the list for a total of 62 weeks overall. The book was also recognized as Nielsen’s 2011 “Adult Non-Fiction Book of The Year.”

Other Nelson titles on the Jan. 22 list included Nearing Home by Billy Graham and How Do You Kill 11 Million People? by Andy Andrews.

The achievement “demonstrates the impact of strategic publishing, focused effort and teamwork with our authors and retailers,” said Nelson President and CEO Mark Schoenwald. “Our products have consistently appeared on multiple best seller lists, both in the secular and the Christian market, but never to this extent.  We are excited by these results as we work to fulfill our mission to inspire the world.”

Christian suppliers are celebrating recent successes in the film, apparel and children’s curriculum markets.

Trost Moving Pictures’ film The Lamp received Best Feature Drama honors, Best Actor (Cameron ten Napel) and Best of Festival at the Trail Dance Film Festival in Duncan, Okla.

Jim Stovall’s The Ultimate Journey has debuted at the top of the weekly fiction best-sellers list from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) tracking sales for the week ending Jan. 28, according to Pubtrack Christian data.

The Top 20 General best-sellers are: 1. Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, hardcover (Thomas Nelson); 2. Heaven Is for Real, Todd Burpo (Thomas Nelson); 3. The Resolution for Men, Stephen Kendrick, Alex Kendrick, Randy Alcorn (B&H Books); 4. Jesus Calling: Deluxe Edition, Young (Thomas Nelson); 5. Through My Eyes, Tim Tebow, hardcover (Harper); 6. The Resolution for Women, Priscilla Shirer (B&H Books); 7. Crazy Love, Francis Chan (David C Cook); 8. Made to Crave, Lysa TerKeurst (Zondervan); 9. The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman (Northfield Publishing); 10. Jesus Calling: Large Print Deluxe Edition, Young (Thomas Nelson); 11. Nearing Home, Billy Graham (Thomas Nelson); 12. One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp (Zondervan); 13. You Are Made for More!, Lisa Osteen Comes (FaithWords); 14. Not a Fan, Kyle Idleman (Zondervan); 15. The Necessity of an Enemy, Ron Carpenter Jr. (WaterBrook Press); 16. The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson (Zondervan); 17. Boundaries, Henry Cloud and John Townsend (Zondervan); 18. Heaven Is for Real for Kids, Burpo (Thomas Nelson); 19. Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem (Zondervan); and 20. Real Marriage, Mark Driscoll, Grace Driscoll (Thomas Nelson).

Harlequin has acquired the Heartsong Presents Book Club from Barbour Publishing. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A Christian romance book club founded in 1992, Heartsong Presents will enhance Harlequin’s direct-to-consumer channel, said the new owner. Club members receive four novels a month, with a focus on inspiration, hope and faith.

Young Colton Burpo’s account of heaven continues to draw readers, now topping the New York Times Paperback Nonfiction list for 53 weeks, non-consecutively. With 172 weeks in total on the New York Times’ Paperback Fiction list, William P. Young’s 2008 book, The Shack (Windblown Media/Hachette Book Group), achieved 52 weeks at No. 1.

Written by Colton’s father, Todd Burpo, with Lynn Vincent, Heaven Is for Real has been on the list for 62 weeks total and is the No. 1 on the current Feb. 5 list, tracking sales ending Jan. 21. Sales for the trade book, released in November 2010, have surpassed 6 million copies, publisher Thomas Nelson said, while The Shack has 10 million copies in print.

Two new Bibles initiatives were among the big product debuts at the Munce Group CPE (Christian Product Expo), which drew around 100 retailers to the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, Pa., Jan. 29-31.

Tyndale House Publishers—honored with a cake marking the start of its 50th anniversary year—unveiled its third Christian retail channel exclusive.