Released early today from HarperCollins Publishers

NEW YORK, NY (October 31, 2011) – HarperCollins Publishers today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Thomas Nelson, Inc. for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of the calendar year, is subject to regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions.

Thomas Nelson is one of the leading trade publishers in the United States.  The Company provides multiple forms of inspirational content including: books, Bibles, e-books, journals, audio, video, curriculum and digital applications available for download on “smart” electronic devices. It has published some of the bestselling books in the industry, including the current #1 bestseller Heaven Is For Real, and the books of many popular authors, such as Billy Graham, Max Lucado, and Dave Ramsey.

“Founded in 1798 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Thomas Nelson shares a long and rich heritage with both New York’s Harper Brothers and Scotland’s William Collins & Sons. It is thus with great pleasure that I look forward to welcoming Thomas Nelson to the HarperCollins family,” said Brian Murray, President and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers Worldwide.  “HarperCollins’ global print and digital publishing platform, which includes e-book distribution into more than 175 markets, Print-on-Demand, Digital-to-Print at Retail, and worldwide marketing reach provides an opportunity to further expand the readership of Thomas Nelson’s distinguished authors.”

“Additionally, Thomas Nelson adds further balance to our existing publishing programs. Its broad inspirational appeal is a good complement to Zondervan, which will continue to publish books consistent with its mission,” added Murray.

“We are excited to be joining HarperCollins Publishers,” said Mark Schoenwald, President and CEO of Thomas Nelson. “We believe this transaction represents an attractive strategic fit for our company. With HarperCollins’ resources and capabilities to draw on, we will capitalize on the many opportunities in this rapidly changing world of publishing.”  Thomas Nelson’s financial advisor was Peter J. Solomon Company and legal  counsel was Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.

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About HarperCollins Publishers
HarperCollins, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world, is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups around the world including the HarperCollins General Books Group, HarperCollins Children’s Books Group, Zondervan, HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Australia/New Zealand and HarperCollins India. HarperCollins is a broad-based publisher with strengths in literary and commercial fiction, business books, children’s books, cookbooks, mystery, romance, reference, religious and spiritual books. With nearly 200 years of history HarperCollins has published some of the world’s foremost authors and has won numerous awards including the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, the Newbery Medal and the Caldecott. Consistently at the forefront of innovation and technological advancement HarperCollins is the first publisher to digitize its content and create a global digital warehouse to protect the rights of its authors, meet consumer demand and generate additional business opportunities. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers on the Internet at http://www.harpercollins.com. 

About Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Thomas Nelson, Inc., headquartered in Nashville, TN, is one of the leading trade publishers in the United States.  The Company is the world’s leading provider of Bibles, inspirational books and digital content, with product distribution in over 100 countries.   Live Event Management, Inc., a Thomas Nelson company, is a national leading producer of live events.  For more information, please visit www.thomasnelson.com. 

Contact:     Casey Francis

Pick up the Bible That Won’t Let You Put It Down

Nashville, Tenn. – It was 407 years ago that King James of England gathered 54 of the best biblical scholars and linguists of the day to create a new translation of the Bible.  It was 7 years ago that Thomas Nelson gathered more than 100 of the best biblical scholars and linguists of today to create a new translation of the Bible.  The King James Bible was completed in 1611; The Voice was completed in 2011.

Thomas Nelson released The Voice New Testament on Oct. 1. The full Bible is at the printers, due to be released in March 2012.  “Creating a new translation is unbelievably complicated and difficult,” says Gary Davidson, Thomas Nelson Vice-President and Bible Group Publisher. “Every translation of every word from the original Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic needed to be checked and rechecked. After the artists and authors wrote their verses, it was all checked again. Whether 1611 or 2011, the process is much the same.”

The original biblical verses were written by more than 40 different human authors – scholars, pastors, writers, poets and songwriters. The Voice recreates that, also using writers, poets and songwriters as well as pastors and scholars. It gives back the poetry and drama of the original writings that have been homogenized out through the centuries.

“We spent days negotiating the words,” says David Capes, Thomas Nelson Research Professor at Houston Baptist University. “These texts, some are 2,000 or 3,000 years old. We (the scholars) needed the writers to help us get the grit. The Bible is not rated PG. There are unsavory characters doing unsavory things. But we believe these are our spiritual ancestors. When I read about David, I know I am his kind.”

The King James Version was meant to be read aloud to a people who often couldn’t read. The Voice, too, is meant to be read aloud, to a people who are looking for a new way to learn God’s Word – to a people who have become, according to many, biblically illiterate. The Voice will entice readers; they will read chapters and books without realizing it’s been an hour, or two, or three.

“It was as though Matthew was speaking to me,” says Steve Decker, professor at Middle Tennessee State University, with a degree in secondary education from Tennessee Technological University and a Master’s of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, talking about The Voice. “Before I knew it I was into Mark and it was a different voice. It was as though they were talking to me in person.

“It was an unparalleled experience. It’s a bit like getting a high-definition television – the clarity of it. It’s a unique way to experience God. It’s been said that the Word of God is like a lion – you just open the cage and let it out and it can take care of itself.  In The Voice, you’ve let the lion out.”

Why “The Voice?”

The Voice, the very God through whom all was created, is called logos in Greek and has been translated as the “Word,” but truly is the expression of God: the logic, the verbalization, the speaking, the Voice. John tells us it is this Voice who creates the heavens and earth. God Speaks and worlds are born. As Genesis tells it, the cosmos begins and is shaped by God’s Voice. John could not agree more, but his unique insight comes as he identifies Jesus as that Expression or Voice.” – commentary found in The Voice New Testament

“While the ancient term logos does mean the Word, there is much more held in that expression than what we, in our time, immediately think of,” says Frank Couch, The Voice editor and Thomas Nelson Vice President for Translation Development. “In ancient Greek it literally meant the expression of an idea. The concept and the fullness of its expression is the point here and not the unique arrangement of letters.”

Hence The Voice – God is always speaking to us, vibrant and alive in the here and now.

“You will hear God as He whispers His love to you.” – Chris Seay, President Ecclesia Bible Society and scholar involved in The Voice translation

Chris Seay was the original driving force behind the translation. For many years as a pastor in Houston, he wished for a Bible translation that would be easy to understand and could be acted out by those wanting to better understand God’s Word. A friend finally said to him that maybe he was the one to make this happen. Thomas Nelson came on board with the idea, and seven years later a new force has been born, a force to spread God’s Word in a new generation in a new way.

“Our culture has changed, the times have changed,” Couch says. “This is a fresh expression of the passion, humor, grit and beauty of Scripture. It allows readers to see themselves in the story. It lets the truth and wisdom of Scripture come through.”

Visit The Voice on Facebook; visit www.HearTheVoice.com and follow The Voice on Twitter @HearTheVoice – pre-release verses are being posted frequently.                                                                                

Thomas Nelson, Inc. is the world’s largest Christian publisher.  The Company provides multiple formats of Bibles, inspirational books and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Live Event Management, Inc., a Thomas Nelson company, is the nation’s leading producer of Christian live events.   Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information, please visit www.thomasnelson.com. 

Available for interviews:

Frank Couch, The Voice editor and Thomas Nelson Vice President for Translation Development

Chris Seay, President Ecclesia Bible Society and scholar involved in The Voice translation

David Capes, Thomas Nelson Research Professor at Houston Baptist University

Gary Davidson, Thomas Nelson Vice-President and Bible Group Publisher

Other scholars and writers as schedule permits

(Nashville, TN) Thomas Nelson Fiction is pleased to congratulate author Beth Wiseman on her 2011 Carol Award win for her novel “Plain Paradise”.

“Beth Wiseman is a dream author. As a debut novelist in 2008, she immediately skyrocketed to the bestseller list, has quickly become a top-selling voice in her genre, and is now expanding her brand to write both Amish and Romance novels. Most of all, she’s  a genuine friend and true joy to work with. We couldn’t be more happy for this major recognition of Beth’s writing,” said Allen Arnold, Sr. VP and Publisher, Thomas Nelson Fiction.

Wiseman, of Fayetteville, TX, accepted her award with a tearful word about the poignancy of the honor and her personal connections to this novel.  “Plain Paradise” deals with an adoption—a woman who was given up at birth and her journey to discover the identity of her biological mother.  Wiseman, too, reconnected with her birth mother, and hears regularly from readers who’ve been touched by “Plain Paradise” and write to share their own adoption stories.

The Carol Awards are the American Christian Fiction Writers’ recognition for the best Christian fiction published by traditional publishing houses in the previous calendar year.  Winners are announced at ACFW’s annual convention, where this year nearly 700 authors and industry professionals attended the awards gala.  Boasting more than 2400 members worldwide, ACFW serves to promote Christian Fiction through developing the skills of its authors, educating them in the market, and serving as an advocate in the traditional publishing industry.

Wiseman’s latest release is “The Wonder of Your Love” (October 2011), an Amish novel set in Colorado, following the real-life migration of Amish communities to the area.  Her spring 2012 release, “Need You Now” is a contemporary romance set in Beth’s home state of Texas.

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Thomas Nelson, Inc. is the world’s largest Christian publisher and one of the largest trade publishers in the United States.  Originally founded in Scotland, 1798, Thomas Nelson’s Corporate Office is located in Nashville, TN, with its Live Events division, the nation’s leading producer of Christian live events, in Plano, TX.  The Company provides multiple forms of inspirational content including:  Bibles, books, eBooks, journals, audio, video, curriculum and digital applications available for download on “smart” electronic devices.  The Company publishes products through its Thomas Nelson, Tommy Nelson, and Grupo Nelson brand names.  The Company’s self-publishing division, WestBow Press, allows new authors a speed-to-market advantage while also benefitting from Thomas Nelson’s publishing heritage.  Thomas Nelson, Inc. continues to inspire the world, with distribution of products in more than 100 countries.  For more information on the Company, please visit www.thomasnelson.com.