Thursday, August 10, 2006

Zonderkidz to release Christian manga comics
Oasis Audio joins IPG one-box
Student Life Publishing becomes Clarity Publishers
Strang relaunches Web site with new features
'CCM' launches 'It Girl' search
Presbyterian Publishing re-elects Perkins, plans hymnal
Enesco Group issues 'default' statement
9/11 survivor to appear on '700 Club'
Rosenberg's first best-sellers to Christian market
'Jerusalem Countdown' sales hit 700,000
NewSong replaces lead singer
Third Day featured on FX's '30 Days'
Tyscot Records signs Carman

INDUSTRY NEWS
Zonderkidz to release Christian manga comics
Zonderkidz, the children's imprint of Zondervan, will enter the graphic-novel genre by releasing its first-ever line of Christian manga comics in August 2007. Zonderkidz's manga lineup will “share biblical themes through manga-style black-and-white illustration,” the Grand Rapids, Mich., company said in a statement.
Two books each from six separate series will be the initial release, with 48 titles planned in all, to release in the next four years. The manga storylines will consist of biblical, superhero and fantasy/science fiction.
“Zonderkidz is excited to enter the graphic-novel category because we believe this form of storytelling is only going to continue to grow in popularity,” said Bruce Nuffer, associate publisher and executive editor.

Oasis Audio joins IPG one-box
Oasis Audio is the latest addition to the sales roster of the Inspirational Publishers Group (IPG), headquartered in Jenks, Okla. Beginning Aug. 15, Oasis products will be available from IPG. In July Kregel Publications—including Spanish imprint Editorial Portavoz—and Editorial Unilit announced they would join the program, following Multnomah Publishers, Moody Publishers, Regal Books and Crossway Books & Bibles, which joined earlier this year.
“IPG offers a tremendous opportunity for Oasis Audio to continue to grow in the (Christian) marketplace,” said Oasis General Manager & Director of Marketing Rick Pritikin. “We think this strong shared commitment builds winning teams.”
Chris Robinette, IPG's vice president of sales, said IPG was “thrilled to be representing Oasis Audio, the leading audiobook publisher in the (Christian) market, as we continue to partner with companies that share in excellence for the highest level of content and message.”

Student Life Publishing becomes Clarity Publishers
Student Life Publishing, the creator of Student Life Bible Study, has changed its name to Clarity Publishers. The new name reflects the company's shift beyond its current youth-oriented offerings.
“Our company began with the goal of encouraging of spiritual growth in youth, but we have seen a need for this same type of support for adults and are responding to that need,” said Randy Hall, founder and president of Student Life.
In addition to its online Student Life Bible Study, Clarity is working on a new online curriculum aimed at adults, Life Bible Study, to be introduced in June 2007. The goal of the study is “to increase biblical literacy in adults and help them develop a biblical worldview by covering the entire Bible in only three years,” and will feature weekly lessons and DVDs that complement the study, the company said in a statement.

Strang relaunches Web site with new features
Strang Communications has launched a newly designed corporate Web site, with new features including more than 12,000 pages of searchable editorial content.
The site, www.Strang.com, will allow users to find information about Strang's nine magazines-including Charisma, Ministry Today, New Man, SpiritLed Woman and Christian Retailing—and its five book imprints—including Charisma House, Siloam and FrontLine.
“For the last 31 years, Charisma magazine has grown from a dream to be one of the leading communications companies in the world,” said Founder and CEO Stephen Strang. “For three decades we have been ministering to and connecting those who believe in the power of the Holy Spirit and these new online tools allow us do that even more effectively.”
The site offers several new and enhanced features including video streaming, podcasts, blogs and e-newsletters on current events affecting Christians, health tips and news updates.

'CCM' launches 'It Girl' search
CCM Magazine is looking for an “It Girl” in a four-city inspirational talent search. The winner will get the opportunity to perform live on stage with Dove Award-winning, multi-platinum group Point of Grace at four Girls of Grace Conferences scheduled this fall.
CCM will select five girls from each of the conferences as CCM's It Girl finalists. Each finalist will perform on stage for conference participants, who will vote on the winner. In addition to performing live on stage at Girls of Grace, each CCM It Girl will be featured in the magazine, receive a TiVo digital video recorder, get a consultation from an industry professional, meet Point of Grace and win other prizes.
The Girls of Grace Conferences are scheduled to be held in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 23-24; Minneapolis, Sept. 29-30; Knoxville, Tenn., Oct. 13-14; and Oklahoma City, Nov. 3-4.

Presbyterian Publishing re-elects Perkins, plans hymnal
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC) has unanimously confirmed the re-election of President and Publisher Davis Perkins to another four-year term. The new term will be the fourth consecutive one for Perkins, confirmed at the 217th General Assembly in Birmingham, Ala., making him the most tenured chief executive in any of the General Assembly agencies.
“This is an exciting time to be working in denominational publishing and particularly with Presbyterian Publishing Corporation,” Perkins said. “I am blessed to be surrounded by an incredibly talented team of publishing professionals and pleased by the innovative publishing … emanating from PPC at present.”
The General Assembly also approved a recommendation calling for PPC to continue to work in cooperation with the Office of Theology and Worship and the Presbyterian Association of Musicians to publish a Presbyterian Hymnal, to be presented to the General Assembly in 2012.

Enesco Group issues 'default' statement
Gift company Enesco Group Inc. has announced it is continuing to “aggressively pursue” long-term debt financing. Because Enesco had not obtained a commitment for long-term financing by a previously agreed Aug. 7 deadline it was “in default of its current credit facility agreement,” the company said in a statement.
The company was “working with the lenders for possible additional loans or terms and conditions, but has been advised that the lenders are not committing to waive the default,” the statement added.

MEDIA APPEARANCES
9/11 survivor to appear on '700 Club'
Leslie Haskin, 9/11 survivor and author of Between Heaven and Ground Zero (Bethany House Publishers), will appear on The 700 Club today.
The program can be viewed online at www.cbn.com/700club/index.aspx?WT.svl=programmenu. Check local listings for stations and airtimes.

BOOKS
Rosenberg's first best-sellers to Christian market
Tyndale House Publishers has acquired the rights to Joel C. Rosenberg's first two New York Times best-sellers, The Last Jihad and The Last Days. Tyndale is to release new trade paperback editions of the political thrillers to the Christian market for the first time in September.
The Last Jihad and The Last Days were originally published through Forge/Tor in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Rosenberg's debut novel, The Last Jihad, spent 11 weeks on The New York Times best-seller list and reached No. 1 on Amazon.com. His second novel, The Last Days, also charted on The New York Times list.
Rosenberg's first novel in the Christian market was his 2005 best-seller, The Ezekiel Option, which won the Christian Book of the Year Award for Fiction from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association this year. It also appeared on The New York Times list. His fourth novel, The Copper Scroll, released Aug. 1.

'Jerusalem Countdown' sales hit 700,000
John Hagee's Jerusalem Countdown: A Warning to the World (FrontLine) has sold more than 700,000 units in less than seven months. Published under the Strang Communications imprint, the book released Jan. 17 with presales of 250,000 copies.
Peaking at No. 14, Jerusalem Countdown has been on the USA Today best-seller list for more than 20 weeks and held the No. 1 spot on the Publishers Weekly Religion best-seller list, as well as Christian Retailing Top 100 Books.
Recently, Hagee was featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal and was interviewed on ABC's Nightline, NBC's Today show, CNN Live, FOX News, MSNBC and National Public Radio's All Things Considered.
In the book, Hagee, senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, shares detailed information that he has received from top Israeli government officials concerning a nuclear showdown between Iran and Israel.

MUSIC
NewSong replaces lead singer
Dove Award-winning and GRAMMY-nominated group NewSong has announced that worship artist Drew Cline has officially joined the group as its new lead singer. Cline replaces Michael O'Brien who left the Integrity Music group earlier this year to pursue a solo career and focus on a family ministry.
Cline has been performing live with NewSong since early summer. He won the Gospel Music Association's Music in the Rockies Spotlight competition in 2000 with a vocal group he formed called AS IS. He also has been a worship pastor at a Nashville-area church for four years and recently began recording a solo worship project, Way of Life, to release in early 2007.

Third Day featured on FX's '30 Days'
Third Day was featured on last night's episode of 30 Days, an FX original series. The documentary program, created by Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock, places people in an environment that is “antithetical to their regular way of life” for 30 days, according to the show's Web site.
In the episode titled “Atheist/Christian,” an atheist was placed to live for a month with a Christian family, who took her to a Third Day concert. The band's music and live performance was featured in the broadcast.
The episode debuted last night, and is scheduled to re-air Saturday at 2 p.m. EDT and Monday at midnight on FX. Check local listings for stations.

Tyscot Records signs Carman
Tyscot Records has signed platinum-certified artist Carman, with a new album scheduled to release in 2007. Carman, who has a 26-year career in the music industry, holds the record for performing the largest Christian concert in history, a Tyscot statement said. Tyscot is currently celebrating its 30th year in the gospel music industry.