Together with acclaimed Christian fiction novelist Kathryn Cushman, Walsh has developed a fictional trilogy about one woman’s growing awareness of the presence of angels. The romantic series will highlight the protagonist’s transforming encounter with God’s truth and grace.

Recently named the #1 Christian Fiction Publisher for the first half of 2009,* Thomas Nelson is focusing its efforts on continuing to grow its fiction roster and publish books that appeal to readers through a fresh approach to spirituality and how Scripture impacts human lives.

“Given the current climate of interest in stories featuring interaction between human beings and the supernatural, we believe the time is right for a fiction series about encounters with angels—a series grounded in Scripture and co-authored by two incredibly talented authors,” said Allen Arnold, Sr. Vice President and Publisher of Fiction.

The first novel in the series is slated for publication in August 2010.

“I find myself at the beginning of a whole new adventure as I take my first step into the world of fiction,” said Walsh. “God placed a desire in my heart some time ago to study the ministry of angels in the lives of believers and in God’s plan of redemption. It has been a life-changing quest. I am very excited to be working with the award-winning fiction team at Thomas Nelson whose passion and clear vision have given wings to this dream.”

Walsh is the author of bestselling and award-winning titles like The Heartache No One Sees, Get off Your Knees & Pray, the Gigi, God’s Little Princess series, and her latest, Let Go: Live Free of the Burdens All Women Know.  The 2009 Women of Faith tour will bring her exposure in 30 cities. She co-hosted television’s “The 700 Club” and her own talk show “Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh” on the Family Channel. Walsh is currently earning her Masters in Theology.

Cushman’s novels—A Promise to Remember and Waiting for Daybreak (Bethany House, 2007 and 2008)—are commercial successes that have been described as “writing in the style of Karen Kingsbury and Jodi Picoult.” Her third novel, Leaving Yesterday, will release in October 2009.

Contact: Katie Bond, Publicist

*According to PubTrack Quarterly Category Analysis Reports for January – June, 2009, published by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.

(Nashville, Tenn.) Some girls get their Daddy’s curly hair, his love for the golf course, or his cravings for peanut butter ice cream. Jenna Lucado inherited something a little different from her father—the ability to communicate well and simply in a way that moves people. Jenna’s dad, Max Lucado, instilled in Jenna very early a love for storytelling and inspiring others. Now she speaks to thousands of teenage girls every weekend on the Revolve Tour. Along the way she’s picked up on what really matters in the lives of these girls. In her new book, Redefining Beautiful (9781400314287, $12.99, September 2009), Jenna tackles an issue that is important to her, and, with the help of her Dad, unpacks it for the audience she loves.

Jenna creates a conversational “girl-time” atmosphere to bring a fresh perspective on what girls need to live a life of peace, joy, and confidence—to feel truly beautiful. She unpacks the struggle all girls have to look and feel put together and to create a signature style everyone will admire. Underneath all of the accessories and make up, however, teenage girls are wearing layers of insecurity, fear, and misperception of themselves. Jenna tackles these issues and takes readers on a cleaning spree of their emotional closets:“Let’s get rid of all the bad stuff that is preventing us from having a fresh look—a look that radiates joy, a look that speaks confidence and a look that says, ‘I am beautifully and wonderfully made,’” she says.

Jenna reveals life accessories that are essential, and which single accessory is a real must-have to give teens a look they love—a look that says they are comfortable with who they are and secure and confident. What is this crucial, often-overlooked accessory? Love from a father. But what happens when there is no loving father in sight, no daddy to tell them they are beautiful?

“When your earthly father fails you,” Jenna says, “your heavenly father finds you.” She reveals that when we look to God as our Father, He can change our focus, our look, and our lives. With affirmation from Max, Redefining Beautiful will change the way girls look at God, themselves, and the people around them.

Daughter of best-selling author Max Lucado, Jenna Lucado has realized that she has a passion for writing and speaking just like her dad. She is currently a part of the Revolve Tour, an event for teen girls that includes a Christian artists like Natalie Grant, Chad Eastham and many more. Max Lucado, Minister of Writing and Preaching for the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, is the husband of Denalyn and father of Jenna, Andrea, and Sara. On a good week he reads a good book, has a few dinners with his wife, and breaks 90 on the golf course. He usually settles for the first two.

Contact: Jacklyn Johnston
Publicist
Tel: (615) 902-1722
Email: jjohnston@thomasnelson.com

(Nashville, Tenn.) – It’s a classic scene: Boy meets Girl. Boy wonders what in the world Girl is talking about and how he will ever keep up. Girl wonders what is wrong with Boy and whether they are even of the same species. Both Boy and Girl struggle through their teenage years helplessly lost as to how the other operates. All seems lost. In a pivotal time of their development and social lives, teens are left to try and understand one another without much guidance.

Enter, Guys Are Waffles, Girls Are Spaghetti (ISBN: 9781400315161, $12.99, Sept. 2009)—every teen’s guide to figuring out the opposite sex while understanding and delighting in our unique differences. The purpose of this book is to help better understand themselves as well those from the “alien gender”. Author Chad Eastham is a popular speaker on the annual Revolve Tour which reaches 125,000 girls a year. Chad brings his on-stage humor and personality to life on the page with the help of popular authors Bill and Pam Farrel. Together they use principles from the Farrels’ best-selling book on marriage, Men are Like Waffles, Women are Like Spaghetti, and translate them to teen relationships from friendships to dating.

The message is simple. It is possible to have healthy relationships with the opposite sex if you let gender differences work for, and not against, you. The biggest difference is in the way guys and girls think. A guy’s brain is segmented into compartments, like the trademark grid of a waffle: they keep their lives compartmentalized in boxes. Girls’ brains, on the other hand, are more like the jumbled, tangled noodles of a handful of spaghetti: everything in their life is connected to everything else.

Waffles and Spaghetti makes sense of everything about how guys and girls relate. Subjects include brain development, conflict, body language, social habits, differences in emotions, and relationship building skills.  Loaded with humor and fun examples, this is a great way for teens to learn about healthy relationships with the opposite sex. Chad is also releasing a DVD in September, Chad Eastham: Live (978-1-4003-1554-3, $14.99), that will include footage of his “Waffles and Spaghetti” message while on the Revolve Tour.

Popular teen speaker Chad Eastham reaches about 125,000 teenage girls each year on the Revolve Tour. Former drug and alcohol dependency counselor, Chad is now Assistant Director at Healthy Visions, a research and education agency for teens. Chad has also already written an award-winning health curriculum and two books for teens.

Best-selling authors of over 25 books including Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti, Bill and Pam Farrel are co-founders and directors of Farrel Communications, an organization that brings practical insights to personal relationships.

Contact: Jacklyn Johnston
Publicist
Tel: (615) 902-1722
Email: jjohnston@thomasnelson.com

GRAMMY WINNER STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, GRAMMY NOMINEE & “AMERICAN IDOL” FINALIST MANDISA, LISA WHELCHEL FROM TV’S “FACTS OF LIFE” & POWERFUL LINE-UP SPEAK, PERFORM & ENCOURAGE

With families across the nation struggling, facing economic hard times and dealing with over 2.6 Million job losses in 2008 and record home foreclosures which skyrocketed 81% in 2008 (1 in every 54 housing units in the U.S.), women are under more pressure than ever before. With the weight of the world on their shoulders they are being stretched to make ends meet to keep a roof over their families’ heads as they juggle jobs and children.   In these challenging times, they are turning to the Nation’s Largest Live Event for Women, which has attracted more than 4 Million women from across the country and which focuses on providing women with hope and inspiration.

Women of Faith’s 2009 Tour A GRAND NEW DAY will head to 28 cities across the U.S. At each event, thousands of women will gather in arenas for a much-needed opportunity to bond, connect and be inspired as a diverse array of musical artists, authors, and performers take the stage in a weekend designed to offer them renewed strength and hope as they forge ahead.

The Women of Faith event will bring together thousands of women in the nation’s largest scale female bonding and friendship experience connecting women from all walks of life in a deep and meaningful way – focused on helping them thrive in the face of the real, shared challenges they confront every day.

Independent studies by Harvard Medical School and UCLA both confirm that women who have more female friends in whom they can confide are less likely to develop health problems as they age, take less time to recover from trauma, and lower their risk of early death.  According to Harvard Medical School, not having close friends (or confidantes), could be as detrimental to a woman’s health as smoking or obesity. Numerous experts recommend female bonding as a stress reducer – essential in this Recession when women are facing high levels of stress at work and at home. A recent UCLA study revealed that when women engage in female bonding, they release oxytocin - a hormone that counteracts stress and produces a calming effect.

The women who mentor and lead the events as speakers also embody the deep female connections forged at the events as many have been friends and colleagues for 14 years on the Women of Faith tour criss-crossing the nation together for over a decade and supporting each other through life’s ups and downs. The friendships of a few speakers span nearly three decades.

The 2009 A GRAND NEW DAY event will feature a diverse line-up of musical artists, speakers and special guests, including  GRAMMY Winner Steven Curtis Chapman, GRAMMY Nominee & “American Idol” break-out finalist Mandisa, Lisa Whelchel from TV’s popular show “Facts of Life,” Marcus Buckingham, author of landmark best-sellers, acclaimed music artist Sandi Patty, and Nicole C. Mullen, music artist and 8-time Dove award winner.

Throughout the 2-day event, women join together to experience music, comedy, drama and inspirational stories that leave a powerful, lasting mark on the lives of the women who participate. Women of Faith has been going strong since 1996 and has a proven track record as the Nation’s Largest Women’s Conference.
Registrations sell quickly and well in advance of the event. They are available and can be ordered on www.womenoffaith.com or by calling 888-49-FAITH.

Who:         Women of Faith
Where:     28 Cities Across the U.S.
When:     March through December, 2009

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Holly Taylor
310-854-8115
hetaylor@rogersandcowan.com

Denise Lepow
310-854-8115
dlepow@rogersandcowan.com

(Dallas, TX) Thomas Nelson Live Events will host 29 Women of Faith conferences throughout the United States in 2008. Thousands of women will gather for the events filled with inspiration, laughter and time to relate to other women.“It’s such a great time for women to get away for a weekend and be with our girlfriends,” says Nancy Persinger, from Medinah, IL.”We all need to do that at least once a year – if not more.”2008 marks the 13th year for Women of Faith conferences. As the nation’s largest women’s event, nearly 4 million women have attended the conferences since the organization began, and more than 350,000 women are expected to attend this year’s events.Featuring a fluid mix of contemporary music, comedy, drama and inspirational stories, the events provide an experience not easily forgotten by the women who attend.“It was fun. It was great to be there with women of all ages, being able to interact with them,” said Billie Davis, an attendee in Dallas, TX. “The messages were inspiring, but done in a way that one could laugh through their tears.”The 2008 tour is led by a diverse speaker team which includes New York Times bestselling authors, licensed therapists, a nationally televised comedian, a former business executive, a dramatist and a Grammy-award-winning performer.2008 Events Featuring:

• Sheila Walsh – Former co-host of the 700 Club shares openly about her battle with depression
• Sandi Patty – Five-time Grammy winner
• Marilyn Meberg – Speaker, author, and licensed family therapist
• Patsy Clairmont – Speaker and author who overcame debilitating agoraphobia
• Luci Swindoll – Former executive with Mobil Oil, author, and speaker
• Nicole C. Mullen – Music artist and winner of 8 Gospel Music Association awards
• Max Lucado – New York Times bestselling author
• Anita Renfroe – Comedian and special comedy contributor for ABC’s Good Morning America
• And more!

###

Thomas Nelson is a leading provider of Bibles, products, and live events emphasizing Christian, inspirational and family value themes. For more information, visit www.thomasnelson.com.

Thomas Nelson Live Events is a faith-based organization encouraging persons of all ages and stages in life to grow in faith and spiritual maturity. For more information and to register for Women of Faith conferences, visit our website www. womenoffaith.com or call 888-49-FAITH.

What the media is saying about Women of Faith:

• “Women need support and Women of Faith breaks down these barriers.” – Washington Times
• “That the speakers openly discuss their problems, including depression and drug addiction, is what makes Women of Faith unique. It shows you don’t have to have it all together.” – Associated Press

MEDIA NOTE: Women of Faith is open to the media. Additional press materials and event photos can be downloaded at www.womenoffaith.com/newsroom.

CONTACT:
Jennifer Long
Work: 972-398-4700 x322
Cell: 214-208-1990
Email: jlong@thomasnelsonlive.com

(Dallas, TX) Thomas Nelson Live Events Chief Operating Officer Ann Montgomery announced today the addition of Lisa Dettweiler to the Thomas Nelson team. As Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Thomas Nelson Live Events, Dettweiler will be responsible for event ticket sales, marketing creative and production, event promotion, media relations, company branding and customer service.

“Lisa exudes our company’s vision to inspire the world and I welcome her to our team,” said Montgomery. “With her rich experience, demonstrated success and dynamic, heartfelt leadership. I know she will provide the guidance and direction needed to drive our sales and marketing objectives.”

Dettweiler spent the last nineteen years with Time Warner Cable and Comcast Cable Inc. leading various disciplines including Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, Public Relations, Operations and General Management. Most recently she served as the Vice President of Customer Operations for Time Warner’s North Texas Division. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.

“I’m honored to be joining this remarkable company and management team,” said Dettweiler. “I have the opportunity to utilize my faith and past work experience to support the mission of Thomas Nelson Live Events. There is already a tremendous buzz about the Women of Faith conferences and The Revolve Tour; I look forward to spreading the word and impacting even more lives!”

Active in the community, Dettweiler is a past president of both the New Mexico chapter of the American Marketing Association and the New Mexico/Arizona chapter of Women in Cable and Telecommunications. She is currently a member of The Texas Chapter of WICT and the Cable Television Association of Marketing.

Thomas Nelson Live Events is a faith-based organization encouraging persons of all ages and stages in life to grow in faith and spiritual maturity. For more information and to purchase tickets for Women of Faith or Revolve conferences, visit our website www.womenoffaith.com or www.revolvetour.com.

Contact: Lindsey Nobles
Director of Corporate Communications
tel: (615) 902-1109
fax: (615) 902-1110
web: www.thomasnelson.com
e-mail: lnobles@thomasnelson.com