Stanley’s Newest Book, In Step With God: Understanding His Ways and Plans for Your Life, Says Knowing & Trusting God’s Character is the Key to Making Decisions

(Nashville, Tenn.) What is God like?  If He wants His best for my life, why do I experience such difficult circumstances sometimes?  Is it really possible to know Him?  In his new book, In Step With God: Understanding His Ways and Plans for Your Life (Thomas Nelson, Inc., October 2008), New York Times best-selling author and pastor Charles Stanley encourages Christians—both new and seasoned in their faith—that knowing and trusting the character of God is the only way to have peace in every circumstance. READ MORE »

(Nashville, TN) Two Thomas Nelson titles and their authors were named 2008 Christy Award winners at the ninth annual dinner and presentation held Saturday evening, July 12, 2008, at the Orlando Rosen Centre. The Christy Awards honor the best in Christian fiction in nine categories.

Stephen R. Lawhead was named winner of the Visionary category with Scarlet, Book 2 in The King Raven Trilogy. Lawhead lives in Oxford, England, and sent his gratitude through Jennifer Deshler, Director of Marketing, who was present to accept the award: “Thank you very much for this honour. I would like to express my appreciation to the fiction team at Thomas Nelson for their enthusiasm and support of my work. I think it is also customary at this point to thank ‘all the little people’ who made this possible, which in my case would include elves, dwarves, and assorted pixies and sprites. Thanks, guys: I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Charles Martin’s Chasing Fireflies was named the winning Contemporary Stand Alone title. “I was grateful just to be nominated,” commented Martin. “My wife’s mother read Catherine Marshall’s Christy in 1971. My wife was born a month later. Her mother named her ‘Christy.’ My story is not mine. It’s ours. She deserves it far more than I.” READ MORE »

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. READ MORE »

Latest Project, 3:16—The Numbers of Hope, Sells 3.7 Million Brand Units

(Nashville, Tenn.) Max Lucado, best-selling author and pastor, has signed a three-book contract with Thomas Nelson, Inc. The first of three adult trade titles will release in 2009. Thomas Nelson currently publishes 23 out of Lucado’s 24 adult trade books.

Max Lucado is pleased to continue partnering with his long-time publisher: “Teaming up with Thomas Nelson brings me such joy and excitement,” said Lucado. “It is an honor to partner with such an outstanding publishing house.” When asked what he specifically values about Nelson, Max added, “They epitomize integrity, quality, and creativity. I’m thrilled about our future together.” READ MORE »

Felt-Need Categories To Transmit To Bookstore Manager and IBID/IRT Users

(Nashville, Tenn.) Thomas Nelson, Inc.’s Bible Group has announced that they are partnering with the management groups for the Bookstore Manager and IBID/IRT inventory systems, to provide their users with updated content on Felt Needs categorization for Bible products produced by all publishing houses. They have developed a database of products using data available through PubTracks for titles, BISAC codes, and publishing houses and have assigned each title to a felt need category. The publisher anticipates that retailers who utilize the point-of-sale systems will be receiving their transmission in late-July/early-August.

Retail partners utilizing the Felt Needs Bible Merchandising System who don’t subscribe to either of the inventory systems will be mailed an update for use in their stores. Also, to ensure that the information is kept current for all retailers, Thomas Nelson plans to provide these updates twice a year.

The Bookstore Manager and IBID/IRT system updates are just another step in the publisher’s efforts to assist retail partners in addressing the needs of their customers using need-based merchandising. The overall goal of the publisher-neutral Felt Needs Bible Merchandising System developed by Thomas Nelson is to help simplify the shopping experience by enabling consumers to quickly find a Bible, using simple color-coded need-based signage and a clearly-defined shopping guide categorized by customer need. In addition to an easier purchasing experience for consumers, the new merchandising system also allows for greater flexibility in cross merchandising opportunities for stores and doesn’t require a change in inventory. The system officially launched in early 2007, and continues to positively impact overall Bible sales.

“In the last two quarters of 2007, when we implemented the Felt Needs Bible Merchandising System, our Bible sales increased 17% over the same period in 2006,” noted Ken Summerlin of Crossroads Books & Gifts in Mobile, AL. The Felt-Needs Bible Merchandising system continues to push our improvement in Bible sales, as so far in 2008 our Bible sales are up 12.5%.”

Contact: Brenda Smotherman
Publicist
tel: (615) 902-2231
fax: (615) 902-1132
email: bsmotherman@thomasnelson.com