Advice for Parents and Couples; Trends in YA Fiction

Features Profiles Reviews

A QUARTERLY RESOURCE AUGUST 2012 VOL.55

Advertisement

BEVERLY LEWIS

Must-Have Amish Fiction From #1 Bestselling Author

With more than 16 million copies sold, and acclaimed by the likes of Newsweek, TIME, and The Wall Street Journal, Beverly Lewis is the top name in Amish ction. This spring she offers the stirring conclusion to her bestselling Home to Hickory Hollow series. Mystery surrounds the non-English-speaking girl Jodi Wineld found along the road one morning. Will an unexpected encounter with the Amish shed some light?
The Guardian by Beverly Lewis Home to Hickory Hollow Trade Paper; $14.99; 978-0-7642-0979-6 Hardcover; $19.99; 978-0-7642-1080-8 Large Print; $17.99; 978-0-7642-1081-5 Ebook; $14.99; 978-1-4412-6103-8

ON SALE April 2, 2013

Stories for the Heart and Soul

New from Bethany House

The peaceful practices of the Mennonites are challenged in the second book of this thrilling suspense series.
Unbreakable by Nancy Mehl
ROAD TO KINGDOM #2
Trade Paper; $14.99; 978-0-7642-0928-4 Ebook; $14.99; 978-1-4412-6101-4

This blockbuster author team delivers another romantic and intriguing read headed straight for the bestseller charts with the conclusion to their BRIDAL VEIL ISLAND series.
To Honor and Trust by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller
BRIDAL VEIL ISLAND
Trade Paper; $14.99; 978-0-7642-0888-1 Hardcover; $19.99; 978-0-7642-1075-4 Ebook; $14.99; 978-1-4412-6100-7

The highly emotional conclusion to bestselling author Dale Cramers acclaimed seriesbound to become a classic in the Amish ction genre.
Though Mountains Fall by Dale Cramer
THE DAUGHTERS OF CALEB BENDER #3
Trade Paper; $14.99; 978-0-7642-0840-9 Ebook; $14.99; 978-1-4412-6099-4

Bestselling author Julie Klassen delivers another Regency romance sure to please fans of this increasingly popular era for historical ction.
The Tutors Daughter by Julie Klassen
Trade Paper; $14.99; 978-0-7642-1069-3 Ebook; $14.99; 978-1-4412-6109-0

AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 2013

AVAILABLE JANUARY 2013

AVAILABLE JANUARY 2013

AVAILABLE JANUARY 2013

A Division of Baker Publishing Group | bethanyhouse.com Available from your sales rep or call Bethany House at (800) 877-2665. In Canada, contact David C. Cook Distribution 1-800-263-2664. For available rights information, please contact Marilyn Gordon at mgordon@bakerbooks.com.

Feature

Religion Update
tailored specifically to their needs, its not a sure-fire recipe. A niche audience is by definition smaller than a general one, and it can be harder to reach. Because books are becoming more segmented in their target audience, it is more and more difficult to reach that segment of the market, says Beacon Hills Russell. EMPHASIZING AUTHOR PLATFORM As audience segmentation increases, marketing departments are often stretched thin. More of the burden of promotion is shifting to the author. While author platform is important in every book category, from fiction to cookbooks to dieting, it may be even more significant in the parenting arena, where readers feel vulnerable and want rock-solid guidance they can trust. Issues like special needs, adoption, a strong-willed child, or the rise of autism send parents into a bookstore or library, says Chicago Tribune columnist Jennifer Grant, mother of four and author of MOMumental: Adventures in the Messy Art of Raising a Family (Worthy, May). Theyre hungry for narratives that mirror what theyre going through while giving them a sense of how to manage whatever the issue is. Grant views author platform not as a contest to see who has the most Twitter followers but as an opportunity to engage with readers. Some of her columns about adoption, and specifically the experience of adopting a child from Guatemala, resulted in letters and e-mails from readers all over the country. Im not at all an adoption expert, but what I found was an organic community of people with similar experiences, she says. This is exactly the kind of connection to readers that publishers are looking for. At Ave Maria Press, publicist Amanda Williams sees bloggers as already having a built-in relationship with their audience. Weve certainly seen an uptick in the number of bloggers-gone-authors, and we are pleased to have signed some of the best-known
W W W . P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY. C O M 1

Theres a Parenting Book for That: Trying to stand out in a crowded category
By Jana Riess

s your teen talking back? Is your toddler not yet talking? Theres a book for that. A search for parenting books on Amazon.com reveals more than 70,000 unique titles, giving rise to an ordeal religion publishers identify as their number one issue in this category: standing out from the pack. The greatest challenge we face is the glut of product already on the shelves, says Debbie Wickwire, senior acquisitions editor for Thomas Nelson. Honestly, how many launching and survival guides can a parent read? Religion publishers have responded to this challenge in various ways, but five strategies are proving particularly helpful in the flooded category of parenting books. ADDRESSING SPECIFIC NEEDS It used to be so simple, didnt it? First you learned What to Expect When Youre Expecting, and then Dr. Spock walked you through all the usual illnesses and milestones of Baby and Child Care. If your school-age son got mouthy, you could Have a New Kid by Friday or learn How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk, both courtesy of Kevin Leman (Baker Books). What all those books had in common was that they held to a one-size-fits-all standard; they dealt with challenges that were not unusual. Even in the smaller religion market, parenting books

assumed that kids were kids and that parenting issues were more or less universal. Nowadays, the publishing trend is to divide and conquer the parenting market. It appears that the topics and segmentation are becoming much more defined and more advanced, explains Barry Russell, sales manager for Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, Mo. Instead of having a book on boys, it seems to be a book on boys with ADHD. Some titles are specific about both audience and subject, like Bethany Houses What a Son Needs from His Mom (Mar. 2013) and What a Daughter Needs from Her Dad, which has sold 47,000 copies since 2004. Others zero in on the subject matter. I see more parenting books that are issue-oriented, reports Cat Hoort, marketing and publicity manager for Kregel Publications. They tackle a specific relevant topic. Bullying is one right now. Books that address the changing American family are on the rise. Single parenting continues to be a growing topic with readers as we see more and more kids raised in single parent and/or blended family homes, says Jeff Rustemeyer, senior director of the publishing arm of Focus on the Family. We are also seeing an ongoing, growing trend toward adoption and the special challenges families face assimilating adopted children. While slicing and dicing is a great way for publishers to find new audiences and for readers to receive advice

Religion Update

| Feature

Although Mom is still the primary buyer of parenting books, as Thomas Nelsons Laura Minchew suggests, theres a definite uptick these days in books for dads and about boys. Moodys Janis Backing agrees. I think more books are now directed toward fathers than in the past because men are demonstrating an interest in taking an active role in parenting their children, she says. To help dads do this, Gospel Light/Regal has Be a Better Dad Today! Ten Tools Every Father Needs (May), and FaithWords will release The Playbook for Dads: Parenting Your Kids in the Game of Life by former quarterback Jim Kelly (Sept.). Earlier this year, Abingdon raised the specter of fatherlessness in African-American families with Our Father: Where Are the Fathers? (Mar.). Then there are the classics, James Dobsons 2001 book Bringing Up Boys and others. At Focus on the Family, which partners with Tyndale House for its publishing, a perennial favorite is Raising a Modern-Day Knight: A Fathers Role in Guiding His Son to Authentic Manhood, first published in 1997 and updated in 2007. It has sold over 450,000 copies and continues to be one of our top-selling backlist titles consistently every year, says Focus on the Familys Jeff Rustemeyer. J.R.

Catholic mommy bloggers, she says. Since Ave Marias books are steeped in Catholic tradition, the publisher looks to authors who can bring a Catholic perspective to topics like pregnancy and motherhood. It will release Sarah Reinhards A Catholic Mothers Companion to Pregnancy in September. At Thomas Nelson, senior v-p and publisher for gift and childrens books Laura Minchew notes that the rise of social media presents an exceptional opportunity for authors to build credibility through their platforms. Platform is key for debut author Maralee McKee, who is described as a Manners Mentor and who has appeared on the Warner Bros. national morning show, The Daily Buzz. McKees first book, Manners That Matter for Moms (Harvest House, Oct.), teaches moms to apply time-tested etiquette to such modern problems as texting at the dinner table or how to please both a mom and a stepmom on Mothers Day. But the blog platform can cut both ways, cautions Jeana Ledbetter, v-p of editorial for Worthy Publishing. With the proliferation of mom blogs, there is

a wealth of information available for free on the Internet, she says. As a result, a parenting book has to be compelling enough for readers to spend their hardearned money on it. WALKING WITH THE READER Author expertise has always been key in the category of parenting books; for example, Dr. Spocks authority derived from his professional role as a pediatrician. But today, an authors platform must also include relatability. The author is not just an expert but a fellow traveler who is also trying to navigate the confusing world of parenting without a road map. Over the past several years, parenting books have become more narrativedriven and less prescriptive, says Worthys Ledbetter. Readers want to read relatable stories to help them deal with the issues they face in their own families. At Chalice Press, marketing and client services manager Amber Moore sees more parenting memoirs being published nowadays, citing Chalices own

chronicle PregMANcy: A Dad, a Little Dude, and a Due Date (Apr.). The memoir, which relies on vulnerable personal revelations and laugh-out-loud humor as it walks expecting fathers through the experience of pregnancy, was one that author Christian Piatt says he initially wrote as catharsis and therapy for myself. But after showing early drafts to others and hearing from them that it was the best writing hed ever done, he decided to publish it. Laughter humanizes the story, he says. In a more serious vein, at Westminster John Knox Press, Patheos.com blogger Ellen Painter Dollar shared her story of deciding whether to use advanced reproductive technology to conceive a child or risk passing on her gene for a debilitating disorder. Her book No Easy Choice: A Story of Disability, Parenthood, and Faith in an Age of Advanced Reproduction, released in February from WJK, blends memoir with research into the rapidly changing possibilities for human conception. And at Zondervan, a memoir by Emily Colson (daughter of Charles, who provides a foreword and epilogue) details the authors personal struggle to find help for her autistic son. Dancing with Max came out in 2010, and the paperback version will be released in September. What is different today versus five years ago is that young parents are looking more for experiential learning, rather than didactic learning, says Don Gates, v-p of marketing at Zondervan. They would rather have a seasoned parent share experiences where principles organically emerge, rather than have a Ph.D. share 10 rules or the latest whizbang model. BUILDING ON BACKLIST Still, it can be hard for new authors to make a name for themselves in the parenting category. But the silver lining to that problem is that a title that does strike gold is likely to stick around for a long, long time. At Thomas Nelson, The Blessing: Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and

2 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY A U G U S T 2 7 , 2 0 1 2

HELP FOR DAD

Feature |

Religion Update
MaryAnn McKibben Danas Sabbath in the Suburbs: A Familys Experiment with Holy Time (Chalice, Sept.; reviewed in this issue). Dana recounts the strategies her family has used to keep the Sabbath day holy, whether its logging off from Facebook or shoving the dirty laundry in a closet until Monday. Laura Minchew at Thomas Nelson sees a real need for books that teach parents how to help their kids adopt a simpler lifestyle without some of the emphasis on material possessions. Todays parents are still living in a selfindulgent world, but they are trying to raise kids with a heart to serve others and be more selfless, she says. In March, Nelson will release Dave Stones guide Raising Kids in a Self-Centered World. Whatever the topic, there is no end to the proliferation of parenting books. As long as there is a need, there will be a bookor perhaps 70,000.

Acceptance by John Trent and Gary Smalley has sold more than one million copies in all editions, including a 2011 update. Nelsons 1995 workbook Reflections from a Mothers Heart has sold 2.2 million copies, with its most recent edition in 2010. In backlist, Moody Publishers also sets a gold standard with The 5 Love Languages of Children, co-written by megaselling author Gary Chapman. First published in 1997, it has remained a robust performer for 15 years, selling more than 68,000 copies in 2011. Moody refreshed the book in February with updated content. GETTING REAL While a strong backlist is important, its equally crucial for publishers to respond to what parents view as the issues of the day, including tough problems that they might have a difficult time discussing with others. Bethany House has had success with What Your Son Isnt Telling Youa 2010 book that has sold nearly 45,000 copiesand its companion book, What Your Daughter I sn t Tel ling You (2007). It will repackage the latter in March 2013, adding information and advice on teens and social media. Kregel has a whole series devoted to some of the difficulties teens and tweens face in todays society. All six of Kregels Hot Buttons books are authored by Nicole ODell, a mother of six who hosts Teen Talk Radio and Parent Talk Radio. Kregels Hoort says that ODell sometimes encounters resistance from Christian parents who dont want to believe the things that their children are facing at school and online. She sees the challenge of getting Christian parents to accept that their kids are exposed to issues like drugs, pornography, and Internet predators, says Hoort. And theyre being exposed at younger and younger ages. The challenge is to convince parents to be proactive about addressing those issues so that

their kids are prepared. With that in mind, the Hot Buttons series launched in June with its first two titles, which focus on dating and the Internet. Future books will deal with drugs, sexuality, bullying, and selfimagethe last two topics a result of the series early response. Part of getting real for parents also has been how to set limits and impart altruistic values in a culture of affluence. In May, WaterBrook Press released Kay Wills Wymas Cleaning House: A Moms Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement, a memoir about Wymas year of putting her five kids to work around the house. According to publicity manager Beverly Rykerd, this book has struck a chord with the mommy bloggers, and has been featured on the New York Times parenting blog and on CNN Headline News. Another book about family limits is

THE MUCH ANTICIPATED FOLLOW-UP TO THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE

Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.
From New York Times bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones (The Jesus Storybook Bible), 101 simple yet profound thoughts that build a readers personal day-by-day relationship with God and create a deeper understanding of faith. Share your thoughts and hear more at www.ThoughtsToMakeYourHeartSing.com Available wherever books are sold.

Religion Update

Feature

Books on Marriage Keeping it Real and Practical

By Kimberly Winston

ooks on marriage from a religious point of view are heavily published by evangelical Christian houses, and this year their books on the subject keep clearly in focus the idea that a good marriage requires effort. New titles that promise everything from long-term strategies to quick fixes are all designed to improve and strengthen what for many people is the longest, most complex relationship of their lives. As has been true in the past, the targeted readers are women, who buy most of the books on this topic. But titles specifically aimed at men are gaining ground. And while established authors have new entries, the category is opening itself up to newer and younger voices, reflecting the views of a generation whose ideas about marriage are changing. THE TRIED AND TRUE At Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, there is faith in the tried-and-true titles for women about marital threats like infidelity and poor communication. Revell has had strong success in this category, most notably with His Needs, Her Needs: Building an Affair-Proof Marriage by Willard F. Harley Jr., originally released more than 25 years ago and revised by the author in 2011. It has sold more than 2.5 million copies in all formats, so editorial directo Jennifer Leep does not expect Revells approach to change. The 10 basic needs explored in His Needs, Her Needs are the same as they were two and a half decades ago, even though the ways they express themselves in todays culture are different, she says. That book is a good example of whats true for this category as a whole. New

from Revell is The Marriage of Your Dreams: A Womans Guide to Understanding Her Man by Rick Johnson (Sept.) and Praying Gods Word for Your Husband by Kathi Lipp (June). The Baker Books imprint has Lifelong Love Affair: How to Have a Passionate and Deeply Rewarding Marriage by Jimmy Evans with Frank Martin (Sept.). And Crossway will publish The Fruitful Wife: Cultivating Love Only God Can Produce by Hayley DiMarco (Sept.; profiled in this issue), while Tyndale has Your Hearts Desire: 14 Truths That Will Forever Change the Way You Love and Are Loved by Sheri Rose Shepherd (June). At Whitaker House, titles also reflect the more traditional version of marriage with an emphasis on advice. Says publisher Bob Whitaker Jr., If a book is not cutting to the issues of why marriages are failing and families are falling apart, I dont think it is worth publishing. New from Whitaker House are Releasing Family Blessings: Gods Plan for Your Marriage and Children by Larry and Tiz Huch (Aug.), who are top-selling authors for the house, and Faith, Family & Finances: Strong Foundations for a Better Life by Henry Fernandez (Mar.), a megachurch pastor. Whitaker intends to expand its lineup of marriage books soon, but look for future titles to try for a male readership. Men are not stepping up to the plate to support their families, so I am happy to publish books that address issues to men, Whitaker says. He also expects future titles on challenged marriages, such as those struggling with addiction. The house publishes in Spanish to a market that has been responsive to its marriage titles.

The Spanish market struggles with the same marriage issues, Whitaker notes. A Spanish version of Faith, Family & Finances releases in October, and Releasing Family Blessings will be published in Spanish next spring. When it comes to marriage, Zondervan is wary of trends, says v-p of marketing Don Gates. While the super-sexedup books in the last year have received a lot of attention, they were not the best of sellers, he says. We focus on enduring themes and opportunities in marriagecommunicating with each other, understanding the other, growing together spiritually, and the like. He cites Joni & Ken: An Untold Love Story by Joni Eareckson Tada and her husband and Couples of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional to Draw You Closer to God and Each Other by Robert and Bobbie Wolgemuth (both Apr. 2013). CLASSIC TAKES, FRESH VIEWS At Moody, the 800-pound gorilla is The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapmans 1992 marriage bestseller, which has sold more than seven million copies and spawned a whole family of spinoffs. Those spinoffs continue with Chapmans The Love Languages Devotional Bible (Oct.), which has commentary, devotions, and prayer guides for couples. Moody is also turning to fiction: for last Christmas the house produced A Marriage Carol, a retelling of the 19th-century Dickens classic as an instructional tale about modern marriage; Walk with Me: Pilgrims Progress for Married Couples by Annie Wald (Sept.; profiled in this issue) is a retelling of John Bunyans 17thcentury Christian allegory. Deborah Keiser, Moodys associate publisher, is looking for more fictional approaches to marriage and relationships. In fiction, you can fall in love with a character and whats happening in their lives and identify with them in a way you cant with nonfiction, she says. Telling you is only one way of learning, and this is a different

4 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY A U G U S T 2 7 , 2 0 1 2

M O V E B E YO N D T H E PA G E S O F A B O O K

A look at what our earthly relationships, whether good or bad, teach us about the Divine.

A stunning reminder that no one is too lost, too evil, too wounded, or too hopeless for Gods love.

Helps readers confront fear in their lives and start down the path that leads to victory in Christ.

1-800-BOOKLOG (1-800-266-5564) AtlasBooksDistribution.com

/getinuence | www.InuenceResources.com

Religion Update

| Feature

So many ways to meet potential partnersonline dating services, social networking groups, even professional matchmakers. What can this seasons dating books from religion and spirituality publishers add to help the search? Words of experience leavened by practical advice. It isnt enough for someone to tell their story, says Barry Russell, sales manager at Beacon Hill Press. They need to have something people can take away and apply to their own situation. Beacon Hill has several new dating titles that reflect another trend Russell sees the further niching of the category. People want products specifically catered to their needs, he says, and Beacon aims for that with Dating After Divorce: Preparing for a New Relationship by David and Lisa Frisbie (June). The same holds true at Bethany House, with its Dating and the Single Parent by Ron Deal (Oct.). Not surprisingly, there is a good deal of focus on the young, too. Zondervan has Is This the One? Simple Dates for Finding the Love of Your Life by Stephen Arterburn (Apr.; reviewed in this issue). Mormon publisher Cedar Fort offers Unsteady Dating:

Resisting the Rush to Romance by JeaNette G. Smith (July), and Thomas Nelson will publish The Truth About Breaking Up, Making Up, and Moving On by Chad Eastham (Jan. 2013). Nelsons AnnJanette Toth, marketing director for childrens and family entertainment, says the future of this category will include more e-books, social media, and maybe even some apps. A lot of young adults and kids are going to the Internet to find their answers, so it makes sense for us to meet them there, she says. In a play for younger readers, Servant Books, an imprint of Catholic publisher Franciscan Media, is publishing Would You Date You? by Anthony Buono (July), the founder of Ave Maria Singles, a Catholic dating site. Franciscan has had other titles that touched on datingmost notably If You Really Loved Me by Jason Evert (2009)but Christopher Holmes, Franciscans marketing strategy and services manager, says Would You Date You? is its first book dedicated to the topic, and its author is perfectly poised to reach young Catholics and beyond. Anthonys background brings the possibility of a new audience, the younger adults we are always trying to reach, he says. K.W.

way, learning through story. At WaterBrook Multnomah, the Christian division of Random House, v-p and editor-inchief Ken Petersen says the general marriage book may be a thing of the past. Anything new has to have a distinctive concept, he says. Thats what the house hopes it has with Altared: The True Story of a She, a He, and How They Both Got Too Worked Up About We by authors known only as Claire and Eli (Sept.; reviewed in this issue). The book is a critical look at the notions and pressures of marriage within the evangelical church; it is based on the authors own experiences as a young Christian couple. Altared is a great example of this new literature and new emphasis, says Petersen. Theres less emphasis on avoiding divorce and more emphasis on creating deep, intimate relationships. But the practical advice book retains its hold on the marketplace, too. One Month to Love: Thirty Days to Grow and Deepen Your Closest Relationships by Kerry and Chris Shook (WaterBrook, Dec.) is an attempt to build on the authors 2008 success, One Month to Live: Thirty

BEFORE MATING, DATING

Days to a No-Regrets Life. Practical is the buzzword at Harvest House, where marriage titles account for approximately 25 % of its list. Publicist Aaron Dillon says readers are looking for something relational. Short is sweet, too. Our readers respond well to a format of 31 days or 52 weeks, Dillon says. Things that are practical and implementable are generating success for us. New titles reflect that with 31 Days to a Happy Husband by Arlene Pellicane (Aug.), 101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Remarried by H. Norman Wright (Oct.), and Singleness, Marriage, and the Will of God, described as a comprehensive biblical guide, by J. Robin Maxson with Garry Freisen (Aug.). Harvest House recognizes the main customers for marriage titles are women, but it too would like to reach more men. Those titles have to have the same concision and advice you want for the women, but even more so because men for the most part are not readers, Dillon says. He points to 52 Things Wives Need from Their Husbands by Jay Payleitner (Feb.) as an example. And look for the category to niche into specific issues married people

may confront, such as infertility, infidelity, and adoption. What will the marriage book of the future look like? Studies show fewer couples are choosing to get married, and those that do are getting married later. At the same time, more couples are opting for childlessness, thereby redefining the idea of what marriage is traditionally for creating families. Generation Y and to some extent millennials are beginning to reinvent the marriage book of the future, says WaterBrook Multnomahs Petersen. I see them less interested in traditional roles and more interested in adapting flexible roles that fit each personality within the marriage. Whitaker agreesto a point. He believes that while young people today no longer assume they should get married, they are not doing much thinking about what else they should do in terms of their relationships. A growing group faces so many choices they find it difficult to make decisions, Whitaker says. Upcoming books on dating and marriage would do well to address the question How can a person best serve Godas a married parent or as a single man or woman?

6 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY A U G U S T 2 7 , 2 0 1 2

Feature

Religion Update
evolved and changed; its a trend that doesnt die. WaterBrook Multnomahs YA fiction once made up about 30% of its fiction line, according to Marchese, but these days its at about 10%. (The change is the result of some prolific authors slowing down.) Sigmund Brouwers Merlins Immortals seriesThe Orphan King (July) and Fortress of Mist (2013)are linchpins of the YA fantasy line, as is the work of Karyn Henley and the Dragon series of Donita K. Paul. TEENS WANT THEIR REALITY Melody Carlsons Diary of a Teenage Girl series taps into another vein besides fantasy that is popular with teen readers: real-life issues. Carlson started with one book that took off, eventually spawning the 16-book series as well as other series like the Secret Life of Samantha McGregor. Carlson, who has written about 80 books for teens, is also author of the Carter House Girls and On the Runway series with Zondervan, and the TrueColors series with NavPress. The difference is that I was willing to write really edgy stuff, to get inside the skin of a teenager, says Carlson, who has written on topics such as cutting, alcohol abuse, school shootings, eating disorders, and body image. If the girls themselves arent into these things, they know someone who is. Carlsons ability to address teen reality points out one of the difficult issues publishers face: how far they can go in the fiction they publish. Its a fine line between addressing real-life issues important to teens and drawing the ire of parents and other adults who want to protect children from unnecessary or immoderate violence, sex, or adult situations. Christian publishers walk a tightrope, says Cooks Pape. We want to be real and deal with life issues, but also be redemptive and provide a light in the dark. Weve had some parents return books because theyre dark, but when you look at what kids are into in the real
W W W . P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY. C O M 7

Christian YA Fiction Coming into full bloom

By Ann Byle

hristian teen fiction is coming into its own these days as sales rise for both digital and traditional books, and as publishers look for the next bestselling series. While Christian publishers havent found juggernauts that compare to Harry Potter, the Hunger Games, the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini, or the Twilight series, its not for lack of trying. YA fiction in general is a fast-growing genre, says Don Pape, v-p of trade publishing for David C. Cook. The YA reader cant get enough story; theyre voracious readers whether in hard copy or digital download. Thomas Nelsons Daisy Hutton, v-p and publisher for fiction, has a similar view of the market. With the YA boom in the general market, we have definitely seen a surge of interest in the Christian market, she says. The growth of the category in the last five years has given Christian authors extra motivation to reach that teen reader, and we have seen it in the number of YA proposals that cross our desk. Nelsons YA line includes the Son of Angels: Jonah Stone series by Jerel LawSpirit Fighter (Apr.) and Fire Prophet (Dec.)and the Swipe series by Evan Angler (Swipe, Apr., and Sneak, Sept.), as well as the Dreamhouse Kings series by Robert Liparulo and Angel Eyes (May), the first in a series by Shannon Dittemore. Christian teens arent all that different from teens shopping in the general market. They are drawn to stories with high stakes and a lot of action, whether in the real world or in a fantasy world, says Hutton. But they also enjoy stories that help them understand some of the

Don Pape

Daisy Hutton

issues they face on a daily basis. The Christian story and faith so easily lend themselves to what is popular in the general marketthe ultimate fight of good vs. evil, uncertainty in trying to figure out who you are, and how to handle the issues they face. Cook, based in Colorado Springs, Colo., jump-started its YA fiction line with Travis Thrashers Solitary Tales series, including Solitary (2010), Gravestone (2011), and Temptation (Apr.), and with Lisa T. Bergrens River of Time seriesWaterfall (2011), just won a Christy Award in the Young Adult category. Wed love for these series to sell like the wind so we can continue to move in this category, says Pape, noting that Solitary has already had 80,000 downloads in a variety of formats and price points. WaterBrook Multnomah has a long history of publishing to the YA market, says Shannon Marchese, senior editor for fiction. She points to books by Robin Jones Gunn and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series by Melody Carlson, published by Multnomah, as well as fantasy fiction published by WaterBrook. Fantasy has become so hot these days, but I think its an evergreen genre that has been around for years, says Marchese. Todays fantasy has morphed and

DANIEL DUBOIS PHOTOGRAPHY

Religion Update
world, you see the tension. Marchese of WaterBrook Multnomah agrees: There are [Christian market] constraints on how candid we can be with our teen readers. Parents want a good, clean read, but kids are saying thats not whats happening in their lives. Richard Paul Evans, author of novels for adults such as The Christmas Box (Simon & Schuster, 1995), which has sold eight million copies, and The Gift (S&S, 2007), has found big success in the YA market with his Michael Vey series. Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 (Simon Pulse/Mercury Ink, 2011) reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list (teen fiction) and has been endorsed by the Dove Foundation, which calls it a wholesome read. When I starting writing Michael Vey, I was sort of boycotting the Hunger Games, because I dont like hopelessness, I dont like dystopia, says Evans. There are a lot of books that dont carry any

| Feature

hope, and those are not what our kids need today. Ive never seen a society so hopeless. Evans recently signed prereleases of his second in the series, Michael Vey: Rise of the Elgen, out this month (Aug.). The store where he signed sold 1,100 books. The series focuses on Michael Vey, a 14-year-old struggling to get along in school with Tourettes syndrome, making him the object of bullying. But Michael discovers he has a mysterious electrical power that lets him zap bullies and jump-start dead car batteries with his hands. Michael and his friends Ostin the class brain and Taylor the cheerleader, who also has electrical powersface a variety of challenges and become the target for a group that wants to control them and the world. Evans says booksellers are glad for YA novels that offer an alternative to the darkness filling the shelves. One bookseller showed me the YA section, and it

was like walking into a haunted house. The first three covers I saw had dead girls on them. The problem is that [booksellers] get yelled at by parents and grandparents who didnt know what was in the books the kids were reading, says Evans. Booksellers are looking for books they can actually recommend. Evans wanted the Michael Vey books to demonstrate three things: (1) Michael would have a healthy relationship with his parents, (2) adults would not all be idiots, and (3) all of us have the power within us to accomplish good. I want Michael Vey to be empowering books for youth, says Evans. I want it to be a true battle of good vs. evil. PLACEMENT DILEMMAS ABOUND Evanss YA books are readily placed on general market store shelves with other YA fiction, though publisher Simon & Schuster does sell a small percentage to

Peace H
For Each
FROM

Millions have survived cancer, but thats only half the battle There is a way to have peace. From author and pastor

MARY J. NELSON

OUR

Available October, 2012

ISBN: 978-1-938388-17-0 Distributed by

Not unlike the Christian classic My Utmost for His Highest by Oslwald Chambers it may also be one of the nest seminal books I have seen for preaching topics on the Kingdom of God! Tim Hatt, Hosanna! Kingdom Expansion Pastor

8 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY A U G U S T 2 7 , 2 0 1 2

Feature |

Religion Update

the Christian retail market through its Howard Books imprint. Christian publishers, however, are facing challenges in their books placement. Some Christian bookstores place YA titles in the childrens department, where teens wouldnt dream of visiting. Others mix YA titles in with adult titles, making it hard for teens to discern which is which. Baker Book House, a Christian bookstore based in Grand Rapids, Mich., keeps its YA section at the back of the childrens department, placing it closest to the music department, because teens relate more to whats in the music department, says Debbie Butgereit, head of the childrens department for the store. She also divides the area into two sections: for readers ages 1315, whose favorites tend to focus on friends and school, and those ages 1619, whose books tend to be issues driven, though fantasy reaches both. A 13-year-old reads very different content than a 19-year-old. I do this for parents, not necessarily for kids, and publishers are good at telling me their target audience, says Butgereit, who adds that some titles, such as R.J. Larsons Prophet (Bethany House, Apr.), are placed in both adult and teen sections. Says Marchese of WaterBrook Multnomah, Retail units are challenged to create a store experience for that fantasy market, a group we work hard to reach. The challenge is to find ways to market to the YA fantasy readers, whose books are sometimes shelved in the adult section and sometimes in the teen section. Pape of David C. Cook says publishers face a deeper challenge when it comes to getting their books on ABA store shelves: There is a bit of a bias in general market buyers in ABA stores, he says. Buyers want our YA titles in the inspirational section, but we want our titles on the regular YA shelves. Chriscynethia Floyd, v-p of marketing for Zonderkidz, agrees: The CBA stores will always trust our books, but the ABA needs to give us the opportunity to sit alongside general market books on the shelves. Zonderkidz publishes the Dragons of Starlight series by Bryan Davis, the Halflings Trilogy by Heather Burch, and books such as Replication: The Jason Experiment (2011) by Jill Williamson. THE FUTURE FOR YA FICTION Publishers and authors alike see no weakening of the young adult market. They all, however, forecast adaptation in how content is delivered. As e-books become more popular with young readers at ease with tablets, smartphones, and social media, the industry must move with the times. Prolific YA author Carlson says shes experimenting with a series of books for teens that will be available only as e-books. David C. Cook is in the midst of what Pape calls the digital discussion, prompted by strong growth in e-books in both YA and adult fiction. Authors such as Brouwer, with WaterBrook Multnomah, are connecting with eager readers via online sites and social marketing tools.

TrAcie PeTerSoN
Blockbuster author Tracie Peterson unveils a Blockbuster author Tracie Peterson unveils a new historical series thats full of her trademark new historical series thats full of her trademark heart-stirring adventure and romance. heart-stirring adventure and romance. A family promise and her unladylike participation A family promise and her unladylike participation in the family business have kept Merrill Krause in the family business have kept Merrill Krause single. When a chance at love appears, can she trust single. When a chance at love appears, can she trust Rurik Jorgensonand Godwith her future? Rurik Jorgensonand Godwith her future?

New Series From New Series From Bestselling Author Bestselling Author

The Icecutters Daughter by Tracie Peterson The Icecutters Daughter by Tracie Peterson Land of Shining Water Land of Shining Water Trade Paper; $14.99; 978-07642-0619-1
Trade Paper;$19.99; 978-0-7642-1076-1 Hardcover; $14.99; 978-07642-0619-1 Hardcover; $19.99; 978-0-7642-1076-1 Large Print; $17.99; 978-0-7642-1077-8 Large Print; $17.99; 978-0-7642-1077-8 Ebook; $14.99; 978-1-4412-6096-3 Ebook; $14.99; 978-1-4412-6096-3

avaiLabLe March 2013 avaiLabLe March 2013

A Division of Baker Publishing Group bethanyhouse.com A Division of Baker rep or call Group bethanyhouse.com Available from your sales Publishing BethanyHouse at (800) 877-2665. Available from contact David C. Cook Distribution 1-800-263-2664. In Canada, your sales rep or call Bethany House at (800) 877-2665. In Canada, contact David C. Cook Distribution 1-800-263-2664. For available rights information, For available rights information, please contact Marilyn Gordon at mgordon@bakerbooks.com. please contact Marilyn Gordon at mgordon@bakerbooks.com.

Religion Update

| Feature

Christian publishers are divided on teen fiction. Some are actively acquiring and publishing YA fiction, while others dont publish it at all. Here are three editors looking for teen fiction and their goals in the genre.
Jacque Alberta, acquiring editor for YA fiction and nonfiction, Zonderkidz

ACQUISITIONS STRATEGIES FOR CHRISTIAN YA FICTION

Looking for: I visit Barnes & Noble to see the trends in the [nonCBA stores]overt sexuality and violence are what theyre selling. Were looking for much cleaner versions of what teens want to read. We want to present the world in a real way but also show that there is hope. Currently, Alberta is seeing a mix of Christian manuscripts and manuscripts in the Twilight vein. Details: Zonderkidz publishes for the Christian market, which expects a Christian message, as well as for the general market with books that are grounded in faith but not explicitly Christian. We want to appeal to the general market but not preach to them. Eighty percent of Zonderkidz YA fiction reaches the general market; 20% is specifically for the Christian market.
Ramona Richards, senior acquisitions editor for fiction, Abingdon Press

Looking for: Abingdon is launching a YA line and looking for high-quality books that lend themselves to continuing series. The press is specifically interested in steampunk [modern technology as Victorians might have envisioned it], medieval fantasy, and urban fantasy. Details: Will begin acquiring YA fiction in early 2013; the YA line will launch in 2014. It will target an audience of 1419-year-olds, and Abingdon will publish at least six books in each of its two seasons. The YA market holds the greatest potential for expansion and exploration of different genres. Its the place where you can take the most risk and your readers will go with you.
Ramona Cramer Tucker, cofounder and editorial director, OakTara

Looking for: fantasy, sci-fi, realistic fiction; medieval fantasy series aimed at boys; issues fiction; teen writers. One reason we launched OakTara in 2007 is because there was very little Christian YA fiction being published; sci-fi and fantasy especially were missing. Our passion is to go where the readers go and offer fiction that will tantalize their interest. We aim at the mainstream reader but from a Christian worldview. Details: Especially looking for teens who are really good writers, and for fiction that will attract male readers. Were looking for fresh, unique novels with the broadest audience, and we are passionate about meeting the needs of the writer as well as the reader. A.B.

The bottom line for all, however, is giving readers the content they seek. Says Carlson, Im trying to offer clean, realistic truthwith consequences to [characters] actions. I keep an eye on the trends and give my readers stories they want to read but with a spiritual element. Zonderkidz Floyd says, Were pub-

lishing the classic good vs. evil, which still has explosive action. And teen angst and teen love stories are done in a way thats ethical and moral. The biggest question we all face is how far we can go with YA, says Pape. We have to be true to our Christian values and mission, but we know what the kids are seeing in the media, in film, and in books.

WaterBrook Multnomah sees itself on the cusp of new opportunities in the next several years, but Marchese says its important to have a plan for those opportunities, including watching what teen readers are doing and looking for authors to write well to those readers, and connect with them to create relationship. I want the future to be fabulous for our teen fiction, says Marchese. I want to find voices with amazing storytelling skills and deep meaning, and to see authors continue to find an audience and take off like wildfire. We want to tell well-written, interesting stories that also tell the truth of Jesus Christ. David C. Cook continues to look for quality storytelling as well as the word-of-mouth exposure that will bring its budding YA line into full bloom. I would love to see us have a robust YA program, producing quality product that encourages young adults in their faith walk, helps them wrestle with big issues as a Christ follower, says Pape. Zonderkidz remains fully committed to YA fiction, looking to expand its current eight-books-per-year plan. Were committed to letting parents and librarians know that we are an alternative. They can trust Zonderkidz YA fiction; we dont want CBA retailers to give up on the audience either, says Floyd. Thomas Nelson affirms its place in the YA market as well: Its a category were committed to continuing to grow, feeding readers who, served well by our YA books, will continue as our primary consumers for decades to come, says Hutton. Perhaps Carlson sums up the future best: I feel like the Christian teen market is stronger than its ever been. There is a lot of good product out there and its selling; there are more readers, more hungry kids who are really grappling with issues. From the letters I get and the teens I meet, they are out there reading and they want books. Thats reassuring to me.

10 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K L Y A U G U S T 2 7 , 2 0 1 2

HATCHER & FELL PHOTOGRAPHY, NASHVILLE

MARY DEMUTH

Profiles

Religion Update

Profiles
Annie Wald
year, when Jack Wald was visiting the United States, he gave the book to a friend who told editor Deb Keiser at Moody/River North about it. In Walk with Me, the characters Celeste and Peter are each traveling to the Kings City. They fall in love and decide to become partners and be bound by the Cords of Commitment as they undergo both the journey and the process of being refined for their destination. When they take a shortcut to avoid climbing the Mountains of Maturity, Peter and Celeste find themselves in the Swamp of Selfishness. They cross over the Bridge of Forgiveness many times and wonder just how often they must make that trip. They have to choose whether to stay together at all. During her 12 years living in Morocco, Wald, who is now writing a novel, has become friends with people from all over the world, including people in arranged marriages. She observes that married couples share common struggles to love and forgive that transcend cultural and religious differences. People start their marriages with hope that their marriage will be different, and that their love will be stronger than the failures theyve seen, she says. Though each marriage follows its own path, sooner or later all couples will endure internal and external stresses, Wald says. In writing Walk with Me, she drew on the conflict and eventual healing she went through in her own marriage. Wald says it was a privilege to revisit the journey and be reminded of how Gods redemptive wisdom and grace can trans JACK WALD

Lets face it

PARENTING

WIMPS
This book will give you a backbone without turning you into a tiger mom.
Dr. Kevin Leman
New York Times best-selling author of Have a New Kid by Friday

AINTFOR

An Allegory About Marriage

With her two daughters approaching marriage, Annie Wald wanted to share with them some of the hard lessons she had learned after years of matrimony. She found inspiration in the classic Pilgrims Progress to write an allegory about the marital journeys challenges and rewards. I could tell a story instead of writing a memoir, says Wald, author of Walk with Me: Pilgrims Progress for Married Couples (Moody/River North, Sept.). As a writer, Im sort of steeped in allegory. Wald, a former editor-in-chief at Princeton University Press, lives in Morocco and has been married for 35 years to Jack Wald, pastor of Rabat International Church there. She wrote the book and had it spiral-bound as a gift for the 2002 and 2004 weddings of their daughters. I wanted to tell both the truth of our grace and of our selfishness, says Wald. She and her husband kept meeting couples who were struggling in their marriagesjust as we hadand the Walds would give them copies of the manuscript to encourage them. Last

ORDER TODAY!
Contact a David C Cook rep at 800.323.7543 or visit www.DavidCCook.com

Religion Update
form a hopeless, broken relationship into a thriving partnership. Juli Cragg Hilliard

| Profiles

Amanda Davis

Youthful Phenom
At 19, Amanda Davis sold her first novel, Precisely Terminated, based on only one completed chapter. That chapter launched the Cantral Chronicles, a YA trilogy. The second book, Noble Imposter, was released in July, and Davis, now 21, is working on the finale, tentatively due to appear summer 2013. Davis, who says her youth helps her write YA fiction,
MERCY BURKLIN

won the 2012 Family Fiction Readers Choice firstplace award for new authors. The Cantral Chronicles is dystopian fiction, set hundreds of years in the future. In the trilogy, a group of nobles controls its slaves by implanting computer chips in their bodies. Hope for the slaves freedom rests on Monica, a fugitive slave who has thus far avoided chip implantation. The opening chapter of Precisely Terminated came to Davis in a dream and is replete with images evocative of Nazi concentration camps, including crowded bunks and mass gassings. The crowded, terrible conditions of the camps along with the gassings were definitely reference points for me, Davis says. The books also share similarities with the Hunger Gamesall are dystopian novels centered on a teenage girl, but, Davis says, a main difference is her trilogys emphasis on hope. The first book ends with the rescue of thousands

of people. Although published by Living Ink Books, an imprint of Christian publisher AMG, the trilogy so far does not offer an overtly Christian message. This accords with AMGs strategy of trying to reach general audiences with Christianthemed books, says publisher Dale Anderson. As with C.S. Lewiss Chronicles of Narnia, the series theme is foundationally Christiangood versus evil with a clear line drawn between who is morally good and who is evil. The main character, Monica, displays Christian virtues of courage, self-sacrifice, and compassion toward others. Rather than meticulously plotting her novels, Davis lets them unfold and surprise her. I try to sustain momentum by always leaving questions unanswered until the end. Theres always something left for the reader to wonder about. Mystery keeps the pages turning, she says. Davis hopes the final book in the trilogy will be more overtly Christian, though she says she wont know how to do that until after she is done writing it. She hopes Monica wont die in the middle of the third book, as that would complicate the story. Davis learned writing from her father, Bryan Davis, author of the Dragons in Our Midst YA series for the Christian market. He gives me lots of advice and help with my novels, though Im never willing to show them to him until theyre completely written, Davis says. He reads every word of my novels before they go to print and gives suggestions and changes for me to consider. Ive been on a thousand different book tour events with him, listening to his author talks and writing seminars hundreds of times. Of the final book in the Cantral Chronicles, Davis says, I really like the idea and plot, but since I started writing [it] when I was 15, it needs a complete rewrite before Im willing to show it to anyone. It has been five years since I

dreamed my idea, and I think Im ready now to create an even more amazing story that will rock my readers worlds. Diane Reynolds

John Swinton

Remembered by God
While working as a hospital chaplain, John Swinton visited many patients with dementia, who sometimes sat for long hours, seemingly lost to themselves and forgotten by others. But when he offered them communion or prayers, often they brightened and became more animated. Swinton recalled this experi ANDREW SWINTON

ence when he entered academia, and the questions it raised became the basis of his newest book, Dementia: Living in the Memories of God (Eerdmans, Nov.). Swinton says the book revolves around two questions: what does it mean to be who you are when youve forgotten who you are? And what does it mean to know and love God when youve forgotten God? Swintons conclusion: Who we are is something beyond ourselves, he says. Most of who we are is what we are as were remembered by God. Swinton recognizes that the topic of dementia can evoke fear, which sometimes results in denial or avoidance. But he says that the issue is a growing one,

12 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K L Y A U G U S T 2 7 , 2 0 1 2

Profiles |

Religion Update
feet into shoes and getting the kids out the door to whatever activity. She recognized that her family needed a change. Dana considered cutting back on work or moving to a new city, but realized that, rather than drastic action, her family simply needed a day to let go of that stuff and rest and play and be together.

and many people are looking for ways to understand what is happening to their loved ones. Today, Swinton, a professor of practical theology and pastoral care at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and founding director of the Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability at Aberdeen, lectures and blogs on the topic of dementia for a wide variety of audiences. The center is designed to develop research projects with a practical focus that draw on academic knowledge; Swintons book was one of those projects. I hope readers can take away from the book that dementia isnt hopeless, Swinton says. It may be painful, but there can be hope. We can develop the types of communities that enable people to be remembered. There is a tremendous sense of isolation, and dementia has as much to do with being forgotten as it does forgetting. Swintons book offers insight into practical, pastoral issues, as well as a deeper look at the theological implications of the disease. When you get down to it, youre really asking, what does it mean to be a human being, and a human being before God? Swinton says. Its a theological book but it aims to change practice, to understand better, and to practice better. Swintons own understanding of dementia has grown since he began his work on the subject. When I began to research dementia I was afraid of it; by the time I finished I was less afraid. he says. Id seen so many examples of bad practice, but I was also afraid because to lose your memory seems to mean you lose yourself. But I know even if I forget everything I know, I remain myself. And it helps to have the right people around you. Kerry Weber

important to keep holy the Sabbath day. But as a wife, writer, and mother of three, finding time to actually do so sometimes proved to be a challenge. As her children grew, Dana felt it was harder to find moments to be present with them, and found herself caught up in that harried experience of jamming

Improving millions of marriages...

one language at a time.

Readers call the teachings of Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the

#1 New York Times bestselling The 5 Love Languages ,

relevant, helpful, simple, effective ... and he brings this style to the highly anticipated Love Languages Devotional Bible.

MaryAnn McKibben Dana

Available October 1, 2012 Preorder today!

A Day of Rest
As a part-time pastor of Idylwood Presbyterian Church in Falls Church, Va., MaryAnn McKibben Dana knew it was

5lovelanguages.com
Hardcover, 978-0-8024-0853-2, $29.99 Soft Touch, 978-0-8024-0854-9, $39.99

W W W . P U B L I S H E R S W E E K L Y . C O M 13

Religion Update
Her efforts to achieve that are chronicled in the book Sabbath in the Suburbs: A Familys Experiment with Holy Time (Chalice, Sept.; reviewed in this issue). I wanted to take this on for myself and to look at, practically, what does it mean not to work on the Sabbath, Dana says. Especially when you have little kids who need to be entertained. For Danas family it meant reconsidering technology use, cutting back on errands, and doing a lot of planning. She began to see the Sabbath as more of a mindset than a day of the week. What Sabbath does is give us permission to do what we dont give ourselves permission to do the rest of the week, Dana says. We need to get rid of the separation between sacred activities and secular activities. The things we did on Sabbath became sacred for us. My husband brewed beer. This

| Profiles

ROBERT DANA

might seem heretical to some people, but it was really restorative for him. These days Danas schedule is beginning to fill up once again. She is leading workshops and speaking at various churches about the book. Shes also

working on a Web site that will offer inspiration and online coaching for families and individuals looking for support and accountability while they pursue a similar spiritual goal. Chalice also has produced a notepad that offers the option of creating a to-do or a to-dont list to help support readers efforts. Sabbath in the Suburbs will also be available in e-book format, and Dana is considering using Skype to join book group discussions. Dana still tries to make time for rest, even though refraining from e-mail and overlooking piles of laundry in the name of the Sabbath can be complicateda reality she tried to convey in the book. What I sought to do is to find those moments where it felt beautiful and effortless, and also the moments where I wanted to tear my hair out, and put all those together in a portrayal of how honest and awesome the Sabbath can be and how difficult it can be, she says. Kerry Weber n

14 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K L Y A U G U S T 2 7 , 2 0 1 2

Reviews

Religion Update
loving God and following Christ are to shape ones heart and choicesis forceful. This does restrict the audience for this book to evangelicals, but that is by design. The authors offer solid arguments for the dignity of living singly, a defense that shouldnt be necessary but is. This book is a must for evangelicals who come anywhere near to offering premarital counseling or young adult ministry. (Sept. 18)

Books in

Brief
When Your Parent Becomes Your Child: A Journey of Faith Through My Mothers Dementia
978-0-8499-4727-8

Ken Abraham. Thomas Nelson, $15.99 trade paper (256p) ISBN

Dementia is a painfully difficult condition to behold in a loved one and to live with, and families living with it continue to grow in number. Abraham, known for his collaborations with celebrity authors (One Soldiers Story with Bob Dole), tells his own familys story this time. Abrahams mother, Minnie, begins showing signs of dementia in her mid-80s, and family members slowly come to understand that something more than aging is affecting their matriarch. Abraham, a good storyteller, makes incidents of his familys journey come alive, and the book is immensely readable. Some readers might wish for a more clinical discussion of dementia that would include information about research. But Abraham has chosen to engage readers with a vivid account that many can relate to. He offers an honest message of sympathy, solidarity, and faith that can be used in trying circumstances. (Oct. 3)

precipitates recounting and reflecting by the Jeskes, both professional communicators; she is an author (Into the Mud: Inspiration for Everyday Activists), he the associate director of communications for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. They had lived and worked for years in Africa, and ended up in Wisconsin with two children, accomplished and socially conscious fish readjusting to swimming in a very big and different pond, and scorning American suburban life and its demands. The Jeskes write in a concrete and detailed way about recalibrating their earnestness so they can shop at Target without getting angry, about understanding lifeand-death occasions without exaggeration, about the frequently routine and humbling requirements of child rearing. This book speaks most clearly to 30-somethings starting families and loosening their grips on fierce ambitions; they may find the chapter-ending suggestions for awarenessbuilding activities genuinely helpful rather than obvious. (Oct. 7)

Sabbath in the Suburbs: A Familys Experiment with Holy Time

MaryAnn McKibben Dana. Chalice (Ingram, dist.), $19.99 trade paper (144p) ISBN 978-0-8272-3521-2
Dana, a Presbyterian pastor, brings a fresh voice and energy to the familiar topic of time management as understood by people who would describe themselves as either religious or spiritual but not religious: Sabbathkeeping. She writes from a perspective that many can relate to, that of a suburban mother of three who works part-time. Bringing the gift of self-awareness and irony, Dana notes that a four-minute difference in school bus rides ought not to prompt a letter-writing campaign from anxious parents. She also brings theological awareness of the historical practice and meaning of Sabbath-keeping. Dana writes in a distinct voice about making a traditional religious practice meaningful to contemporary families. Although some readers will appreciate how she articulates their experience and struggles, others will find nothing new on a topic that writers such as Wayne Muller and Judith Shulevitz have eloquently plumbed. (Sept. 30)

Altared: The True Story

of a She, a He, and How They Both Got Too Worked Up About We
Claire and Eli. WaterBrook, $14.99 trade paper (256p) ISBN 978-0-307-73073-2
Two young people who thought they might get married to each other because, since they are good young Christians, they were supposed to marry someone, offer a look at what happened when they didnt quite connect. The authors, pseudonymous to allow greater candor, meet after Eli, then a law student, sends Claire, a writer, an e-mail about an article she wrote. Their relationship develops, and they find that the expectations of evangelical Christian culture regarding marriage almost deform what grows between them. Theyre hard on clip-art versions of marital bliss. The two are honest and reflective, and their theological critique of what evangelical Christians understand as love and marriage in light of what Jesus said about lovethat

This Ordinary Adventure: Settling Down Without Settling

Christine Jeske and Adam Jeske. InterVarsity Press, $15 trade paper (208p) ISBN 978-08308-3787-8

My life is boring. This is the crisis statement that

What a Difference a Mom Makes: The Incredible Imprint a Mom Leaves on Her Sons Life
Kevin Leman. Revell, $17.99 (272p) ISBN
978-0-8007-2173-2
W W W . P U B L I S H E R S W E E K L Y . C O M 15

Religion Update
Leman (Have a New Kid by Friday) brings his distinctive voice and winning persona to his newest a ppreci ati o n and explanation of the singular relationship between mothers and sons, a relationship that has been differently understood by cultures over time, especially post-Freud. The psychologist and humorist brings a lighten-up sensibility to the subject of the mother-son relationship, understanding the testosterone-driven necessities of maleness, the hormonal imperatives of motherhood, and the sociocultural demands made on both mother and son. Leman has a gift for describing in sprightly, original, and disarming ways the common stages of psychological development of male children; he has listened well to both his clients and to research. Moms, and dads, would do well to heed his laid-back and authoritative observations, which are firm yet flexible. (Sept. 1)

| Reviews

generational curses that the Huches as charismatic Christians affirm can understand that addictive and abusive behavior can recur within families. The Huches are popular with their audience, which will welcome this book. (Aug.)

If Aristotles Kid Had an iPod: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Parents

Conor Gallagher. Saint Benedict Press, $26.95 (248p) ISBN 978-1-61890-414-0
Gallagher, v-p of Saint Benedict Press and executive producer of Catholic Courses, a series of educational programs on audio and video, also teaches philosophy. His book is an attempt to expand his audience and mission: to teach Aristotle to his readers and, more particularly, apply Aristotelian wisdom to parenting. Aristotle had a good deal to say about virtue and moral development, and Gallagher rightly structures his book around key topics the philosopher addressed extensively: virtue, friendship, and happiness. Gallagher works hard to translate the ancient philosophers wisdom into contemporary idiomat times too hard. Pop culture references form a steady rat-tat-tat in his exposition: Cesar Millan, Darth Vader, Frodo, The X Factor, Jerry Maguire. Some of those references seem a little datedself-improvement guru Tony Robbins?which is always a risk when drawing on transient popular culture. The result is at times gratingly breezy. Still, a little Aristotle never hurts. (Sept. 5)

out a systematic plan for mistake-proofing a relationship, which depends in part on something simple but frequently overlooked: dont be in a hurry. He also advocates a second, equally sensible practice: consider the alternatives, that is, date someone else. The comparison shopping and extended dating approaches are rational ways for singles to conduct themselves to avoid incompatibility, error, and heartbreak; indeed, they seem a little too reasonable for matters of the errant, hopeful hearts that beat in those who date. Certainly, Arterburn offers advice drawn from hard real life; a chapter on red flags to avoid can save people heartaches. But the book is marked more by confident speech than real-life examples that illustrate the wisdom of his advice. Arterburn also asserts that the frequently cited statistic that half of all marriages end in divorce is urban myth. Yet he offers little support beyond this assertion. (Apr.)

Childrens Religion
The Shema in the Mezuzah: Listening to Each Other
Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, illus. by Joani Keller Rothenberg. Jewish Lights, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-58023-506-8
Sasso, a rabbi and author (Gods Paintbrush), uses a 12th-century rabbinic tale to teach a simple point about listening and compromise. Two groups of people bring their argument to a rabbi, asking him whether the mezuzah, an artifact to hold a prayer scroll that is to be affixed to a houses doorpost, should be attached horizontally or vertically. The rabbi settles the argument by listening to both sides, in keeping with the practice of listening that the Shemathe prayer in the mezuzah counsels. Sassos tale characteristically harmonizes simplicity and Jewish tradition. Rothenbergs rich blues and greens and broad strokes are zesty and Chagallesque. A lovely book; would that todays shouters could take its wisdom to heart. Ages 36. (Aug. 23) n

Releasing Family Blessings: Gods Plan for Your Marriage and Your Children
Larry and Tiz Huch. Whitaker House, $14.99 trade paper (224p) ISBN 978-160374-554-3

The Huches lead DFW New Beginnings Church, a nondenominational church in the Dallas area. They are also the parents of three adult children, who, in a sweet foreword to the book, provide enthusiastic comments about how they were raised. The Huches write based on the experience of their marriageand its imperfections and those of others they have pastorally counseled. The authors alternate their perspectives, clearly labeled as he said and she said. The tone is pleasantly humble, even if none of the advice is earthshakingly novel. What is distinctive, and commendable, is Larry Huchs attempt to draw on the Jewish roots of Christianity in a practical way. Those Christians who may be skeptical of the reality of

Is This the One? Insightful Dates for Finding the Love of Your Life
Stephen Arterburn. Zondervan, $19.99 (240p) ISBN 978-0-310-32614-4
Christian counselor and broadcaster Arterburn (Every Mans Battle) is a trusted source of advice about relationships. He lays

16 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K L Y A U G U S T 2 7 , 2 0 1 1

Also Available:

Unabridged / 3 CDs / 978-1-4692-2557-9 / $24.99 Unabridged / 1 MP3-CD / 978-1-4692-2560-9 / $19.99 ON SALE SEPTEMBER 11 Read by Wayne Shepherd

Unabridged / 5 CDs 978-1-4558-9802-2 / $14.99 Unabridged / 1 MP3-CD 978-1-4558-9804-6 / $14.99 ON SALE SEPTEMBER 4 Read by Jamar Jakes

Unabridged / 8 CDs 978-1-4692-2545-6 / $24.99 Unabridged / 1 MP3-CD 978-1-4692-2546-3 / $19.99 ON SALE OCTOBER 9 Read by Tom Parks

Unabridged / 2 CDs 978-1-4692-5216-2 / $19.99 Unabridged / 1 MP3-CD 978-1-4692-5217-9 / $14.99 ON SALE NOVEMBER 13 Read by the Author

Unabridged / 3 CDs 978-1-4692-5776-1 / $19.99 Unabridged / 1 MP3-CD 978-1-4692-5778-5 / $14.99 ON SALE DECEMBER 4

Unabridged / 5 CDs 978-1-4692-0778-0 / $19.99 Unabridged / 1 MP3-CD 978-1-4692-0780-3 / $19.99 ON SALE OCTOBER 16 Read by the Author

FAITH-BASED FICTION:

Audiobooks Releasing Simultaneous with the Print Book!

Unabridged / 13 CDs 978-1-4692-1399-6 / $19.99 Unabridged / 1 MP3-CD 978-1-4692-1402-3 / $19.99 ON SALE OCTOBER 2 Read by David deVries

Unabridged / 10 CDs 978-1-4692-1371-2 / $19.99 Unabridged / 1 MP3-CD 978-1-4692-1374-3 / $14.99 ON SALE SEPTEMBER 1 Read by Julia Whelan

Unabridged / 8 CDs 978-1-4692-2648-4 / $14.99 Unabridged / 1 MP3-CD 978-1-4692-2651-4 / $14.99 ON SALE SEPTEMBER 1 Read by Renee Raudman

Unabridged / 6 CDs 978-1-4692-2654-5 / $14.99 Unabridged / 1 MP3-CD 978-1-4692-2656-9 / $14.99 ON SALE SEPTEMBER 1 Read by Rachel Hendrix

Unabridged / 5 CDs 978-1-4692-3025-2 / $14.99 Unabridged / 1 MP3-CD 978-1-4692-3027-6 / $14.99 ON SALE SEPTEMBER 1 Read by Shannon McManus

1-800-648-2312

BrillianceAudio

Find all of our titles online: www.brillianceaudio.com

AUDIOBOOKS FOR EVERYONE. Go Discover.

Choose Browse by Title to select the faith-based genres you are looking for.

2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc. All rights reserved. Brilliance Audio is a trademark of Brilliance Audio, Inc.

New from Bethany House! BethanyHouse! Stock Up on Bestselling Authors This Spring

From a rising star in the romantic suspense genre comes the second book of this bestselling seriesideal for fans of Dee Henderson and Irene Hannon.
Shattered by Dani Pettrey Alaskan Courage #2 Trade Paper; $14.99; 978-0-7642-0983-3 Ebook; $14.99; 978-1-4412-6105-2

Action, romance, humor and cowboys!abound in the launch of a new historical series from bestselling author Mary Connealy.
Swept Away by Mary Connealy Trouble in Texas #1 Trade Paper; $14.99; 978-0-7642-0914-7 Ebook; $14.99; 978-1-4412-6110-6

A stirring conclusion to another bestselling historical series from one of the most beloved authors in the CBA market.
A Place to Belong by Lauraine Snelling Wild West Wind #3 Trade Paper; $14.99; 978-0-7642-0417-3 Hardcover; $19.99; 978-0-7642-1078-5 Large Print; $17.99; 978-0-7642-1079-2 Ebook; $14.99; 978-1-4412-6107-6

A World War II story of hope and love from bestselling author Kim Vogel Sawyer.
Sweet Sanctuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer Trade Paper; $14.99; 978-0-7642-0789-1 Ebook; $14.99; 978-1-4412-6097-0

AvAilAble April 2013

AvAilAble FebruAry 2013

AvAilAble MArch 2012

AvAilAble April 2013

A Division of Baker Publishing Group bethanyhouse.com Available from your sales rep or call Bethany House at (800) 877-2665. In Canada, contact David C. Cook Distribution 1-800-263-2664. For available rights information, please contact Marilyn Gordon at mgordon@bakerbooks.com.