Strategic Partnership Forms Thomas Nelson’s Entry into Self-Publishing

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 13, 2009) – Thomas Nelson, the world’s leading Christian publisher, announced Tuesday it is partnering with the world’s leading self-publishing company, Author Solutions, Inc. (ASI), to launch WestBow Press—a Christian self-publishing imprint. The alliance will allow authors to benefit from the market leadership of Thomas Nelson, while taking advantage of ASI’s technology and services that make publishing easy, affordable, and available to anyone.

Long regarded as an industry innovator, Nelson’s creation of WestBow Press provides new and emerging authors the opportunity to publish with the global leader in Christian publishing. Thomas Nelson will monitor WestBow Press titles for the purpose of entering into a traditional publishing contracts for those that perform well. READ MORE »

NASHVILLE, TENN–The Christian publishing industry lost a colleague and friend when Laura Kendall, long time editor for Word Publishing and Thomas Nelson, died this week in Nashville, Tennessee.  Laura had retired from Thomas Nelson in 2005, after two decades of editing books by bestselling Christian authors including Max Lucado, Billy Graham, Ruth Bell Graham, Anne Graham Lotz, Charles Swindoll, Barbara Johnson and Tony Campolo.  She was still providing freelance editorial services and consultation from her home in Nashville until last week.  Laura fought a brief battle with pneumonia and went to be with her Lord on September 2.  She is survived by two nieces and two nephews and many who counted Laura as a spiritual sister and devoted friend. READ MORE »

(Nashville, Tenn.) Thomas Nelson, Inc. announced today that the company has the largest Christian Retail market share percentage, over 20%, of the Christian Fiction Category according to the PubTrack’s Quarterly Category Analysis report for the first and second Quarters of 2009. The report ranks the Christian retail sales of more than 200 publishers competing in this growing category.

Thomas Nelson’s Fiction Division launched in January 2004 under the leadership of Allen Arnold, Senior Vice President and Publisher. The division has grown by leaps and bounds, but its goal remains the same: to reach the broadest possible audience with the best possible stories – always written from a Christian worldview. READ MORE »

(Nashville, Tenn.) Thomas Nelson, Inc. announced today the launch of a multi-faceted social media campaign to coincide with the release of Max Lucado’s new book, Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear. The company is utilizing the influence of its online “friends” and “followers” to help spread the world about this important release.

On Monday, August 10 at 10 a.m., Michael Hyatt kicked off the campaign on his blog, http://michaelhyatt.com/, with a video book review and a unique offer. He offered the first chapter of Fearless for anyone to download or share. He gave the first hundred commenters a free copy of the book with no strings attached. Lastly, he made available a thousand copies for bloggers through Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers program. READ MORE »

(Nashville, Tenn.) Thomas Nelson, Inc. announced today that during the quarter ending June 30 the company saw significant growth in its sales to general market bookstores. In total the net revenue of the general market bookstore accounts grew 149% over the same period last year.  The company defines general market bookstores as those, whether chains or independents, that sell more than explicitly Christian products.

“With all the negative economic news, it is extremely encouraging to see this kind of momentum,” stated Sally Hofmann, Senior Vice President of General Market Sales for Thomas Nelson. “We are finding that in tough times, readers are predominantly looking for books that do two things; they are looking for non-fiction that helps answer uncertainty and provides comfort and for fiction that provides a sense of escapism.” READ MORE »