There will be a new honor when the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) recognizes the best books of the year in 2012.

A trophy for Best New Author has been added to the six annual Christian Book Award categories whose winners will be announced at the ECPA’s executive leadership meeting to be held next April in the Chicago area.

Spanish-language publishers and suppliers have committed to starting 2012 with a special focus on seeking God for more impact in their efforts.

Many attending the annual summit of the Spanish Evangelical Products Association (SEPA) in the Orlando, Fla., area this week responded to an appeal from pastor and author Jentezen Franklin to begin the new year with a 21-day fast.

InterVarsity Press (IVP) plans to buy Biblica Books, the book-publishing arm of Biblica Worldwide. In the acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of the calendar year, IVP will obtain 170 current and nearly 30 new titles, including OperationWorld, the best-selling global prayer guide now in its seventh edition.

Biblica—renamed in 2009 from IBS-STL, formed by the merger of International Bible Society with STL—is publisher of the New International Version and translator of the Bible into more than 100 languages.

Zonderkidz is giving away a set of its complete 2011 library to launch a new social media campaign to connect more with young readers and parents. Zondervan’s children’s division plans to provide an inspirational and faith-based community through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, GoodReads.com and Scribd.com, where fans can engage and sample new content and share stories about their favorite books and authors.

E-book readers are showing an increased loyalty to and satisfaction with the digital format, according to Book Industry Study Group’s (BISG) Consumer Attitudes Toward E-Book Reading survey.

Results of the BISG survey show that nearly half of print book consumers who have also acquired an e-book in the past 18 months would wait up to three months for the e-version of a book from a favorite author, rather than immediately read it in print. A year ago, only 38% said they would wait that long.

Akiane by child artist Akiane Kramarik—whose painting of Jesus is referenced in the best-selling Heaven is for Real—is now appearing on the general weekly best-sellers list for sales ending Nov. 5, according to Pubtrack Christian data from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).

Akiane: Her Life, Her Art, Her Poetry, published by Thomas Nelson, is a collection of the young artist’s best paintings and poetry created from ages 4-10, and also reveals the stories of each unique piece of art.

Word Entertainment, Warner Music Groups’ Christian music division, held a special 60th-anniversary celebration Nov. 2 in Waco, Texas, where the label was founded in 1951 by Baylor University graduate Jarrell McCracken.