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Array ( [1746024743] => Array ( [img] =>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 of Technology 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.
Naomi and Misty are recognized for their Bible, NLT Every Woman’s Bible. and Tricia Lott Williford and Jana Richardson for their book You Are Safe Now.
From the Desk of Emma Fulenwider
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:
Writing Day Workshop Phoenix (May 2) – Greg Johnson
Write to Publish Wheaton (June 10-13) – Emma Fulenwider and Keely Boeving
Historical Novel Society Conference Las Vegas (June 26-28) – Greg Johnson (virtual appointments)
COMPEL Pro Publishing Week – Emma Fulenwider (virtual appointments)
[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 …Continue reading "WordServe News April 2025"
[link] => https://wordservewatercooler.com/2025/04/30/wordserve-news-april-2025/ [date] => Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:52:23 +0000 [comments] => https://wordservewatercooler.com/2025/04/30/wordserve-news-april-2025/#respond ) [1743428948] => Array ( [img] =>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.Congratulations to Lydia Sohn and Convergent Books for the February 25th release of Here: A Spirituality of Staying in a Culture of Leaving.
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.
Congratulations to Dr. Daniel Amen and Tyndale for the March 3rd release of The End of Mental Illness: How Neuroscience Is Transforming Psychiatry and Helping Prevent or Reverse Mood and Anxiety Disorders, ADHD, Addictions, PTSD, Psychosis, Personality Disorders, and More.
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!Congratulations to Meryl Herr and IV Press for the March 11th release of When Work Hurts: Building Resilience When You’re Beat Up or Burnt Out.
Sometimes Work Hurts
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.Congratulations to Kara Powell with Jake Mulder and Raymond Chang and Baker Books for the March 25th release of Future-Focused Church: Leading through Change, Engaging the Next Generation, and Building a More Diverse Tomorrow.
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.
Congratulations to Jerry Jamison and Rowman & Littlefield Publishing for the April 15th release of Vanishing Act: A Crashed Plane, a Faked Death, and Backroom Abortions.
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 …Continue reading "WordServe March News 2025"
[link] => https://wordservewatercooler.com/2025/03/31/wordserve-march-news-2025/ [date] => Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:49:08 +0000 [comments] => ) [1740757105] => Array ( [img] =>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 27th release of Navigating Feedback at Work, Home, and Everywhere Else.
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 …Continue reading "WordServe February News 2025"
[link] => https://wordservewatercooler.com/2025/02/28/wordserve-february-news-2025/ [date] => Fri, 28 Feb 2025 15:38:25 +0000 [comments] => ) [1738338900] => Array ( [img] =>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.
Releases
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Congratulations to Arianna Molloy and IV Press for the January 7th release of Healthy Calling: From Toxic Burnout to Sustainable Work.
When You Don’t Know Who You Are Anymore
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.
Congratulations to Caroline Fausel and Tyndale Refresh for the January 7th release of A Simply Healthy Life: Your Guide to Cultivating a Happy, Connected, and Intentional Life.
Are you ready to change your life for the better?
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!
Congratulations to Andrew Bauman and Baker Books for the January 21 release of Safe Church: How to Guard against Sexism and Abuse in Christian Communities.
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 Biden on 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. …Continue reading "WordServe January News 2025"
[link] => https://wordservewatercooler.com/2025/01/31/wordserve-january-news-2025/ [date] => Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:55:00 +0000 [comments] => ) [1735841351] => Array ( [img] =>Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the books are SO delightful.
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 Sarah Varland and Love Inspired Books for the January 21st release of K-9 Alaskan Defense (K-9 Search and Rescue Book 14).
A K-9 stands guard…
while a killer closes in.
Discovering a dead body in the woods turns into a fight for survival when Lily Peterson is attacked by an unknown assailant. Rescued by her retired police K-9, Timber, Lily calls the one man she trusts for help—her late fiancé’s partner, former officer Travis Beckett. Only, the danger proves to be far from over when Lily’s house goes up in flames. Someone wants her dead, and all clues lead to a connection to her departed fiancé’s final case. Investigating the past is the only way to stay alive…but can they elude a killer neither expects?
Congratulations to Jerry Lathan with Steve Manchester and Forefront Books for the November 19th release of You will Be Peter.
The extraordinary story of a young fisherman who became the Founding Father of Christianity, the most influential and enduring institution in history.
2023 Paris Book Festival Winner · 2023 New England Book Festival Winner
He’s one of the most well-known figures in cultures around the world, etched into stained glass, painted in frescoes, even caricatured as standing at the gates of heaven with a long white beard and keys in hand. But long before he was portrayed as a venerated and untouchable figure, Peter was simply known as Simon, a twenty-something fisherman in a far-flung Jewish province controlled by the Roman Empire.
Loyal and faithful, impetuous and passionate, Simon’s quiet life is upended by the arrival of a man called Jesus of Nazareth, rumored to be the long-awaited Messiah who would rescue the Jewish people from oppression. When Simon meets Jesus, the mysterious man tells him, “You will be Peter,” a prophetic statement that would slowly transform Simon’s life. Eager to be free of the Romans, Simon joins Jesus in hopes that he can guard this leader who will, undoubtedly, build an army to challenge Rome. But as Simon waits for the army to form, he watches Jesus show a compassion for others Simon has never seen before. The miracles Jesus performs—healing the sick, feeding crowds of thousands—show not a display of military might, but of service and love.
Real, relatable and impeccably researched, You Will Be Peter draws on the four Gospel accounts to weave Simon Peter’s story into one seamless tapestry. Readers get a front-row seat to Simon’s three-year walk with Jesus, as Simon watches the Son of Man feed the hungry, raise the dead, upend the status quo and challenge the elite during one of world history’s most pivotal seasons.
In perhaps one of the greatest miracles, we can see ourselves in Simon, this ordinary man Jesus chose to accompany Him. Simon wasn’t well-educated, but he was faithful and headstrong. Though he could rush to judgment and use a foul word from time to time, he was the kind of friend who loved fiercely and was doggedly loyal—until he wasn’t. Although he failed, Simon wasn’t cast away from Jesus’ mission. In fact, his failures and subsequent redemption made him a more empathetic and capable rock upon whom the Church was built.
With storytelling artistry that transports readers to the first-century world, with the sights, sounds, and smells of that time, You Will Be Peter shares an age-old story told from a new set of eyes: it’s possible for one ordinary person, however unlikely, to change the world forever.
Contracts
Natalie Ryan Runion signed with David C Cook for the March 2026 release of Raised to Stay Devotional (Book One) and Raising Stayers (Book Two).
New Clients
Moyosore Somide, Alan Cohen, Jeanne Whitlock and Paul Anleitner recently signed with WordServe. Welcome!
What We’re Celebrating
Congratulations to Jamie Sumner. Horn Book has chosen her book Deep Water as one of their best books of the year!
Congratulations to Jessica Hooten Wilson. Her book Flannery O’Connor’s Why Do the Heathen Rage?: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Work in Progress received an Award of Merit from The Christianity Today Book Awards.
Congratulations to Leslie Leyland Fields. Her book Nearing a Far God: Praying the Psalms with Our Whole Selves won the Bible and Devotional Award from The Christianity Today Book Awards.
Congratulations to Natalie Runion and Jim Ramos for making the ECPA Top Seller list for New Releases. Their books are titled “The House That Jesus Built” and “Dialed In
Congratulations to Jamie Sumner. The New York Public Library has chosen Deep Water as one of the best middle-grade books of the year!
[title] => WordServe December News 2024 [desc] => Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the books are SO delightful. 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 Sarah Varland and Love Inspired Books for the January 21st release of K-9 Alaskan …Continue reading "WordServe December News 2024"
[link] => https://wordservewatercooler.com/2025/01/02/wordserve-december-news-2024/ [date] => Thu, 02 Jan 2025 18:09:11 +0000 [comments] => ) [1732898530] => Array ( [img] =>November is National Reading Month and it’s National Family Literacy Month. National Family Literacy Month is a time for families to read together, reconnect with the tradition 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.
New Releases
Congratulations to Alicia Michelle and Baker Books for the November 12th release of Emotional Confidence 3 Simple Steps to Manage Emotions with Science and Scripture.
Tired of up-and-down feelings stealing your peace, sabotaging your relationships, and filling your mind with self-defeating thoughts? What if you had a proven emotional management tool to biblically respond to your feelings with both compassion and clarity? Discover three simple steps to better manage emotions to reduce stress, improve decision-making, and grow closer to God.
In Emotional Confidence, certified Christian life coach and award-winning podcast host Alicia Michelle shares how to implement the method she’s taught to tens of thousands into an ongoing lifestyle practice to effectively manage emotions for God’s glory. This biblical, scientifically based method shows you how to
· handle emotional overwhelm, overthinking, and avoidance
· acknowledge feelings without judgment
· process emotions through God’s clarifying lens of truth
· courageously choose a scriptural response
With calming activities, client stories, scientific evidence, and heartfelt honesty, this book overflows with practical ways to confidently process emotions for better relationships, spiritual growth, and lasting calm.
Contracts
Shellie Tomlinson signed with Whitaker Corporation for the March 2026 release of Don’t Try To Pray Like Her.
Michael and Judy Phillips dba One Way Limited signed with Fidelis Publishing for the 2026 release of Tribulation Cult: Hidden Jihad, and The Freedom Manifesto.
New Clients
Elizabeth Matthew, Denise Pass, and Felicia Smith recently signed with WordServe. Welcome!
What We’re Celebrating
Congratulations to Katie Powner for winning the Christy Award for General Fiction for your book The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass!
Congratulations to Patrice Gopo for being the recipient of the inaugural Pattis Family Foundation Creative Arts Book Award for her essay collection Autumn Song.
[title] => WordServe November News 2024 [desc] => November is National Reading Month and it’s National Family Literacy Month. National Family Literacy Month is a time for families to read together, reconnect with the tradition 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 …Continue reading "WordServe November News 2024"
[link] => https://wordservewatercooler.com/2024/11/29/wordserve-november-news-2024/ [date] => Fri, 29 Nov 2024 16:42:10 +0000 [comments] => ) [1730390488] => Array ( [img] =>National Book Month is held each October. The month-long celebration focuses on the importance of reading, writing and literature.
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.
New Releases
Congratulations to Bruce Main and Core Media For the October 8, 2024 release of God Writes a Better Story.
Every human life is a story to be written. Most people desire lives of purpose, meaning and love. We want to live worthy stories of boundless promise. But how do these better stories get written? Some lives are simply reactions to circumstance. Other stories scripted by fear and insecurity—often the unconscious role playing of societal expectations. Pride and ego control many of our narratives, demanding little of our imagination. God Writes a Better Story proposes an alternative option: the expansive impact of inviting God to co-author our life story—regardless of chapters already written. When God infuses, guides and informs the events of our lives, a better story is always written. Not an easier story. Not a perfect or more successful story. Just better.
Congratulations to Dr. Camden Morgante and Baker Books for the October 15, 2024 release of Recovering from Purity Culture: Dismantle the Myths, Reject Shame-Based Sexuality, and Move Forward in Your Faith.
We know what is wrong with purity culture–now we need to know how to heal. Drawing on historical and psychological research, her own personal experience, and therapy case studies, Dr. Camden Morgante tackles what comes next in reclaiming our sexuality from the harmful teachings so many evangelical Christians grew up believing.
With great compassion and insight, Dr. Camden
· exposes five myths of purity culture and their effects on individuals and relationships
· offers proven therapy techniques to replace harmful lies with healing truth
· provides strategies to overcome shame in the mind and body
· explores the connection between purity culture, trauma, and faith deconstruction
· helps the hurting reconstruct their faith with peace and acceptance
A healthy sexuality is not out of reach for those who have been harmed by purity culture. You can find freedom from shame, restrictive gender roles, and stunted relationships. Dr. Camden shows you the way forward.
Congratulations to Jamie Sumner and Atheneum Books for the October 22, 2024 release of Rolling On (Roll with It).
In this heartfelt companion to Jamie Sumner’s acclaimed and beloved novels Roll with It and Time to Roll, Ellie finds herself faced with first love and learning to let go.
It’s the very end of eighth grade and all everyone can talk about is high school—everyone except Ellie Cowan. Ellie wants to freeze time. Middle school was epic. She moved to Oklahoma, made her best friends, won a baking championship, quit a beauty pageant, and dominated Putt-Putt golf in her wheelchair.
But now her feelings for her best friend Bert are starting to change. When did Bert get so cute? And why are all the other girls suddenly noticing, too? As if that isn’t enough to deal with, Grandpa’s health takes a turn for the worse. So what do you do when you don’t know how to hold on and when to let go?
Congratulations to Nick Harrison and B&H Books for the November 5, 2024 release of Our Cry for Revival.
What Christian isn’t hungering for revival? Not just an emotional display of faith, but a revival that changes lives, renews churches, and can even change history. Such revivals as the Great Awakening, the Welsh Revival, and the Jesus Movement have earned their place in church history and are evidence that God is still alive and active. Even smaller revivals such as the recent revival at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, caught the attention of the world as upwards of fifty thousand Christians traveled to the college campus to witness this move of God. The recent movie, The Jesus Revolution was a surprise success at the box office as, once again, Christians flocked to hear about revival.
Make no mistake, there is a worldwide hunger for revival, and especially so among American Christians. The great news is that every Christian has a part to play in bringing about revival. That part is first, last, and always prayer. Revivals are born from prayer. But will Christians pray? Do they really want revival? If recent events are indications of that fresh hunger for God in our midst, then the answer is a resounding yes!
With daily Scripture readings, reflections, prayer prompts, and quotes from classic Christian leaders, this 365-day guide will aid you in your quest to experience both personal and widespread revival through persistent prayer.
Yes, revival is on its way. Will you be one of the prayer warriors to usher in this next great move of God?
Contracts
Katie Powner signed with Kregel Publications for the October 2025 release of Birds on a Wire.
Tucker Hamilton signed with BenBella Books for the February 2026 release of The Last 20%.
Dr. Craig Evans signed with DaySpring Cards for the January 2026 release of Devotional Guide – Behind the Scenes of the Bible.
Jim Burns signed with Harper Collins for the March 2026 release of When Adult Children Stray.
Ronald Osborn signed with Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing for the July 2026 release of American Remnant: Seventh-day Adventism and Its Discontents.
Sara Varland signed with Harlequin Enterprises for the January 2025 release of K-9 Theme Promotion (Husky).
New Clients
Maria Cassano, Steven Argue and Jessica Gigot recently signed with WordServe. Welcome!
What We’re Celebrating
Congratulation to Greg Pratt for making the shortlist for the 2024 Chicago Review of Books (CHIRBy) Awards for his book The City is Up for Grabs: How Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Led and Lost a City in Crisis.
Congratulations to Jim Ramos and Natalie Runion who made the ECPA bestseller list for their books, Dialed In and The House That Jesus Built.
[title] => WordServe October News 2024 [desc] => National Book Month is held each October. The month-long celebration focuses on the importance of reading, writing and literature. 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. New Releases Congratulations to Bruce Main and Core Media For the …Continue reading "WordServe October News 2024"
[link] => https://wordservewatercooler.com/2024/10/31/wordserve-october-news-2024/ [date] => Thu, 31 Oct 2024 16:01:28 +0000 [comments] => ) [1727825727] => Array ( [img] =>In September everyone must make time to sit and watch the leaves change and read 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.
New Releases
Congratulations to Shannon K Evans and Convergent Books for the September 10, 2024 release of The Mystics Would Like a Word.
Discover a rich legacy of audacious women who forged a spirituality that is more inclusive, surprising, and empowering than we ever imagined.
“The feminist reading of women mystics I’ve wanted for ages . . . invites us into the hopeful possibility for communal healing that we desperately need right now.”—Sarah Bessey, bestselling author of Field Notes for the Wilderness and Jesus Feminist
Is there a Christian spirituality that embraces the entire reality of womanhood?
The answer, Shannon K. Evans suggests, is an emphatic yes. There is a spirituality that meets us in every part of our lives, developed by the women who came before us. Six mystics—Teresa of Ávila, Margery Kempe, Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, and Thérèse of Lisieux—revealed a faith big enough to hold the female experiences of sex and desire, the yearning for bodily autonomy, the challenges of motherhood and identity, as well as life with male authority and—sometimes—violence. These women, self-determining, stubborn, and unapologetically themselves, asked questions in their time that are startlingly prescient today, and fought for women’s experiences to be heard, understood, respected, and recognized as holy.
In The Mystics Would Like a Word, readers will discover the story of Christian faith and spirituality as
Congratulations to Carolyn Leiloglou and Waterbrook Books for the September 10, 2024 release of Between Flowers and Bones.
In a world where paintings become portals and adventure lurks behind every canvas, the young Restorationists discover that every Gift was made to fight the darkness in the second novel of the thrilling series from the award-winning author of Beneath the Swirling Sky.
Twelve-year-old Georgia assumed she would one day be the last Restorationist protecting art from evil forces. So she was thrilled when her cousin Vincent finally joined the family calling.
But Vincent’s flashier Gift makes Georgia feel like a sidekick rather than a hero. And things only get more complicated and perilous after he willingly steps into the heart of danger.
Will the remnants of the Restorationists’ society fracture under the pressure of the Distortionists’ schemes? Or is Georgia’s Gift really enough to rescue her family, the art world, the Restorationists—and ultimately save the day?
Congratulations to Carole Angle Avriett and Regnery Books for the October 1, 2024 release of Midnight In Ironbottom Sound: The Harrowing WWII Story of Heroism in the Shark Infested Waters of Guadalcanal.
A captivating World War II narrative of an untold story in the Pacific theater
In the heart of the Pacific, where the tides of World War II surged, lies a tale of heroism on the high seas—a tale brought to life in Midnight in Ironbottom Sound. This is the untold story of the USS Gregory (APD-3), a ship manned by unknown sailors whose bravery echoes through the annals of history. Upon the decks of this vessel, Lieutenant Commander Harry F. Bauer and Mess Attendant Charles J. French, representing the highest and lowest ranks on the USS Gregory, become the focal points of this gripping narrative. In the turbulent waters of the Pacific, their stories, interwoven with the ship’s saga—whose vital mission was to transport Marine Raiders to bloody beaches— emerge as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unwavering commitment to duty.
Avriett unfolds a a brief but catastrophic chapter of naval history that is often overlooked–that of unremitting warfare during the first few weeks following the initial invasion of the Solomon Islands to the demise of the USS Gregory four weeks later. Within this crucible, the USS Gregory, marked as a “minor” player, takes center stage. The ship’s designation as an APD, its brave crew, and the harrowing night of terror they faced, set the stage for an unforgettable story.
Avriett meticulously reveals their heroism and pays homage to the eternal truth that courage has neither cPolityolor nor prerequisites, and that valor hails from within.
Contracts
Haylee Graham signed with Tyndale for the November 2025 release of Against All Darkness.
Mark Dever and Caleb Morell with 9Marks signed with Crossway for the July 2026 release of Polity.
Jack Woodville London signed with University of Oklahoma Press for the April 2026 release of Audacity: A Circumnavigation of the Historic Boundaries of the Republic of
Texas.
New Clients
Tucker Hamilton and Veronica Thompson recently signed with WordServe. Welcome!
[title] => WordServe September News 2024 [desc] => In September everyone must make time to sit and watch the leaves change and read 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. New Releases Congratulations to Shannon K Evans and Convergent Books for …Continue reading "WordServe September News 2024"
[link] => https://wordservewatercooler.com/2024/10/01/wordserve-september-news-2024/ [date] => Tue, 01 Oct 2024 23:35:27 +0000 [comments] => ) [1725036417] => Array ( [img] =>August, a time to soak up the sun, spread happiness, and to read books.
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.
New Releases
Congratulations to Michaela O’Donnell PhD with Lisa Pratt Slayton and Baker Books for the August 20, 2024 release of Life in Flux: Navigational Skills to Guide and Ground You in an Ever-Changing World.
If it seems like the world is in a constant state of flux, that’s because it is. Our work, our families, our friendships, and our society are always changing, which can leave us feeling disoriented and discouraged. And while lots of people offer “tips and tricks” or “life hacks” to help us cope, the real secret to feeling like we’re standing on solid ground is deeper–and we can’t do it alone.
In Life in Flux, leadership, career, and vocation experts Michaela O’Donnell and Lisa Pratt Slayton teach the practical skills needed in order to navigate constant change. They show you how to
· face the pain and longings that come with change
· do the inner work of waking up and letting go
· embrace the unknown with confidence
· listen to God’s guiding voice
· get to know yourself, really
· find and keep friends for the journey
· stay attuned to your rhythms and values moving forward
When you feel truly at home in your world and with yourself, you can do hard things with great courage. Life in Flux can get you there.
Congratulations to Natalie Runion and David C Cook for the September 3, 2024 release of The House That Jesus Built: Leading Our Churches Back to God’s Original Blueprint.
At a time when churches seem far from God’s design, bestselling author Natalie Runion challenges us as Christians to follow the Bible’s blueprint for building holy, healthy churches that disciple holy, healthy followers of Christ.
In recent years, we’ve seen the “great resignation” in Church leadership and attendance, the devastation of spiritual abuse, and the breakdown of faith within our culture. In The House That Jesus Built, Natalie encourages all of us to recognize our role as Jesus’ disciples in rebuilding our churches, brick by brick. With personal stories and practical ideas, she guides us to:
- Be honest about past disappointments while still engaging with our church communities
- Ask how we as Christ followers have contributed to pain in our churches and how we can help heal one another
- Use the book of Acts as the blueprint for empowering the family of God to be the family of God
- Understand how even the apostles wrestled with their places in the early Church but remained committed to love God, love people, and make disciples
- Be unified on the foundation of Jesus Christ
The House That Jesus Built will stir your heart to see God’s churches realigned with the Great Commission and the Great Command. As Natalie reminds us, we are the Church. We are the ones who can partner with Jesus to build something beautiful out of the rubble—and back on the Rock.
Congratulations to Jim Ramos and David C Cook for the September 3, 2024 release of Dialed In: Reaching Your Full Capacity as a Man of God.
Males are born. Men are made. Dialed In motivates and equips men to become spiritual leaders in their homes, churches, and communities as they stand strong in a dangerous world.
Popular podcaster Jim Ramos speaks to the hunger deep within the masculine soul in this practical exploration of Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus. Men who wonder how to lead well in today’s confusing culture will find:
Twenty key qualities of a man of God, such as servanthood, vigilance, and faithfulness
What it means to function at “full capacity” in every aspect of life
Insights into why Paul’s letters aren’t just for pastors but for all of us
What true masculinity looks like in God’s eyes
How men can live a life surrendered to Jesus Christ
God made man to live at his highest level—both spiritually and physically—to carry the full weight of his masculine soul. Including self-assessments and questions for small groups, Dialed In goes beyond vague principles to teach men how to become God’s man and hear the words their souls crave: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Congratulations to Bill Myers and Fidelis for the September 25, 2024 release of Seer: Rendezvous with God Volume Five: A Novel.
After his death, including a tour of heaven, Will realizes Earth’ s great need and agrees to return to help. With Jesus’ instruction and their occasional visits to Old Testament times and prophets, our hero learns through failure and mishaps (always with a touch of Myers’ s humor), how to prepare for the battles God has called him to fight.
Contracts
Kelly Edmiston signed with Nav Press for the March 2026 release of Spiritual Sexuality.
Serena Sigillito signed with Penguin Random house for the May 2026 release of Listen to Your Body.
New Clients
Matt Winquist, Kelly Winquist, Derrick Warfel, and Spencer Jones recently signed with WordServe. Welcome!
What We’re Cellebratiing
Congratulations to Jamie Erickson. Her book Holy Hygge has hit the milestone of 50,000 in sales!! Congratulations and Well Done!
[title] => WordServe August News 2024 [desc] => August, a time to soak up the sun, spread happiness, and to read books. 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. New Releases Congratulations to Michaela O’Donnell PhD with Lisa Pratt Slayton and Baker Books for …Continue reading "WordServe August News 2024"
[link] => https://wordservewatercooler.com/2024/08/30/wordserve-august-news-2024/ [date] => Fri, 30 Aug 2024 16:46:57 +0000 [comments] => ) [1722440512] => Array ( [img] =>One benefit of summer is that we have 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.
New Releases
Congratulations to Kelsey Scism and Bethany House Publishers for the July 31, 2024 release of One Year with Jesus: A Weekly Devotional Journal for Middle School Girls.
Every girl’s guide to discovering who you truly are in Jesus
Being a middle school girl is . . . a lot. It seems like every day presents a new challenge as you navigate friendship, crushes, girl drama, stress, school, and confusing emotions.
One Year with Jesus is your guide for dealing with the stuff that life is throwing at you right now. Think of this devotional journal as a safe space where you can get real with God–and where God can bring you the peace and comfort you need.
Inside this book you’ll find:
· 52 devotions to help you apply God’s Word when life gets messy–one for every week of the year
· Reflection questions to help you grow closer to Jesus
· Journaling space so you can be honest with God about how you feel
These early teen years can be really hard–but they can also be really beautiful. Because it’s here that God shapes the girl you once were into the woman he created you to be.
Congratulations to Christopher Izant and Diversion Books for the August 13, 2024 release of Final Engagement: A Marine’s Last Mission and the Surrender of Afghanistan.
Through a deadly last showdown beside Afghan forces fighting the Taliban, Marine Corps veteran Christopher Izant illustrates the impossible conditions and strategic blunders that disillusioned a generation of American warriors and all but guaranteed defeat.
They were stepping into a world of hidden minefields, cultural clashes, “green-on-blue” insider attacks, and a patient, relentless enemy. But Christopher Izant and the Marines on his team volunteered to train and fight alongside the Afghan National Security Forces despite the risks and a seemingly futile mission they would term “advise and abandon” made by policymakers a world away.
Final Engagement embeds readers with then-Lieutenant Izant and his team of combat advisors at Combat Outpost Taghaz during one of Operation Enduring Freedom’s most crucial and challenging campaigns. It was 2012, southern Helmand Province, and with fixed base-closure and withdrawal timelines, the Marines had only six months to sustain the hard-won victories of the infantry units and prepare the Afghan Border Police to stand on their own. But before Border Advisory Team 1 lay down arms, there would be one last deadly battle with a devastating aftermath.
Izant relives a fight in the Afghan borderlands that forebode the fall of Kabul nearly a decade later and confronts the violence and anguish that transformed a generation of American and Afghan warriors from idealist volunteers for a just war to disillusioned veterans of a lost cause.
Contracts
Angela Herrington signed with Broadleaf Books for the December 2025 release of Beware the Old Witch in the Woods.
Lisa Colón DeLay signed with Broadleaf Books for the February 2026 release of Enticed.
What We’re Cellebratiing
Congratulations to Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee. Their WWII novel, The Long March Home, won International Book Award.
[title] => WordServe July News 2024 [desc] => One benefit of summer is that we have 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. New Releases Congratulations to Kelsey Scism and Bethany House Publishers for the July 31, 2024 release … [link] => https://wordservewatercooler.com/2024/07/31/wordserve-july-news-2024/ [date] => Wed, 31 Jul 2024 15:41:52 +0000 [comments] => ) )