13 July

Laura Bartlett named associate publisher for Zondervan Bibles

Grand Rapids, Mich. (July 13, 2021)— Zondervan today announced Laura Bartlett as the new associate publisher for its Bibles team, which publishes multiple Bible translations: the New International Version (NIV), New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), and the Amplified Bible (AMP).

Bartlett is an 18-year Christian publishing veteran, most recently serving as director for three Kregel imprints: Kregel Academic, Kregel Ministry, and Kregel Classics. In this role she successfully launched the 45-volume Kerux Commentary series, while acquiring new projects and leading a team of editors and marketers. Prior to this, she spent eight years serving in various roles on the Tyndale Bibles team. Bartlett holds a Master of Arts in theology from Wheaton College.

As associate publisher, Bartlett will manage multiple product lines within the Zondervan Bible publishing program; ideate, develop, and acquire new Bible products; and work alongside the editorial director to lead and grow the editorial team.

“Laura’s unique blend of Bible and academic publishing experience, broad industry relationships, and business management skills make her a natural pick for this role,” said Melinda Bouma, v-p and publisher, Zondervan Bibles. “Her proven ability as an agile publishing leader who is passionate about quality, biblical content excites me as she joins this industry-leading team!”

For more information about Zondervan Bibles, visit www.zondervan.com/bibles/ or follow @zondervanbibles on Facebook and Instagram.

Contact:  Chelsea Taff

              Manager, Corporate Communications

              tel:   615.902.2137

              web: [email protected]

10 February

Emily Tobin named marketing director for Zondervan Bibles

Grand Rapids, Mich. (February 10, 2021)– Zondervan today announced Emily Tobin’s promotion to marketing director for its Bibles team, which publishes multiple Bible translations: the New International Version (NIV), New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), and the Amplified Bible (AMP).

Tobin joined the Zondervan Bibles team two years ago and holds nearly 20 years of digital marketing experience. At Zondervan she has led marketing for the bestselling Beautiful Word™ Bible line, the NIV Verse Mapping Bibles with Kristy Cambron, and has focused on revitalizing the marketing efforts for evergreen Bible products such as the NIV Bible for Teen Girls, which is a top-five ECPA Bible bestseller.

As marketing director, Tobin will lead the strategic marketing efforts for the newly acquired Thompson Chain-Reference® Bible.

“For the past two years, Emily has proven herself to be an effective digital marketer, regularly surpassing industry standards as she employs new strategies to put our Bibles in front of new audiences,” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Zondervan Bibles. “Her wealth of experience and proven success make her the clear choice to steward the launch of the Thompson Chain-Reference® Bibles.”

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.

Contact:  Chelsea Taff

               Manager, Corporate Communications

               tel:   615.902.2137

               web: [email protected]

03 December

HarperCollins Christian Publishing Acquires the Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible Assets

(Nashville, Tenn.) December 3, 2020—HarperCollins Christian Publishing today announced its acquisition of the Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible product assets from Kirkbride Bible Company, Inc. The Bible brand will be stewarded by the Zondervan publishing group, under the direction of v-p and publisher, Melinda Bouma. This acquisition supports the company’s initiative to grow its Bible business through innovative products and a multi-translation publishing strategy.  

The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible is a well-recognized topical study Bible that has been in publication for more than 100 years, and has editions in five Bible translations: King James Version (KJV); New King James Version (NKJV); New International Version (NIV); New American Standard Bible (NASB); and the English Standard Version (ESV). At present, Zondervan publishes Bibles in four of these translations, making the Thompson Chain-Reference edition a perfect complement to its portfolio.

In 1890, creator of the Thompson Chain-Reference system, Dr. Frank Charles Thompson began working on the “chain-links” that became the foundation of the unique Thompson referencing system that is used by millions of Bible readers across the world. It was first published in 1908 and now contains over 100,000 references, archeological study, journey maps, and over 100 helpful features to enhance personal or group Bible study.

Melinda Bouma commented, “Zondervan is honored to uphold the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible’s legacy. It’s a timeless resource that brings us new opportunities to reach Bible readers who are interested in the study of topics linked throughout God’s Word. With this Bible, the Kirkbride Bible Company has helped people from around the world to have a more engaged and enriched relationship with our Creator and we are thrilled to now carry that work forward. We are committed to invest and revive this innovative reference Bible and expand its distribution.” 

“On behalf of my family and in honoring the legacy of Dr. Thompson, I’m grateful for the missional alignment with Zondervan Bibles in reaching more people with the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, now and in the future.”, said Michael Gage, president and CEO of Kirkbride Bible Company.

The first new editions of the Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles under the Zondervan brand will be released in May 2021.  Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles that will feature the Comfort Print® fonts, as part of the company’s Beautiful Bibles initiative, will begin releasing in May 2022. 

For more information on the Comfort Print Bibles initiative please visit http://www.comfortprintbibles.com.

For more information on Zondervan please visit www.zondervan.com.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: 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.   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 Grand Rapids, Mich. and Mexico City, Mexico.  For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.  

Contact:   Casey Harrell

                 Senior Director, Corporate Communications

                 tel:   615-902-1109

                 web: [email protected]

26 February

Do you want to spend more time in God’s Word— but you’re not sure where to start?

Begin with the NIV Starting Place Study Bible

Grand Rapids, Mich., Feb. 26, 2019 — The Bible’s depth can seem overwhelming, but within the pages of Scripture you will find words of peace, hope, and love waiting for you. Sometimes the hardest part of beginning is knowing where to start. The NIV Starting Place Study Bible guides you through Scripture so you can understand God’s love for you and build a relationship with the Savior who longs to know you personally.

With approachable, easy-to-use features, the NIV Starting Place Study Bible can guide you through Scripture while building your confidence and knowledge in God’s Word.

  • Full text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV)
  • 88 Bible Characters: Explore the lives of the Bible’s most fascinating personalities
  • 282 Q&A: Get answers to your most perplexing questions
  • 146 Context Notes: In-depth articles on the cultural and historical context of Scripture
  • 138 Bible Truths: Core Christian beliefs and their basis in Scripture
  • Book Introductions provide a helpful overview
  • Over 6,000 bottom-of-the-page study notes explain the text, verse-by-verse
  • Exclusive NIV Zondervan Comfort Print® typeface
  • 9.7-point print size

According to Melinda Bouma, publisher of Zondervan Bibles: “At these incredible prices and with a wealth of helpful, accessible study material, this is the best “first study Bible” for new believers or anyone looking to take a step deeper in studying the Bible. We created it with the reader in mind—quality content in a friendly and colorful design, and at price points lower than most of the study Bibles available today.”

Product formats on sale February 26, 2019:

  • ISBN 9780310450672, Hardcover, 1,792 pages, $34.99
  • ISBN 9780310450689, Leathersoft, Navy/Tan, 1,792 pages, $64.99
  • ISBN 9780310450696, Leathersoft, Navy/Tan, Indexed, 1,792 pages, $74.99
  • ISBN 9780310450726, Leathersoft, Blue, 1,792 pages, $64.99
  • ISBN 9780310450733, Leathersoft, Blue, Indexed, 1,792 pages, $74.99
  • ISBN 9780310450740, eBook, 1,792 pages, $27.99

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.

About the NIV:The New International Version (NIV) is the world’s bestselling modern-English Bible translation—accurate, readable, and clear, yet rich with the detail found in the original languages. The NIV is the result of over 50 years of work by the Committee on Bible Translation, who oversee the efforts of many contributing scholars. Representing the spectrum of evangelicalism, the translators come from a wide range of denominations and various countries and continually review new research in order to ensure the NIV remains at the forefront of accessibility, relevance, and authority. Every NIV Bible that is purchased helps Biblica, a nonprofit ministry organization, translate and give Bibles to people in need around the world. To learn more, visit www.thenivbible.com

About Comfort Print: Zondervan Bibles teamed up with 2K/Denmark, the world’s foremost Bible typeface foundry, to create exclusive Comfort Print Bible fonts. NIV Comfort Print Bibles are easy to read at any size because the typeface was designed to be both efficient and readable. Zondervan Bibles believes that the beauty of the message should be reflected in the physical form of the book. Choosing the right typeface is one significant element in creating beautiful Bibles.

19 September

Beautiful Premier Collection Bibles released from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan

Created with premium materials, fine design and craftmanship; printed with exclusive Comfort Print® typefaces

Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 19, 2018 — Thomas Nelson and Zondervan are thrilled to announce the release of their new Premier Collection Bibles, on sale September 25, 2018.

Premier Collection Bibles feature premium materials, including:

  • Full-grain black goatskin covers, which are hand-bound to the book blocks using an edge-lined construction for optimum flexibility and durability
  • Beautiful, opaque 36 gsm European Bible paper, which is bound together with fine, strong thread using the Smyth-sewn binding method, just as high-end books have been crafted for hundreds of years
  • Art gilding, which is a specialized process for treating the edges of Bible pages, applying both a rich dye and a metallic coating to create a stunning depth and finish as the pages are fanned out
  • Generous yapp, which is the part of the leather cover that extends beyond the page edges, to protect the art gilding
  • Encased in durable, 2-piece boxes and elegantly wrapped in protective paper for the ultimate gift-giving and unboxing experience
  • Exclusive Comfort Print® typefaces, designed by leading font foundry 2K-DENMARK, which combine tradition with the best advances in modern typography, ensuring a smooth reading experience

“Several years ago, we began working on a beautiful Bible initiative to ensure that our Bibles are beautifully crafted in both their interior and exterior design and quality of materials, as well as in how we present them to the market,” says Melinda Bouma, publisher, Zondervan Bibles. “A significant step in that process was the creation of our exclusive Comfort Print® typefaces for each translation. Now these new Premier Collection Bibles are the capstone on our beautiful Bible initiative.”

“We spent a great deal of time evaluating production quality to create these new Bibles,” says Daniel Marrs, publisher, Thomas Nelson Bibles. “Our goal was to match or surpass the quality and features of any premium Bible currently on the market, while simultaneously offering our Bibles at lower prices for our readers.”

The first Premier Collection Bibles go on sale September 25, 2018 and are available in three translations: Thomas Nelson’s King James Version (KJV) and New King James Version (NKJV) and Zondervan’s New International Version (NIV).

  • KJV Giant Print Center-Column Reference Bible (ISBN 9780785220831), with red under gold art gilding, three ribbons (two black, one red), 12.2-point print size for excellent readability, book introductions, a full concordance, and Thomas Nelson’s complete cross-reference system, with over 72,000 references displayed in a classic center-column format, for $149.99
  • NKJV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible (ISBN 9780785220886), with red under gold art gilding, three ribbons (two black, one red), 11-point print size in a line-matched setting, extensive concordance, full-color maps, and more than 40,000 cross-references, in a format less than an inch thick for portability, ideal for reading and preaching, for $149.99
  • NKJV Single-Column Reference Bible (ISBN 9780785220855), with red under gold art gilding, three ribbons (two black, one red), 10.5-point print size in a line-matched, single-column format designed for maximum readability, generous margins, and Thomas Nelson’s complete cross-reference system with over 72,000 references, for $159.99
  • NIV Heritage Bible (ISBN 9780310450757), with blue and silver art gilding, three ribbons (black, blue, and red), 10-point print size in a two-color, line-matched, single column setting, generous margins with room for notes, pages to keep family records, and a concordance, for $149.99
  • NIV Large Print Thinline Bible (ISBN 9780310450894), with blue and silver art gilding, three ribbons (navy blue, blue, and light blue), 11.4-point print size, in a format less than an inch-thick for portability and ideal for reading and preaching, for $149.99

To view Premier Collection Bibles in detail, visit https://youtu.be/AOFhO28nMIs. To learn more about Premier Collection Bibles, visit www.PremierCollectionBibles.com.

Limited review copies are available upon request. Contact Trinity McFadden at [email protected].

Contact:    Trinity McFadden

Senior Manager of Publicity

tel: 616-698-3514

email: [email protected]

About Comfort Print®: Read on! Settle in and spend more time in the Bible without eyestrain. Comfort Print® is an exclusive new family of fonts expertly designed to allow your eyes to relax as they flow smoothly along the lines of text. Learn more at www.ComfortPrintBibles.com

About the KJV: The most widely ready English translation for over four centuries, ideal for study, memorization and worship.

About the NKJV™: Commissioned in 1975 by Thomas Nelson Publishers, the NKJV was developed by 130 respected Bible scholars, church leaders, and lay Christians. Over the course of seven years they created a translation that was completely new and modern, yet retained the purity and stylistic beauty of the original King James. With unyielding faithfulness to the Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts, the NKJV translation reflects the most recent research in archaeology, linguistics, and textual studies.

About the NIV: The New International Version (NIV) is the world’s bestselling modern-English Bible translation—accurate, readable, and clear, yet rich with the detail found in the original languages. The NIV is the result of over 50 years of work by the Committee on Bible Translation, who oversee the efforts of many contributing scholars. Representing the spectrum of evangelicalism, the translators come from a wide range of denominations and various countries and continually review new research in order to ensure the NIV remains at the forefront of accessibility, relevance, and authority. Every NIV Bible that is purchased helps Biblica, a nonprofit ministry organization, translate and give Bibles to people in need around the world. To learn more, visit www.thenivbible.com.

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.

About Zondervan: 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.

01 February

HarperCollins Christian Publishing’s Bible Group expands publishing efforts and new initiatives

(Nashville, TN) February 1, 2018—Today HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) announced a few key promotions within the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Bible publishing groups that reflect the company’s continued focus on the Bible.

John, Kramp, who joined HCCP in September 2014 as senior v-p of Bible Resources, has been named senior v-p and group publisher for Bibles. Additionally, Doug Lockhart who joined the company as senior v-p for Bible marketing and outreach in October 2014 has been named senior v-p for Bible marketing and new initiatives.  Lockhart came to HCCP from Biblica as president and CEO, owners of the New International Version translation of the Bible. Lockhart will continue to work with Kramp to lead Bible marketing, champion innovative strategies, and develop pivotal partnerships across the industry to enhance visibility for the New International Version (NIV), the King James Version (KJV), and the New King James Version (NKJV) translations.

For Zondervan Bibles, Melinda Bouma is being promoted to publisher. During her 10-plus year tenure with Zondervan Bibles, Bouma’s innovation, industry knowledge, and leadership have been essential to the success of the Zondervan Bible business. As publisher, she will build on her proven success of award winning product develop, acquisition, and publishing leadership by expanding the publishing portfolio of the NIV, the New American Standard Version (NASB), the Amplified Version (AMP) and other translations.

HCCP also announced the promotion of Daniel Marrs to publisher of Thomas Nelson Bibles. Marrs joined the Thomas Nelson Bible team in November 2015 as senior editor and was named associate publisher for the group in June 2016. With a strong theological background and editorial expertise, Marrs will lead the group as publisher, continuing to oversee acquisitions, author and title development, product ideation, and editorial development to grow the NKJV, KJV, and other translations.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., comprising both Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups and 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 Grand Rapids, MI, Miami, FL and Spokane, WA. For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.