Evangelical Christian Publishers Association
CONTACT:
Jana Muntsinger, MMPR
281.251.0480 or cell: 832-247-9308
jana@mmpublicrelations.com
2008 CHRISTIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDED TO AUDIO BIBLE
First Ever Audio and Bible Product to Receive the Award
Six Other Categories of Christian Book Award Winners Also Announced
Sunday evening, July 13, 2008, Orlando, FL -- The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced this evening the six category winners of the 2008 Christian Book Awards and the “Christian Book of the Year” during the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in Orlando.
For the first time in the award program’s 30-year history, a Bible and an audio product has won the “Christian Book of the Year” honor: The Word of Promise™ New Testament Audio Bible (Thomas Nelson) features the talents of actors such as Jim Caviezel (“The Passion of the Christ”), Golden Globe winner Stacy Keach, Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Lou Gossett, Jr., and Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei, in a scripted dramatization of the New King James Version (NKJV) of the New Testament. Since its release in October 2007, The Word of Promise™ has been consistently among the top Bibles on the ECPA bestseller lists and is the #1 bestselling Bible retailing for more than $30.
This was the first year the ECPA Recognition Committee included media presentations of the Bible in the Christian Book Award program. “Our industry will always be about quality, Christ-honoring content,” states ECPA President Mark Kuyper. “As the digital age evolves, the ECPA Recognition Committee desires to remain open to recognizing excellence in the variety of ways our publishing members present their content. The Scriptures have always had a unique oral tradition and our members have continued to creatively produce amazing presentations of this written Word, so allowing audio presentations of the Bible into the Christian Book Award program this year was a timely decision.”
The “Christian Book of the Year” was chosen from the 32 Christian Book Award finalists, across six categories, using both independent judging criteria (measuring overall excellence) and sales data (reflecting consumer impact).
Presented annually to the best in Christian publishing since 1978, the Christian Book Awards honor excellence within six genre categories.
The Six Category Winners for the 2008 Christian Book Awards are:
BIBLESDiscover God Study Bible
Tyndale House Publishers, 9780842369183
BIBLE REFERENCE & STUDY
An Old Testament Theology by Bruce K. Waltke
Zondervan, 9780310218975
CHILDREN & YOUTH
Teen Virtue: Confidential by Vicki Courtney
B&H Publishing, 9780805441925
CHRISTIAN LIFE
When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box by John Ortberg
Zondervan, 9780310253501
FICTION
In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764201677
INSPIRATION & GIFT
Step into the Bible by Ruth Graham
Zondervan, 9780310714101
ECPA will collaborate with major retailers to feature the winning titles in-store and online. Numerous retailers have committed to creatively promote these titles via a variety of marketing strategies including in-store end-caps, shelf-talkers, catalog promotions, email blitzes and web advertising. The 2008 Christian Book Award retail partners include: Berean Christian Stores, Family Christian Stores, Lifeway Christian Stores, The Munce Group, Parable Christian Stores, CBD/ChristianBook.com, Crossings Book Club (DoubleDay), Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Borders.
ECPA is also partnering with Christianity Today Inc. (CTi) to promote the winning titles to its large readership of their periodicals and electronic media. In addition, INNOVATIVE, a national web-site company working with more than 750 Christian retailers and 300 broadcast outlets, will work with ECPA to feature the Christian Book Award winners on their clients’ websites.
The Christian Book Awards, established in 1978 as the Gold Medallion Book Awards by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, recognize the absolute highest quality in Christian books. Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design, and significance of contribution, the Christian Book Awards are the oldest and among the most prestigious in the religious publishing industry. The 2008 finalists were selected from entries published in 2007 and submitted by ECPA members.
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For interviews and/or product images, please contact Jana Muntsinger at c: 832-247-9308 or jana@mmpublicrelations.com.Book cover images are also downloadable at www.ecpa.org/christianbookawards2/press2008.php .
For more information on the awards program, go to www.ecpa.org/christianbookawards .
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