Tag: Mark Schoenwald

Thirteen titles across eight categories honored as finalists  

(Nashville, Tenn.) May 6, 2022 — HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) congratulates its authors and publishing teams who were honored with six 2022 Christian Book Awards. These awards are presented annually by the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association (ECPA) and honor the “best of the year” in Christian books and Bibles. This year writtmarked the first in-person awards ceremony since 2020 and was held on May 3, 2022, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The six winning titles from HCCP are:

• Bible Reference Work – A Theology of Paul and His Letters: The Gift of the New Realm in Christ by Douglas J. Moo – (Zondervan Academic)
• Children – Where’d My Giggle Go? by Max Lucado, illustrated by Sarah Jennings (Tommy Nelson)
• Faith and Culture – How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice by Jemar Tisby – (Zondervan Reflective) 
• Ministry Resources – Emotionally Healthy Discipleship: Moving from Shallow Christianity to Deep Transformation by Peter Scazzero – (Zondervan Reflective)
• New Author – Becoming All Things: How Small Changes Lead to Lasting Connections Across Cultures by Michelle Ami Reyes – (Zondervan Reflective)
• Young People’s Literature – Roar Like a Lion: 90 Devotions to a Courageous Faith by Levi Lusko, illustrated by Catherine Pearson – (Tommy Nelson)

In addition to the award-winners, the company had 13 titles named finalists across eight categories.

The 13 HCCP finalists are:

• Bibles – NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible, General Editor, Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. – (Zondervan)
• Bibles – NIV Radiant Virtues Bible: A Beautiful Word Collection – (Zondervan)
• Bibles – NRSVCE Illustrated Catholic Bible – (Catholic Bible Press)
• Bible Reference Works – Old Testament Use of Old Testament: A Book-by-Book Guide by Gary Edward Schnittjer – (Zondervan Academic)
• Bible Study – Beautiful Word: Revelation Study Guide by Margaret Feinberg – (HarperChristian Resources)
• Bible Study – Forgiving What You Can’t Forget Study Guide by Lysa TerKeurst – (HarperChristian Resources)
• Children – Indescribable for Little Ones by Louie Giglio, illustrated by Nicola Anderson – (Tommy Nelson)
• Children – Near by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Jago – (Zonderkidz)
• Christian Living – When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self-Improvement with the Gospel of Life-Transforming Grace by Ruth Chou Simons – (Thomas Nelson)
• Devotion and Gift – Seeing Beautiful Again: 50 Devotions to Find Redemption in Every Part of Your Story by Lysa TerKeurst – (Thomas Nelson)
• Ministry Resources – Urban Apologetics: Restoring Black Dignity with the Gospel, General Editor, Eric Mason – (Zondervan Reflective)
• Young People’s Literature – Anxious for Nothing (Young Readers Edition): Living Above Anxiety and Loneliness by Max Lucado and Andrea Lucado – (Tommy Nelson)
• Young People’s Literature – Everybody, Always for Kids by Bob Goff and Lindsey Goff Viducic, illustrated by Diane Le Feyer – (Tommy Nelson)

Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HCCP commented, “Since 1978, the ECPA Christian Book Awards have served as a hallmark of excellence for Christian books and Bibles. After two years of unprecedented challenges from shutdowns to supply chain issues, it is a testament to the resilience of our teams and authors to have 19 books recognized in the 2022 Christian Book Awards. Congratulations to our authors and publishing teams. This recognition is well-deserved!”

For more information on this year’s winners and finalists please click here.

HarperCollins Christian Publishing

The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. comprises the Thomas Nelson, Zondervan and HarperChristian Resources publishing groups and imprints, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com, StudyGateway.com and ChurchSource.com. The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space. Bible Gateway is the world’s largest Christian website with more than 29 million unique visitors each month. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. with additional offices in the U.S. and Mexico. For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.​

Company names Doug Lockhart, SVP Sales and Centralized Marketing

(Nashville, Tenn.) July 8, 2021—HarperCollins Christian Publishing today announced its plan to join sales and centralized marketing operations under a unified leadership structure that better positions its retail partners to capitalize on the company’s best-in-class marketing resources. Doug Lockhart will lead this strategy for the company as senior v-p Sales and Centralized Marketing.

“The dramatic increase in online purchases over the last year has spurred brick-and-mortar and online retailers to invest heavily in digital marketing for their own tech platforms,” said president and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Mark Schoenwald. “This has strengthened people’s dependency on online shopping resources which creates an opportunity for our company to increase cross-functional collaboration within the digital marketing and retail merchandising space.”

In his expanded role, Lockhart will integrate marketing expertise more robustly into the company’s retail partner strategy for both the Christian division and HarperCollins Focus.

“Selling books has always been dependent on great marketing,” said Lockhart. “However, discovering new books and authors now almost always includes an overabundance of online resources. We are going to focus on sharing information between teams to improve the customer journey experience. We have developed an industry leading marketing operations team with expertise in analytics, metadata, SEO, social media, research, website development and email marketing. These teams will work together to maximize our author’s exposure at retail.”

Lockhart is an industry veteran with more than 11 years with the company. Most recently, serving as senior v-p of Marketing and Business Partnerships, Lockhart identified opportunities to expand the company’s reach in new and emerging markets, including the stewardship of the company’s co-publication and co-distribution partnership with Urban Ministries, Inc. Before joining Zondervan in 2002, he spent ten years building and leading a sales organization for a Johnson & Johnson company. He has led at an executive level for 18 years including six years as the president and CEO of Biblica. Lockhart rejoined HCCP in 2014 and has served in several leadership roles where consumer purchasing behavior and market trends were aligned with business strategy.

Schoenwald continued, “Doug is a well-rounded executive leader, with great relationships across the industry. He is one of the original architects for our centralized marketing operations and has since positioned talented leaders to grow our expertise in this rapidly changing discipline. As we seek to aggressively acquire new voices and publish life-changing content, this new alignment will be critical in our success.”

Contact:   Casey Harrell

                 VP, Corporate Communications

                 tel:   615.902.1109

                 web: [email protected]

Ten titles honored as finalists

Nashville, Tenn. (May 10, 2021) – HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) today congratulates its five 2021 Christian Book Award winners. These awards have been presented annually since 1978 by the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association (ECPA). In lieu of an in-person event, this year marked the second virtual awards ceremony, which took place on May 6, 2021, to recognize the best Christian products of the year in 12 categories.

The winning titles from HCCP are:

• Audio – Suffer Strong written andnarrated by Katherine and Jay Wolf produced by Gabe Wicks/HarperCollins Christian Publishing – (Zondervan)
• Bibles – NIV Study Bible Fully Revised Edition – (Zondervan)
• Bible Reference Works – The New Testament in its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature and Theology of the First Christians written by N.T. Wright and Michael Bird – (Zondervan Academic)
• Devotion and Gift – How Great Is Our God: 100 Indescribable Devotions About God and Science written by Louie Giglio – (Tommy Nelson)
• New Author – Laughing Through the Ugly Cry…and Finding Unstoppable Joy written by Dawn Barton – (Thomas Nelson)

In addition to the five award winners, HCCP had 10 additional titles that were finalists in nine out of 12 categories.

These finalists are:

• Bibles – NET Full Notes Edition Bible – (Thomas Nelson)
• Biography and Memoir – I Am Restored written by Lecrae– (Zondervan)
• Biography and Memoir – The History of Apologetics: A Biographical and Methodological Introduction written by Benjamin K. Forrest, Josh D. Chatraw, Alister E. McGrath – (Zondervan Academic)
• Christian Living – Dangerous Prayers written by Craig Groeschel – (Zondervan)
• Devotion and Gift – More Power to You: Declarations to Break Free from Fear and Take Back Your Life written by Margaret Feinberg – (Zondervan)
• Faith and Culture – The House that Love Built written by Sarah Jackson with Scott Sawyer– (Zondervan)
• Faith and Culture – White Lies written by Daniel Hill– (Zondervan)
• New Author – The Fight to Flourish written by Jennie Lusko – (Thomas Nelson)
• Young People’s Literature – Goliath Must Fall for Young Readers: Winning the Battle Against Your Giants written by Louie Giglio with Laura Fortner – (Tommy Nelson)
• Young People’s Literature – Loved and Cherished: 100 Devotions for Girls written by Lynn Cowell with Michelle Nietert, M.A., LPC-S CSC– (Zonderkidz)

“We are honored to have 15 titles recognized by the 2021 Christian Book Awards,” said Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HCCP. “Since March of last year, our readers have been experiencing the unprecedented challenges facing the world while in lock down – away from churches and community. I believe these books were published for such a time as this – to bring light and hope into a dark year. It is a privilege to have published them.”

In addition to the 2021 Christian Book Award recipients, HCCP also celebrates its longtime international bestselling author, Max Lucado, who was honored with the ECPA Pinnacle Award for his outstanding writing contributions, both to the publishing industry and to society at large. He is only the fourth recipient of this prestigious award.  HCCP has represented Lucado for 31 of his 35-years as an author. He has impacted more than 145 million lives with his books, which are printed in 45 different languages and distributed throughout 80 countries.

For more information on this year’s winners and finalists please click here.

Contact:    Chelsea Taff      

                 Manager, Corporate Communications

                 tel:     615.902.2137

                 web:   [email protected]

Five Zondervan Titles selected in the Also Recommended category

Grand Rapids, Mich. (March 9, 2021) – Zondervan congratulates the nine authors recognized by Outreach magazine, four as Resource of the Year and five in the Also Recommended category.

For 18 years, Outreach magazine has highlighted resources that “can help churches better engage in effective outreach to share the gospel and reach their communities for Christ.” This year they received over 150 submissions for resources in 12 categories, with an expert in each category evaluating and choosing the winners.

The four Zondervan resources chosen for Resource of the Year are:

• How to Talk About Jesus (Without Being THAT Guy): Personal Evangelism in a Skeptical World bySam Chan (Zondervan Reflective) – Evangelism and Apologetics
• The Sacred Overlap: Learning to Live Faithfully in the Space Between by J.R. Briggs (Zondervan Reflective) – Discipleship
• Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction by Michael Bird (Zondervan Academic) – Theology and Biblical Studies
• Tiny Truths Wonder and Wisdom: Everyday Reminders from Psalms and Proverbs byJoanna Rivard and Tim Penner (Zonderkidz) – Kids and Youth

The five Zondervan resources chosen for Also Recommended are:

• Reclaimed: How Jesus Restores Our Humainty in a Dehumanized World by Andy Steiger with Sheri Heibert (Zondervan Reflective) – Evangelism and Apologetics
• Telling a Better Story: How to Talk About God in a Skeptical Age by Josh Chatraw (Zondervan Reflective) – Evangelism and Apologetics
• Leading Small Groups that Thrive: Five Shifts to Take Your Group to the Next Level by Ryan T. Hartwig, Courtney W. Davis and Jason A. Sniff (Zondervan Reflective) – Discipleship
• From Social Media to Social Ministry: A Guide to Digital Discipleship by Nona Jones (Zondervan Reflective) – Discipleship
• Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets: 5 Questions to Help You Determine Your Next Move by Andy Stanley (Zondervan Reflective) – Leadership

“Congratulations to the nine authors recognized by Outreach magazine for their excellent work in equipping the church through their writing,” said Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. “I am also proud of the publishing teams across Zondervan who work each day to produce excellent content that inspires the world by meeting the needs of people with content that promotes biblical principles and honors Jesus Christ.”

The resources are featured in the March/April 2021 issue of Outreach magazine. Visit the Outreach website for more information.

Zondervan

Zondervan, a worldwide leading Christian publisher of books and Bibles, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Its publications include a variety of Bible translations for all ages; books in different  genres and subject areas for the general reader; curriculum for individual and group Bible study; books for children and young adults; academic resources including textbooks and reference books; ministry resources; and books on faith and culture. Zondervan is based in Grand Rapids, MI.  For more information, visit www.zondervan.com.

Will Lead Expansion of the Direct-To-Consumer Business

(Nashville, TN)— Today it was announced that Kate Johnson will be appointed to senior vice president of Direct for HarperCollins Christian Publishing and HarperCollins Focus. Johnson will be responsible for leading the vision and expansion of a comprehensive and cohesive strategy for the direct-to-consumer businesses which operate multiple eCommerce stores, online communities, native apps, and subscription-based platforms. Her first day will be December 21.

Johnson has extensive experience in successfully leading direct businesses across multiple industries. She has had success in audience development and customer retention, social media and influencer marketing, media programming and retailer distribution support, as well as leading cross-functional teams including sales, marketing, brand development, operations, and supply chain.

“Direct connection with our readers is more important now than ever before,” said President and CEO Mark Schoenwald. “This year we have learned that supporting our retail channels and distributors goes hand in hand with knowing our customers more intimately. We have seen a dramatic shift in consumer purchasing habits, and we are competing for their attention in a saturated online world. A broad-based, comprehensive distribution strategy is required to be an effective partner for all our stakeholders.  Kate has a proven track-record of helping companies penetrate through the noise and build sustainable relationships with audiences.”

In a memo to the companies’ employees, Schoenwald explained the organizations needed to expand how they thought about the direct-to-consumer experience in order to accelerate their growth in the market. Johnson, who will be based in the Nashville office, will work closely with parent company HarperCollins Publishers in New York, to solidify a strategic road map that aligns with the corporation’s global strategy. 

In addition to her leadership and work-related experience, Johnson holds a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management, a Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College majoring in Economics and Philosophy.

HarperCollins Christian Publishing is home to the world’s leading Christian and inspirational content publishing groups, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. The company operates the world’s largest Christian website, BibleGateway.com in addition to FaithGateway.com, ChurchSource.com, StudyGateway.com, Zondervan Academic Online Courses, and Zondervan Master Lectures. Last month the company announced a new partnership with Urban Ministries Incorporated, one of the nation’s oldest and well-known Christian resource providers to the African American church.

HarperCollins Focus is an expanding general market publishing company, home to Leadership Essentials by HarperCollins Leadership, an online community that offers free resources and for-purchase eCourses dedicated to developing the world’s next best leaders.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., comprises the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups, the world’s largest Christian website BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com and ChurchSource.com.  The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN with additional offices in Grand Rapids, Mich. and Mexico City, Mexico.  For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.  

About HarperCollins Focus: HarperCollins Focus, LLC owns and operates a collection of publishing imprints and online resources that enlighten and empower readers to transform their hearts and minds, connecting through story, advice, mentorship and community. The company is based in Nashville, TN.

Contact:   Casey Harrell  

                 Senior Director, Corporate Communications

                 tel:   615.902.1109

                 web: [email protected]

Senior Vice President of Sales Tom Knight announces his retirement; Dan Van Gorp promoted to lead role

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) (September 30, 2020)—HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) and HarperCollins Focus (HCF) today announced a change in its sales organization, with the planned retirement of senior vice president (SVP) of Sales, Tom Knight at the end of the calendar 2020. Dan Van Gorp, current director of Independent Retail Sales, has been promoted to fill this role and will begin working with Knight on a transition plan effective immediately. Van Gorp will oversee the entire organization’s trade sales operations and will sit on the company’s Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to president and CEO, Mark Schoenwald.

Van Gorp began his career with Zondervan in 2003 as an account executive and was promoted to manager of Independent Retail Sales for HCCP when the company integrated with Thomas Nelson in 2012, before moving into his current role. As SVP of Sales, Van Gorp will be responsible for setting the organization’s overall sales goals and growing its footprint in physical and online retail, as well as with book distributors. He will continue developing and maintaining partnerships with key industry stakeholders, authors, agents and staff. Van Gorp will be relocating to Nashville, to be based in the company’s corporate office.

“I am excited about this opportunity and the challenges ahead as we continue to look for ways to partner with retail in providing great content,” said Van Gorp. “It has been a wonderful journey for me which began working in a bookstore. With each new step over the course of my career, I have tried to seek understanding and look for new and innovative ways to share our content.  Over the past few months, I have gained clarity on various nuances of our overall business and the significance that our sales organization has in fulfilling the company’s mission to inspire the world.”

“I am thrilled for Dan to lead the HCCP and HCF sales organization,” says Tom Knight. “He is deeply loyal to the mission, and I believe in his ability to grow and develop new relationships across the business. I am grateful for the past thirteen-and-a-half years and am looking forward to this next stage of life, spending more time with my family.”

Mark Schoenwald commented, “Dan has spent his career working with one of our most dynamic sales channels, spearheading various programs to support our independent retailers and Christian bookstores. He has led a team of sales reps across the country, each with their own unique regional customer perspectives. This experience will translate well into his new role.”

Schoenwald continued, “Tom has accomplished a great deal throughout his tenure, including growing our sales organization to be the largest in the inspirational publishing industry with a diversified global retail network. We will miss him, but we thank him for all he has contributed and wish him well for a healthy and happy next phase of life.”

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: As the world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., comprises the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com and ChurchSource.com.  The company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space.  HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For more information please visit www.harpercollinschristian.com.

About HarperCollins Focus: HarperCollins Focus, LLC owns and operates a collection of publishing imprints, that enlighten and empower readers to transform their hearts and minds, connecting through story, advice, mentorship and community. The company is based in Nashville, TN. For more information please visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com.

Contact:    Casey Harrell

                  Senior Director, Corporate Communications

                  tel:    615.902.1109

                  web:  [email protected]

Webster Younce to be VP, Publisher and Paul Fisher to be VP, Marketing

(Nashville, Tenn.) June 22, 2020—HarperCollins Christian Publishing announced today it will be relocating the Zondervan Books and Zondervan Thrive imprints from Grand Rapids, Mich. to be based in its corporate office in Nashville, Tenn.  This will allow for sharing of best practices across the company’s trade book publishing program for both Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups. At this time, the company will continue to maintain an office in Grand Rapids, Mich. where other Zondervan brands are based. Those brands include Zondervan Academic, Zondervan Reflective, Zonderkidz, and the Zondervan Bible Group.

“Creating a more cohesive structure for our trade book publishing imprints allows for us to manage our non-fiction brands under Don Jacobson’s leadership,” commented Mark Schoenwald, President and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing and HarperCollins Focus. “We believe that having the Zondervan Books and Zondervan Thrive leadership in Nashville will help the teams better manage author relationships and allow them to collaborate on larger corporate initiatives.”

Leading the publishing strategy for Zondervan Books and Zondervan Thrive will be newly named VP and publisher Webster Younce.  Younce previously worked as the associate publisher and executive editor of Nelson Books, a Thomas Nelson imprint, for the past seven years with oversight on all editorial processes, and responsibilities acquiring and editing a full list of projects.  Younce also helped manage the imprint’s publishing functions, including market development, sales relations, and financial oversight. Throughout his time in this role he worked with New York Times bestselling authors including Bob Goff, Eric Metaxas, and John Eldredge; thought leaders William J. Bennett, R. Albert Mohler Jr., and Dallas Willard; and public figures Gary Sinise, Randy Travis, and Jessi Colter. Younce began his more than 20- year-publishing-career at Alfred A. Knopf and has held editorial roles for publishing houses at Picador USA, Arcade Publishing, Random House, Houghton Mifflin, Henry Holt and Company, and Simon & Schuster. He also spent two years at Suhrkamp Verlag in Berlin, Germany where was the editorial director for international and English-language literature.

Paul Fisher, previously senior director of marketing for the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan fiction programs will become VP of marketing for Zondervan Books and Zondervan Thrive. With both an extensive financial and product marketing background, Fisher has worked at HarperCollins Christian Publishing for four years where he successfully overhauled the reader, retailer, and industry engagement strategy across multiple channels. Fisher has developed and grown author relationships, working to help educate the importance of author platforms and audience segmentation. Throughout his tenure with the organization, Fisher has worked with New York Times bestselling authors Max Lucado, Charles Martin, Patti Callahan, Terri Blackstock and Lis Wiehl; and Christian fiction icons Colleen Coble, Melanie Dickerson, Beth Wiseman, Rachel Hauck, and Denise Hunter. Fisher’s diverse background includes various senior leadership roles at ConAgra Foods, Inc., Information Resources, Inc., Catapult Marketing, and Unilever. In the interim, Fisher will maintain his leadership role within the fiction team, as they transition to find a new marketing leader.

“As HCCP looks ahead, we are implementing plans throughout the company to strengthen our position in the marketplace as the leading Christian publisher across all genres,” said Don Jacobson, senior VP, publisher for HarperCollins Christian Publishing Trade Books. “We are thrilled to have Webb and Paul move into these leadership roles and join the Zondervan team. Both have worked alongside their Zondervan colleagues for a number of years and have a deep appreciation for the significance of the Zondervan brand, especially for the authors who have built its stellar reputation in the marketplace.”  

Zondervan Books is the flagship non-fiction publishing imprint for the Zondervan publishing group, publishing approximately 50 titles per year. Zondervan Thrive officially launched in late 2019 as an imprint specifically focused on personal development, health and wellness, self-care, marriage and family, abuse/trauma, anxiety, and personality typologies.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: As the world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., comprises the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups, Olive Tree Bible Software, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com and ChurchSource.com.  The company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space.  HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For more information please visit www.harpercollinschristian.com.

Contact:   Casey Harrell

                 Senior Director, Corporate Communications

                 tel:   615-902-1109

                 email: [email protected]

HarperCollins Christian Publishing congratulates the three winners and eleven finalists from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan

Nashville, Tenn. (May 7, 2020) – Zondervan is honored to have three books receive 2020 Christian Book Awards. These awards have been presented annually since 1978 to honor the “best of the year” in 12 categories. The winners in each category are typically awarded at the ECPA Executive Leadership Summit. However, this year’s in-person event was cancelled due to COVID-19, and a virtual celebration was hosted on May 5, 2020 to recognize the recipients of the distinguished awards.

The winning titles from Zondervan are:

• Audio – Palau by Paul J. Pastor narrated by Cástulo Guerra, produced by Gabe Wicks/HarperCollins Christian Publishing – (Zondervan Books)
• Bible Study – The Logic of God written by Ravi Zacharias– (Zondervan Gift)
• Devotion and Gift – Settle My Soul: 100 Quiet Moments to Meet with Jesus written by Ruth Schwenk and Karen Ehman – (Zondervan Gift)

Between Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, HarperCollins Christian Publishing also had 11 titles named finalists in eight out of 12 categories.

• Audio – It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way written and narrated by Lysa TerKeurst, produced by Gabe Wicks/HarperCollins Christian Publishing – (Thomas Nelson, Nelson Books)
• Audio – Voice Only Audio Bible – New King James Version narrated by Simon Bubb, produced by David Angus/HarperCollins Christian Publishing – (Thomas Nelson, Thomas Nelson Bibles)
• Bibles – NIrV The Illustrated Holy Bible for Kids – (Zondervan, Zondervan Bibles)
• Bible Reference – Zondervan Essential Companion to Christian History written by Stephen Backhouse – (Zondervan, Zondervan Academic)
• Bible Reference – Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Romans, General Editors – Frank Thielman and Clinton Arnold – (Zondervan, Zondervan Academic)
• Children – Just in Case You Ever Wonder written by Max Lucado, illustrated by Eva Tharlet – (Thomas Nelson, Tommy Nelson)
• Christian Living – Rhythms of Renewal written by Rebekah Lyons – (Zondervan, Zondervan Books)
• Faith and Culture – Shrewd Samaritan: Faith, Economics, and the Road to Loving our Global Neighbor written by Bruce Wydick – (Thomas Nelson, W Publishing)
• New Author – The Color of Compromise; The Truth About the American Church’s Complicity in Racism written by Jemar Tisby – (Zondervan, Zondervan Reflective)
• Young People’s Literature – Show Up for Your Life by Chrystal Evans Hurst – (Zondervan, Zonderkidz)
• Young People’s Literature – BibleForce Devotional: The First Heroes Devotional by Tama Fortner – (Thomas Nelson, Tommy Nelson)

“We are thrilled to have 14 books recognized by the Christian Book Awards this year,” said Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. “When these works were written, our authors never would have guessed the unprecedented struggles our nation would face in 2020. However, the God-honoring content our authors produced is serving people across the globe as they navigate this new normal. I am grateful to see their work celebrated by the Christian book industry. Congratulations to all of the well-deserved winners and finalists.”

For more information on this year’s winners and finalists please click here.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., comprises both Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups in addition to Olive Tree Bible Software.  The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space.  Also home to BibleGateway.com, the world’s largest Christian website, and FaithGateway.com, an online community dedicated to helping people grow in their faith. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN with additional offices in the U.S., Mexico and Brazil.  For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com

Contact:    Chelsea Taff

                 Assistant Manager, Corporate Communications

                 tel:     615.902.2137

                 web:   [email protected]

Long-time Zondervan senior v-p and publisher receives industry’s top honor

Nashville, Tenn. (February 24, 2020) — HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) congratulates senior v-p, publisher, and Zondervan editor-in-chief, Stan Gundry, for being recognized as this year’s recipient of the Kenneth N. Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award from the Evangelical Christian Publisher’s Association (ECPA), announced on  February 17, 2020. The award will be presented at the ECPA Leadership Summit on May 5, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn.

Recognized for his forty-year dedication to the Christian publishing industry as both a publisher and author of seven published works, Gundry’s name is synonymous with the Zondervan publishing program. Gundry joined Zondervan in 1980 to develop the Zondervan Academic publishing program, today one of the most highly recognized and world-renowned Christian theological imprints used in colleges, universities, and seminaries across the globe. Throughout his tenure, Gundry has acquired many leading Christian academic scholars including Wayne Grudem (Systematic Theology), Tremper Longman (Introduction to the Old Testament), D. A. Carson and Douglas Moo, (Introduction to the New Testament), Moises Silva (New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis), Willem VanGemeren (New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis), William Mounce (Basics of Biblical Greek), Daniel Wallace (Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics), and John R. Kohlenberger and Edward W. Goodrick (The NIV Exhaustive Concordance). Gundry also acquired numerous bestselling trade books including New York Times bestselling authors Rick Warren (The Purpose Driven Life) and Ben Carson (Gifted Hands).

Gundry consistently brings biblical and theological focus to the Zondervan brand, as well as vision to keep pace with technological changes in publishing. Under his leadership, the Zondervan Academic team has pioneered new developments in online education, becoming an industry-leader with nearly 100 online courses and streaming video studies now available.  Over the past two years, Gundry has steered the development and launch of Zondervan Reflective, a new trade imprint specializing in books for thoughtful readers on topics related to leadership, ministry, and the intersection of faith and culture. It is home to authors including Andy Stanley (Deep & Wide), Jemar Tisby (The Color of Compromise), and Nabeel Qureshi (Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus).   

Although Zondervan plucked Gundry out of academia forty years ago, he continues to impact the next generation of biblical scholars as an adjunct professor of historical and systematic theology at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.

“Stan Gundry is a pillar in the Christian publishing world,” said Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HCCP. “He has dedicated his life to our mission to inspire the world by meeting the needs of people with content that promotes biblical principles and honors Jesus Christ, and because of his dedication to his craft millions of lives have been introduced to or impacted by God’s Word. We are thrilled to see him receive this well-deserved honor.”

“I never planned or expected to go into publishing. At age 40 I had completed my formal education and was happily settled in as a college and seminary professor of theology,” said Gundry. “I expected that I would spend the rest of my career teaching, while occasionally doing a bit of editing and writing of my own. However, unbeknownst to me but providentially, everything in my background was leading toward and preparing me for something else – publishing. I am so honored that the ECPA has bestowed on me, the ‘accidental publisher,’ this prestigious recognition.”

The Kenneth N. Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a leader from within the Christian publishing profession whose lifetime of achievement goes above and beyond: leading with exemplary Christian character, initiating innovative programs and products, and contributing to the mission and advancement of the Christian publishing industry. ECPA has presented Lifetime Achievement Awards since 1981 to those who have significantly impacted the industry.  Recipients listed at ECPA.org/page/lifetime.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., comprises the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups, Olive Tree Bible Software, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com and ChurchSource.com.  The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space.   Bible Gateway is the world’s largest Christian website with more than 20 million unique monthly visitors. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN with additional offices in the U.S. and Mexico.  For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.   

Michael Aulisio appointed VP of Marketing

(Nashville, Tenn.) November 12, 2019—Today it was announced that Laura Minchew has been appointed to senior vice president, Children’s and Gift Group publisher for HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) and HarperCollins Focus (HC Focus). In her expanded role, Minchew will be responsible for the overall strategy for all children’s and gift books for both companies, a member of the executive leadership team, and reporting directly to the president and CEO of HCCP and HC Focus, Mark Schoenwald.

In this new role, Minchew will be leading the direction for Tommy Nelson, Zonderkidz, Thomas Nelson Gift and Zondervan Gift publishing as well as Blink YA books and launching the strategy and publishing program for children’s and gift products under HarperCollins Focus.

Under this expanded structure the companies will share best practices in marketing, editorial, design, and publishing operations on books that specialize in children’s and gift book products, while continuing to maintain the uniqueness of each consumer facing publishing imprint.   This approach optimizes expertise around complementary products and sets a strong foundation for creating children’s and gift products for the general market through HarperCollins Focus.

Minchew is a publishing veteran with more than thirty years in the industry. For the past seven years, she has led the Specialty Publishing division for HarperCollins Christian Publishing which includes the Tommy Nelson, Thomas Nelson Gift, and Zondervan Gift imprints. Under her leadership the company has published titles such as Jesus Calling by Sarah Young with sales of more than 30 million units, in addition to children’s and gift books with Max Lucado, Billy Graham, Joanna Gaines, Kathie Lee Gifford, Chris Tomlin, Emily Ley, Lysa TerKeurst, Bob and Lindsey Goff, amongst others.

Schoenwald commented, “Laura has a keen sense for what readers are searching for in terms of quality, content, and inspiration. The children’s and gift group publisher model will bring better awareness and positive collaboration between similar business operations, while continuing to create focus around the individual brands.”

“Our business is committed to inspirational children’s and gift publishing,” said Minchew. “We are investing in resources and working together to navigate the best approach to create a center of excellence that enables us to grow in a changing market. We will leverage our strengths to attract and support leading authors, illustrators and create new brands. Our future is bright, and I am extremely honored to have this opportunity.”

In addition, Michael Aulisio, former vice president of marketing for Tommy Nelson and Gift books for HarperCollins Christian Publishing, will become the vice president of marketing for the children’s and gift group of HarperCollins Christian Publishing and HarperCollins Focus, where he will set and oversee the execution of marketing across the children’s and gift divisions. *

HarperCollins Christian Publishing is the world’s leading Christian publisher and comprises both Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups, in addition to Olive Tree Bible Software.  The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space.  Also home to BibleGateway.com, the world’s largest Christian website, and FaithGateway.com, an online community dedicated to helping people grow in their faith. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN with additional offices in the U.S. and Mexico.  For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.  

HarperCollins Focus, LLC. owns and operates a collection of publishing imprints, that enlighten and empower readers to transform their hearts and minds, connecting through story, advice, mentorship and community. The company is based in Nashville, TN. For more information, visit www.HarperCollinsFocus.com.

Contact:          Casey Harrell

                        Senior Director, Corporate Communications

                        615.902.1109

                        [email protected]