Amy Grant has found a new label home in Capitol Christian Music Group (formerly EMI CMG Label Group). Her first full studio project in 10 years, How Mercy Looks From Here (Sparrow Records/Capitol Christian Distribution) releases May 7.

Where did the project’s title come from?

I believe the title was [label President] Peter York’s idea. I love the title because I think it sums up the feeling of the record. During the last 10 years, I have had to bury several dear friends and my beautiful mom, Gloria Grant. Yet in spite of those times of real grief, I have felt God’s presence and have also felt genuine joy at how life continues to unfold. At age 52, it is nice to have lived enough to really know that God is present in good times and bad and that His mercy continues to make all the difference.

Are there one or two songs that are special to you on this album?

It is hard to pick one or two songs on this project. The inspiration for the entire project was based on one of the last lucid conversations I had with my mom. I had stopped by to spend some time with her before catching the tour bus for the “2 Friends” tour with Michael W. Smith. When it was time for me to leave, I told my mom that I had to go sing. She looked at me with genuine surprise and asked, “You sing?” My mom was the first person I ever sang a song to as a teenager and the fact that she didn’t remember that I was a singer put a huge lump in my throat. I swallowed hard and said, “Yes, mom, I do.” She asked me what kind of songs I sang and I told her songs about life, love, family and faith. She asked me to sing something before leaving and so I started an old hymn that I knew she had sung a hundred times before. About halfway through I asked her if she remembered this song. She replied, “No, but I love it! Please keep singing!” So I swallowed another lump in my throat and finished the song. When it was over, I kissed her and said I needed to leave. She looked me in the eye and said, “When you get on that stage to sing, will you do me a favor? Sing something that matters.” All of the songs on this record really matter to me. 

What was it like working with producer Marshall Altman?

I had never met Marshall before, but upon first meeting him, I felt an instant familiarity. I immediately related to his sort of creative organized chaos, and his warm and open personality made me feel safe as an artist. We started this project by meeting once a week. I would show up and play him some songs and he would critique them and then we would discuss them. I really respected his artistic opinion, but also appreciated that he wanted me to push back and fight for what I believed in. We met every week for several months pulling together the songs we thought were special. We wrote together and tore apart existing songs to recast them in very different light. When it came time to record the record, we had already done so much pre-tracking work that we had a strong sense of what we wanted the album to sound like. What I also love about Marshall is the creative community he surrounds himself with. Every day there are people stopping by the studio—artists he has worked with, writers, musicians, friends—and he welcomes them all. I loved making the record in the midst of all that creativity.

Todd and Tara Storch, with Jennifer Schuchmann, tell how they got involved in organ donation efforts after the tragic loss of their daughter Taylor in Taylor’s Gift: A Courageous Story of Giving Life and Renewing Hope (978-0-800-72188-6, $21.99). The book releases in April 2013 from Revell/Baker Publishing Group.

Why have you decided to write your story of losing your 13-year-old daughter, Taylor, in a ski accident three years ago?

This was not easy to do. We have experienced a parent’s worst nightmare. But we had a choice (and yes, it is a choice) to accept the path that God put us on or crawl up in the grief and wallow in anger and sadness. We chose to find the good in this. We have had so many God-inspired moments in this tragic situation that we knew we had to share our story to help others. That is really all we want to do, to help others. Sharing our story helps give purpose to the pain. But, most importantly, we hope it will help others know that no matter what your circumstances, you can grab onto God’s hand and He will guide you—if you let Him.

All Things New makes its debut while the regrouped Hawk Nelson offers its new release

ALL THE PEOPLE SAID AMEN

Matt Maher

Essential Records (Provident)

0-83061-09682-3

April 23

Maher’s All the People Said Amen features new songs mixed with live versions of worship anthems and radio hits. First single is “Lord I Need You.” 

ALL THINGS NEW

All Things New

BEC Recordings (EMI CMG Distribution) 5-09997-309022-9

April 9

Produced by Jonathan Smith and Casey Brown, with executive production by Jason Ingram, the self-titled debut by All Things New shares a life lesson: Things break apart in this world, but God restores them. 

CARRY ME

Josh Wilson

Sparrow Records (EMI CMG) 

5-09999-092842-0

April 9

With more than 200,000 in album sales, Wilson is once again teaming up with producer Matt Bronlewee for Carry Me. The title track is a prayer asking God to hold onto our hearts. 

FIGHT

Carlos Whittaker

Paradigm Collective (Provident)

0-83061-09642-7

April 30

Formerly worship pastor at Sandals Church, Whittaker now serves at a North Point campus in Atlanta. Fight is his debut with Paradigm Collective.

LIGHTS OUT

Silverline

Dream Records (EMI CMG) 

6-17401-12518-8-9

April 9

Silverline has shared the stage with P.O.D. and Newsboys, selling thousands of CDs independently.

MADE

Hawk Nelson

Fair Trade Services (Provident) 

7-36211-60519-1

April 2

Now a threesome after Jason Dunn opted for a solo career, Hawk Nelson transitioned Jonathan Steingard to frontman. “Words,” which features vocals by Bart Millard (MercyMe), is a response to the title track, “Made.”

EMI CMG Distribution, Call: 800-877-4443, Fax: 615-371-6980, www.emicmgdistribution.com

Pure Flix Entertainment, Call: 888-528-7444, E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., www.pureflix.com

Provident Distribution, Call: 800-333-9000, www.thep.com

Right to life: A mother’s search for redemption and a son’s quest to find his birth mother is the story told in Meant to Be. The film shows that even when we choose to go our own way, God can show us what was meant to be. The film stars Dean Cain, Bradley Dorsey, Della Reese and Michael Gross. Released last month by Pure Flix Entertainment, the 90-minute DVD retails for $14.99. 

League of his own: In Ring the Bell, big-city sports agent Rob Decker is on a mission to sign a high school baseball superstar, but becomes stranded in a small town where the simplicity of life and faith stands in stark contrast to his own win-at-all-costs mind-set. The story features Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman and Matthew West, along with baseball all-stars Rick Sutcliffe, John Kruk and Ben Zobrist. From Provident Distribution, the 96-minute Provident Films DVD releases this month and retails for $14.99. 

The beginning of the end: In Revelation Road, a traveling salesman with a history of violence foils a robbery by The Barbarians, an outlaw biker gang. Then an unnatural flash comes across the sky, followed by a series of earthquakes. It could be the rapture, but the salesman’s only goal is to get home to his family—a dangerous journey to the center of his soul. The film stars Brian Bosworth, Steve “The Sting” Borden, Ray Wise and David A.R. White. Released last month by Pure Flix, the 88-minute DVD retails for $19.99.

Director of ‘Unconditional’ sees the film as a ‘mainstream’ movie like ‘The Blind Side’

“Papa Joe” Bradford’s life was in shambles, but today he ministers in Nashville’s inner city. Unconditional is the story of how someone who grew up in rural Tennessee ended up with a following among the underprivileged.

Released last month to Christian retail, Unconditional tells the story of Samantha Crawford (Lynn Collins), whose storybook marriage is wrecked by a senseless act of violence. “Papa” Joe Bradford (Michael Ealy), Crawford’s childhood friend, leads her on a journey toward unconditional love.

Produced by Harbinger Media Partners, the film is based on the real-life Joe Bradford, who serves seven at-risk communities in Nashville through his Elijah’s Heart ministry.

“Unconditional is a wonderful true story about the power of faith, hope and love,” Director Brent McCorkle said. “The big spiritual question the film asks is, ‘Where is God when I’m suffering?’ Also at the heart of this redemptive drama are themes like acts of service, transcending cultural barriers and never underestimating the power of a true friend. While it carries indelible spiritual themes, it is definitely a film that people from all walks of life can embrace and be touched by.”

Unconditional wasn’t a hit when it was released in theaters last fall, but the film’s director hopes the Christian-themed drama will find an audience on DVD.

“Unfortunately, most people didn’t even know about our film,” McCorkle told Christian Retailing. “The amazing news about our theatrical run was that the film garnered an extremely high audience rating. On RottenTomatoes.com, it hovered at around 90%. That’s a pretty big deal. … I think that our little movie could totally have a life of its own as a DVD sleeper hit.”

Rated PG-13 for some violent content and mature thematic elements, Unconditional is “simply a mainstream movie with some faith elements and no offensive content.”

“It’s a redemptive story with spiritual themes that are easily embraced by Christians,” McCorkle said. “But at the same time, my intent and conviction was to craft a film that wasn’t exclusive to that audience—very much like The Blind Side.

“There’s a place for this type of content on [Christian retailers’] shelves, even though it is mainstream,” he added. “I have heard from many, many folks who have [said] that the film is resonating with them on a fundamental spiritual level in their Christian lives.”

Unconditional, which retails for $17.99 and runs 98 minutes, is distributed by Provident Distribution. To order, call 800-333-9000.

ASK THE AUTHOR: Ginny L. Yttrup

LATEST PROJECT: Invisible (978-1-433-67168-5, $14.99, April 1).

PUBLISHER:  B&H Books.

What are the premise and theme of Invisible?  Invisible is the story of three women, each hiding from themselves and others. Ellyn, a chef, has spent her life hiding behind a layer of extra weight; Sabina, a counselor, is hiding behind a wall of grief; and Twila is wasting away as she struggles with anorexia—she wants to disappear, literally. As the women are drawn together and their lives intertwine, they begin to see themselves in one another and come to recognize themselves as the beautiful creations they are. The overarching theme of Invisible is freedom, which the characters enjoy once they accept themselves as ones created in the image of God. Embracing that truth frees the characters, and us, to focus on the glory of God living within us, rather than on our human flaws.

Why did you write Invisible?   I wrote this story because I am 5-foot, 1-inch and weigh 100-and-too-many pounds, according to the cultural standard. I wrote Invisible because for much of my life, I didn’t feel as though I fit in, or even that anyone could possibly find me attractive, and therefore, I wished I was invisible. I wrote this story because last year, when I turned 49, I realized and accepted, for the first time, that I am created in the image of God! And that blew me away! I’ve heard theologians say that our souls are created in the image of God, not our bodies. Maybe that’s true—I’m not a theologian. But I was knit together in my mother’s womb by a loving and creative God who tells me in His Word that I’m created in His image—His Word also tells me that as a believer, I have His Spirit living within me. Wow! When I considered the truth of those facts, it became difficult to look in the mirror and complain any longer. There is so much more to me than the reflection staring back at me. Ellyn makes a statement in Invisible that she’s never looked in the mirror and seen the image of God. From my experience, I don’t think Ellyn is alone. Nor was I alone in the struggle I battled for 49 years. My prayer is that readers will come away from Invisible seeing themselves as ones created in the image of God and will embrace all that means.

How is this an example of what has been called “Issues Fiction”?  One of the prevalent issues of our American culture is the notion that the models and actors we see splashed across magazine covers and movie screens represent an ideal image of beauty and body shape. As women, we often struggle because the ideal is often impossible to attain. We compare ourselves and then wonder, What’s wrong with me? 

What research did you conduct to write on these issues?  I researched anorexia nervosa first on the Internet and then by talking with women who’ve struggled with that eating disorder. I researched other eating disorders and was interested when I noticed a common thread that seemed to run through all of them—whether it was eating too much or too little. I also used my own experience as a woman who has struggled with my own body image and weight for most of my life. Then I studied grief and its varying stages. Finally, as I do with each of my books, I had a wise Christian counselor read the manuscript to make certain I portrayed the psychological issues in a believable manner. For Invisible, I was blessed to have Marilyn Meberg, counselor, author and speaker for Women of Faith, read the manuscript and offer her psychological insight and, ultimately, her endorsement. I also had the extreme privilege of consulting with novelist and speaker Liz Curtis Higgs as I wrote. Liz, a “big, beautiful woman,” as she refers to herself, advised me on how Ellyn might feel. Liz also wanted to make certain Invisible wasn’t offensive to large women in any way, which was precisely what I wanted to avoid. Large or small, we’re all created in the image of God!

Threads of the characters’ conversations weave together in a way that ministers to each of them specifically. Why did you choose this approach?  I hope that through the relationships I portrayed in Invisible, the reader sees a picture of the way the body of Christ works at its best. God works in and through each of us and touches the lives of those He places in our paths.

Who will connect with this story?   Readers who’ve struggled with their own body image or an eating disorder will connect with Invisible. [Also] anyone who has fallen in love or anyone who has grieved the loss of a loved one will connect with Invisible. Finally, anyone who enjoys a good story—a story of transformation, restoration and romance—will connect with Invisible. 

How can Christian retailers promote?  I am so appreciative of Christian retailers and the enormous selection of books they promote. I believe fiction is a “back door” to a reader’s heart, and when Christian retailers view fiction in that way, they may then consider recommending a novel as well as a self-help book, when someone seeks something on a specific topic.