Howard Books has announced that Jennifer Smith has been promoted to vice president, director of publicity.

Smith came to Howard Books in October 2010, from the company’s New York offices, where she oversaw publicity for Simon & Schuster Audio. Prior to that, she was the director of publicity and marketing for one of Simon & Schuster’s distribution clients.

Before her career in publishing, she spent several years as a news director and producer for national television and radio networks and is a guest lecturer at various colleges and universities, specifically talking about publicity, book publishing and the climate of our marketplace.

Since joining the Howard team, Smith has been an integral part of our growing success and has helped cement Howard Books’ reputation in the marketplace as the foremost publisher of Inspirational/Christian books.

She has been diligent in assuring our books and authors get the attention they deserve across mainstream and Christian media platforms, and has helped our imprint launch more than 30 titles to the New York Times best-seller list, including: EntreLeadership, An Invisible Thread, Kisses from Katie, Illusion, Waking up in Heaven, Angels Walking, Emotions, Where a Man Stands, The Traitor's Wife, Rise of Isis and many more.

In 2013 she led campaigns for some of the company’s most successful titles, including No. 1 NYT best-sellers Happy, Happy, Happy  and Sicology 1. In addition, she has fostered relationships with and spearheaded campaigns for many best-selling authors, including A&E’s Duck Dynasty Family, TLC’s Duggar family, the stars of TLC’s The Little Couple, Wm. Paul Young, Tim Conway, Karen Kingsbury, Charles Stanley, Darryl Strawberry, Jay Sekulow and many others. 

Smith’s ability to navigate media relationships as well as lead her team has proven instrumental in helping to grow the Howard Books division to what it is today.

Newsboys has been nominated for two 2015 Billboard Music Awards. The band is nominated for Top Christian Artist, alongside Casting Crowns, Hillsong UNITED, Lecrae and MercyMe.

In addition, Newsboys’ “We Believe” is nominated for a Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Song. The band’s longest-running No. 1 single to date, “We Believe” also serves as the theme song of Pure Flix’s “Do You Believe?” that stars Academy Award-winner Mira Sorvino, Sean Astin, Cybill Shepherd and Lee Majors, among others.

CIROBE (Chicago International Remainder & Overstock Book Exposition), the world’s largest trade show exclusively devoted to the buying and selling of remainders, has announced a change in venue. For 2015, its 25th annual show will take place in Festival Hall at Chicago’s famed Navy Pier, 600 East Grand Avenue.

“Festival Hall contains over 170,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit hall space, so for the first time since its initial show in 1991, CIROBE will occupy one exhibit hall,” said Bradley Jonas, president of CIROBE and co-owner of Chicago’s Powell’s Bookstore, which owns and operates the show. “The adjoining registration area, Lakeview Terrace, has floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views of Chicago’s vaunted lakefront and skyline.”

Casa Creación, the Spanish imprint of Charisma House, has named Julio Vientos as its new director with the March retirement of Lydia Morales as executive director. Morales began her career in 2000 as an executive assistant. She held a number of positions at Casa Creación until taking the helm of the imprint in 2006.

Vientos, who has been serving as sales director is now director of Casa Creación. He has been with Charisma House for six years, has managed international and national sales, and has supervised the marketing area since 2011. Vientos has brought new business to the team and has expanded sales territories, markets and clientele.

Mardel has announced the acquisition of Not of This World (NOTW), an industry leader in Christian lifestyle clothing.

With more than 30 years of retail experience, the 25-store Mardel chain will continue to carry on the brand excellence of NOTW and plans to further strengthen the brand across all channels of commerce. With its own distribution center, design team and in-house marketing department, Mardel expects to maintain the brand at a high level. 

This may just be Mercy Me’s year. The popular Christian band, which has been nominated four times previously, is in the running for three 2015 Billboard Music Awards including the top Christian album, top Christian song and top Christian Artist.

It is the first time the band has been nominated for a Billboard Music Award since 2012. It previously garnered three nominations in 2011, and has yet to win.

The Billboard Music Awards will be held Sunday, May 17, at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

Mercy Me’s competition for top Christian artist includes Casting Crowns, Hillsong United, Lecrae and the Newsboys.

The band received a top album nomination for its project, “Welcome to the New.” Lecrae, Casting Crowns, NEEDTOBREATHE and Chris Tomlin are the other nominees in that category.

Mercy Me’s “Greater” received a nomination for top Christian song. Francesca Battistelli’s “He Knows My Name,” Hillsong United’s “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail),” the Newsboys’ “We Believe” and Carrie Underwood’s “Something in the Water” also received nominations in that category.

Faith of Our Fathers—a moving story of faith and friendship in time of war, and for generations—premieres nationwide July 1 as America commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.  

A Downes Brothers production in association with Pure Flix, Faith of Our Fathersstars Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Downes, David A.R. White, Candace Cameron Bure, Rebecca St. James and Si Robertson, Duck Dynasty’s “Uncle Si,” who is a Vietnam veteran. Carey Scott directs. Pure Flix and Samuel Goldwyn Films distribute.

“From Vietnam battlefields to emotional battlefields of today, Faith of Our Fathersshows the power of faith in God to transform lives,” Producer Bobby Downes said. “Uplifting and encouraging, Faith of Our Fathers is an important journey—one that brings honor and, hopefully, healing to vets and families affected by their great sacrifices.”

“So many young men who went to Vietnam never came home,” said Robertson said. “Hey, they left families behind who never got to know those great guys. This story is about two sons on a road trip to learn about their dads. It’s a story about Vietnam, but it happens in all wars, and I’m proud to be part of a film that helps bring peace to people.” 

The story begins in 1969. With the Vietnam War raging, two young fathers report for duty—a man of great faith and a doubtful cynic. A quarter-century later, their sons, Wayne and John Paul (David A.R. White and Kevin Downes), meet as strangers.

Guided by letters handwritten from their fathers from the battlefield, they embark on an unforgettable journey to The Wall—the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Along the way, they discover the devastation of war cannot break the love of a father for his son.

“Faith of Our Fathers is coming out at a strategically important time in American history as our nation is currently commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War,” said Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Doug Carver, USA-Retired, 22nd Army Chief of Chaplains (2007-2011).