October often highlights the crisp air, changing leaves, and cozy atmosphere, creating a perfect reading environment
Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents.
Christian parents want to raise their kids in a godly way. But what if we’ve been sold a promise that “biblical parenting” can never deliver?
In The Myth of Good Christian Parenting, Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis explore how the Christian parenting book industry has shaped, and often strained, families over the past five decades, continuing into the present day. Drawing on history, sociology, theology, and survey responses from adult children and parents, they trace the rise of Christian parenting empires that idealize obedient kids and perfect households—but often leave parents and children feeling like they’ll never measure up.
The authors also analyze popular Christian parenting teachings. They argue that these teachings on authority, compliance, corporal punishment, and control have had lasting effects on family dynamics and spiritual identity—including loss of faith, estrangement, religious trauma, and deep regret for many older parents. This book equips Christian parents, adults thinking critically about their upbringing, and church leaders to pursue a new path of freedom and mutual respect within their families.
Christian patriarchy teaches that women are dangerous, manipulative, and untrustworthy. Whether painting women as the archetypal old witch in the woods or the biblical temptress, toxic religion vilifies their wisdom and uses fear to maintain male power. And these harmful stereotypes aren’t just historical; they persist in modern religious, societal, and political rhetoric, where confident women are called “nasty” or “radical.”
But there’s something they don’t want you to know about that old witch in the woods: She deeply trusts her sacred gifts and hard-earned wisdom. Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods is an invitation to reconnect with feminine wisdom that has been dismissed, maligned, and even persecuted over the centuries. When women lean into this wisdom, they learn how to trust their intuition, draw on their creativity, and lead with empathy.
Christian patriarchy separates us from ourselves, each other, and our Creator as well as from the traditions, practices, and stories that should have been passed down through generations. Angela J. Herrington draws on more than a decade of experience as a faith deconstruction coach and seminary-trained online pastor to offer practical strategies and practices for readers to rediscover and tap into deep ancestral knowledge that once defined and empowered women.
Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods is a road map for readers to challenge limiting beliefs, confront systemic injustices, and reclaim their inherent worth and wisdom. When we reclaim feminine wisdom, we liberate ourselves, our communities, and our souls, gaining strength and resilience through our connection to ourselves and to each other.
Despite the undeniable progress for women and girls in the 20th and 21st centuries, misogyny is still alive and well in today’s culture—often in ways that are more subtle and more insidious than the outright sexism of the past, and in spaces that we overlook or excuse as normative.
Misogyny has shape-shifted through the generations while maintaining a consistent through-line: it blinds individuals and cultures from seeing women as equal image-bearers, fosters hierarchies rather than partnerships, disdains vulnerability, and prevents all of us—women and men alike—from fully thriving.
In For the Love of Women Dorothy Littell Greco draws on in-depth research, interviews, biblical concepts, and vulnerable personal experience to explore how misogyny continues to impact six spheres of contemporary culture:
Healthcare Government The workplace Media and entertainment The church Intimate relationships While recent movements succeeded in raising consciousness and initiating important changes connected to misogynistic practices, alarming trends and rhetoric are on the rise in America today. We still have a lot of work to do—and the battle is more urgent than ever.
Like other deeply rooted, systemic injustices, misogyny is neither morally neutral nor random. It’s pernicious and calculated. For the Love of Women is for anyone who wants to educate, inspire, and empower themselves and women collectively to affect real change for everyone’s benefit.
Contracts
Brady Crytzer signed with Diversion Books for the June 2027 release of Commander-in-Chief: How George Washington Saved a Young Nation in Crisis,
Jim Burns with signed with HarperCollins Publishing for the April 2027 release of Parent’s Guide to Conversations About Sex.
Matthew John Milliner signed with IV Press for the October 2027 release of Mere Iconography.
Bryan Clark signed with Whitaker Corp for the April 2027 release of Tethered.
Walt Larimore signed with WWL Inc for the March 2027 release of Understanding the Nicene Creed.
New Clients
Samantha Stephenson, Katya Ungerman, Rachel Roth Aldhizer and Jeff Scott recently signed with WordServe. Welcome,
[title] => WordServe News October 2025
[desc] => October often highlights the crisp air, changing leaves, and cozy atmosphere, creating a perfect reading environment Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents. Releases Congratulations to Kelsey Kramer McGinnis with Marissa Franks Burt and Christian Audio …
September is a great month for Pumpkin Spice and a good book.
Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents.
What Google can’t explain and your doctor won’t — you have the power to take charge of your own health.
Women are told the pill is the solution to every hormonal issue, but it’s not. From painful periods to fertility struggles, real concerns are too often brushed aside. This empowering guide, written by a functional medicine physician, offers science-backed strategies that align with your menstrual cycle. You’ll gain the clarity and tools to balance your hormones, fix your periods, and feel your best by finally understanding the resilience, power, and wisdom of body.
While memory problems are common with aging, they are not inevitable. New research suggests it is now possible to dramatically improve memory and cognition, and to prevent and sometimes even reverse some forms of dementia.
In Conquer Memory Loss, psychiatrist and clinical neuroscientist Dr. Daniel G. Amen reveals how to start strengthening and rehabilitating your memory by: Recognizing your risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other memory problems, Understanding nutrition and consuming the right fuel, Exercising your brain, Finding the right medications. You aren’t stuck with the brain you’ve got. Let Dr. Amen show you how to take some giant steps on the journey to bettering your mental performance and improving your overall health and well-being.
A foe-turned-friend must learn to trust his new allies or risk losing his chance of finding a forever home in this thrilling conclusion of the award-winning Restorationists trilogy.
Ravi may be free from a life of crime and captivity, but he still feels trapped. Even though the Restorationists have welcomed him with open arms, he’s just not sure if he really belongs to this team.
While he’s agreed to help them infiltrate and bring down the nefarious Distortionists, Ravi keeps his escape plan—a stolen painting—close by in case things go south. But as the kids use their art-related Gifts to gain spots on the enemy’s heist team, new discoveries about his past have Ravi questioning his next move.
Can he risk trusting Vincent, Georgia, and the other Restorationists? Or is Ravi destined to always be on his own?
Contracts
Denise Pass signed with Whitaker Corporation for the February 2027 release of Thick Skin, Soft Heart.
Alexandra MacKillop signed with Baker Publishing Group for the October 2026 and June 2028 release of New Mom Syndrome and How To Live Forever.
Brian Doyle signed with Whitaker House for the March 2027 release of Guiding A Family.
Alan Cohen signed with Post Hill Press for the September 2026 release of Comfort Always Healing in The Age of Technology.
Marissa Burt signed with InterVarsity Press for the September 2027 release of Spiritual Treadmills.
Robin Michelle Warner signed with InterVarsity Press for the February 2027 release of Designer Diagnosis.
New Clients
Rebecca Knackstedt recently signed with WordServe. Welcome,
[title] => WordServe News September 2025
[desc] => September is a great month for Pumpkin Spice and a good book. Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents. Releases Congratulations to Dr. MacKillop with Dr. Gersh and Bloomsbury Academy for the September 4th release …
As we prepare for Fall, let us still enjoy a good book in the month of August.
Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents.
Releases
Congratulations to Debora Coty and Christian Art Publishers for the July 1st release of Bless Your Heart.
Ever feel like you can’t escape the storm cloud hanging over you? Might be a soul problem, sister. Refresh your “beauti-tude” with Bless Your Heart: Daily Devotions to Warm Your Heart and Feed Your Soul, Debora M. Coty’s 365-day devotional.
Debora’s heartwarming and relatable devotions are reminders that God cares about you—even in the little things. You’ll find encouragement to love cranky coworkers, drop-kick fear, and reclaim your value as a daughter of God. The combination of humor and biblical truth is refreshing for an early morning read or an afternoon pick-me-up.
Each day offers a Bible verse that speaks to your soul, a devotional reflection that renews a joyful spirit, and a prayer to remind you of God’s praiseworthy character. Let Debora’s lighthearted and warm words soothe your soul and point you back to your true source of light—Jesus Christ.
Bless Your Heart is a joy-filled gift for any best friend, sister, mom, or grandma. You’ll want to buy at least two copies—one to share and one for yourself. Gift it to your small group leader to say, “thank you.” Send one to your BFF as a way to show you’re thinking of her. Bless Your Heart comes with a faux leather cover and has a sweet, floral, feminine design that she’ll love.
God has Jesus-joy waiting for you in His word. Let Debora remind you of it in Bless Your Heart: Daily Devotions to Warm Your Heart and Feed Your Soul.
Congratulations to Katie Powner with Bethany House Publshers for the August 5th release of When the Road Comes Around.
Only trouble can bring about the beauty of redemption and grace.
In the small town of Grady, Montana, twenty-four-year-old Tad Bungley has a reputation for trouble. When he lands a job at Come Around Ranch, however, his life seems to take a positive turn. As he develops a soft spot for Sam, the ranch owner’s disabled son, and a special bond with TJ, a rescue horse with a poor reputation of his own, Tad becomes determined not to bungle it up this time.
Forty-eight-year-old Anita Wilson is too young to feel so old, but rheumatoid arthritis limits her ability to work on the guest ranch she owns with her husband. It was a risk to hire Tad for the summer, but Anita is convinced he just needs a bit of encouragement to find his footing. What she doesn’t anticipate is that Tad’s presence at the ranch will change everything, including her relationship with her son. And when Tad finds himself in more of a mess than ever, he and Anita must learn when to hold on, when to let go, and what grace really means.
“Katie Powner is my go-to author for multigenerational tales that take a tender and honest look at the human condition. . . . This is my favorite Powner book yet!”–AMANDA COX, Christy Award-winning author
“When the Road Comes Around is a stick-with-you testament to why nurturing hopeful perseverance in ourselves and others is always the best route to take.”–SARA BRUNSVOLD, Christy Award-winning author
Congratulations to Jamie Sumner and Simon & Schuster for the August 26th release of Schooled.
A bighearted novel from acclaimed author Jamie Sumner about new schools, unexpected friendships, and overcoming loss.
Eleven-year-old Lenny Syms is about to start college—sort of. As part of a brand-new experimental school, Lenny and four other students are starting sixth grade on a university campus, where they’ll be taught by the most brilliant professors and given every resource imaginable. This new school is pretty weird, though. Instead of hunkering down behind a desk to study math, science, and history, Lenny finds himself meditating, participating in discussions where you don’t even have to raise your hand, and spying on the campus population in the name of anthropology.
But Lenny just lost his mom, and his Latin professor dad is better with dead languages than actual human beings. Lenny doesn’t want to be part of some learning experiment. He just wants to be left alone. Yet if Lenny is going to make it as a middle schooler on a college campus, he’s going to need help. Is a group of misfit sixth graders and one particularly quirky professor enough to pull him out of his sadness and back into the world?
Congratulations to Grace Hamman with Charity Spencer and Zondervan Publishing for the September 9th release of Ask of Old Paths.
Traditional Christian virtue and vices like abstinence, gluttony, and sloth make many of us bored or uncomfortable. At their best, these words sound dead or confusing, like incomplete fossils that belong to a distant past awkwardly enshrined in a museum. At worst, they signify a prejudiced past, when these words were wielded like weapons.
Yet in medieval writing, the language of the virtues and vices was powerful, lively, and delightfully weird. Patience is described as a peppercorn. Unicorns preach chastity. Knightly virtues fend off devious vices by throwing roses at them. In medieval books, words like avarice and meekness meant different things and carried different weight than they do today. And great medieval preachers and poets taught the virtues as crucial to what it meant to live a life of holiness, right alongside the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed.
Ask of Old Paths, by Grace Hamman meditates upon those strange and wonderful word-pictures and explanations of virtues and vices found in medieval traditions of poetry, sermons, and treatises long confined to dusty corners of the library. It focuses on the ancient tradition of virtue language called the Seven Capital Vices and their Virtue Remedies: pride and humility, envy and love, wrath and meekness, avarice and mercy, sloth and perseverance, gluttony and abstinence, lust and chastity.
In accessible and thoughtful chapters, scholar and writer Grace Hamman shows how learning about these pairs of medieval virtues and vices can help us reevaluate our own washed out and insipid moral vocabulary in modernity. Our imaginations for the good life are expanded; our longing for sanctification sharpens. Old ideas can give us new fire in our practice of the virtues—and in that practice, we imitate Jesus and become more human.
AI Goes to Church unpacks one of the most significant technological advancements of our time―artificial intelligence―and what it means for the ministry. More than just another tech fad, AI presents both profound challenges and extraordinary opportunities for the church. This book equips pastors, ministry leaders, and thoughtful laypeople to engage with AI through a biblical and theological lens, fostering human flourishing while remaining grounded in Christ’s teachings.
Writing in an accessible, nontechnical style, pastor and missiologist Todd Korpi seamlessly integrates theological reflection with practical application. Whether you’re grappling with ethical concerns, curious about leveraging AI for mission, or simply seeking clarity in this rapidly changing landscape, this book provides the guidance you need to steward AI wisely in service of God’s kingdom.
With its emphasis on thoughtful, lasting principles over fleeting technical hacks, AI Goes to Church serves as your road map to faithfully navigating the complexities of faith, technology, and human flourishing.
In AI Goes to Church, you’ll find:
A Theological Foundation: Gain a deep understanding of how AI intersects with Christian theology, exploring implications for human identity, the image of God, and the church’s mission.
Ethical Discernment: Learn to critically evaluate AI’s potential to enhance human flourishing while remaining vigilant to its risks, such as harm to vulnerable populations.
Practical Integration: Explore actionable insights for leveraging AI in areas like discipleship and mission, while staying true to the gospel.
A Missional Vision: Understand how to see digital spaces as mission fields and use AI creatively to engage those who might not be reached otherwise.
Hopeful Engagement: Approach the technological age with confidence, holding on to biblical principles while discerning how to innovate with integrity.
AI represents a profound challenge―but also extraordinary opportunities―for today’s church. Whether you’re a pastor, ministry leader, or thoughtful believer―discover how faith and technology can intersect in meaningful ways. Get your copy of AI Goes to Church today and navigate this new era with a gospel-centered vision.
Contracts
Jerry Jamison signed with Bloomsbury Publishing for the July 2026 release of 11 HOURS: A True Tell of Madness, Mob Mentality, and the Media and the September 2026 release of Just Desserts: The Shocking true Tale of America’s Most Prolific Femail Murderer.
KatyMcCown signed with Andrews McMeel Publishing for the October 2026 release of Pray It Out: 40 Days of Casting Your Cares on Jesus.
Courtney Ellis signed with Augsburg Press for the March 2027 release of The UnDevotional.
Bonnie Kristian signed with Penguin Random House for the January 2027 release of In Defense of Evangelicalism.
New Clients
Matt Daniels and Grace Stark recently signed with WordServe. Welcome,
[title] => WordServe News August 2025
[desc] => As we prepare for Fall, let us still enjoy a good book in the month of August. Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents. Releases Congratulations to Debora Coty and Christian Art Publishers for the …
One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by
Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents.
Forty years after the publication of Eugene Sledge’s memoir With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa comes The Old Breed… The Complete Story Revealed by Eugene’s son, Henry, adding new material and immeasurable depth to his father’s story.
The Old Breed… The Complete Story Revealed brings to life an abundance of new material from the original manuscript of Eugene Sledge’s classic memoir With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa. By interspersing his own personal anecdotes throughout, Henry Sledge takes his father’s work and gives it newfound context, sharing memories of conversations between father and son. The result is a flowing narrative that portrays an intimate look at a WWII veteran and his struggles to adapt to civilian life following the war.
Contracts
Shannon Evans with Eric Clayton signed with Paraclete Press for the July 2026 release of The Seagull on the Roof.
R.B. Jamieson signed with Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing November 2027 release of God from God: The Trinitarian Christology of the Gospel of John.
Abigail Favale signed with Penguin Random for the June 2027 release of The End of Sex: What We’re Made For and Why We Keep Missing It.
Jessica Hooten Wilson signed with HarperCollins for the October 2026 release of Twice Rebels.
Gretchen Hammond signed with Globe Pequot for the October 2026 release of American Unpeople.
Sarah E Frazer signed with Revell for the January 2027 release of His Night Song Is With Me.
Steven Argue signed with Brazos Press for the March 2027 release of Right On Time.
Sarah Varland signed with Harlequin for the November 2026 and April 2027 release of two books.
New Clients
Ryan Kell, Marty Mosher, Michael Jones, and Holly Guertin, recently signed with WordServe. Welcome,
From the desk of Emma Fulenwider
Yesterday, I was lamenting to a fellow writer about running out of time to thoroughly judge an essay contest. There are 30% more submissions this year, and I’ve been pleading with the organizers to give me an extension so that I can deliver the 1st-50th place winners, in order, like I did last year.
Chanté looked over her glasses at me. “I think you’re trying to do A+ work when they’re only asking you for A- work. You have enough time. Do an A- job and move on.”
She was absolutely right.
Last month, we talked about how platform isn’t the path to a book deal, it’s the path around a book deal that allows authors to get their message out and engage their readers without depending on a publisher.
So if authors are doing all this work to connect with their audience and market themselves, what’s the point of letting a publisher take a cut of the profits when you can self-publish instead?
The short answer is: because self publishing is A- work. At best.
There is a place for self-publishing. Self publishing is for the books you just want done. Not perfect, just done.
Last year, I was working on my book about raising kids toy-free when an acquisitions editor reached out and pointedly asked if I knew anyone who was writing a book for moms about “having less stuff.” I could have pitched him my book right then. I thought about it for 1.6 seconds. I mean, what are the odds?
But I knew that working with a trade publisher would mean increasing my word count from 20K to 60K, investing heavily in a social media presence that I loathe, and spending the rest of my life drawing the flaming arrows of the internet for being a mean mom. I knew I didn’t have it in me to produce and launch an A+ version of this book, I just wanted to finish the thing and use it to promote my Patreon.
So I replied back. “I do know someone working on a book like that, but she decided to self-publish.” She being me.
Before I was an agent, I helped authors self-publish their books. The low-quality work I had seen by other assisted self-publishers (often calling themselves “hybrid” publishers) motivated me to get in the game and do it right, with excellence. At one point, I was running an indie imprint and managing their annual anthology series. Not only have I helped authors self-publish a dozen books, I buy more self-published books than anyone I know.
Without fail, our best work falls short of what I know it could have been. A self-published book always feels like a prototype.
Here are three major benefits to working with a publisher instead of self-publishing:
QUALITY
Even when I outsourced the editing, proofreading, cover design and formatting to professionals, even when I had a marketer working with me, I was never able to match the level of excellence that I see in traditionally published books. Self publishing does not compete with traditional publishing when it comes to quality, and it rarely competes when it comes to sales.
People think that self publishing is a chance to prove publishers wrong. 99.9% of the time, it’s how authors prove publishers right.
FUNDING
In self-publishing, you pay up-front for cover design, formatting, proofreading, etc. In my experience, these expenses ran into the low thousands in value if not actual cost. If you have friends who are great at cover design and willing to work on trade, you’re still trading your time and managing the project, which is a cost to you.
In traditional publishing, your team not only takes on all of the financial risk, they even give you a chunk of your share in advance.
GROWTH
There is a hidden benefit to working with a publisher that I believe is more valuable than the embossed hardcover, the advance and higher overall sales. In fact, it’s the reason I left self-publishing to work for an agency. Mentorship.
When you self-publish, there’s no one helping you get better at what you do. You are always the expert, and therefore your growth is limited. Similar to how a small fishbowl stunts the growth of a goldfish, self-published authors mostly release books that are of the same quality as their last book. They don’t grow. Publishers, on the other hand, are invested in your entire career as an author. They want you to succeed over years and years, and books and books. They are a massive aquarium of knowledge, connections and pep talks.
Now that my toy-free book is out in the wild, I have zero regrets about self-publishing because it has freed me up to focus on projects that deserve my A+ work.
The contest organizers did grant me that extension, though.
QUESTIONS to ask yourself
Is this a topic I like to talk about occasionally (A-), or am I willing to talk about it nonstop for 5 years?(A+)
Is this project only worth my time if I sell 5K copies (A+), or would I be happy if I only sell 100 copies? (A-)
Am I willing to trade ownership and creative control to make this book be the best it can possibly be (A+), or is it more important that I retain creative control and ownership of my work (A-)?
[title] => WordServe News July 2025
[desc] => One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents. Releases Congratulations to W. Henry Sledge and Knox Press for June 3 release …
There’s nothing better than slowing down the busy-ness and pausing to read for a while at any time on a warm summer day. Morning, afternoon, evening… they’re all great times to read!
Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents.
A road map to free your kids from the harms of digital technology and to recover the beauty, wonder, and true purpose of childhood—by a leading tech policy expert
It’s no secret that addictive digital technologies like smartphones and social media apps are harming a generation of kids socially, mentally, and even physically. But a workable solution seems elusive. After all, don’t kids need phones, and won’t they be vulnerable or socially isolated without tech?
Clare Morell, fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and director of its Technology and Human Flourishing Project, argues that the answer is no. She exposes the lies parents have been sold about managing the dangers of tech through parental controls and screen-time limits, and demonstrates that another way is possible—even if your children are already using smartphones or social media.
The Tech Exit maps a doable pathway to freedom from digital technology for families, local communities, and society. Drawing on dozens of interviews with experts and with families who have gone tech-free, as well as Morell’s own work as a policy expert, The Tech Exit shows how digital technology is anything but necessary for children to live happy, healthy, and socially full lives.
The Tech Exit is essential listening for any parent who has felt stuck between an awareness of the dangers of digital technology for kids and the feeling that tech is necessary and inevitable. Clare Morell’s message is simple and compelling: You and your family can be free. The life you want for your children is within reach.
This companion to Jim Putman’s book, The Power of Together, provides a 9-week Bible study to encourage spiritual growth and community building. Trusted discipleship leader and pastor Jim Putman invites you to dig deeper into what it means to “do life” in close fellowship with other believers and to grow in your understanding of why fellowship is important for spiritual maturity.
Structured as a 9-week program alongside The Power of Together, this workbook offers daily insights and exercises to help you grow in your faith and embrace a more vibrant life in Christian community. Each week is dedicated to a specific theme, such as discipleship, relationships, spiritual maturity, and the power of community. This helpful resource includes:
A reading plan to use this alongside The Power of Together book,
A versatile 9-week study that can be used in both individual and group settings,
A “Growing Together” section at the end of each week, providing weekly group discussion material.
When the U.S. administration of Jefferson Rhodes—acclaimed as “world president” of an enlightened new world order—celebrates the half-twenty-first-century mark, progressivism seems to have solidified a complete political, cultural, and social triumph. Conservativism, Christianity, and traditional American values are distant memories.
Out of sight, sinister forces are at work. Led by the third-generation scion of its founder, the clandestine Palladium cabal is tightening its noose around the Oval Office. Hidden deeper behind the scenes, shrouded in the mists of Middle Eastern antiquity, another third-generation scion is poised to climax a deceptively cunning strategy for world domination, with the Islamic takeover of America as the centerpiece of a world Islamic state.
Unseen by either of these nefarious crusades against truth, a remnant of Christ’s true Church is waking around the world, reclaiming its first-century power to prevail against the very gates of hell.
Which of these three historic movements will emerge to determine the future of America’s destiny?
Contracts
Sean Castle signed with Whitaker House for the August 2026 release of Investing Now and an unnamed Book #2.
Karissa Tunis signed with Familius for the October 2026 release of Notes for My Daughter and Notes for My Son.
Katie Powner signed with Crooked Lane Books for the September 2026 release of Peaceful Pines Trailer Park for Seasoned Adults.
Gretchen Hammond with Julie Belshe signed with Prometheus Books for the October 2026 release of American Unpeople.
New Clients
Naomi Epps Best recently signed with WordServe. Welcome,
[title] => WordServe News June 2025
[desc] => There’s nothing better than slowing down the busy-ness and pausing to read for a while at any time on a warm summer day. Morning, afternoon, evening… they’re all great times to read! Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note …
May is recognized as Get Caught Reading Month, a time to encourage reading for all ages and to celebrate the joy of literacy.
Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents.
Love and delight characterize this special book on Mary, the mother of Jesus. Eight appearances of Mary in different countries range from Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, to Our Lady of La Vang in Vietnam, to our Lady of Lourdes in France. This book shows that no matter where or how Mary appears, she is always the same mother who delights in all of God’s children and who reaches out in love to draw them to her Son.
The Catholic tradition asserts that Mary has appeared to those in need around the world, even long after her time on earth had ended. In these apparitions, not only does Mary accompany the vulnerable, but she appears as part of the local community in her dress, her skin color, the language she speaks. What does this tell children about the nature of God?
Children who read this book will see Mary appear all over the world in different guises, coming in looks and language that is familiar to local cultures and communities. Ultimately, children will come to understand that God, too, is present in their lives and can be encountered through the customs and traditions of their own families, communities, and countries.
In this story, Mary’s pilgrimage of faith begins in Nazareth, but it doesn’t end there. Readers will see her appear to people all over the world, ultimately coming into their own lives–and sharing God’s love.
Chicago is a world-class city, but it is also a city in crisis.
Crime is up, schools have repeatedly shut down due to conflict between City Hall and the powerful teachers’ union, and COVID-19 only deepened the entrenched poverty, institutional racism, and endless tug of war between the city’s haves and have nots.
For four years, the person at the center of this storm was Lori Lightfoot. A groundbreaking figure—the first Black, gay woman to be elected mayor of a major city and only the second female mayor of Chicago—she knew the city was at a critical turning point when she took office in 2019. But the once-in-a-lifetime challenges she ended up facing were beyond anything she or anyone else saw coming.
Chicago Tribune reporter Gregory Royal Pratt offers the first comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at the tumultuous single term of Mayor Lightfoot and the chaos that roiled the city and City Hall as she fought to live up to her promises to change the city’s culture of corruption and villainy, reform its long-troubled police department, and make Chicago the safest big city in America.
Some of Chicago’s problems can be explained by forces greater than the mayor: national polarization, long-standing cultural and racial tensions, our plague years. But some are the result of Lightfoot’s poor leadership at City Hall, a story that hasn’t been told in full—until now.
Fifth-generation homesteader Melissa K. Norris offers over 100 time-tested, budget-friendly recipes for cooking, cleaning, and caring for your family.
As the cost of food, cleaning supplies, and personal care items continue to skyrocket, are you looking for new ways to cut costs and seek healthier solutions for your family?
Melissa K. Norris, host of the popular Pioneering Today podcast, shows you how you can make many of the meals and products you’re currently paying for at a fraction of the price.
Melissa shares easy-to-follow recipes, ideas, and tips for… baking a variety of delicious pastries, pies, pizzas, and more cooking hearty soups, stews, and sauces creating scrumptious sourdough treats and other fermented foods growing your own herbs for seasonings, salves, and tinctures simplifying your life in every room of your home celebrating the holidays with homemade charm Home and Hand Made helps you do more with less and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing all the ingredients that go into what your family eats and uses each day.
A road map for finding inner peace and bringing peace to others
These days, everyone is looking for peace. But too often we look in all the wrong places.
In Finding Peace Here and Now, award-winning Catholic author Eric A. Clayton shows you that peace starts from within. By looking inside yourself, you can discover and embrace who you are meant to be in God. Using Saint Ignatius of Loyola as a guide, Clayton offers:
● stories from the Ignatian tradition ● meditations on God’s unique dream for you ● spiritual reflections to help you experience peace ● practical tools for becoming who you want to be
These resources will lead you along a path of inner peace, which you can then extend outward to bring peace to others and challenging situations.
This book will resonate with those who are familiar with the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises as well as those learning about them for the first time. In the end, you’ll learn how to navigate your own journey to inner peace and a love of self while discovering how this journey is tied to better loving and serving neighbors and working for global justice–all for the greater glory of God.
Congratulations to Monica DiCristina and Worthy Books for the May 13th release of Your Pain Has A Name.
Therapist Monica DiCristina brings proven psychology techniques to readers looking to understand and embrace their pain so they can begin to heal and move forward with a full life ahead of them.
Monica DiCristina struggled for years to describe the pain she was experiencing inside. Without knowing what was behind her anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and fears, she created other names for them: “not good enough,” “unworthy,” “messed up,” and “wrong.” Through the slow process of understanding her own story, she discovered a glorious path to healing, as well as a calling to become a therapist to help others in the same way.
Now, Monica has created a guide to help you identify the patterns and barriers that are keeping you from being your authentic self. While not every wound may fully heal, each one can be understood, and that understanding starts when you confront the pain—not just recognizing the hurt, but naming and honoring it.
In Your Pain Has a Name, Monica offers a compassionate, open space for you to give voice to your pain. With the nurturing curiosity often found in a therapist’s office, she will help you: ·Uncover your hurts: Pinpoint and define the hidden pain that’s holding you back. ·Name your pain: Accurately describe and validate your feelings. ·Reclaim your identity: Distinguish yourself from the false stories your pain has created. ·Embrace your healing: Release the pain that no longer serves you and step into your truth.
In finding the language to describe your hurts, you gain the space and courage to become your fullest self—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Join Monica on a journey to release the pain that isn’t yours to carry.
Discovering New Dimensions in Faith-Based Community Work
“A welcome and needed book addressing the current tensions and opportunities. . . . Dr. Ward’s foundational book points us to a way forward. I am enthused at what this book can do to lead us as church leaders and agency leaders to a new synergy.” – Jerry E. White, international president emeritus of The Navigators, a Christian parachurch organization
In a world where the church’s relevance is often questioned, Angie Ward offers a compelling blueprint for a unified ecclesial future in Beyond Church and Parachurch. Beyond Church and Parachurch is not just a historical and theological exploration; it’s a roadmap for rethinking the very essence of Christian ministry. Whether you’re a pastor, mission leader, or nonprofit executive, you will be challenged to transcend conventional boundaries and discover the full spectrum of the church’s potential.
Holistic Understanding: Develops a comprehensive view that integrates both traditional and emerging forms of ministry. Innovative Strategies: Beyond Church and Parachurch presents forward-thinking approaches to facilitate collaboration between churches and parachurch organizations. Inclusive Leadership: Emphasizes the importance of diverse leadership in fostering a more inclusive community. Practical Applications: Offers actionable insights and case studies to apply the concepts in real-world contexts. Future-Oriented: Focuses on long-term vision and sustainable practices for impactful ministry work. Dive into a fresh understanding of the church in all its forms—be it campus ministries, mission agencies, or church-planting networks. Ward’s vision dismantles the silos that fragment evangelical efforts, urging us to view the church as an interconnected ecosystem of apostolic networks. This paradigm shift empowers leaders to maximize kingdom impact, fostering cooperation and collaboration across organizations. With practical insights and visionary guidance, Beyond Church and Parachurch equips Christian leaders to serve a world in need with renewed purpose and unity. Transform your ministry approach and join a movement that redefines what it means to be the church.
Contracts
Jim Ramos signed with David C Cook for the July 2026 release of Guardrails (Book One) and Bring It (Book Two).
Maria Olsen signed with Bloomsbury Publishing for the May 2026 release of Before and After the DNA Test.
Kelsey Kramer McGinnis signed with Brazos Press for the June 2027 release of Clean and Holy.
Adam Boggs signed with B&H Publishing for the July 2026 and May 2027 release of The Fallen Kingdom and The King of God’s Kingdom.
Jonathan McKee signed with Focus On The Family for the December 2026 release of Until She Left Me.
New Clients
Mark Filidei,Crystal Johnson, Timothy Kelly, Brad East, Brian Cosby, Dan White, and Myles Werntz recently signed with WordServe. Welcome,
From the Desk of Emma Fulenwider
I’m going to make you a bet, and then I’m going to make you a promise.
First, I bet I can make you say “ugh” out loud in the next five seconds. 5…4…3…
How’s your platform going?
…1
Yep, platform. The hamster wheel that the internet rudely added to the author journey. We used to be able to sit in our attics with our writing hats and think the things and write them beautifully and that was enough for the people who had the power to make us famous. Now, we have to become minor celebrities on our own power, capitulating to the soul-less algorithm for attention.
Once upon a time, our work vouched for us. Now, nobody gets past the front door unless the Machine vouches for them. It’s all too much, and so unfair.
At least, that’s what it feels like.
Here’s the promise. I promise that by the end of this article, you will feel so excited about platform that you would do it even if you knew with absolute certainty that you will never publish a book.
The Purpose of a Book Deal
Let’s start with why you want a book deal. Here are the reasons I hear most as an agent that only represents adult non-fiction:
“I have something to say that other people need to hear.”
Wonderful! I’m glad that you’re an expert in parenting a special needs child. Or improving mental health. Or getting a business off the ground. Please tell us what you know.
“My story is important to history or current national conversations.”
Fantastic! As a society, we can learn a lot about our justice system from the story of a falsely accused citizen who served 20 years before being exonerated. We absolutely need to hear an economist’s solutions for the current housing crisis. Do share.
“I want to add another stream of income to my current business.”
Super! You recognize that not everyone can come to your workshops, or hire you as a consultant, and you want to package your solutions in a way that reaches more people. Makes total sense.
Now, let me ask you this.
What makes publishers so special that you only trust them to 1) connect you with your readers, 2) handle your legacy, and 3) manage your new income stream?
Publishing Before There Was Platform
When platform is the thing standing between us and a book deal, it’s natural to think “If not for platform, I would be published.” The truth is quite the opposite. Platform is what made publishing more democratic and more merit-based than it was before.
Before platform, you couldn’t just think the things and write the words either. You had to shoot your shot just right to get a seat at the table, and it was a much smaller table.
Between 1966 and 1996, book titles published per year doubled from 30K to 60K. By 2010, that number quadrupled to 240K.[1] Book sales, on the other hand, have stayed at about $25.5 billion annually for the past 25 years.[2]
Publishers are diversifying their lists, taking a chance on four times the number of authors than they were at the turn of the millennia. Why are they doing that? Why would the gatekeepers go to all the trouble of finding four of the best proposals when they could pick one good one and make it an overnight success and bring in the same amount of money? Platform.
The term “gatekeeper” is almost laughable when you think about how publishing has changed over the last 50 years. The Publishing Gate was once the only way to reach readers. If they didn’t publish your book, forget about anyone finding it.
But then blogging happened, and Youtube, and podcasting, and social media. Publishers today stand guard in front of a gate that has a million bypasses around it. They can no longer risk putting all their golden eggs into 25K random baskets. They are spreading their eggs out over 250K baskets, and they’re looking to readers to help them decide which baskets are their best bet.
The existence of “platform” has increased your odds and your control over whether you get a book deal.
Fun Fact: The Point of Platform is NOT to Land a Book Deal
Let’s say you write a newsletter, start a podcast, become a speaker, build an online community around your online course – let’s say you do all the platform stuff and never get a book deal. In doing so, you have shared your solutions, told your story, and added an income stream to your business. Platform is about accomplishing the mission you thought was only possible with a book deal.
The secret that publishers are afraid you’ll realize is that they can’t predictably lay golden eggs anymore. You have the levers now. You have the ability to connect with your readers and contribute to the national conversation and get paid for your intellectual property.
So. You want to say the thing? Say the thing! No one is stopping you.
That’s what platform is—the freedom to reach people with your message without needing permission or validation from the gatekeepers. And if you still want a book deal, platform is how you prove to publishers that you’re about to lay a golden egg.
“Okay, so if platform is how I bypass the gatekeepers to reach my goals, then what’s the point of working with a publisher?” I’m so glad you asked. We’ll talk about that next month.
[title] => WordServe News May 2025
[desc] => May is recognized as Get Caught Reading Month, a time to encourage reading for all ages and to celebrate the joy of literacy. Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents. Releases Congratulations to Shannon K Evans …
April, as the first full month of spring, often symbolizes new beginnings, renewal, and hope, with Christian traditions also associating it with the Resurrection of the Lord.
Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents.
Releases
Congratulations to Carrie Rogers-Whitehead and Rowman & Littlefield Publishers for the Aprill 15th release ofTechnology for Littles.
An easy-to-implement guide to help parents raise tech-savvy children with healthy and safe online habits from the start.
Today’s youngest children are experiencing technology more intensely than any generation before them. The opportunities are great—but so are the dangers. How do parents and educators prepare this new generation to be safe and responsible online? How can they raise young children with a healthy digital balance?
In Technology for Littles, parent, practitioner, and founder of Digital Respons-Ability Carrie Rogers-Whitehead combines decades of research on child development with practical tools for parents to help them raise healthy, responsible, and safe internet users at home. And because schools don’t typically start digital literacy until third grade or older, this book focuses on helping parents of younger children implement online safety at home from the time a toddler first picks up a smart phone.
Packed full of songs, strategies, resource lists, and more, Technology for Littles equips parents to fearlessly tackle tech and create habits and routines that will help children grow to be healthy yet tech-savvy humans in a digital world.
Congratulations to David Sunde and NavPress for May 6ths release of Homegrown Disciples.
Christian parents long to instill a lasting faith in our children, but the challenge of balancing spiritual teaching with academic, extracurricular, and social demands can be overwhelming. Many feel inadequate or unqualified to lead their children spiritually. In Homegrown Disciples, David Sunde offers seven rhythms to help disciplemaking parents know God better, experience him more fully, and leverage their faith for the benefit of their children.
Find out how to reproduce a living faith in your kids’ lives through the seven rhythms of apprenticing, renewal, hospitality, community, compassion, generosity, and gratitude.
Learn how to: Experience God’s presence and grace through the highs and lows of raising children, Create a nurturing environment where faith can grow naturally, Use everyday interactions to reveal God’s heart and truth to your children, Embrace the idea that both you and your children are learning and growing together in faith.
Contracts
Barry H. Corey and John S. Townsend signed with Whitaker Corporation for the May 2026 release of Thirteen Burdens: What They Are and How Leaders Bear Them Bravely.
Cristóbal Krusen signed with Baker Publishing for the July 2027 release of They Were Christians Volume 2.
Paul Anleitner signed with HarperCollins Christian Publishing for the June 2026 release of Return to Meaning.
Jennifer Rosner signed with Baylor University Press for the December 2026 release of The Jewish Gospel and Christian Identity.
New Clients
Abby Maddox recently signed with WordServe. Welcome!
What We’re Celebrating
Congratulations to Naomi Cramer Overton, General Editor; Misty Arterburn, Assoc. Editor; Stephen Arterburn, and Tricia Lott Williford and Jana Richardson. — The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) has named them finalist for the 2025 Christian Book Award program. The finalists represent the year’s best in Christian publishing among 12 book and Bible categories.
As a new agent, one of my biggest mistakes was signing clients because I believed in them.
Americans love an underdog success story, especially when their success is attributed to passion. We love to tell the legends of famous books that found their way to bookstore shelves through the author’s relentless determination in the face of rejection until they found a single devotee on the other side of the table. The Lord of the Rings, Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Help.
For years, my insatiable passion for books fueled little more than my own spending habits. Becoming an agent gave me a thrill of empowerment. Finally, I was ready to put the force of my conviction behind authors who just needed a wind in their sails to overcome what their business plan lacked.
Suddenly, I had the Midas touch. I could pick a project that no one else on “team gatekeeper” understood and use my sales superpowers to remove the scales from their eyes.
And then a terrible thing happened. It worked.
A young woman came to us with a memoir about surviving a toxic childhood with her horse by her side. My boss and colleague passed on it for fair reasons, but I jumped on it because I believed in it. Everyone in the industry knows memoir isn’t selling well these days unless you’re a celebrity, so what I did was out of reckless passion for this story. That questionable decision led to… my first book sale. I will forever be sad that there wasn’t a hidden camera pointed at my desk to capture the world’s most awkward happy dance when that offer hit my inbox.
Invigorated, I went out and signed a handful of other passion projects, convinced that I had an intuition for this stuff. Boy, the Tolkeins of today are sure lucky that I’m around.
One by one, they failed to sell. Instead of being an elevator to the top, I was more like a human shield for the volley of rejection that landed on my clients.
A few of them quit me. One of them took a hiatus to reconsider whether she wanted to continue writing at all. They didn’t look back on our year of working passionately side by side as a success, they saw it for what it was – a waste of time. And I was the one who put us through it, knowing it would likely end up this way.
Apparently, my passion does not carry a project any further than the author’s passion. An agent’s job is to balance the author’s passion with business sense, and I wasn’t doing my job.
If you recall the full story of the Midas touch, King Midas soon realized that his golden touch brought him endless gold, but robbed him of food, drink, a soft pillow and a warm blanket. When his own daughter ran to embrace him and became a gold statue, he realized that gold was not his greatest joy after all. On the contrary, acquiring gold had cost him his greatest joy and his daily essentials for living.
I meet a lot of authors in a year, and many of them are convinced that signing with an agent is what they want most. The announcement on social media that you’re represented by an agency, replying to emails with the line “I’ve CC’d my agent,” adding your agent’s email to your author website – all fun, sexy accessories to the author life.
But slaving over a proposal and a manuscript that go nowhere wastes a lot of time, attention and emotional energy – things that are essential to living. The crushing disappointment of having a book “die on submission” has the potential to cost an author the joy of writing itself.
As a writer myself, given the choice between a book deal or the love of writing, I would keep the love of writing.
I still believe in authors, but I have learned to champion them differently depending on where they’re at in their journey and what they need most.
Agents have more to offer than representation. We validate good writing, we make introductions between potential collaborators, we help authors make a plan to get where they want to go. In that sense, there’s no harm in talking to an agent. A 15-minute appointment at a conference is not a pass/fail audition, it’s an opportunity for mentorship. Most people aren’t ready for a book deal, but everyone needs encouragement and the best encouragers I’ve met in this business are agents.
Here’s where you can get encouraged by a WordServe Agent this year:
[title] => WordServe News April 2025
[desc] => April, as the first full month of spring, often symbolizes new beginnings, renewal, and hope, with Christian traditions also associating it with the Resurrection of the Lord. Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents. Releases Congratulations …
In honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March is celebrated as National Reading Month, encouraging everyone to embrace the joy and benefits of reading.
Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents.
Releases
Congratulations to Jack Woodville London and Stoney Creek Publishing for the February 18th release of Dangerous Latitudes.
Espionage, Survival, and the Fight for Texas Independence
From the author of the French Letters trilogy comes a sweeping historical adventure full of unforgettable Texas legends!
Six years after the fall of the Alamo, Mexican armies invade freely across the Rio Grande, and Texas is but one skirmish away from losing its hard-won independence.
Against this backdrop, naïve surveyor Alexandre LaBranche accepts a dubious commission to map the Rio Grande boundary between Texas and Mexico but soon finds himself far out of his depth.
Laced with exuberant, Texas-sized historical figures such as Sam Houston, Mirabeau Lamar, and Jack Hays, Dangerous Latitudes is a quest across a war-torn frontier that becomes a race to save two hundred captured Texans who the Mexican army has marked for death.
A contemplative guide to finding satisfaction right where you are, by understanding what it is within us that leads to dissatisfaction and creating long-lasting fulfillment—inspired by the ancient Christian tradition of Benedictine stability.
“A challenging spiritual invitation—one that we definitely need.”—Shannon K. Evans, author of The Mystics Would Like a Word
Lydia Sohn was a serial burn-it-down-and-make-a-fresh-start girl until, when in her late twenties, she encountered the Rule of St. Benedict with its vow of stability, and her world was transformed. Sohn took a pause to consider what she wanted out of life—identity, purpose, community—and had a lightbulb moment: Everything she needed to live the life she desired was already within her reach.
Here pushes back against our age of constant reinvention and the cultural message that we should do whatever it takes to get wherever we want to go. Instead, Sohn’s message is the opposite: stay. Stay and cultivate the immense potential and beauty that currently lies dormant within your circumstances.
Sohn understands the allure of nomadism. A nomadic life would protect us from the stress of relational conflicts that inevitably arise when we’re caught in the intricate web of commitments. But the restlessness, FOMO, and disappointment we’re trying to escape always come along for the journey. That’s because they’re not the result of our circumstances; they reside within us.
Braiding personal narrative and spiritual reflection, Here inspires readers to both embrace and transform their circumstances through commitment and stability—in order that they might find true contentment right where they are.
New hope for those suffering from conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, addictions, PTSD, ADHD and more.
Though the incidence of these conditions is skyrocketing, for the past four decades standard treatment hasn’t much changed, and success rates in treating them have barely improved, either. Meanwhile, the stigma of the “mental illness” label―damaging and devastating on its own―can often prevent sufferers from getting the help and healing they need.
Neuropsychiatrist and bestselling author Dr. Daniel Amen is on the forefront of a new wellness movement within medicine and related disciplines that aims to change all that. In The End of Mental Illness, Dr. Amen draws on the latest findings of neuroscience to challenge an outdated psychiatric paradigm and help readers take control and improve the health of their own brain, minimizing or reversing conditions that may be preventing them from living a full and emotionally healthy life.
Packed with insights on hormones, diet, toxins, and more, The End of Mental Illness will help you discover:
Why labeling someone as having a “mental illness” is not only inaccurate but harmful Why standard treatment may not have helped you or a loved one―and why diagnosing and treating you based on your symptoms alone so often misses the true cause of those symptoms and results in poor outcomes At least 100 simple things you can do yourself to heal your brain and prevent or reverse the problems that are making you feel sad, mad, or bad How to identify your “brain type” and what you can do to optimize your particular type Where to find the kind of health provider who understands and uses the new paradigm of brain health The End of Mental Illness will empower you to strengthen your brain and improve your mind. Get started today!
We might be discouraged, disillusioned, or devastated by our work. We might experience trauma or harassment on the job, or we may have experienced work loss by getting fired. If you’ve been beat up, burnt out, or brokenhearted by work, you’re not alone.
The Bible tells us that work will be difficult―filled with thorns and thistles―but no one prepares us for the pain we experience on the job. In When Work Hurts Meryl Herr
Explores the emotional, relational, and vocational pain that work causes and helps us rebound and build resilience so we can fully participate with God in his mission, Walks through the biblical story of the Israelites’ journey of exile, return, and rebuilding as a framework for spiritual and practical resources for navigating work loss, and Shows that we can take comfort in the fact that God is at work in the midst of our work to bring healing and hope. “This book is a timely, uplifting resource that speaks to both the heart and mind. With a deep understanding of Scripture and descriptions about her journey, Herr expertly helps readers who want to integrate faith into their professional lives and navigate workplace challenges to reclaim a sense of purpose and hope.” – Library Journal Review, February 2025.
In the past few decades, the church has experienced rapid and distressing change. Hard-working pastors and leaders often know they need to embrace diversity, creatively engage younger generations, and equip their people to love their neighbors. But since they don’t know how to make the changes needed, they feel stuck and wonder, “What do I do now? What steps can I take to lead our church purposefully and prayerfully into a more hopeful future?”
For these dedicated yet drained church leaders, this research-informed resource from the team at the Fuller Youth Institute offers a clear roadmap to faithfully and effectively navigate change that will revitalize your church. Through extensive research, interviews, and case studies, you will learn how to see the big picture, activate a transformation team, know your “why,” discern where God is leading, communicate a compelling vision, maintain disciplined attention, and experiment toward a more fruitful, faithful, and lasting future.
This hope-filled guide for building tomorrow’s church today is the resource your church has been waiting for.
This book tells the twisted true story of twentieth century con man Robert Spears. Chief among Spears’s misdeeds was a sophisticated and elaborate network of abortion clinics deftly disguised as legitimate practices that generated a reported $20,000 a week in the 1950s. However, when Dr. Spears was about to go on trial for his abortion operation, he stunningly “died” in an airplane crash, leaving his widow to collect the equivalent of a million dollars in life insurance. As the FBI investigated, they uncovered an astonishing, mind-bending tale of murder, abortion rings, and false identities—more than 22 aliases for Spears alone—as well as insurance scams and investment fraud that stretched over decades. But that was far from the end of the story. Peeling back layer after layer, a world of schemes virtually beyond comprehension was exposed that left families, businesses, entire industries, and future generations in ruins. And yet Robert Spears proved to be the ultimate slippery fish. The FBI was never able to pin him down for the heinous downing of an airliner filled with innocent souls and the murder of his dearest friend. Methodically researched and meticulously sourced from FBI reports and hundreds of news articles and publications, Vanishing Act is one of the great con man stories of our time.
Contracts
Arnold Cole signed with Whitaker House for the May 2026 release of Spiritual Fitness For The Soul.
New Clients
Gary Neal Hansen and Tracey Hughes Royal recently signed with WordServe. Welcome!
[title] => WordServe March News 2025
[desc] => In honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March is celebrated as National Reading Month, encouraging everyone to embrace the joy and benefits of reading. Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents. Releases Congratulations to Jack Woodville London …
February is the month of love and who doesn’t LOVE a good book.
Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents.
In the bestselling book, Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well by Douglas Stone & Sheila Heen, the authors wrote: “We receive a deluge of feedback—from bosses, colleagues, friends, family—yet it rarely improves performance. The problem is that we’ve focused all of our attention and training on the feedback giver. Instead, it is the feedback receiver who decides whether to make use of the feedback and improve.”
Navigating Feedback at Work, Home, and Everywhere Else focuses entirely on the receiver of difficult feedback. How you respond to that feedback determines, to a large extent, your destiny.
Seriously, your destiny?
Seriously.
Using video clips from top business consultants and interactive journaling, author Brian Byrd will walk you through the skills necessary to embrace difficult feedback in a way that will not only improve your personal life but also your professional life.
Brian Byrd invites you on a journey to the rest of your life, which could very well lead to the years that become…the best of your life!
Contracts
Eugene Lipov with Lauren Ungeldi signed Post Hill Press with for the May 2026 release of The God Shot” Healing Trauma’s Legacy: The Sience, The Stories, The Solution,
New Clients
Gary Neal Hansen recently signed with WordServe. Welcome!
[title] => WordServe February News 2025
[desc] => February is the month of love and who doesn’t LOVE a good book. Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents. Releases Congratulations to Brian Byrd with Ken Gire and Post Hill Press for the January …
January is National Book Month and National Reading Day, making it a great time to read.
WordServe author Charles Person passed away recently after a year-long battle with cancer. Charles was one of the original Freedom Riders from the early 1960’s during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. His story was published by St. Martins Press many years ago, and Charles proved to be an energetic promoter of his story. He was one of those silent American Icon types who lived through history, made many sacrifices, and came through it all with a steadfast commitment to America and the journey we had to go through—and continue to go through—in order to insure equality for all. More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Person
Our highlights below include new releases, contracts signed, notable reviews and PR events, new authors to the agency and other news of note by clients and agents.
Research shows that people who have a sense of calling are more productive, motivated, and resilient than their peers. But they are also more likely to experience the physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion of burnout. When they do, the impact is more severe and disorienting. Burnout often starts from something very good: a passionate commitment to meaningful work and the skill to make it a reality. But the dark side of calling is that passion and skill without boundaries are like matches to a dry forest, at risk for devastating destruction.
How can we pursue our callings while managing our risk for burnout? Communication and workplace expert Arianna Molloy explores the nature of a healthy calling and the surprising key to unlocking a more sustainable approach. Humility is essential to a healthy calling, one that involves knowing yourself well, being teachable, and embracing the vulnerability of consistently taking time to rest and reflect. Molloy identifies essential practices and disciplines to recalibrate your calling and transform your work, relationships, and life.
You don’t have to feel stuck and alone, disoriented in the dark. Let the Caller turn on the lights and return you to health.
Congratulations to Roger Hutchison with Claire Westwood and Morehouse Publishing for the January 7th release of The Gift of Baptism.
A beautifully illustrated poetic rendering of the promise made at baptism, an ideal gift.
Millions of people are baptized every year, most as babies, in an important and joyous family ritual. Once children reach reading age, an understanding of the meaning of their baptism is an essential part of their formation and opens up their lives to the power of Christian community. With 22 colorful illustrations and a vibrant concise lyrical narrative, The Gift of Baptism is the perfect learning tool for children embarking on their journey of faith. Its poignant style teaches readers about the Baptismal Covenant and nurtures understanding of concepts like the Holy Trinity, Jesus’ teachings, and living with love at the forefront of your mind and in your actions.
A keepsake for the newly baptized, and equally valuable for any child embarking on their faith journey, this book is perfect for individuals and enriching Sunday school and youth group discussions. Parents, grandparents, godparents, educators, and spiritual mentors will find it a cherished resource for helping children understand and embrace their baptismal calling. The heartwarming illustrations and wholesome narrative make it accessible and inviting for all.
Do you wish you knew what practices actually lead to a healthier, more meaningful life? With all the information bombarding us, it can be hard to cut through all the noise to discern what’s most important. If only someone you could trust would parse through all the data, test it out in real life, and then cut to the chase about what really works.
Good news: Health coach and wellness expert Caroline Fausel has spent the past decade researching what it really takes to live a healthy, fulfilled life and create a home where everyone in the family can thrive. What she discovered has changed her life and can make all the difference in yours.
In A Simply Healthy Life, Caroline shows you how to
Envision what it would look like for you to feel genuinely happy and healthy;
Fuel your body so you feel great and integrate exercise in a way that is realistic and shame-free;
Create a clutter-free, non-toxic home;
Use spiritual practices like Sabbath rest to grow deeper in your relationship with God;
Set up your day with habits to reinforce your healthier choices, and more!
When you make purposeful choices about your health, spiritual growth, and relationships, you will be able to flourish―and help those you love flourish too. Get started today!
Contains helpful appendix with mental health resources, recipes, and discussion questions for each chapter!
If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that by and large the church has failed women. From sexual abuse scandals involving high-profile pastors, to decades-long systemic cover-ups of sexual harassment and mistreatment, to harmful theology that has driven women to leave the church and find community elsewhere, it’s clear that something is broken. If we want to fix it, it’s time we start listening.
Drawing on new, firsthand research and in-depth interviews, Safe Church allows women to voice the pain they have suffered at the hands of insecure leaders who were often unaware of how their words, actions, and attitudes were harming their sisters in Christ. With practical advice on how to create more equity and less sexism and abuse in the church, this honest look at how misogyny masquerades as biblical truth is a vital resource for pastors, church leaders, and anyone who wants to make a meaningful difference in their own Christian community.
Contracts
Eric Clayton signed with Loyola Press for the July 2026 release of A Prayer of Re-Enchantment.
Anjanette Young signed with Chicago Review Press for the April 2026 release of Past the Pain.
New Clients
Diane Faulkner, Bryan Fitzpatrick and Lori Kuykendall recently signed with WordServe. Welcome!
What We’re Celebrating
Congratulations to Diane Carlson Evans who was awarded the Presidential Citizens medal by President Bidenon January 2nd. Her book HEALING WOUNDS (Post Hill Press) described her work as a nurse in Vietnam, and then a tireless advocate to get a memorial in D.C. for Vietnam nurses. Diane was also featured in the NY Times bestseller, The Women, by Kristen Hannah.
[title] => WordServe January News 2025
[desc] => January is National Book Month and National Reading Day, making it a great time to read. WordServe author Charles Person passed away recently after a year-long battle with cancer. Charles was one of the original Freedom Riders from the early 1960’s during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. His story was published by St. …
