Howard Books' repositioning includes ending a strong line for the publisher, which has been the Christian imprint of general market house Simon & Schuster since 2006.

Having just celebrated the opening of its new offices in Nashville last month, with an Open House event, the company known for its best-selling "Hugs" series among others has announced that it is ending its gift books line to focus on trade titles.

"Present market conditions are dictating that more than anything else," said Jonathan Merkh, Howard's vice president and publisher. Noting the fragmentation of the gift industry, Merkh said that gift books "have not been as successful as they used to be."

Howard is banking on names like Jim Wallis, editor in chief of Sojourners magazine, and Debbie Macomber--a New York Times best-selling novelist who has done some nonfiction--to make their mark.

Slated for release in January 2010, Wallis' Rediscovering Values on Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street: A Moral Compass for the New Economy aims to help readers rethink their approach to life.

Macomber's Fishes and Loaves: Living in a Spirit of Generosity, the first of two inspirational nonfiction titles with Howard, is coming out this fall.

Read the full report in the Nov. 9 issue of Christian Retailing.

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