NEW "TODAY'S CHRISTIAN WOMAN"

The new Today's Christian Woman (TCW) will focus on stories of real women putting God first in the grit of everyday life. We've found stories of missional living to inspire you to live beyond yourself in your family, church, and community. Reading about these women has certainly inspired me in my desire to make a difference in the world!

Beyond these stories, we also have solid, biblical, thoughtful content to help you as you focus on your marriage, family, workplace, friendships, culture, ministry, and identity as a woman.

Need some more encouragement? So check us out! We're updating our website every week. And beyond the website, we have a great blog, a bimonthly digital magazine, and in-depth downloadable resources. With thousands of articles and solid, biblical content, you can come back over and over to fill your soul and mind with content that will encourage and challenge you in your faith.

Now is a great time to subscribe to Today's Christian Woman! You'll get access to our subscribers-only section on our website, receive special members-only discounts and freebies, get 50 percent off all our in-depth downloadable resources, get full access to each bimonthly digital magazine, and receive two special print editions of the bimonthly magazine! Why not subscribe today?

As you try out the new site, be sure to check out a few special editorial features:

• Living Beyond – Find encouragement and inspiration through stories of God using women who are living fearlessly for his kingdom.
  
• What I'm Learning – Share what God is teaching you in the good times and the hard times. Together we can guide one another through the seasons of life.
  
• Deeper Faith – Grow your most important relationship through spiritual practices.
  

Ginger Kolbaba Editor, Today's Christian Woman

SHORT-STORY COMPETITION

If you write short stories, don't miss your chance to compete in the Writer's Digest Popular Fictioncompetition. There's sure to be a category created just for you. And there's still time to enter, even if you haven't started writing yet.

Register now and take your shot! You may win some serious prizes in the process. If you've got more than one story in mind, be sure to consider one of our other genre categories - you can compete in each one.

The grand prize winner receives $2500 and a trip to the 2013 Writer's Digest Conference in New York City, including access to editors, agents, and other industry insiders! First place winners in each category will receive $500 and will be featured in Writer's Digest magazine and on writersdigest.com.

Entering is easy - and potentially life changing. Dom Testa, award-winning author of a critically acclaimed series from Tor/Forge and Grand Prize-winner of a previous Writer's Digest competition, agrees:

"You might think that winning an international grand prize from Writer's Digest changed my life, but no. Sealing and stamping an envelope is what changed everything."

Deadline: September 14, 2012

NY TIMES CHRISTIAN BESTSELLERS FOR WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 2

• TO HEAVEN AND BACK by Mary C. Neal (WaterBrook) is #1 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
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• THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield) is #3 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
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• HEAVEN IS FOR REAL by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson) is #5 on the paperback nonfiction list; #9 on the e-Book nonfiction list; #11 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list; and #13 on the combined print nonfiction list.
• 
  
• UNGLUED by Lysa TerKeurst (Zondervan) is #5 on paperback advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• ONE THOUSAND GIFTS by Ann Voskamp (Zondervan) is #5 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER by Dave Ramsey (Thomas Nelson) is #8 on the monthly hardcover business book list; and #12 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• EVERY DAY A FRIDAY by Joel Osteen (FaithWord) is #11 on paperback advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski (David C. Cook) is #12 on paperback advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• RADICAL by David Platt (Multnomah) is #13 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
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• THE HARBINGER by Jonathan Cahn (FrontLine) is #17 on the paperback trade fiction list.
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• FEARLESS by Eric Blehm (WaterBrook) is #11 on the monthly political book list; #24 on the hardcover nonfiction list; #33 on the e-Book nonfiction list; #34 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list; and #35 on the combined print nonfiction list.
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• AN INVISIBLE THREAD by Laura L. Schroff (Howard Books) is #32 on the paperback nonfiction list.
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• WINNING BALANCE by Shawn Johnson with Nancy French (Tyndale Momentum) is #33 on the hardcover nonfiction list.

From ECPA's Rush to Press at ecpanews.org/rush

FOR TEEN WRITERS

        If you're a teen or have a teen interested in writing, here's a Website/blog that is designed to meet the unique needs and interests of aspiring teen writers: www.goteenwriters.blogspot.com.

NY TIMES BESTSELLER LIST FOR WEEK OF AUGUST 26

• TO HEAVEN AND BACK by Mary C. Neal (WaterBrook) is #1 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield) is #2 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• HEAVEN IS FOR REAL by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson) is #5 on the paperback nonfiction list; #8 on the e-Book nonfiction list; #9 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list; and #11 on the combined print nonfiction list.
• 
  
• EVERY DAY A FRIDAY by Joel Osteen (FaithWord) is #7 on paperback advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• UNGLUED by Lysa TerKeurst (Zondervan) is #8 on paperback advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• ONE THOUSAND GIFTS by Ann Voskamp (Zondervan) is #8 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER by Dave Ramsey (Thomas Nelson) is #8 on the monthly hardcover business book list; and #13 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski (David C. Cook) is #10 on paperback advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• THE HARBINGER by Jonathan Cahn (FrontLine) is #11 on the paperback trade fiction list.
• 
  
• RADICAL by David Platt (Multnomah) is #11 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• THE LOVE DARE by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough (B&H Books) is #14 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
• 
  
• FEARLESS by Eric Blehm (WaterBrook) is #11 on the monthly political book list; #24 on the hardcover nonfiction list; #30 on the e-Book nonfiction list; #31 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list; and #34 on the combined print nonfiction list.
• 
  

• WINNING BALANCE by Shawn Johnson with Nancy French (Tyndale Momentum) is #32 on the hardcover nonfiction list.

From ECPA's Rush to Press at ecpanews.org/rush

JUNE BOOKSTORE SALES

Publishers Weekly: Bookstore sales rose 3.8% in June, to $1.04 billion, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The strong June performance helped to put bookstore sales in 2012 slightly ahead of sales at the half-way point of 2011, with sales up 0.6%, to $6.98 billion. Sales include results from retailers where books comprise at least 50% of sales. For the entire retail segment, June sales rose 3.0%, while sales for the first six months were up 6.3%.

CALVIN MILLER DIES

        Calvin Miller passed on to be with his Lord today, August 19, 2012 at 12:30 CDT. He spent a great deal of his life writing love letters to his Lord Jesus. He is now with him. Funeral arrangments will be posted in the near future. Please pray for his wife Barbara and children.

NY TIMES CHRISTIAN BEST SELLERS

• TO HEAVEN AND BACK by Mary C. Neal (WaterBrook) is #1 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
• THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield) is #2 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
• HEAVEN IS FOR REAL by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson) is #7 on the paperback nonfiction list; #8 on the e-Book nonfiction list; #11 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list; and #13 on the combined print nonfiction list.
• YOU'RE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK by Les Parrott. (Tyndale) is #7 on paperback advice & misc. list.
• ONE THOUSAND GIFTS by Ann Voskamp (Zondervan) is #8 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
• THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER by Dave Ramsey (Thomas Nelson) is #8 on the monthly hardcover business book list; and #13 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
• CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski (David C. Cook) is #11 on paperback advice & misc. list.
• THE LOVE DARE by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough (B&H Books) is #12 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
• THE HARBINGER by Jonathan Cahn (FrontLine) is #12 on the paperback trade fiction list.

• FEARLESS by Eric Blehm (WaterBrook) is #11 on the monthly political book list; #21 on the hardcover nonfiction list; #31 on the combined print nonfiction list; #32 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list; and #33 on the e-Book nonfiction list.
• RADICAL by David Platt (Multnomah) is #14 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
• WINNING BALANCE by Shawn Johnson with Nancy French (Tyndale Momentum) is #30 on the hardcover nonfiction list.

From ECPA's Rush to Press at ecpanews.org/rush

RELIGIOUS SALES/E-BOOK SALES

Faith-based publishers reported a 22% increase in April from religious e-books compared to the same month last year, according to the latest figures available from the Association of American Publishers (AAP). The category also saw a rise of 47% for the year to date versus January-April 2011, with sales of $45.1 million.

In contrast, religious paperback sales experienced a 34% decrease for the year to date versus January-April 2011, with sales of nearly $57 million. In the same date range, religious hardcover sales were up nearly 6%, with sales of more than $100 million. Overall, book sales from religious publishers for the year to date versus the same time frame in 2011 saw almost a 5% drop to nearly $218 million.

Religious hardcover sales were up almost 5% in April over the same month the previous year to nearly $21 million, while religious paperback sales were down more than 48% for the same period, totaling nearly $12 million. Overall, book sales from religious presses saw almost a 15% decline to $47.4 million in April over the same month the previous year.

Overall, hardcover is still the dominant format for Children's/Young Adult (C/YA). C/YA physical book sales again demonstrated double-digit increases over April 2011 and over year-to-date 2011. E-books for that age again showed triple-digit gains in monthly and year-to-date comparisons. Some publishers attribute this to the ongoing success of blockbuster franchises, but also noted the escalating trend of adults reading YA titles, particularly in e-book format.

With 1,187 publishers reporting, AAP's Monthly StatShot report included data from Concordia Publishing House, Gospel Light, Moody Publishers, NavPress, Thomas Nelson and Tyndale House Publishers, among others in the Christian market.

REVIEW FOR RELIGIOUS

This magazine ceased publication as of March 2012. The Pius XII Library at Saint Louis University is host to  a digital archive of every issue published. The collection is available for ongoing reflection and scholarship without charge at the following link: http://cdmslu.edu/cdm/search/collection/rfr/

NO FREELANCE FOR NOW

We are not really accepting freelance at this time.

On 7/12/12 8:31 PM, "Theresa Keener" <theresa@christianexaminer.com> wrote:

Theresa Keener
Christian Examiner Newspapers
theresa@christianexaminer.com
(619) 668-5100
1-800-326-0795
http://www.christianexaminer.com
http://twitter.com/Cenews
http://www.facebook.com/ChristianExaminer
http://christianexaminer.blogspot.com

Publishing award-winning newspapers in three states. . .
Christian Examiner — California, Minnesota and Washington

NEW CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING DIVISION

HarperCollins Publishers announced Mark Schoenwald has been appointed President and CEO of its new Christian publishing division. This expanded division is comprised of Zondervan and the newly acquired Thomas Nelson. Each will continue to publish its respective brands and maintain its unique editorial focus. Schoenwald will report to Brian Murray, President and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers Worldwide, and will serve on the HarperCollins executive committee. Scott Macdonald will leave his position as President and CEO of Zondervan and will serve in an advisory role.

NY TIMES CHRISTIAN BESTSELLERS FOR WEEK OF AUGUST 12

• TO HEAVEN AND BACK by Mary C. Neal (WaterBrook) is #1 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
• THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield) is #2 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
• HEAVEN IS FOR REAL by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson) is #6 on the e-Book nonfiction list; #6 on the paperback nonfiction list; #9 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list; and #14 on the combined print nonfiction list.
• CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski (David C. Cook) is #9 on paperback advice & misc. list.
• ONE THOUSAND GIFTS by Ann Voskamp (Zondervan) is #10 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
• THE HARBINGER by Jonathan Cahn (FrontLine) is #11 on the paperback trade fiction list; and #34 on the combined print fiction list.

• LOVE DOES by Bob Goff (Thomas Nelson) is #12 on paperback advice & misc. list.
• THE LOVE DARE by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough (B&H Books) is #14 on the paperback advice & misc. list.

• FEARLESS by Eric Blehm (WaterBrook) is #23 on the e-Book nonfiction list; #30 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list; and #31 on the hardcover nonfiction list.
• COMING HOME by Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan) is #23 on the paperback trade fiction list.
• THE STRUGGLE by Wanda E. Brunstetter (Barbour) is #24 on the paperback trade fiction list.
• THE DEVIL IN PEW NUMBER SEVEN by Rebecca Nichols Alonzo with Bob DeMoss (Tyndale) is #27 on the paperback nonfiction list.
• THE REASON FOR GOD by Timothy Keller (Riverhead) is #28 on the paperback nonfiction list.
• THE VOW by Kim and Krickitt Carpenter with Dana Wilkerson (B&H Publishing) is #33 on the paperback nonfiction list.
• WINNING BALANCE by Shawn Johnson with Nancy French (Tyndale Momentum) is #34 on the hardcover nonfiction list.
• KISSES FROM KATIE by Katie Davis with Beth Clark (Howard) is #35 on the hardcover nonfiction list.

From ECPA's Rush to Press at ecpanews.org/rush

SCREENPLAY DEADLINES

Thought you'd be interested in upcoming screenplay contest deadlines for the screenplay festival!  This contest guarantees that all submissions get full feedback from the industry. Winners get their script read using professional actors at the monthly screenplay festival. The festival that will help you take your career to the next step, obtain an agent and get feelers from producers in the industry on your writings.

SEE FULL DETAILS (click links below) and past event videos of the winning scripts. Then submit your feature, short, TV or genre scripts of sci-fi, horror, comic book etc... (VOTED #1 contest in the world today)

 

SUBMIT your FEATURE or SHORT SCREENPLAY - http://www.wildsound.ca/screenplaycontest.html

 

SUBMIT your TV PILOT or SPEC SCREENPLAY- http://www.wildsound.ca/tvscreenplaycontest.html

 

SUBMIT just your FIRST SCENE of your script and get feedback- http://www.wildsound.ca/firstscenescreenplaycontest.html

 

Either way, good luck with everything - and keep writing!

thanks
Carrie Anderson
WILDsound
www.wildsound.ca

NEW CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING DIVISION

HarperCollins Publishers yesterday announced Mark Schoenwald has been appointed president and CEO of its new Christian publishing division. This expanded division is comprised of Zondervan and the newly acquired Thomas Nelson. Each will continue to publish its respective brands and maintain its unique editorial focus. Schoenwald will report to Brian Murray, president and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers Worldwide, and will serve on the HarperCollins executive committee. Scott Macdonald will leave his position as president and CEO of Zondervan and will serve in an advisory role.

“Mark is an experienced leader in the Christian publishing market, and we are thrilled to have him at the helm of our newly expanded Christian division,” said Murray. “The new division adds further scale and balance to HarperCollins overall portfolio, and Mark will work closely with the leadership teams of HarperCollins, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan to build on the individual strengths of each company.”

“I am grateful to Scott for his leadership and professionalism during his tenure with Zondervan. He has achieved everything I asked him to achieve at Zondervan during a most challenging time in the company’s history,” Murray continued.

Schoenwald has been with Thomas Nelson since 2004 when he joined as chief sales officer. In 2009, he was promoted to president of the company and in 2011 named CEO. Under Schoenwald’s leadership, Thomas Nelson has seen both double-digit revenue and operating income growth, as well as had several titles make the New York TimesBestsellers List, including Heaven Is for Real and Jesus Calling. Prior to joining Thomas Nelson, he served as president of several prestigious home décor, garden and gift companies. He began his career at Lenox Brands, serving in various sales, marketing and operations positions.

Schoenwald will remain based in Nashville, TN, and will spend part of his time in Grand Rapids, MI, where Zondervan will continue to operate from its current location. The two companies have different, though complementary, missions, and both will continue to acquire and publish books specific to those missions, competing as they have in the past, but collaborating where appropriate.

NEW BIBLE STUDY SERIES

Abingdon Press announced the launch of the “Faith and Fiction Bible Study” series. This is the first women’s Bible study series to combine Bible study and Christian fiction, using novels as a backdrop for exploring biblical themes. The first of this series will include studies from Melody Carlson and Barbara Cameron. Each study is six to eight weeks and includes a participant book for group members, a leader guide, and a DVD featuring interviews with the author.

The first study in the series, Healing Waters: A Bible Study on Forgiveness, Grace, and Second Chances (August 2012), is based on “The Inn at Shining Waters” trilogy, a series by award-winning Christian fiction author Melody Carlson, who has written more than 200 books for teens, women, and children. This study invites women on a journey to healing, a journey in which God walks with them and invites them to experience His love and mercy. Women will learn how to restore broken relationships and how to live in life-giving community. 

“In this study we are embarking on a journey of healing. Forgiveness, healing and grace are all factors,” says Melody Carlson. “The important thing to remember is that God will lead us on this journey, and he promises to walk every step of the way with us. My hope is that you come to know with all your heart that God is good. He forgives and heals.”

The second study in the series, Her Restless Heart: A Woman’s Longing for Love and Acceptance (March 2013), is based on a novel by acclaimed Christian fiction author Barbara Cameron, who also has written three nationally televised movies (HBO-Cinemax). The novel is Her Restless Heart, which is the story of an Amish woman caught between the traditions of her faith and the pull of a different life. As she struggles with her restless heart and seeks to find her place in the world, she finds herself faced with difficult choices in love and in life. The study draws upon the theme of the heart’s restlessness and the longing for satisfaction and fulfillment to explore the Bible’s answer to the universal human need for love. The study will equip and encourage women as they seek to know God’s plan for their lives and find satisfaction for the longing of their restless hearts. 

This refreshing approach of combining Bible study with narrative storytelling will enrich and enhance the study of God’s Word. The studies are perfect for women’s Bible study groups as well as book or reading groups looking for a little structure and help in exploring and discussing the spiritual themes of novels. The studies include plot summaries, character sketches, and key excerpts so that reading the novels is not required. However, those who enjoy reading may choose to read the books in tandem with the studies, enhancing the overall experience.

FESTIVAL OF BOOKS

Dear Writing Friends: I want to give you a heads up about a great event to take place in Florence, Oregon, on September 29, at the Florence Events Center. It is the 2nd Annual Flornce Festival of Books - Authors and Publishers Fair. We have a few tables left, if you are interested in participating as a vendor, but they are going fast.

Last year's event was a grand success, with authors and publishers from the region and a multitude of attendees. It is a great chance to network, let folks know about your products and services, or just come as a book-oriented consumer.

Please visit this link for information and to get a vendor application (bottom of page).
http://www.ci.florence.or.us/eventscenter/florence-festival-books

Appllication deadline is Sept. 8.

If you have any questions, feel free to call the events center (541-997-1994 or 1-888-968-40860), or email me.

We hope to see you there!

Ellen Traylor , FFOB sponsor

Florence Festival of Books | City of Florence Oregon Official Website www.ci.florence.or.us