With digital readers and tablets expected to be popular Christmas gifts, accelerating the growth of non-print book sales, Christian suppliers and brick-and-mortar retailers have been launching e-book programs in time for the holidays.

Berean Christian Stores and some leading independents have already introduced services, with Mardel Christian & Education and The Parable Group due to follow soon.

Chuck Wallington's Christian Supply in Spartanburg, S.C.—one of the industry’s top stores—unveiled its e-book initiative at Thanksgiving, with plans to roll it out to stores that are part of Wallington's Covenant Group marketing network in the New Year.

E-books are available for purchase at the Christian Supply website, through Ingram Digital Content Services, with an in-store center to be introduced to answer customers' questions. Wallington said that the e-books initiative was a significant shift in book selling. “I am convinced more than ever that if we are not where they are shopping, we are losing them for life."

Digital marketing supplier Innovative Inc. has launched Christian eBooks for more than 300 users of its Signature Websites, with in-store signage promoting the service. Among those using the service are members of the Association of Logos Bookstores, whose executive director Becky Gorczyca said it was “exactly what we had in mind when we began searching for an e-book solution a year and a half ago.”

Innovative's program, which includes audiobooks and apps, has been developed in partnership with audiobook and digital publisher eChristian.

“We are committed to providing Christian retailers the products and promotions critical to their success, so they can give their customers information and access to new release, bestseller and sale titles in all formats,” said Innovative President Larry Haege. “By providing a quality physical store and a best-in-class e-book user experience, Christian retailers can meet customer needs across the spectrum.”

Historical dramas and modern-day thrillers have been singled out as the year's best Christian fiction by Library Journal.

Six titles are spotlighted in the Best Books 2011: Christian Fiction list by the publication, read by directors and staff in public, academic and special libraries.

Sandra Byrd's To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn, first in the “Ladies in Waiting” series (Howard Books), “offers a sympathetic fresh take and adds depth and dimension to an often vilified woman.” Set in Rome in the days of the early church, T.L. Higleys's Pompei: City on Fire (B&H Publishing Group) is “suspenseful” and “an excellent sequel” to Higley's Petra.

Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan) is “a crisp tale of redeeming love and forgiveness,” while Lion of Babylon by Davis Bunn (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group) is “an intense, faith-based thriller with a strong sense of place.”

Library Journal reviewers cited Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee (Center Street/Hachette Book Group)--first in the “Books of Mortals” series--for “compelling writing and great plot twists” that combine in “an outstanding thriller.” The Queen: A Patrick Bowers Thriller by Steven James (Revell/Baker Publishing Group) was “a pulse-racing, tightly woven conspiracy tale.”

Two evangelical publishers were also featured in Library Journal’s Best Books 2011: Spiritual Living list. Peace Be With You: Monastic Wisdom for a Terror-Filled World by David Carlson (Thomas Nelson) was “one of the most touching and surprising spiritual responses to a post 9/11 world.” Happiness by Joan Chittister (Eerdmans) was selected for its “fluent and charming prose.”

Meanwhile, several Christian titles were among the winners of the ninth annual USA Book News Best Books 2011 Awards. Children's Religious: Passport to the World by Craig Froman (Master Books/New Lead Publishing Group); General Fiction: The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick (Waterbrook Multnomah); Historical Fiction: Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist  (Bethany House); Religious Fiction: Embers of Love by Tracie Peterson (Bethany House); Visionary Fiction: Rooms by James L. Rubart  (B&H Publishing Group).

The Episcopal Booksellers Association (EBA) is to move its Annual Meeting to Munce Group’s Christian Product Expo (CPE) from its long-term home at the Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit (RBTE).

EBA’s board of directors decided to move the meeting to the Munce event—to be held Sept. 16-18, in Murfreesboro, Tenn.—to lower the cost of attendance, provide access to specialized training and offer buyers access to a broader variety of books and gifts. The Episcopalians have met at the venue of the majority Roman Catholic trade show since EBA’s inception in 1997.

Precious Moments is helping survivors of the May tornado that devastated Joplin, Mo., celebrate their first Christmas in new homes.

The gift company spearheaded an effort involving more than a dozen businesses to provide holiday decorations and gift cards for 10 families settling into new homes built by Habitat for Humanity in just 16 days, as part of the Ten for Joplin project.

With The Story tour making its rounds in venues across the country, The Story Bible from Zondervan continues atop the Bible best-sellers list for weekly sales ending Nov. 26, according to Pubtrack Christian data from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).

The remaining Bibles in the top five are: 2. NIV Life Application Study Bible, Italian Duo-Tone, carmel/dark carmel (Zondervan); 3. NIV True Images, Italian Duo-Tone, chocolate/bubble gum (Zondervan); 4. NIV Life Application Study Bible, Italian Duo-Tone, honeysuckle pink (Zondervan); and 5. NIV Faithgirlz! Bible, Italian Duo-Tone (Zondervan).

Brandon Heath and Chris Tomlin have been nominated three times each in the 2012 GRAMMY Awards contemporary Christian categories, while Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary have each received two nods in the gospel genre.

The nominees for the 54th annual GRAMMY Awards were announced Nov. 30 during CBS’ The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! — Countdown to Music's Biggest Night.

Heath, two-time GMA Male Vocalist of the Year and multiple GRAMMY nominee, received three nominations in Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance (“Your Love”), Best Contemporary Christian Music Song (“Your Love,” with Jason Ingram); and Best Contemporary Christian Music Album (Leaving Eden).

Tomlin was nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album (And If Our God Is for Us…); Best Contemporary Christian Music Song (“I Lift My Hands,” with songwriters Louie Giglio and Matt Maher); and Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance (“I Lift My Hands”).

Franklin was nominated for Best Gospel Album (Hello Fear); and Best Gospel Song (“Hello Fear”). Mary Mary was nominated for “Sitting With Me” in the Best Gospel Song category with songwriters Gerald Haddon and Tammi Haddon and in Best Gospel Album for Something Big.

Four-time GMA Female Vocalist of the Year Natalie Grant was nominated for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance for her presentation of “Alive” (Mary Magdalene) from Music Inspired By The Story.

Gungor received its third consecutive GRAMMY nomination. The band’s latest record, Ghosts Upon the Earth, which debuted at No. 3 on Christian SoundScan and top 50 on the Billboard Top 200, was recognized in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category.

Leeland saw its fourth career GRAMMY nomination with The Great Awakening in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. Other 2012 nominees include Matthew West, Steven Curtis Chapman and Mandisa.

The GRAMMY awards will be presented Feb. 12, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Click here to download the complete nominee list. 

Black Friday week sales showed “striking growth and a continuing recovery” for Christian stores, says CBA.

Sales at suggested retail spiked 32.8% compared to 2010 for the Monday-through-Saturday week that included Black Friday—the day after Thanksgiving that is traditionally the start of the Christmas shopping season, according to the trade association’s CROSS:SCAN sales data. Unit sales also skyrocketed with total units sold for the top 10 best-selling products up 109.8% and the top 50 best-sellers up 110.7% from 2010.