Dramatic Audio Bible Takes Home Top Prize From ECPA

(Nashville, Tenn.) Thomas Nelson, Inc. is pleased to announce that The Word of Promise™ New Testament Audio Bible has been awarded “Christian Book of the Year” by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s (ECPA) 2008 Christian Book Awards. Wayne Hastings, Senior Vice President and Group Publisher for Thomas Nelson, Inc.’s Bible Group, accepted the award at a celebration ceremony Sunday night during the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in Orlando, Fla.

The “Christian Book of the Year” award recognizes excellence and impact in Christian publishing. This prestigious honor is based on quality and excellence as judged by the Christian Book Award finalists, while including a sales component to represent the impact of the book on consumers. Out of 230 entries from 35 Christian publishers, The Word of Promise™ New Testament Audio Bible was chosen from the 32 top-scoring Christian Book Award finalists that represent the highest quality and greatest impact for 2008.

“The amazing thing is that it is the first time in the 30-year history of the award that it went to a non-book. First, it’s audio rather than print. Second, it’s a Bible rather than a book,” commented Michael Hyatt, President & CEO of Thomas Nelson, Inc. “This is a break-through in every sense of that word. I am so proud of our whole Bible team. ”

The Word of Promise™ New Testament Audio Bible is a scripted dramatization of the New King James Version (NKJV) of the New Testament presented in a compelling, dramatic audio theater format. The project features the talents of actors such as Jim Caviezel (“The Passion of the Christ,”), Michael York (“Romeo & Juliet,” “Austin Powers”), Golden Globe winner Stacy Keach (“Prison Break,” “Hemingway”), Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Lou Gossett, Jr. (“An Officer and a Gentleman,” “Roots”), Ernie Hudson (“Ghostbusters,” “Miss Congeniality”), and Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei. Complete with production by AFTRA Award winner Carl Amari, an original music score by prolific Italian composer Stefano Mainetti (Abba Pater & The Shooter), and movie-quality sound effects produced, engineered, and mixed at Cerny American Creative in Chicago—an award-winning facility ranked in the Top 3 in the nation for sound design headed by the acclaimed director JoBe Cerny. The Word of Promise™ New Testament Audio Bible is currently available in a 20-CD set and an MP3 version of the audio Bible is scheduled to release September 30, 2008. A youth edition is also slated for October featuring the talents of Sean Astin (“Lord of the Rings”), Corbin Bleu (“High School Musical”), and Emily Osmet (“Hannah Montana”).

In the midst of the ECPA “Christian Book of the Year” recognition, The Word of Promise™ New Testament Audio Bible also tied for first place in the Books/Bibles “Audio” category for Christian Retailing’s Retailers Choice Awards announced today. Retailers judged 245 nominees in 31 categories this year on the impact they have had on store staff and customers, including their ability to speak to hearts and evoke emotion, open minds to new ways of thinking and encourage and affirm Christ-like living.

The audio Bible most-recently received highest honors garnering Award of Excellence Gold Communicator statuettes in the “Inspirational” and “Sound Design” production categories in the Communicator Awards. The project’s original music score was also bestowed an Award of Distinction Silver Communicator statuette in the “Music” category for exceeding industry standards in quality and achievement. It took home a Platinum Award in the “Radio” category in the 2007 MarCom Creative Awards, as well as finalist recognition from The Audies® and ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Awards.

The Christian Book Awards, established in 1978 as the Gold Medallion Book Awards by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, recognize the absolute highest quality in Christian books. Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design, and significance of contribution, the Christian Book Awards are the oldest and among the most prestigious in the religious publishing industry. For more information, go to ecpa.org.

Thomas Nelson, Inc. is a leading provider of Bibles, products, and live events emphasizing Christian, inspirational and family values themes. For more information on The Word of Promise™ New Testament Audio Bible, the companion The Word of Promise™ Inspiration for Today audio devotionals, and the upcoming line offerings 40 Days with The Word of Promise™ curriculum, The Word of Promise™ New Testament MP3 Audio Bible, The Word of Promise™ Gift of Psalms, the scripted NKJV New Testament, and the youth edition audio Bible, as well as the company’s other titles visit thomasnelson.com or nelsonbibles.com.

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The Word of Promise™ New Testament Audio Bible
ISBN: 0718024249/ List Price: $49.99/ Available Now / Thomas Nelson, Inc.
20 unabridged CDs in a portable zipper case, plus a behind-the-scenes DVD.
The Word of Promise™ New Testament MP3 Audio Bible
ISBN: 9781418534363 / $34.99 / Pub Date: 9/30/08 / Thomas Nelson, Inc.
40 Days with The Word of Promise™ curriculum DVD Kit
ISBN: 9781418534189 / $39.99 Participant’s Guide ISBN: 9781418534196/ $9.99 / Pub Date: 8/5/08 / Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Contact: Brenda Smotherman
Publicist
tel: (615) 902-2231
fax: (615) 902-1132
email: bsmotherman@thomasnelson.com
online press kit: http://www.thomasnelson.com/wop

This entry was posted on Monday, July 14th, 2008 at 12:45 pm and is filed under Awards, Bibles and Reference, Corporate Releases. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.