Alive Communications has represented books that break national sales records and sit on best-seller lists for weeks. Our clients' books have appeared on the following national best-seller lists:

• The New York Times
• Wall Street Journal
• USA Today
• Publishers Weekly
• Chicago Tribune
• Los Angeles Times
• CBA Marketplace
• Amazon.com
• BarnesandNoble.com
• European Bookstore Journal

Visit In the News to find out about recent best-selling titles.

 Alive Lands Secret Deal for Dr. Henry Cloud - 9/4 Release

 PW Starred Review for “A Walk with Jane Austen”

August 2007: Lori Smith’s upcoming release, A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Love, Adventure and Faith (WaterBrook) received a starred review in the August 27, 2007 edition of Publisher’s Weekly. Alive Communications’ Beth Jusino represents Lori Smith. A Walk with Jane Austen will be released October 16, 2007.  

In this engaging, deeply personal and well-researched travelogue, Smith (a PW contributor) journeys to England to soak in the places of Jane Austen's life and writings. The book is sure to ride the wave of Austen-philia that has recently swept through Hollywood and a new generation of Americans, but this is an unusual look at Jane Austen. Readers will learn plenty of biographical details—about Austen's small and intimate circle of family and friends, her candid letters to her sister, her possible loves and losses, her never-married status, her religious feelings, and her untimely death at the age of 41. But it is the author's passionate connection to "Jane"—the affinity she feels and her imaginings of Austen's inner life—that bring Austen to life in ways no conventional biographer could. Smith's voice swings authentically between her own raw, aching vulnerability as a single Christian woman battling a debilitating and mysterious chronic illness and the surges of faith she finds in the grace of a loving God. And yes, Smith even meets a potential Darcy at the start of her journey. This deliciously uncertain romantic tension holds the book together as Smith weaves her own thoughts, historical research, and fitting references to Austen's novels into a satisfying whole. – Publisher’s Weekly 

Brennan Manning`s ICRS Speech Transcript Available 

August 2007: Bestselling author and client, Brennan Manning delighted an audience of about 200 authors and industry professionals at Alive’s annual ICRS event at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta. Manning has written more than a dozen books including the contemporary classics The Ragamuffin Gospel and Ruthless Trust. He also leads spiritual retreats in the U.S. and Europe. Here is a transcript of Manning's rousing speech.

                                                                                                                 Eugene Peterson made a rare public appearance at Denver’s most famous literary landmark, The Tattered Cover Bookstore, in 2006 for 200 Alive authors and industry professionals. Here is the transcript of his presentation, "What Are Writers Good For?" 

Kingsbury Wins Top Prize; First for A Novel, Woman

July 2007: Alive’s Karen Kingsbury, America’s #1 inspirational novelist, added to her honors at ICRS by winning the industry’s top prize for her novel, Ever After (Zondervan). Previous winners of the coveted “Book of the Year” award have all been nonfiction works written by men, including Rick Warren, Philip Yancey and Max Lucado. 

“This is the first time the award has been given for a novel and also to a woman. It’s a double coup and I am extraordinarily proud of the honor and acclaim accorded Karen,” said her long-time agent Rick Christian, President of Alive Communications, who noted that the achievement garnered her a photo and write-up the following day in USA Today.

The award, which reflects literary excellence and sales performance, was announced July 9 at the CBA & ECPA Awards Celebration held at the annual ICRS trade show in Atlanta. At the convention, Kingsbury learned that she was also named “Novelist of the Year” by The Association of Logos Bookstores, a non-profit, trade association comprised of 24 independent bookstores located throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Bahamas.

Kingsbury has tallied sales of more than six million books, with two million of those occurring in the past 12 months. “Karen’s velocity of sales is unlike any other novelist, resulting in a flood of many thousands of letters annually, with readers attesting to the life-changing impact of her work.” Christian said.

The “Book of the Year” award was instituted in 1992.  Previous winners are:

2006--Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible. Kevin J. Vanhoozer, General Editor, Baker Academic; 2005--Experiencing the Passion of Jesus. Lee Strobel and Gary Poole, Zondervan ; 2004--The Purpose Driven Life. Rick Warren, Zondervan; 2003--The Purpose Driven Life. Rick Warren, Zondervan; 2002--The Prayer of Jabez. Dr. Bruce H. Wilkinson, Multnomah; 2001--The Prayer of Jabez. Dr. Bruce H. Wilkinson, Multnomah; 2000--Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. Jim Cymbala with Dean Merrill, Zondervan; 1999--Just Like Jesus. Max Lucado, Word; 1998--What's So Amazing About Grace. Philip Yancey, Zondervan; 1997--In the Grip of Grace. Max Lucado, Word; 1996--The Jesus I Never Knew. Philip Yancey, Zondervan; 1995--When God Whispers Your Name. Max Lucado, Word; 1994--When God Doesn't Make Sense. Dr. James C. Dobson, Tyndale; 1993--The Body. Charles Colson with Ellen Santrill Vaughn, Word; 1992--The Coming Economic Earthquake. Larry Burkett, Moody. 

Tim Downs’ “Plague Maker” Wins Christy Award

July 2007: Alive author Tim Downs garnered a prestigious Christy Award recently for his suspense novel Plague Maker (Thomas Nelson). The Christies, honoring excellence in fiction, were announced July 7 in Atlanta at the ICRS convention. Tim Downs is represented by Lee Hough.

"Bad Idea" Cover Wins Gold National ADDY Award

June 2007: Studio Gearbox received a national Gold ADDY® in June for their cover design of Bad Idea, by Alive authors Todd and Jedd Hafer. The book was published by NavPress and designed by Chris Gilbert of the Sisters, Oregon-based studio under the art direction of Arvid Wallen. The ADDY awards are the world’s largest advertising competition. This year only 299 entries won at the national level out of over 60,000 entries. Beth Jusino represents the Todd and Jedd Hafer.

Alive Mourns Beloved Client Ruth Bell Graham

June 2007: Alive’s staff is mourning the loss of our client and friend, Ruth Bell Graham, who died June 14 at her home in Montreat, North Carolina. Ruth, 87, was the wife of evangelist Billy Graham. She had been in failing health recently.

Admired by many for her deep devotion, strong will and faithful heart, Ruth dedicated her life to raising her family. Today, the Graham’s five children, Virginia, Anne, Ruth, Franklin Jr., and Nelson, all serve in Christian ministry. Ruth was also a gifted author. She wrote or co-authored 14 books, many of them works of poetry. Billy and Ruth were jointly awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1996. 

“Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team,” Billy Graham said. “No one else could have borne the load that she carried. She was a vital and integral part of our ministry, and my work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support. I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we’ve had in the mountains together,” he said. “We’ve rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven.”

Ruth is survived by her husband, five children, 19 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren. Ruth Bell Graham was represented by Rick Christian and Beth Jusino. Prior to her death, they negotiated a deal with W Publishing to reprint her OP titles and, more substantively, to gather her personal Bible notations and marginalia into a work tentatively entitled Notes from a Mother’s Bible, to be released next year.

Alive Communications Authors Dominate Awards

June 2007: Ten Alive authors were honored recently in three literary competitions.  Winners and nominees are:

CT Book Award Winners

• Spirituality: Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading, Eugene H. Peterson (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing)
• Christianity and Culture: The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World, Miroslav Volf (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing)

This year, 43 publishers nominated 291 titles for the CT honors and 22 were selected that bring understanding to people, events, and ideas that shape life, thought, and mission. Eugene Peterson is represented by Rick Christian, and Miroslav Volf is represented by Beth Jusino. 

The Christy Award Nominees 

• Contemporary (Series, Sequels, and Novellas): Escape from Fred by Brad Whittington (B&H Publishing Group)
• Suspense: Plague Maker by Tim Downs (Thomas Nelson), The Hidden by Kathryn Mackel (Thomas Nelson)
• Lits: The Cubicle Next Door by Siri Mitchell (Harvest House Publishers)
• Young Adult: Bad Idea by Todd and Jedd Hafer (NavPress)
• First Novel: Watching the Tree Limbs by Mary DeMuth (NavPress)

The Christies, honoring excellence in fiction, will be announced July 7 in Atlanta at the ICRS convention. The event will be emceed by Alive diva, Michelle McKinney Hammond. Tim Downs and Kathy Mackel are represented by Lee Hough; and Brad Whittington, Siri Mitchell, Todd and Jedd Hafer, and Mary DeMuth are represented by Beth Jusino. 

ECPA Book Award Nomination

America’s #1 inspirational novelist Karen Kingsbury was nominated for the ECPA Book Award in Fiction for Ever After (Zondervan). Winners and the Book of the Year will be announced July 9 at the ICRS convention in Atlanta. Karen Kingsbury is represented by Rick Christian.

Three Alive Authors Named "Novelists on the Rise"

May 2007:  Three Alive Communications authors were recognized recently by Aspiring Retail magazine as “Christian Novelists on the Rise” in an article by the same name. The May 2007 issue of the industry trade publication named: Renee Riva, Todd and Jedd Hafer, and Tim Downs as “authors to watch for in the months and years ahead.”

Media Taps Crystal Woodman Miller on VA Tech Incident

April 2007: In the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings, and on the anniversary of the Columbine massacre, numerous national media outlets sought out Alive author Crystal Woodman Miller for interviews last week. Among the outlets she appeared on were: CNN Larry King Live including Dr. Phil McGraw, CNN Sunday Morning, MSNBC , TIME, and The Today Show. Woodman Miller, author of Marked for Life, is a survivor of the Columbine High School tragedy. Today, she speaks at high schools across the nation on anti-violence, sharing her powerful story of faith and hope.

April 2007: A feature article on Alive author Michelle McKinney Hammond appeared on the front page of the April 20 Chicago Tribune. Hammond, whose self-help books have sold more than a million copies, was kicking off her annual “Diva Principle Conference,” which uses the acronym DIVA to mean “divine inspiration for victorious attitude.”  According to the Tribune, “Hammond dispenses her lessons on life and love with a blend of scripture and sister-girl sentiment that has propelled her to best-seller status.”  The conference was held April 20-22 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago. Hammond is represented by Alive Communications’ Beth Jusino. To read the article, click here.

Kingsbury on Capitol Hill

April 2007: Long-time Alive client Karen Kingsbury, who has sold 6 million copies of her Life-Changing Fiction™ and appeared on the New York Times and USA Today best-seller lists, joined the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence during their Legislative Action Days on Capitol Hill April 17-18, 2007. Kingsbury spoke at a breakfast for U.S. Congressmen and women at the Capitol on April 18 concerning her Tyndale title Divine about a woman healed from her childhood molestation who then opens non-profit centers in D.C. Kingsbury’s next release, Sunrise, has a street date of May 8, announced Alive President Rick Christian. Learn more at www.karenkingsbury.com.

April 2007: Sharon Hinck received the Alive-sponsored Writer of the Year Award and Austin Boyd the Pacesetter Award at this month’s Mount Hermon Writers Conference in California. Hinck, best known for her “Becky Miller” series (Bethany House), releases her “Sword of Lyric” series (NavPress) this spring. Boyd, who writes science fiction and fantasy, was honored for his “Mars Hill Classified” series (NavPress). Each award came with a cash prize from Alive Communications, event sponsor for the past five years.

Rick Christian Addresses the Future of Book Publishing

April 2007: Alive President Rick Christian was among CEOs tapped to address the future of various communication mediums at a high-tech conference in Raleigh this month, sponsored by the North Carolina Technological Association.

In peering ten miles down the publishing road, Christian said there is a concerted worldwide effort to gather all of the world’s collected intellectual property into a “universal library.”  This Internet-based repository would contain all books ever created in any language from the beginning of recorded history, as well as all magazine and newspaper articles, songs, films, videos, paintings, broadcasts, WebPages, blogs, and the like  He noted that he believes this wealth of content will eventually be digitized and as interconnected as the Internet’s Wikipedia, with a billion readers working independently to hyperlink, tag and annotate content until the words of any author who ever lived are woven as tightly together “as the root system of an aspen forest.”  He warned, however, that companies now scanning content need to fully respect the rights of copyholders. 

Other presenters at the event included Thomas Tull, CEO of Legendary Pictures, Bertelsmann’s Richard Sarnoff, and Rita Cosby, MSNBC’s Emmy-winning journalist.  Barry Landis, former head of Warner Music Group Label Word Records was the moderator of the panel on which Christian spoke.  For an audio link to the forward-looking discussion, click http://www.nc-tech.org/multimedia/PANEL%20DISCUSSION.mp3. Depending upon the speed of your Internet connection, the audio download could take up to 10 minutes.

USA Today Names "Left Behind" Among Top 25 Books

                            April 2007: USA Today has named Left Behind (Tyndale House) among the top “25 Books That Leave a Legacy” of the last 25 years. The newspaper ranked Tim LaHaye's and Jerry Jenkins' 1995 end-times book No. 12 among books that “made an impact on readers (in) the publishing industry over the past quarter-century” in its April 9, 2007 edition. The article ran a week following the release of Kingdom Come, the 16th and final installment of the “Left Behind” series, which USA Today said “wrapped up with a bang.” Since first publication of Left Behind in 1995, the novels have sold 65 million copies and established itself as the best-selling adult fiction series in history, according to Alive President Rick Christian, who introduced the authors and agented the books.

PW Starred Review for Jane Rubietta’s “Come Closer”

April 2007: Jane Rubietta’s upcoming release, Come Closer: A Call to Life, Love & Breakfast on the Beach” (WaterBrook) received a starred review in the April 23, 2007 edition of Publisher’s Weekly. Alive Communications' Beth Jusino represents Jane Rubietta. Come Closer will be released July 17, 2007.  

Rubietta encourages Christian women to avail themselves of 15 intimate "invitations," being drawn into Christ's ever-welcoming embrace of unconditional mercy, grace and acceptance. Rubietta (Grace Points) beautifully presents Jesus' gentle yet persistent summons to come closer to experience this abundant comfort when life hurts, relief is scarce and help is absent or inadequate. In four-part sequence, the author weaves an eloquent display of proofs from scripture—mainly from the Gospels—that Jesus is indeed close at hand and that Christians can bask in this spiritual reality right now. Jesus' example of extravagant love, she says, is to be passed on in like manner. Rubietta provides numerous poignant stories to illustrate each chapter's takeaway; particularly compelling is her account of a makeup artist who weekly serves the women employed at a strip club, building relationships with these hurting individuals without standing in judgment of their profession. Rubietta writes well, richly presenting Jesus' beckonings with dynamic storytelling, emotionally inviting prayers and calls to honest introspection. She is wonderful at expressing the heart's longing for comfort and care. Evangelicals will find their spirits uplifted after relishing Rubietta's entreaty to draw nearer still to the Jesus who always cares.  – Publisher’s Weekly

Rick Christian & Karen Kingsbury Headline BEA Fiction Panel

April 2007: Alive Communications founder/president Rick Christian and best-selling author Karen Kingsbury will be part of a panel discussion at BookExpo America 2007 called  “Selling Christian Fiction: Understand the Subcategory, the Market, and the Sales Potential”.  The purpose of the panel discussion is to educate BEA attendees about the burgeoning Christian fiction market (e.g., the most popular books and pre-eminent authors), and how to sell them in general market stores. It will focus on this fast-growing segment of the fiction market, and provide guidelines for selling faith-based novels. The panel will be held at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, June 1, 2007. Other panelists include: Becky Nesbitt (Tyndale Fiction Director), Karen Ball (B&H Publishing Senior Fiction Acquisitions Editor), and Jana Riess, Publishers Weekly Book Review Editor. 

Rebeca Seitz, president of Glass Road Public Relations, LLC and also a novelist represented by Alive Communications, will serve as moderator for the panel. For more information, visit: http://www.glassroadpr.com/images/navigation/header.jpg

 PW Lauds Author Don Miller on  His Not-So-Blue Sales

April 2007: In Blue Like Jazz, author Donald Miller wrote: “At the end of each month I would start biting my nails, wondering what account owed me money or whether or not I would pick up any writing assignments. There’s not a lot of work in the Christian market if you won’t write self-righteous, conservative propaganda. I write new-realism essays. I am not a commodity.” These days, Miller is quite the commodity. His Thomas Nelson bestseller has more than 775,000 copies in print. (Publishers Weekly, 3/14/2007). Alive Communications president Rick Christian says, “Miller’s velocity hit overdrive when college students discovered the book a couple of years ago, and their buzz opened doors to all markets.”

Delta Sky Excerpts “Same Kind of Different as Me”

April 2007: “Same Kind of Different as Me” by Ron Hall and Denver Moore (with Lynn Vincent, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), was featured in the April 2007 issue of Delta’s in-flight, Sky magazine.  “Same Kind of Different as Me” is the true story of two unlikely friends – an international art dealer and a modern-day slave – and the unlikely woman who brought them together. Lee Hough is the agent of record for Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Click here to read the article, which includes an excerpt from the book.

Bishop of Rwanda Launches Major US Book Tour

March 2007: Bishop John Rucyahana of Rwanda launched a nine-city book tour in Denver on March 14, taking him on a publicity sweep across the nation. The author of “The Bishop of Rwanda” (a true story of forgiveness and reconciliation despite the horrific genocide in that country) will be stopping in the following cities: Denver (March 14-16), Dallas (March 19-20), Washington, D.C. (March 26-31), Charlotte (April 3), Raleigh (April 4), Little Rock (April 9-15, 17), Memphis (April 16), Pittsburgh (April 20), Chicago (April 23-29). 

Learn more about book tour in this PDF.

LJ Awards “Waking Lazarus” 2006 Best Genre Fiction List

January 2007:  T.L. Hines’ "Waking Lazarus" has been named to Library Journal's 25 Best Genre Fiction Books of 2006 list.  Now in its third printing, Hines’ first novel – a supernatural suspense thriller – was released in July 2006 (Bethany House). Hines is represented by Alive Communications agent, Lee Hough.

St. James Voted Reader's Choice "Best Female Artist"

December 2006: Rebecca St. James has once again been named “Best Female Artist” in the 2006 Readers’ Choice Awards, hosted online by Christianitytoday.com. This is the fourth year of the awards—and the fourth year Rebecca has been given top honors. Rebecca has authored or edited seven books represented by Alive Communications, including the bestselling SisterFreaks (Warner Faith) and SHE Teen (Tyndale). SHE Teen was named a finalist in the ECPA Book Awards, presented by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association earlier this year. St. James is represented by Alive Communications agent, Beth Jusino.

PW Starred Review for Overstreet's "Through a Screen Darkly"

December 2006: Jeffrey Overstreet’s upcoming release, Through a Screen Darkly, received a starred review in the November 27, 2006 edition of Publisher’s Weekly. Alive Communications' Lee Hough represents Jeffrey Overstreet. Through a Screen Darkly will be available February 8, 2007. 

If viewing a film is to be a spiritual exercise, one must be open to conversion. Overstreet, cultural commentator and film critic for Christianity Today, leads readers through his own cinematic conversion in this compelling volume. Overstreet’s greatest gift is the masterful way he brings a spirit of discernment to the world of film. For example, determining when sex and violence is artfully employed or when it is just plain gratuitous is not always an easy task. Overstreet uses inspiring anecdotes from his life to show how the process of discerning the content and meaning of films takes patience, prayers, and humility. He exhibits all of these traits through his movie commentaries and invites the reader to set aside biases about what is “properly” Christian and look deeper toward how cinema as an art form affects one’s soul. This, according to Overstreet, is the work of God. At times, the author’s stories distract from his main point, but his primary goal is one to be celebrated: “I have a strange compulsion to sit down between Christian culture and secular society, trying to help them understand each other—and ultimately, God—better through a shared experience of art.”  Two thumbs up!   – Publisher’s Weekly

Religious Books Boost Books-A-Million Q3 Revenue

November 2006: Religious books were the leading contributor to Books-A-Million’s third quarter revenue hike, according to BAM CEO Sandra Cochran.  Q3 sales at BAM, the nation’s third largest book retailer after Barnes & Noble and Borders Group Inc., increased 3.2% to $110.7 million.  Healthy increases in sales of hardcovers and graphic novels were also cited as contributing factors in their strong showing, reflecting trends across the general market.

Christian Slater Stars in Film Adaptation of Kingsbury Novel

November 2006: Christian Slater and Elle Fanning are set to star in a feature adaptation of Karen Kingsbury’s novel Gideon’s Gift (Warner Books, now Hachette), according to her agent, Alive President Rick Christian. It will be the theatrical debut of Elle, younger sister of Dakota Fanning, Christian noted. The film will release in 2007 or 2008, and will be distributed by Sony Pictures. The story:  One long-ago Christmas, Big Earl Gibson (Slater) lost the two things most precious to him-his wife and daughter. Angry and heartbroken, he abandoned his belief in God and is now living on the street. Gideon Mercer (Fanning) is an eight-year-old leukemia patient determined to reach out to this lonely and hurting man. And Earl is just as determined to rebuff her. It is only through a miracle that Earl finally comes to understand the true meaning of Christmas. And it’s only then that he can return the favor with a precious gift of his own.

Third Run Ordered for Kingsbury`s Novel

October 2006: Less than a week after Karen Kingsbury’s Family (Tyndale) was released, the novel went back for a second printing of 30,000 copies, followed by a third run two weeks later of 40,000 copies, bringing the total number in print to almost 250,000-plus copies, according to her agent, Rick Christian.  Family is the fourth title in her best-selling “Baxter Family Drama” series, and debuted at #1 on the bestseller lists.

Rwandan Peacemaker Visits Alive Communications

October 2006: Bishop John Rucyahana of Rwanda visited Alive recently to strategize the launch of his upcoming autobiography with agent Lee Hough (right) and agency president Rick Christian. The Bishop of Rwanda, slated for release in March 2007 (W Publishing Group; foreword by Rick Warren) is the inspiring story of the Anglican bishop who, according to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, is “shouting hope from atop a pile of bones” following the 1994 genocide in which a million Tutsis were slaughtered.  The book details the extraordinary renewal happening in Rwanda today, arising from the bishop’s unprecedented and courageous efforts.  Although he saw members of his church and family murdered, Bishop John refused to become part of the hatred. Rather, he founded the hallmark Sonrise Orphanage and School for children who were orphaned in the killing sprees, leads reconciliation efforts between the Tutsis and Hutus, and ministers in prisons to those who slaughtered his friends and family.

Olsen Collaborates on "One Night with the King" Film

October 2006: The epic major motion picture, One Night With The King opened in nearly 1,000 theaters nationwide on Friday, October 13, 2006.  The true story of Queen Esther, One Night With The King is based on the best-selling novel Hadassah: One Night With The King by Tommy Tenney and Mark Andrew Olsen (Bethany House). Alive Communications' Lee Hough represents Mark Andrew Olsen.

Eugene Peterson`s ICRS Speech Transcript Available  

September 2006: In a rare public appearance this summer at Denver’s most famous literary landmark, The Tattered Cover Bookstore, renowned theologian Eugene Peterson, translator of The Message Bible, wowed a crowd of 200 Alive authors and industry professionals. His presentation, "What Are Writers Good For?" at Alive’s annual gig was reported by many to be the highlight of their ICRS convention week.  By popular demand, here is a transcript of the longtime agency client’s remarks. 

Bestselling author and client, Brennan Manning delighted an audience of about 200 authors and industry professionals at Alive’s 2007 annual ICRS event at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta. Here is a transcript of his rousing speech.

Alive Inks Deal for Rwanda President, Paul Kagame`s Bio

September 2006: President Paul Kagame of Rwanda agreed to a biography deal with Alive President, Rick Christian, following breakfast in his home earlier this year.  The meeting was arranged by mutual friends Peb Jackson and Dan Cooper.  Rick subsequently closed negotiations with Eric Nelson of John Wiley & Sons in New York this month on behalf of acclaimed author and long-time New York Times veteran Stephen Kinzer. “I am very pleased Stephen Kinzer agreed to write the book,” Christian said. “He has established a world-class profile from working 20 plus years as a journalist and bureau chief with the New York Times. His non-fiction books, including his latest release, Overthrow, are acclaimed for their fast-paced narratives, vivid history, and exceptional accuracy. Kinzer, who is also a professor of journalism and international relations at Northwestern University in Chicago, spent much of the summer in Rwanda, researching for the book, which will be released in 2008. 

Alive Authors Cream Publisher`s Weekly Statistics

According to an article in Publisher's Weekly by Chris Anderson (July 17, 2006):

• 950,000 titles out of 1.2 million tracked by Nielsen Bookscan sold fewer than 99 copies
• Another 200,000 sold fewer than 1,000 copies
• Only 25,000 sold more than 5,000 copies
• The average book in America sells about 500 copies
• Only 10 books sold more than a million copies

A hearty thanks to Alive clients for staying so far ahead of the curve!

Randy Travis Stars in Film Adaptation of Bill Myers Novel

Country music star, Randy Travis, will appear in a major motion picture based on the adaptation of Bill Myer's novel, The Wager. The film is scheduled for a limited release in theatres on August 3, 2007. The agent of record on the project is Lee Hough. To view a four-minute movie trailer, click here.

Susan Wales` Book to Coincide with Walden Media`s Amazing Grace Release

August 2006: New Leaf Publishing Group will release The Amazing Grace of Freedom by Amazing Grace film producer Ken Wales, Susan Wales, and Ted Baehr in January to coincide with the major motion-picture release of Amazing Grace (Walden Media). The deal was negotiated by Alive Communications agent, Beth Jusino. Walden Media also produced the recently released The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, based on the tale by C.S. Lewis. The book and film relate abolitionist William Wilberforce’s life-long fight to end slavery in Great Britain. Ioan Gruffudd (pronounced Yo-an Griffith) and Albert Finney star in the film. The book will include film photos, interviews and essays from leading African-American personalities and ministry leaders, and mini-biographies of characters in the book and film.

Kingsbury Christmas Novel Adapted for 2007 Film

August 2006: Karen Kingsbury’s acclaimed Christmas novel, Gideon’s Gift (Warner Books) was bought outright by Promenade Pictures CEO Frank Yablans this summer and slated for theatrical release in 2007 or 2008, announced Alive President Rick Christian. The novel, about a man who has lost all hope, an irrepressible child suffering from a terrible illness, and the one small act of love and faith that will give them both the greatest gift of all, was optioned three years ago.  It took that long to set up the project, finance and script, Christian reported, noting that the undisclosed full-price payout “put a smile on everyone’s face.”Prior to launching Promenade, Yablans served as president of Paramount Pictures for five years, during which he was responsible for the development and production of megahits such as The Godfather, Chinatown, Paper Moon, Serpico, Death Wish, Lady Sings the Blues, Murder On the Orient Express, and The Longest Yard. In addition, Paramount television, which reported to him, had successes with such shows as Star Trek, The Odd Couple, Mission Impossible, Love American Style, and the pilot Happy Days.  After leaving Paramount, Yablans served as an independent producer at both Twentieth Century Fox and Paramount Pictures, after which he became Co-Chairman and CEO of MGM/UA Studio. His last independent film, Congo, grossed more than $400 million worldwide. Yablans has focused on the family entertainment market in recent years.Kingsbury, the #1 inspirational novelist in America with sales exceeding 4 million copies, said she was personally called by John McAdams, who will direct the film.  “He said this is the film Frank wants to be remembered by.” 

Two Alive Books Top PW`s August Bestseller List

August 2006: Alive Communications titles landed in the two #1 slots on Publisher Weekly’s August Christian bestseller list.  PW’s #1 hardcover release is The Rapture (Tyndale) by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, the final prequel in their Left Behind series, which to date has sold more than 65 million copies.  PW’s #1 paperback release is Like Dandelion Dust (Center Street) by Karen Kingsbury.  This standalone novel, a poignant love story, follows a string of #1 releases she has enjoyed with Zondervan and Tyndale.  Alive President Rick Christian represented both titles.

Neta Jackson Wins First Place Award

August 2006: Neta Jackson’s The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Tough (Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 4) won first place in the Women’s Fiction category at the Inspirational Readers Choice Awards.  The IRCA Award was announced at the Faith/Hope/Love Convention in Atlanta (the inspirational chapter of Romance Writers of America®). The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Tough is published by Integrity Publishers (October 2005).  CBD Books are available at www.christianbook.com 

Peterson and Courtney Win 2006 Christian Book Award

July 2006: Alive Communications authors Eugene H. Peterson and Vicki Courtney took top honors in ECPA’s 2006 Christian Book Awards. Peterson was the winner in the “Bibles” category with The Message: Numbered Edition (NavPress) and Courtney's Teen Virtue (B&H Publishing Group) won in the “Children & Youth” category. The Christian Book Awards winners were announced at the ICRS & ECPA Awards Celebration held in Denver in July. Eugene Peterson is represented by Rick Christian and Vicki Courtney is represented by Lee Hough.