Nelson Newsroom

(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 »

Theme of Trip: Fearless — Imagine Your Life Without Fear

Max Lucado, pastor and bestselling author spoke at more than 22 events during a nine-day trip to Brazil (July 19 - 28, 2009), reaching more than 50,000 people with a message of hope from his forthcoming book Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear (Thomas Nelson, U.S. $24.99, September 2009).  The book releases internationally next month, but the Portuguese edition of Fearless released early to accommodate Lucado’s Brazil trip.  The Portugese edition has appeared within the top ten spots of every major Brazilian bestseller list to date.

Lucado’s inspirational books have enjoyed international popularity for decades, but the author’s international ministry truly began in Brazil.  Max and Denalyn Lucado served as church planting missionaries in Rio de Janeiro during the early 1980s, and two of their daughters were born in Brazil.  Lucado was thrilled to be back in Brazil once more, visiting old friends and meeting new acquaintances: “This is like a homecoming to me, seeing church friends and encouraging the precious Brazilian people.”  He specifically encouraged Brazilian audiences to fear less in regard to violence (chapter 18 of Fearless addresses this topic).  Violence is a significant concern for Brazilians due to ongoing rioting in Sao Paolo and other parts of the country.  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 »

Nashville, Tenn.—American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) has announced its finalists in fourteen categories for the best Christian fiction published in calendar year 2008.  Six Thomas Nelson novels from a variety of genres have been honored:

DEBUT AUTHOR
In the Shadow of the Sun King  (Golden Keyes Parsons)

LITS
Sweet Caroline  (Rachel Hauck)

LONG CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
The Convenient Groom (Denise Hunter)

SUSPENSE
Anathema (Colleen Coble)
Lonestar Sanctuary  (Colleen Coble)

WOMEN’S FICTION
The Perfect Life (Robin Lee Hatcher)

ACFW boasts over 1800 members worldwide—authors, editors, agents, publicists and aspiring writers—working “to promote Christian Fiction through developing the skills of its authors, educating them in the market, and serving as an advocate in the industry.” Award winners will be named at this year’s annual conference in Denver, CO, September 17-20, at a ceremony to be held Saturday night.  Winning authors will receive plaques; their editors will also be recognized.

Recounting how he seized opportunities from difficulties, Ralph de la Vega of AT&T makes it plain: “Embrace and Overcome Obstacles, Avoidance is a mistake.”

At age 10, waiting with his family to catch a flight from Havana to freedom, Ralph de la Vega saw his parents make a decision that shaped the rest of his life.   Abruptly told by Cuban officials that “only the boy can go,” they had a wrenching decision to make.  Their choice to send him to America alone set him on a lifelong course of facing tough situations head-on, always expecting to discover opportunity.

He has found - and often created - opportunity in abundance, all the way to the top ranks of the wireless industry as CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.  Ralph de la Vega combines his compelling personal story with practical lessons for success in business and life in his book, OBSTACLES WELCOME (Thomas Nelson, October 2009).

The idea for the book came from audience reactions whenever de la Vega salted his speeches with childhood glimpses of being separated from family and figuring out how to get along in a strange country.  Whether peer executives, employees or a Junior Achievement class, the first  question always was the same – “how did you do it?” READ MORE »