NY TIMES BESTSELLERS WEEK OF DECEMBER 17

• TO HEAVEN AND BACK by Mary C. Neal (WaterBrook) is #3 in paperback advice & misc.
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• HEAVEN IS FOR REAL by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson) is #4 in paperback nonfiction; #18 in combined print & e-Book nonfiction; #18 in combined hardcover & paperback nonfiction; and #21 in e-Book nonfiction.
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• THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield/Moody) is #4 in paperback advice & misc.
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• THE HARBINGER by Jonathan Cahn (FrontLine) is #10 in paperback trade fiction; and #30 in combined hardcover & paperback fiction.
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• CROSS ROADS by Wm. Paul Young (FaithWords) is #12 in hardcover fiction; #15 in combined hardcover & paperback fiction; and #26 in combined print & e-Book fiction.
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• THE LOVE DARE by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough (B&H Books) is #13 in paperback advice & misc.
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• KISSES FROM KATIE by Katie Davis with Beth Clark (Howard) is #14 in paperback nonfiction.
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• MULTIPLY by Francis Chan with Mark Beuving (David C. Cook) is #15 in paperback advice & misc.
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• BONHOEFFER by Eric Metaxas (Thomas Nelson) is #26 in paperback nonfiction.
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• THE BRIDGE by Karen Kingsbury (Howard Books) is #33 in hardcover fiction.
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• AN INVISIBLE THREAD by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski (Howard) is #35 in paperback nonfiction.

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

CT RELEASES IPAD EDITION

CAROL STREAM, Ill., Dec. 10, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- This Fall marks a notable step into the digital-first age for Christianity Today magazine. The leading Christian publisher released the iPad edition of Christianity Today, which provides a unique reading experience designed specifically with the tablet reader in mind.

Publisher Terumi Echols says, "We couldn't be happier with the new iPad edition of Christianity Today magazine, and we believe this edition will delight our subscribers as well as invite a new audience to our content." She continued, "This marks the first of many steps for our flagship brand in addressing a new generation of digital natives."

The iPad edition features include:

• Unique design and layout for an exceptional tablet reading experience
• Color-coded menu sections for easy navigation throughout the issue
• Clear arrow markings to help guide readers intuitively through articles
• Easy access to Christianity Today's RSS feed, social share functions, and note-taking

The tablet edition of the magazine is being test-launched on the iPad, but the tablet version will soon be rolled out onto the Android and Google tablets in 2013. Other web developments are also soon to come for the media ministry.

THE WRITER'S EDGE CHANGES OWNERSHIP

The Writer’s Edge, a manuscript evaluation service for the Christian publishing scene, is changing management and ownership as of January 1, 2013. The program, active since 1993, has been a go-to solution for thousands of writers with book proposals they hope editors will at least hear about in an industry increasingly dominated by agents and media celebrities. Writer’s Edge is unique in that the service uses professional editors to carefully screen submitted manuscripts, and only a handful of those submitted actually “make the cut” that are then referred to nearly 75 acquisition editors who work for the full-service traditional Christian publishers in our industry. Over the years several dozen books have been accepted and published by standard royalty- paying publishers using Writer’s Edge book summaries. The new owners, Bill and Nancie Carmichael (the former publishers of Good Family Magazines) plan to keep Writer’s Edge as a separate entity from their other publishing ventures and operate it as it is currently being done, including maintaining the current staff of editors, a web site, and the current mailing address in Wheaton, Illinois. The immediate plans call for a fresh facelift of the website, plus an improved and streamlined system for communicating with acquisition editors. Their long range plans are to enhance Writer’s Edge services by providing more in-depth teaching and learning resources and opportunities for aspiring writers. The goal will be to continue to raise the quality of writing and the quality of manuscripts that are presented to Christian publishers for consideration. “The program has served both frustrated unknown writers and curious editors seeking a fresh voice for their lists,” says Steve Board, who saw the service launched under Harold Shaw Publishers in the early nineties and has managed it ever since. “Bill and Nancie Carmichael are 35 year veterans in publishing and in mentoring new writers. Their innovative variety of writer services fits well with the Writer’s Edge.” Editors typically have little confidence in the “slush pile” of unsolicited manuscripts, much of it not read or only scanned by an entry level editorial employee. The Writer’s Edge seeks to sift these creations and report only the most promising ones to a publisher list that numbers about 75. The writers pay a fee for the evaluation and the publishers receive the reports at no charge. Publishers who now direct unsolicited manuscripts to The Writer’s Edge Service can continue to do so, using the same email and web site link as in the past. “Vast changes are taking place in the publishing world with new challenges, but also new opportunities,” Bill Carmichael said. “Publishing is still a content driven industry. Even though the methodology and delivery systems change and the markets are fluid, readers will continue to resonate with quality content. Writer’s Edge will continue to be dedicated to both aspiring authors who can produce quality content and Christian publishers looking for new voices.” The Carmichaels are the former publishers of Good Family Magazines which published Virtue, a Christian magazine for women, Christian Parenting Today magazine, Parents of Teenagers magazine, and Zoomer for Kids. They currently own Carmichael Publishing along with a division called Deep River Books, as well as an online editorial service called HonestEditing.com. Combined, the Carmichaels have written fifteen books, published by a variety of publishers including Tyndale House, Moody, Thomas Nelson, Howard Books, Crossway, and Harvest House Publishers. Also, Bill has served on the Board of Directors of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. To contact the Carmichaels direct, email NewManagement@writersedgeservice.com or write to PO Box 310, Sisters, OR 97730 For further information, see http://www.WritersEdgeService.com, write info@writersedgeservice.com, or PO Box 1266, Wheaton, IL 60187.

CHRISTIANITY TODAY LEADERSHIP

- Christianity Todaymagazine, the most influential publication for Christian thought leaders, has announced a new leadership structure effective December 1, the first significant change in leadership in 12 years.

Mark Galli, previously CT's managing editor and author of Chaos and Grace andGod Wins, is the new editor. Galli says, "I'm looking forward to helping the staff shape and frame content that will address the most pertinent issues for active Christians. And I'm really looking forward to working with Andy Crouch, who will add fresh energy and ideas into the CT mix."

Andy Crouch, author of Culture Making and executive producer of CT's This Is Our City project, is the new executive editor. He says his new responsibilities will include "paying attention to the big picture, and asking big questions about who are we serving, how well are we serving them, and how we earn readers' trust."

Crouch, who has directed several projects at Christianity Today since joining the ministry in 2005, was previously a campus minister at Harvard University and is a sought-after speaker on university campuses and to organizational leaders.

Christianity Today President Harold Smith says, "This progressive 'dyad' of Mark and Andy will not only build upon CT's editorial excellence but will also find new ways of delivering our award-winning content in print and through emerging online and digital formats."

Katelyn Beaty, previously associate editor at CT magazine, will now serve as managing editor of CT, overseeing the print publication from start to finish. The first woman to lead the magazine in this capacity, Beaty is also editorial director ofThis Is Our City and co-founder of Her.meneutics, CT magazine's site for women.

Previous Christianity Today editor David Neff is refocusing his attention at the global media ministry to the March 2013 launch of the first digital edition ofCristianismo Hoy, a new publication that will provide a rallying point for Hispanic evangelicals. Ted Olsen will continue serving as managing editor of news and online journalism.

For more information on these significant changes, read Smith's announcementhere and watch related videos featuring the new staff: