WaterBrook Press celebrates the sale of more than 1 million copies of Joanna Weaver’s Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. The book also has been honored with a Platinum Award for sales from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.

Originally released in 2000, Weaver’s CBA and Publishers Weekly best-seller reflects on the sisters of Bethany—Mary and Martha—and has become an oft-used resource for women’s Bible study groups.

Americans preparing for Thanksgiving also are considering their shopping list for the holiday weekend. The National Retail Federation’s Thanksgiving Weekend Expectations survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, provides a preliminary look at shopping expectations over Thanksgiving weekend.

Six in 10 (61.1%) surveyed in the study say they will or may shop either Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, which equates to more than 140.1 million unique shoppers. Expectations are similar to last year’s preliminary survey results of 140.3 million.

Beach Street Records/Reunion Records recording artist Casting Crowns received its third career American Music Award (AMA) Sunday night in the Favorite Artist—Contemporary Inspirational category, surpassing fellow nominees Hillsong United and Newsboys. The award was presented during the AMA live broadcast on ABC Network television at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre.

Thrive, Casting Crowns’ latest release, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Christian Albums Chart and No. 6 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart on its recent street week.

CA Gift, formerly Cathedral Art Metal, is headed for the Atlanta winter gift market with an expanded line featuring the works of two prominent artists. Both artists will make personal appearances during the show.

The Providence, Rhode Island-based designer, manufacturer and marketer of gifts and décor is now being represented by The Rep Connection.

Word Weavers International, an 18-year-old organization for writers founded and led by Eva Marie Everson, and BelieversTrust, the new nonprofit organization led by Rebeca Seitz have announced the formation of a strategic alliance. Seitz recently formed BelieversTrust to fill the void left by the recent closure of Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

Nearly three years ago, Word Weavers partnered for a brief time with Christian Writers Guild, but the relationship ended amicably in 2011 due to different practices and goals of the organizations. The guild was a for-profit organization and Word Weavers is a nonprofit.

Jon Pott, vice president and editor in chief of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., has announced that he will retire June 30, 2015.

Pott first joined the publishing house as an editor in 1968. He later served as executive editor for several years before being appointed to the position of editor in chief in 1982. During his long tenure, Pott has overseen the growth of the company’s yearly publishing output from approximately 70 titles a year to well over 100. He also played an active role in the publication of Eerdmans’ acclaimed periodical The Reformed Journal, serving as editor in chief from 1982 until its final issue in 1990.

The Gospel Music Association (GMA) Canada honored singer-songwriter Dan Bremnes with four Covenant Awards at the awards banquet in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, Nov. 13. Word Entertainment duo Love & The Outcome also took home three awards at the 36th Annual GMA Canada Covenant Awards.

GMA recognized Bremnes (Capitol Christian Music Group) for Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, as well as for Pop/Contemporary Song and Recorded Song of the Year for his current single, “Beautiful,” which he performed at the ceremony.