Christian Retailing

‘Dawn Treader’ promotes Operation Christmas Child Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Thursday, 07 October 2010 03:16 PM America/New_York
The third movie in "The Chronicles of Narnia" film series is partnering with Operation Christmas Child (OCC) to encourage participation in collecting gifts for needy children worldwide.

Many Christian retailers, including LifeWay Christian Stores, take part annually in the Samaritan's Purse program--which features shoe boxes filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for children.

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Books & Such adds new literary agent Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Tuesday, 05 October 2010 10:40 AM America/New_York
Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Books & Such Literary Agency has announced the hiring of publishing industry veteran Mary Keeley to represent clients who write adult fiction and nonfiction.

Keeley worked for eight years for Tyndale House Publishers, where she served as a product manager, administrator and nonfiction acquisitions editor. Keeley worked with authors such as Randy Alcorn, Joel C. Rosenberg, Chuck Colson, Josh McDowell, Gary Smalley and Dianne Matthews. She also worked for four years at Christianity Today International (CTI), spearheading an author relations initiative for a list of contributing editors for Leadership Journal.

Books & Such founder Janet Kobobel Grant said Keeley "exemplifies the qualities ... (of) integrity, vision, belief in authors, an eye for a strong project, an eagerness to help others succeed and a deep understanding of the publishing process as well as the publishing world."

Founded in 1996, Books & Such represents authors such as Debbie Macomber, Joanna Weaver, Robin Jones Gunn, Dale Cramer, Lori Copeland and Lauraine Snelling.

 
Abingdon hires assistant marketing manager of publicity Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 04 October 2010 11:35 AM America/New_York
Abingdon Press--publishing arm of the United Methodist Publishing House--has announced the hiring of Desireé Davis as assistant marketing manager of publicity.

Davis, who will manage publicity campaigns for the imprint's nonfiction titles, previously worked as a broadcast media publicist with television booking firm Guestbooker.com, where she frequently booked national news appearances for authors, political pundits and financial experts. She also consulted as a guest booker for Daytime TV, a nationally syndicated morning show, as well as marketing events for Lipscomb University's athletics department.

 
B&H Publishing Group makes leadership changes Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 04 October 2010 11:59 AM America/New_York
B&H Publishing Group has announced executive leadership changes, including appointing Selma Wilson as its new president-effective immediately.

Former president Brad Waggoner, who will continue to serve as publisher of B&H, has also been promoted to executive vice president of B&H's parent company LifeWay Christian Resources (LCR).

Wilson, who joined LifeWay in 1989, most recently served as associate vice president of its church resources division. She has also held roles as director of organizational performance as well as director of the discipleship and family magazine department. LCR President and CEO Thom Rainer called Wilson "one of the most highly respected leaders" on staff.

In her new position, Wilson will provide leadership to B&H's publishing strategy, which includes best-selling authors such as Stephen and Alex Kendrick and Beth Moore as well as Bible and reference products, church supplies, B&H Academic, digital initiatives, and the CrossBooks Publishing self-publishing imprint.

Waggoner joined LCR in 2007 as founding director of LifeWay Research, and was named B&H president and publisher in 2008.
Rainer said that Waggoner "has led B&H to incredible new heights. . . . He will assume greater responsibility in giving operational oversight and leadership to the executive leadership team and the greater LifeWay family."

 
'WWJD' coming to Christian stores Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 04 October 2010 02:12 PM America/New_York
WWJD is being released Oct. 12 on DVD by Nasser Entertainment Group and distributed to by Phase 4 Films.

The modern-day version of the best-selling 1896 novel by Charles M. Sheldon, In His Steps, marks a 10-year labor of love for producer Joseph Nasser, whose Hollywood credentials include making more than 50 films and working with the likes of Sidney Poitier, Faye Dunaway, Patty Duke, Tom Berenger and Mary McDonnell.

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Casting Crowns, 'Faith Like Potatoes' still atop SoundScan Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 04 October 2010 02:24 PM America/New_York
The Altar and the Door by Casting Crowns (Beach Street Records/Provident-Integrity Distribution) still held the top spot of SoundScan's Christian/gospel music Christian retail chart for sales the week ending Sept. 26, while Faith Like Potatoes (Affirm Films/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment/Provident-Integrity) remained atop the Christian Videos list.

Following The Altar and the Door were: 2. We Cry Out by Jeremy Camp (BEC Recordings/EMI CMG Distribution); 3. Love God. Love People. by Israel Houghton (Integrity Music/Columbia Records/Provident-Integrity); 4. Women of Faith Worship by Women of Faith Worship Team (Thomas Nelson); 5. Greatly Blessed by Gaither Vocal Band (Gaither Music Group/EMI CMG); 6. Pieces of a Real Heart by Sanctus Real (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG); 7. Third Day Chronology: Volume One by Third Day (Essential Records/Provident-Integrity); 8. Love Revolution by Natalie Grant (Curb Records/Word Distribution); My Paper Heart by Francesca Battistelli (Fervent Records/Word); and 10. Born Again by the Newsboys (Inpop Records/EMI CMG).

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Mary Beth Chapman debuts on ECPA list Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 04 October 2010 02:33 PM America/New_York
Mary Beth Chapman's Choosing to See: A Journey of Struggle and Hope (Revell/Baker Publishing Group) has cracked the top 10, falling in at No. 6 on the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association's (ECPA) monthly sales chart.

The title penned--published Sept. 9--with Ellen Vaughn reached No. 6 on the October list, which accounts for the four-week cycle ending Sept. 18.
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