18 July

W Publishing acquires Captain Tammie Jo Shults Memoir

From US Navy Pilot to American hero

(Nashville, Tenn.) July 18, 2018 – W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, has acquired rights to a memoir by Captain Tammie Jo Shults, the airline pilot of Southwest Flight 1380 who made an emergency landing of her Boeing 737 after an engine exploded in midair, shattering a passenger window.

The North American rights were acquired by Daisy Blackwell Hutton, vice president and publisher in a pre-empt from Mel Berger at William Morris Endeavor, along with CMG Worldwide. This book is scheduled for release in October 2019 and will be Tammie Jo’s first book.

With nerves of steel, Captain Shults safely landed Southwest 1380 with only one engine in Philadelphia earlier this year. She will tell the story of how a young girl growing up on a ranch in New Mexico went on to become one of the first female F-18 Hornet pilots in the US Navy, braving rejection and discrimination with the strength she found in her faith.

Captain Shults is one of a small percentage of female pilots in the commercial airline industry. According to 2016 data from the Federal Aviation Administration, just 6.33% of commercial pilots are women. The passengers of Southwest 1380 applauded Shults for her “guidance and bravery in a traumatic situation” and called her a “true American hero.”

“We believe that Tammie Jo’s inspiring story has powerful reach far beyond the headlines heralding her calm and courage during the Southwest Airlines incident,” said Hutton. “It is a deeply human story that touches broadly on questions about how the choices we make and the things we value coalesce into the people we become. Tammie Jo’s story also dovetails powerfully with the cultural conversation around women’s strength and tenacity as we pursue our dreams.”

Contact:                Becky Melvin

Telephone:           615.902.1211

Email:            [email protected]

About Thomas Nelson: Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

25 April

Dale Earnhardt Jr. to release first book post-retirement telling his story

(Nashville, Tenn.) – April 25, 2018 – Retired NASCAR driver and NBC Sports’ newest on-air contributor,  Dale Earnhardt Jr., announces his first book and reveals the cover on NASCAR America “Wednesdays with Dale Jr.” The fifteen-time most popular driver writes candidly about his recent experiences in Racing To The Finish: My Story (ISBN# 9780785221609) which will be released on October 16, 2018, from the W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson.

It was a seemingly minor crash at Michigan International Speedway in June 2016 that ended the day early for Dale Jr. What he didn’t know was that it ultimately would cause him to miss the final 18 events of the racing season. He’d dealt with concussions before, but concussions are like snowflakes—no two are the same. Plus, recovery can be brutal—and lengthy.

As a third-generation driver in a family forever connected to the sport of stock-car racing, how could Dale Jr. sit on the sidelines and watch everyone else take their laps? It was one of the toughest seasons of his life, and one that changed him forever.

“Concussions are so common in sports that, for years, nobody took them seriously, myself included,” Earnhardt said. “But in 2016 that changed for me, and it was bad – very bad. Until this book, only my doctor and family could know how bad it was. I am leaving nothing out – the fear, the struggle, the pressure to get back, the rediscovery of myself, and how the very thing that caused my pain ultimately led to happiness I never knew possible. I also think my learnings from this experience will be hugely beneficial to people who are going through the same thing. One of those learnings is that there are more than we ever realized.”

Written with ESPN’s Ryan McGee, Dale Jr.’s gripping narrative is a first-person account from one of professional sports’ most beloved figures about his journey: how his career and his injury have transformed him, how he made the decision to retire at the end of the 2017 season after eighteen years behind the wheel, and what lies ahead for him in the next chapter of his life. There’s no second guessing and no regrets. He’s leaving the driver’s seat on his own terms, and he’s ready to hit the gas on his next phase of life.

“It’s always a Publisher’s dream to work with people who are the absolute very best at what they do, and that label certainly applies to Dale Earnhardt Jr.,” said Daisy Blackwell Hutton, Vice President of Thomas Nelson and Publisher of the W Publishing Group. “We knew Dale Jr. was a great racer, but it’s been wonderful to go deeper into his journey as a man so committed to his family, his fans, and his faith—and especially to learn more about everything he’s experienced in recent years. What a story!”

Contact:          Becky Melvin

Tel:                    615.902.1211

email:          [email protected]

About Thomas Nelson: Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum, and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

09 February

Denise George hired as vice president of marketing for W Publishing

(Nashville, TN) February 9, 2018—Today, Thomas Nelson announced Denise George as its new vice president of marketing for the W Publishing Group. George will report to W Publishing vice president and publisher, Daisy Blackwell Hutton, and will work closely with Hutton to develop both short and long-term publishing and business strategies for the imprint.

George comes to W Publishing with over 20 years of marketing experience in creative industries. For the past seven years, George has served as v-p of content and customer development at Creative Trust. Formerly, George spent over 15 years at Capitol Records in customer content development, artist marketing, and most recently in business development as v-p of strategic marketing. In her new role, George will oversee all marketing and publicity efforts for the W Publishing Group.

“Denise brings a fantastic blend of talent and brand management experience, direct-to-consumer experience, and leadership and management experience to this role,” says Hutton. “We believe Denise’s valuable marketing expertise and personal sensibilities will compliment our vision for W Publishing, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the team.”

About Thomas Nelson: Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curricula, and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson, is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.