Tag: Kathie Lee Gifford

The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison releases March 2023

Grand Rapids, MI – September 23, 2022 – Zonderkidz is pleased to announce that New
York Times bestselling author, broadcast journalist and producer Raymond Arroyo will publish
a new children’s picture book series titled Turnabout Tales, with the first book arriving in stores
on March 21, 2023, titled The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison. Illustrated by Kristina
Gehrmann, the book will be for children 4-8 and beyond who will enjoy learning how small
moments and events in one’s life can create a big change, much like Edison’s life did.

Based on the younger years of inventor Thomas Alva Edison, the book highlights the support of
his mother, Nancy Edison, who understood Thomas had a special curiosity and went on to
school him at home to help expand his worldview and understanding of all things nature and
science. Edison’s curiosity often got him into trouble, but also led to his love of chemistry, the
mechanics of the telegraph and more. His struggle with deafness at an early age also compelled
him to become a compulsive reader. Edison’s mother was his biggest advocate, and he opened
up an “invention factory” in 1876 to honor her after her unexpected death.

The Turnabout Tales series will feature pivotal moments in other historic lives, each revealing
challenges faced, paths changed and history turned. More books will be announced later in 2023. This series was acquired by Zonderkidz Publisher Megan Dobson and Senior Acquisitions
Editor Katherine Jacobs, from agent Chip Flaherty of Bamtrey Strategies.

Zonderkidz is happy to bring these unique stories from Raymond to a wide audience who will
appreciate history and the hidden backstories of characters that can inspire children and their
families even today,” says Megan Dobson, Vice President and Publisher of Zonderkidz. “We seek
to highlight tales that bring light and joy while also delivering inspiring yet little-known stories
that bring history to life for kids in an all-new, fun way. Acquiring this series fits perfectly within
our mission.”

“We often forget that talent is nurtured by love and belief. I was drawn to Edison when I read a
comment where he attributed his entire career as an inventor to his mother,” says Arroyo, host
of the global news program The World Over Live on EWTN, and a Fox News Contributor. “At a
critical point, when he was tossed from school, it was Edison’s mother who recognized his spark
and changed the trajectory of his life. My hope is that the whole series will inspire kids and their
families to be open to the direction of their children’s gifts and interests. Often it is by looking
back that we can see the best way to go forward –and that’s what I hope to do with Turnabout
Tales.”

The book includes an author note and bibliography for further reading. A Teaching Guide and
Activity Guide will also be available for free download to parents and educators at
www.zonderkidz.com.

“…the light of the invention within Tom might have never illuminated the world, had it not been
for a mother who first saw the glow of curiosity in her Al.” – The Unexpected Light of Thomas
Alva Edison

ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison
By New York Times bestselling author Raymond Arroyo
Illustrated by Kristina Gehrmann
Hardcover w/Jacket, $17.99
9780310799238
March 21, 2023 On Sale

Advance copies of the book and interviews are available upon request; a multi-city media tour in
several U.S. cities in the spring featuring visits to media and schools is in process. Please contact
Publicity Director Jessica Westra at [email protected] for more information.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:
“This moving, hidden story of one of our great inventors, in Raymond Arroyo’s skillful hands,
becomes a lesson in the power of love and family. This Turnabout Tale will touch any parent
who has ever defended or encouraged their child and inspire any student who has been
underestimated. There’s true light in this tale.” – Kathie Lee Gifford, Best-selling author and
4-time Emmy award winning entertainer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Raymond Arroyo is an internationally known, award-winning journalist, producer, and New
York Times bestselling author. As a Fox News Contributor and Editorial Advisor to the top rated, The Ingraham Angle, he has created the popular “Seen and Unseen” and “Friday Follies”
segments that have become audience favorites. He regularly files reports for Fox News and
appears across the network.

As founding News Director, Managing Editor and Lead Anchor for EWTN News, he is seen in
more than 350 million homes on six continents each week and heard on more than 500 AM/FM
affiliates and a stand alone Sirius channel throughout the U.S. Arroyo established EWTN News
and The World Over Live in 1996, which he hosts from Washington D.C. each week.
Known for his penetrating interviews, Arroyo has interrogated the leading figures of the day.

Highlights include: The first exclusive, sit down interview with Mel Gibson about his film, “The
Passion of the Christ”; Mother Teresa of Calcutta; Placido Domingo; Presidents George W. Bush
and Donald Trump, a groundbreaking interview with comic legend, Jerry Lewis, and the first
and only English language interview with Pope Benedict XVI.

Before coming to EWTN, Arroyo worked for the Associated Press, The New York Observer and
the political columnist team of Evans and Novak. Arroyo is a graduate of New York University’s
Tisch School of the Arts. He has acted and directed in New York and London.

In addition to his work at EWTN, Arroyo has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning
America, CNN Headline News, Access Hollywood, and NPR. His work has appeared in the Wall
Street Journal, The Financial Times, Newsweek, Time Magazine, The New Yorker, and
elsewhere.

Five of his adult books, including his biography of Mother Angelica, were all New York Times
bestsellers. His first picture book, The Spider Who Saved Christmas, was also a New York
Times bestseller. Additionally, he is author of the bestselling Will Wilder series for young
readers. In 2015, Arroyo founded Storyented.com, a literacy initiative to inspire reading by
connecting the world’s great authors and their readers. Arroyo resides in New Orleans and
Washington D.C. with his wife Rebecca and their three children.

https://raymondarroyo.com/
https://twitter.com/raymondarroyo
https://www.facebook.com/ArroyoRaymond
Literary Initiative: storyented.com

Zonderkidz™, the children’s division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through
imaginative, innovative and educational resources that represent a Christian worldview and
build up God’s children and teens. For additional information, please visit
www.zonderkidz.com.

Zondervan is a world-leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications.
Zondervan, as part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational
Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and
digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200
languages. Zondervan’s offices are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional
information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Media Contact:
Jessica Westra
Director of Publicity, Zonderkidz
[email protected]
616.403.6628

Available in over 100 countries and accessible through Online Streaming and the Study Gateway App on Mobile Devices and Smart TVs 

(Nashville, Tenn.) August 10, 2022— Study Gateway, a leading video Bible study streaming service, today revealed its fall 2022 schedule of studies from Harper Christian Resources, the curriculum imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. This inspiring group of bestselling Christian authors, pastors and Bible teachers are debuting more than 50 new videos from eight different study series by Max Lucado, Megan Fate Marshman, John Eldredge, Anne Graham Lotz, Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright, Sarah Jakes Roberts, Lysa TerKeurst, Kathie Lee Gifford, Rabbi Jason Sobel, and Shauna Niequist. 

“We’re honored that the best lineup of authors and Bible teachers from Harper Christian Resources is coming to Study Gateway. These are their most anticipated video studies of the new season.” said John Raymond, v-p and publisher of Harper Christian Resources. 

Kate Johnson, senior v-p of direct-to-consumer at HarperCollins Christian Publishing added, “We’re thrilled to give people worldwide a sneak peek of Study Gateway’s newest studies. Every subscriber can experience these new releases thirty days before the in-store on-sale date—Study Gateway is only place where people get this early access.” 

Study Gateway’s study streaming subscription service provides unique pricing levels and subscriptions plans starting at just $7.95 per month—all with a seven-day free trial.  

The complete lineup of new video Bible studies making their debut on Study Gateway this fall: 

• Max Lucado’s Help is Here: Finding Fresh Strength and Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit (Aug. 17 release). Watch trailer here. 
• Megan Fate Marshman’s John: A Beautiful Word Bible Study (Aug. 31 release). Watch trailer here. 
• John Eldredge’s Resilient: Restoring Your Weary Soul in these Turbulent Times (Sept. 14 release). Watch trailer here. 
• Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright’s Jesus Followers: Real-Life Lessons for Igniting Faith in the Next Generation (Sept. 21 release). Watch trailer here. 
• Sarah Jakes Roberts’ Woman Evolve: Break Up with Your Fears and Revolutionize Your Life (Sept. 28 release). Watch trailer here. 
• Lysa TerKeurst’s Good Boundaries and Goodbyes (Oct. 19 release). Watch trailer here. 
• Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel’s The God of the How and When (Nov. 2 release). Learn more here. 
• Shauna Niequist’s I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet (Nov. 16 release). Learn more here. 

For more information and to view Study Gateway’s expanding list of available studies, visit StudyGateway.com and see the full list of supported devices. 

ABOUT STUDY GATEWAY 
Study Gateway is the dedicated direct-to-consumer streaming service from HarperCollins Christian Publishing and is the streaming home for video Bible studies produced by Harper Christian Resources. The subscription service offers commercial-free streaming of exclusive original studies, plus a growing library of children’s videos, Christian events and webinars, and other short-form content. 

Media Contact: 

Jaime Guthals 
Senior Director, Marketing 
FaithGateway & StudyGateway 

[email protected]  

(Nashville, Tenn.) —The Jesus Calling Podcast has officially surpassed ten million downloads, Thomas Nelson announced today. Today’s episode – the podcast’s 300^th – features athlete, author, and broadcaster Tim Tebow, soul and gospel singer Merry Clayton, and actor Dean Cain. 

Tim Tebow is a former American professional baseball player, former professional football player, three-time New York Times bestselling author, international speaker, and ESPN sports broadcaster. The first player to win the Heisman Trophy as a college sophomore, Tim is also a two-time BCS National Champion. In the NFL, Tim played for the Denver Broncos, the New York Jets, the New England Patriots, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

“As someone who respects the impact Jesus Calling has had all around the world through books and resources, I’m honored to appear on the 300th episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast,” said Tim Tebow.  “The podcast is an encouraging platform with stories of real people living out their God-given mission. From successes to setbacks, I believe listeners will be inspired by the people who are trying to make their life count.” 

The Jesus Calling Podcast was launched in 2016 to celebrate the deep connection readers feel to the content in the bestselling daily devotional Jesus Calling. Each weekly podcast episode features two guests — business leaders, actors, church leaders, musicians, authors, and everyday readers — who share personal stories of faith. Recent guests include Will Smith, Amy Grant, Patti LaBelle, Kristin Chenoweth, Reba McEntire, Kathie Lee Gifford, T.D. Jakes, Rita Wilson, and Melinda Gates.

“We’re humbled by the growth of the Jesus Calling podcast,” said Michael Aulisio, Vice President and Publisher of the Jesus Calling brand at Thomas Nelson. “It’s an honor to provide inspiration, faith, and hope to listeners, particularly in these trying times. While the true impact of Jesus Calling is impossible to quantify, these incredible download numbers do signify the tremendous and increasing reach of the Jesus Calling message.”   

The Jesus Calling Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, Facebook, YouTube, and more. In addition to the weekly podcast, monthly bonus episodes feature multiple guests sharing thoughts on a single subject, such as “The Pursuit of Peace” and “Coping with Loss.” The podcast has expanded to include a quarterly print and digital Jesus Calling magazine and a weekly Jesus Calling:  Stories of Faith television program currently on the country lifestyle network Circle (reaching a monthly audience of nearly 150 million viewers).

Jesus Calling has sold more than 35 million units across more than 30 languages since its 2004 publication. The Jesus Calling brand includes children’s devotionals, Bible storybooks, journals, seasonal books, and an app available on both Apple and Android platforms. Jesus Calling for Moms (Thomas Nelson, March 29) is the newest book in the Jesus Calling line and features devotions celebrating mothers and their love, comfort, and strength. For additional information visit JesusCalling.com.   

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, 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.

Contact: MacKenzie Collier

              Publicity Director, Gift Books

              [email protected] | 615-902-1645

Dawn Hollomon promoted to acquisitions editor for W Publishing Group

(Nashville, Tenn.) June 15, 2021— Damon Reiss, vice president and publisher of W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, announced today the impending retirement of 32-year industry veteran Debbie Wickwire, senior acquisitions editor. Dawn Hollomon, senior editor, will move into the acquisitions role.

Wickwire joined Word Publishing in 1989, which was acquired by Thomas Nelson in 1992. Through her long tenure she has worked as a support to the sales team, managed author and brand relationships, and acquired hundreds of book projects. She has been instrumental in developing the publishing phenomenon Heaven Is for Real as well as many other New York Times and CBA bestselling authors such as Anne Graham Lotz, Levi Lusko, Jennie Allen, Kathie Lee Gifford, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and Chip and Joanna Gaines. Her retirement will begin in September.

“I never dreamed God would allow me the honor of working with so many brilliant people and teams through my assignment to discover exceptional authors and publish their books,” says Wickwire. “Though the titles, covers, and even times may have changed, I’m so grateful that the messages of God’s truth, love, and grace have remained the same. It has been an incredibly rewarding career—especially knowing how one book can change someone’s life for eternity!”

“It has been a privilege to work with Debbie,” says Reiss. “Equal parts book magician, counselor, and prayer warrior, she has set the standard of excellence W Publishing is known for and will continue to be after her retirement. She will always be an intricate part of our team, and we celebrate this new season with her.”

Hollomon joined Thomas Nelson in 2014 after serving as lead editor for the magazine HomeLife. After specializing in four-color and high-design projects in the company’s gift book division, Hollomon joined the W Publishing Group imprint in 2019, where she has led the editorial efforts for Dr. David Jeremiah, Kathie Lee Gifford, Hosanna Wong, and Kari Kampakis, among others.

“I am excited to see Dawn thrive in this new role and continue to serve our authors with exceptional care,” says Stephanie Newton, associate publisher of W Publishing Group. “While working with Dawn I’ve constantly been impressed by her dedication to our partners and her focus on bringing impactful books to the lives of believers around the globe. Her voice on our team has been a difference maker and sets W apart in the market.”

Hollomon will move into the acquisitions role immediately, reporting to Damon Reiss and collaborating with Wickwire over the next few months to execute a smooth transition.

Contact:    Allison Carter
Publicity Director, W Publishing
615-902-2143
[email protected]

(Nashville, Tenn.)—W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, today announced The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi: My Journey into the Heart of Scriptural Faith and the Land Where It All Began by Kathie Lee Gifford with Rabbi Jason Sobel, has sold more than 500,000 copies in print, audio and digital formats.

“The journey of faith Kathie Lee Gifford shares in The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi and the revelatory insight into Hebrew language, culture, and heritage shared by Rabbi Jason Sobel have opened many readers’ eyes to a deeper understanding of God and the Bible,” said Damon Reiss, vice president and publisher of W Publishing Group. “It’s fantastic to see this story continue to resonate and inspire new readers every day.”

The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi, released in March 2018 was an instant New York Times bestseller. As a lifelong student of Scripture, Gifford has always desired a deeper understanding of God’s Word and a deeper knowledge of God Himself. But it wasn’t until she began studying the biblical texts in their original Hebrew and Greek—along with actually hiking the ancient paths of Israel, guided by Rabbi Jason Sobel—that she found the fulfillment of those desires. The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi chronicles this journey through Israel.

“It’s deeply humbling to see this book get into the hands of those who may have never been to the Holy Land and who may never get a chance to walk where Jesus walked,” said Gifford. “I pray this book continues to ignite readers to start their own Rabbinical studies of the Bible.”

“I am honored to have written this book with Kathie Lee and humbled that so many people have been impacted by it,” said Rabbi Sobel. “My hope for those who have or will read The Rock, the Road, & the Rabbi is that by seeing the Bible in HD, they would fall more in love with Jesus and the Bible. I also hope that seeing the amazing connections between the Old and New Testament will spark a deeper hunger for the Word and a desire to delve deeper into the Hebraic roots of our faith.”

W Publishing Group released Kathie Lee Gifford’s most recent book, It’s Never Too Late: Make the Next Act of Your Life the Best Act of Your Life in December 2020. The imprint will release Rabbi Jason Sobel’s Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today in March.

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.

Contact: Allison Carter

              Director of Publicity, W Publishing

              615-902-2143

              [email protected]

Four-time, Emmy Award winner and New York Times bestselling author encourages little ones to become their dream

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 24, 2020) – Beloved television personality and author Kathie Lee Gifford hopes to inspire children to follow God’s dreams for them in her new children’s book, Hello, Little Dreamer. The book goes on sale wherever books are sold, Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Each child has dreams to discover over their lifetime, and Hello, Little Dreamer helps families celebrate each child’s God-given purpose in the world. Children glow with joy and a sense of security when they know God made them for a purpose. Gifford reminds her young readers that God has been dreaming for them their entire lives. Some dreams reveal themselves quickly while others take time to develop, but each dream adds to the beautiful picture of who a child is meant to be.

With a bright, decorative cover and wonder-filled illustrations from Anita Schmidt, Hello, Little Dreamer helps children rest in God’s love for them. With its affirming message of purpose, Hello, Little Dreamer will encourage any child to trust that they have an amazing role in God’s story.

Hello, Little Dreamer (ISBN # 9781400209262) will be available in hardcover ($18.99) and board book ($9.99) formats.

In addition, Kathie Lee will be releasing a second book, It’s Never Too Late: Make the Next Act of Your Life the Best Act of Your Life (release date Dec. 1, 2020; Thomas Nelson), sharing never-before-told personal stories along with insights, wisdom and inspiration for anyone facing their own life changes. When Kathie Lee Gifford stepped down as cohost of the fourth hour of the Today show with Hoda Kotb, you might have thought her best days were behind her. It turns out, she was just getting started. As Kathie Lee says, “I’m not retiring; I’m refiring!” But she was just getting started. With her hard-earned wisdom and signature warmth, It’s Never Too Late offers readers insights and inspiration to live out their own dreams, change direction, speak out for what they believe and pursue what truly matters. For more information about It’s Never Too Late, visit www. KathieLeeGifford.com.

About the Author:

Kathie Lee Gifford is the four-time Emmy award winning former co-host of the fourth hour of “TODAY,” alongside Hoda Kotb. After 11 years together, Gifford stepped down from that role to pursue other creative endeavors. The Gifford-Kotb hour had been hailed as “appointment television” by Entertainment Weekly, and “TODAY’s happy hour” by USA Today. 

Prior to NBC News, Gifford served as the co-host of “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee” for 15 years, where she received 11 Emmy nominations.  In 2015 Gifford was inducted into the Broadcast & Cable Hall of Fame. She has been chosen to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020.

A playwright, producer, singer, songwriter and actress, Gifford has starred in numerous television programs and movies in her 45-year career. She has her own record label and has written several musicals including Broadway’s SCANDALOUS, which received a Tony nomination for Best Actress in 2012.  Gifford also starred on Broadway in “Putting it Together” and “Annie.” In the fall of 2018, she wrapped post-production on “Then Came You,” a film she has written, produced and starred in alongside Craig Ferguson. In April of 2019, she made her directorial debut with “THE GOD WHO SEES” the short film, shot in Israel and based on a song she co-wrote with Grammy-nominated Nicole C. Mullen. The song was nominated for a Dove award.

Gifford authored four NY Times bestselling books including “The Rock, The Road and the Rabbi”, “Just When I Thought I’d Dropped My Last Egg,” “I Can’t Believe I Said That,” and the popular children’s book “Party Animals.” In October of 2018, she released the children’s book, “The Gift That I Can Give” with all proceeds going to Childhelp. She also launched GIFFT, a line of wine with the Scheid Family Vineyards in Monterey, CA.

Gifford lends support to numerous children’s organizations including Childhelp, the International Justice Mission, and the Association to Benefit Children, which spawned Cassidy’s Place and Cody House, named after her two children. She received an honorary degree from Marymount University for her humanitarian work in labor relations.

Gifford is on Twitter and Instagram at @KathieLGifford.

About the Illustrator:
Anita Schmidt lives in Northern Germany surrounded by seven seas. Her passion for drawing began early in life from the moment when she first held a pencil. Since then, Anita went on to study graphic design, but after having two children, she rekindled her passion for illustrating and now can’t stop drawing!

About Tommy Nelson:
Tommy Nelson® is the children’s division of Thomas Nelson. As a leading provider of Christian content, Tommy Nelson publishes a wide variety of high-quality, enjoyable products that are consistent with the teachings found in the Bible. Tommy Nelson’s award-winning products are designed to expand children’s imaginations and nurture their faith while inspiring them to develop a personal relationship with Jesus. For more information, visit www.tommynelson.com.

Contact:  Natividad Lewis

              Publicist

              tel: (615) 902-1422

              e-mail: [email protected]

The Voice to Release November 6, 2018

Grand Rapids, Mich., June 2018 — In a Facebook Live video last night, Christian music icon and forty-time Dove award winner, Sandi Patty revealed the cover to her upcoming memoir and also announced a foreword by Kathie Lee Gifford. The Voice: Listening for God’s Voice and Finding Your Own releases from Zondervan on November 6, 2018. To watch the video, click here.

In the foreword, Gifford writes, “What you are about to discover about Sandi in this book will shock you, upset you, and ultimately make you rejoice in the power of a life lived well with God…. Sandi’s story is one of deep suffering that even those closest to her never fathomed. I am so happy that this extraordinary woman is finally able to tell her story full throttle and unafraid.”

In The Voice, Sandi shares deeply intimate stories of her life and the empowering spiritual truths she’s learned. She offers readers wisdom to navigate the journey from voicelessness to discovering the voice God has given you. With a poignant history of sexual abuse, infidelity, divorce and crises of self-image, Sandi lived much of her life feeling unworthy of love or value. And like so many of us, she coped by living through the voices of others, allowing other people to prescribe her identity. As she performed around the world, Sandi met others just like her, who hid wounds behind quiet smiles and struggled to live with fractured identities.

Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications.  Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Mich.  For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.