Christian rap label Humble Beast announced a new distribution arrangement with Fair Trade Services and booking for Humble Beast's entire roster by Current Talent Agency. 

The Portland-based label believes in "radical generosity" and gives away all of its music for free. Humble Beast is home to Propaganda, Beautiful Eulogy, Jackie Hill-Perry and JGivens.

Brazos Press, a division of Baker Publishing Group, announced Wednesday that they have signed a one-book contract with Karen Swallow Prior. Releasing in early 2018, Prior’s book will model the exercise of virtue through the reading of classic works of literature.

Prior is a professor of English at Liberty University and earned her Ph.D. and M.A. at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Prior received the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2013, was named Faculty of the Year by the Multicultural Enrichment Center in 2010 and was the 2003 recipient of the President’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

Foreword Reviews, a media company devoted to reviewing books from small, independent publishers and university presses, announced the finalists for its 18th annual IndieFab Book of the Year Awards. Christian publishers nominated for the awards include Brazos Press, Kregel Publications, InterVarsity Press and Abingdon Press.

Each year, Foreword Reviews shines a light on a select group of indie publishers, university presses and self-published authors whose work stands out from the crowd. In the next three months, a panel of more than 130 volunteer librarians and booksellers will determine the winners in 66 categories based on their experience with readers and patrons.

Syntax Creative has entered into a new partnership with InResponse Music, the music label of Saddleback Worship. Upcoming InResponse titles include First, a Saddleback Worship EP that releases worldwide March 18.

Tricia Eisen, InResponse Music manager, said First was a hint of things to come for the label.

“With six original new songs, First is just a glimpse into the heart of Saddleback Worship,” Eisen said. “With pre-production already moving ahead on the next project, you can expect a continuous flow of original worship songs to equip and resource both the local and global church.”

Tim Trudeau, CEO of Syntax Creative, commented on Syntax’s role with Saddleback Church.

“While many churches struggle to maintain membership, Saddleback continues to thrive and do things in excellence,” Trudeau said. “The partnership between Syntax and InResponse will strengthen an already strong Saddleback to grow its musical offering to the worldwide church.”

InResponse Music is a young label with just five releases in its discography to date but has already been nominated for a Dove Award.

Cathi Workman, the label’s brand and marketing manager, explained the company’s vision.

“InResponse Music will continue to bring new worship songs, recordings and resources to market from the global Saddleback Church community,” Workman said. “We are currently working on a follow-up to the Dove Award-nominated kids' album, Brave, as well as Saddleback Worship’s first full-length worship album, slated for release in 2017.”

Trudeau sees great things ahead for InResponse.

“InResponse Music has a bright future,” Trudeau added. “Syntax is honored to be a part of that future, where InResponse and Saddleback will help to grow worshipers in purpose-driven churches around the world.”

Thomas Nelson has sold more than 100,000 e-books of Rachel Hauck's The Wedding Dress. The novel hit the USA Today and Wall Street Journal’s best-seller lists in February and the New York Times list in March, four years after its release.

In addition to its e-book success, The Wedding Dress has sold more than 40,000 copies in print.  Recent renewed interest launched the title to a No. 2 spot on the New York Times best-seller list for E-book Fiction and No. 6 for Combined Print and E-book Fiction.

Gary Smalley, best-selling author of more than 60 books and Smalley Relationship Center founder and president, died Sunday, March 6. He was 75.

Along with an expression for the support the family received and notice that the memorial service is being planned, the announcement on Smalley’s Facebook page read: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce Dr Gary Smalley, at age 75, graduated to heaven last night. The family gathered and surrounded him, his loving wife Norma kissed his forehead gently and sang to him. This beautiful transition came to an end as these words were spoke over him ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.’ Numbers 6:24-25.”

Jerry Bridges, best-selling author and 60-year member of The Navigators ministry, died Sunday, March 6, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from heart failure. He was 86.

Bridges was best known as the author of The Pursuit of Holiness (NavPress), his first book that sold more than 1 million copies. Most of his nearly 20 books, including Trusting God, Respectable Sins and The Practice of Godliness, were published by NavPress. NavPress will release his final book, The Blessing of Humility, posthumously in June. He won two Gold Medallion awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association: The Discipline of Grace (NavPress) and I Will Follow You, O God (WaterBrook Press).