“The move to Thomas Nelson is a major strategic decision for MBI and one that we are confident will enable the next phase of exciting growth for the company,” said Mike Park, Commercial Director of MBI.  “We have already built up an excellent working relationship with Thomas Nelson which bodes fantastically well for a mutually successful future.  We are very excited and can feel that excitement reflected throughout Thomas Nelson.”

“We are thrilled to begin distributing MBI’s product domestically,” agreed Tod Shuttleworth, Senior Vice President of Specialty and Global Publishing at Thomas Nelson. “Their innovative products will be a wonderful compliment to our existing children’s line. I believe that together, we can grow MBI’s presence throughout the United States.”

About Thomas Nelson
Thomas Nelson is a leading provider of Bibles, products, and live events emphasizing Christian, inspirational and family value themes.  For more information, visit our website www.thomasnelson.com.

About Make Believe Ideas
Make Believe Ideas is a publisher of innovative books for children and babies. Beautifully designed and featuring a range of stimulating novelties, our books encourage creativity and promote learning. For more information, visit our website www.makebelieveideas.com.

Contact: Lindsey Nobles
Thomas Nelson
(615) 902-1109 o
(615) 476-5984 c
lnobles@thomasnelson.com

(Nashville, Tenn.) Thomas Nelson, Inc. announced today that thirteen of its products or campaigns have been chosen to be finalists for Christian Retailing’s 2009 Retailer’s Choice Awards. Products or campaigns nominated for the 2009 Retailer’s Choice Awards must include clear Christian content, message, or worldview. Retailers judge nominations on the impact they have had on staff and customers, including their ability to speak to people’s hearts and evoke emotion, open people’s minds to new ways of thinking, and encourage and affirm Christlike living.

The winner in each category will be announced on Monday, July 13, during the International Christian Retail Show in Denver, Colorado. Winners will appear in the August 10 issue of Christian Retailing. The Thomas Nelson finalists are:

The Word of Promise Next Generation, New Testament - Audio
Chronological Study Bible - Bibles (Devotional/Study)
Baby’s First Bible - Bibles (General)
The Voice, New Testament - Bibles (General)

Sweet Dreams Princess by Sheila Walsh - Children’s Non-Fiction

What in the World Is Going On? by David Jeremiah - Church and Culture

Fireproof by Eric Wilson - Fiction (General)

Sinner: A Paradise Novel by Ted Dekker - Fiction (Mystery and Suspence)

Walking with God by John Eldredge - Personal Growth/Prayer

A Baby Changes Everything by Tim Nichols, K.K. Wiseman, and Craig Wiseman - Gift Books

Looking Up When Life is Looking Down by Beth Moore - Gift Books

Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore - Backlist

Chronological Study Bible Campaign - Marketing/Promotion Campaign

Thomas Nelson is a leading provider of Bibles, products, and live events emphasizing Christian, inspirational and family value themes.  For more information, visit our website www.thomasnelson.com.

Contact:    Lindsey Nobles
Director of Corporate Communications
tel:    (615) 902-1109
fax:  (615) 902-1110
cell:  (615) 476-5984
e-mail:  lnobles@thomasnelson.com

Nashville, TN-June 15, 2009- Thomas Nelson, a leading provider of Bibles, products, and live events emphasizing Christian, inspirational and family value themes, announces that they will host a shoe drive and donation campaign, from Monday, June 8 through Monday, June 22, 2009, for the non-profit Soles4Souls, the international shoe charity dedicated to providing new shoes to people in need.

“Soles4Souls can use each and every one of these unused or “gently-worn” shoes to make a tangible difference in someone’s life,” said Michael Hyatt, Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Nelson.  “Recently, all of our employees joined me and come barefoot to the office.  By going barefoot, we could better understand the daily challenges of the millions of people around the world with no shoes to wear and help raise awareness of this wonderful organization”  he adds.

“We are delighted that Thomas Nelson has created this program to help Soles4Souls give immediate aid to Americans in need during difficult times,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder & CEO of Soles4Souls.  Elsey adds that “the U.S. government estimates that there are 300 million children in the world who have never owned a pair of shoes.  With the help of Thomas Nelson’s generous employees, we can continue to help those in desperate need across the United States.”

As a special incentive to get serious about shoe donations, Thomas Nelson will provide four hours off with pay to the employee who donates the most pairs of shoes during the Shoe Drive and for households have more than one pair of feet, they will have two winners—one for single employees and one for an employee family.

In addition, in exchange for their shoes, Soles4Souls will provide each employee with a pair of Soles4Souls flip-flops to take home and wear at their leisure. Note: any employees that have a job requiring that they wear closed toe shoes will apply the rules and wear their normal shoes to perform their job duties.

Lastly, to raise awareness for the Thomas Nelson shoe drive and further educate them on the charity’s mission of “Changing the World, One Pair at a Time”, the Soles4Souls RV will be stop by their offices on Friday, June 19, 2009 as they make their way across country on their North American tour.

To read Michael Hyatt’s recent blog post about Soles4Souls, “The Gift of Shoes”, please visit http://tr.im/n6AK

To read Wayne Elsey’s recount of “Barefoot Week”, please visit http://www.wayneelsey.com/

During Barefoot Week, a yearly campaign encourage grass-roots participation, Soles4Souls distributes more than 50,000 pairs of new shoes in the United States while it also collects “gently worn” shoes from the general public during thousands of concurrent shoe drives at retailers, schools, churches and community centers.

Numerous celebrities support Barefoot Week in hopes of encouraging more participation with the charity’s programs Scarlett Johansson, who has donated 2000 pairs of new shoes from her own line of Reebok footwear, lends her name each year to help raise publicity about Barefoot Week. Other celebrities, such as Antawn Jamison, Jessica Simpson, Kellie Pickler, Luke Perry, Riddick Bowe, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Amy Grant and Chris Hope also voice their support for the weeklong series of events.

# # #

About Soles4Souls
Nashville-based Soles4Souls™ facilitates the donations of both new and used shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Soles4Souls has distributed more than 5 million pairs (currently donating one pair every 13 seconds) to people in over 125 countries, including Honduras, Uganda, Romania, and the United States.  The charity has been featured recently in Runner’s World and the Green Guide by National Geographic.  It has also appeared on CNN, NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, and hundreds of regional outlets around North America.  Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS; donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.giveshoes.org for more information.

Contacts: Lindsey Nobles
Thomas Nelson
(615) 902-1109 o
(615) 476-5984 c
lnobles@thomasnelson.com   

Kim Dettwillerz
Soles4Souls
(615) 321-4073 o
(615) 330-5656 c
kimd@giveshoes.org

According to the organization, what makes the HOLT Medallion unique is its purpose of reflecting the actual marketplace. Judging panels are comprised only of avid romance readers who are looking for “a good read, a book they would buy and an author they would follow.” Editors, agents, and writers are not eligible to judge.

The HOLT Medallion has been awarded annually since 1995. This year’s winner will be announced at the 29th Annual National RWA conference in Washington, D.C., July 15-18, 2009.

Nashville, TN—Thomas Nelson Fiction is pleased to announce the signing of Kimberly Cash Tate to a contract to write contemporary romantic fiction.  The division continues to grow its offerings in this genre, signing talented authors to write books appealing to all women who enjoy Christian fiction.

Kimberly Cash Tate is best known for her popular nonfiction book More Christian Than African-American, in which she shares her personal journey: from growing up without God in her life to transformation through accepting Christ in 1994.  She is an alumnus of the University of Maryland, College Park and The George Washington University Law School. She spent nearly ten years practicing law and is now devoted fulltime to caring for her young children.  Tate has also established an extensive library of devotions on her website.

“We could tell immediately that Kim’s voice is special. She has an incredible heart for ministry, and we knew that the deep faith she would bring to her books would capture female readers’ hearts and uplift them in the way only a faith-filled story can. Her stories will offer so much to so many,” said Ami McConnell, Senior Acquisitions Editor.

Tate’s first Thomas Nelson novel, as of yet untitled, is set for publication in the fall of 2010.

“The company’s mission to inspire others through God’s Word matches my personal mission,” notes Ballerini. “Thomas Nelson is a place where my Christian values and beliefs will be supported, strengthened, and utilized to fuel the professional marketing efforts for some of the most dynamic Bible and study products available today. I am excited by both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Carla Ballerini’s experience in marketing, communications and public relations spans more than two decades of achievement with major product and service corporations nationwide.  She established Ballerini Marketing in 1992, where she created marketed materials and creative advertising campaigns for companies throughout the Southeast for which she has received numerous Addy Awards for national creative campaigns for Philips Consumer Electronics Company, Philips Business Solutions, Ski Beech, Shoney’s Restaurants, Y-12 Federal Credit Union, and others.

Prior to establishing Ballerini Marketing, she served as Senior Vice President of The Rowland Company, one of the largest public relations and marketing communications agencies in the world and a division of Saatchi & Saatchi Company PLC, London.
Carla Ballerini has directed a variety of award-winning national marketing communications campaigns including the launch of Philips’ Compact Disc Interactive (CD-i) technology; TEDDY RUXPIN, the first animated talking toy; LAZER TAG, a unique infrared light technology toy; Intelligy Corporations’ WINGS early learning program; Polaroid’s Cool Cam, Honey Hill Farms frozen yogurt and Cooper Wiring Devices’ Aspire RF and MediaSync.

“Carla’s experience offers a fresh outlook to our team” comments Hastings. “We’re excited to have her join us in our vision of offering Bible, reference, and curriculum products that inspire the world.”

Contact:    Brenda Smotherman
Publicist
tel:    (615) 902-2231
fax:    (615) 902-1132
web:    www.thomasnelson.com

John Kirby, Director of The Word of Promise Next Generation, expresses the pride of everyone who worked on the project: “What an honor to have won this prestigious award and to have been surrounded by such inspiring nominees who are heroes of mine,” he says.

It is no surprise that this star-studded cast of voices captures the attention of both Audies® judges and the young people of their generation.  Stars like Cody Linley and Emily Osment of “Hannah Montana,” Corbin Bleu of “High School Musical,” American Idol’s Jordin Sparks, Sean Astin of “The Lord of the Rings,” and rising star Anna Sophia Robb are just a handful of the talented young people bringing the Bible to life for teen and tween listeners.

The Word of Promise® Next Generation was born out of a startling realization: a whole generation is missing the truths of the Bible.  According to a Barna survey of professing Christians, many young Christians today don’t believe in some of the very foundations of the faith—Satan is real, Jesus was sinless, and the Bible is all true.  On top of that, the study also found 43% of Christians who accept Jesus as their Savior do so before reaching the age of 13, and 64% before turning 18.  It seems today’s youth just won’t read the Bible, but Thomas Nelson hopes and believes they will listen.

“This award belongs to so many talented people,” says Carl Amari, Producer of the project. “I am personally humbled and thankful for the opportunity to produce a project that has the power to speak truth into young lives. I am thankful to the Audio Publishers Association, but more importantly to our Lord, for trusting me and my team with His Word and allowing us to be used to further the kingdom.”

The ICB (International Children’s Bible) New Testament, the bestselling and most readable translation created especially for today’s youth, comes to life in The Word of Promise® Next Generation as a full audio dramatic presentation.  The words leap off the page with incredible sound effects, a compelling new contemporary musical score, all produced in dramatic audio theater.  The same high quality Bible experience is available in a 21-hour, 20 CD set as well as a MP3 format so that youth can download it onto their music players to listen on-the-go.  Now, the same great content is also available in MP3 on a reusable USB flash drive bracelet for even the most tech-savvy young listeners.

In September, Thomas Nelson will unveil the complete cover-to-cover Dramatic Audio Theater™ adult production of the NKJV Bible when The Word of Promise® Old Testament Audio Bible and The Word of Promise® Audio Bible are released.  The Word of Promise® Audio Bible features a star-studded cast, including Jim Caviezel as Jesus, Richard Dreyfuss as Moses, and Lou Gossett, Jr. as John.

The Audies® Awards recognize distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment.  The Audies® are sponsored by The Audio Publishers Association (APA), a not-for-profit trade organization whose primary goals are to promote awareness of the audiobook industry, gather and disseminate industry statistics, encourage high production standards and represent the interests of audiobook publishers.  Since 1986, the APA has worked to bring audio publishers together to increase interest in audiobooks. Please visit www.audiopub.org for more information.

Contact:    Abby Barnhart
Publicist
Tel:    (615) 902-2932
Email: abarnhart@thomasnelson.com

Before he even left the United States, Lucado made it his goal to help World Vision sponsor 25,000 more children. Interested sponsors can go to the website link: http://maxlucado.com/ethiopia/.

“Ethiopia may measure a bit smaller since I’m bringing a lot of it home in my heart,” said Max Lucado via Twitter upon his return. “I never expected such poverty coupled with such joy. There are more honest smiles among the poor of Ethiopia than the shopping malls of America. What a remarkable, life-changing trip.”

World Vision, which provides aid to children and families in nearly 100 countries, has been working in Ethiopia since 1971, with more than 187,000 children benefiting from World Vision sponsorships. The agency also supports 65 Ethiopian development programs to assist with medical needs, clean water, nourishment, education and rehabilitation.

Highlights of Lucado’s trip to Ethiopia included visiting with an HIV/AIDS program in Boset, tours of irrigation and farming innovations in Adama, and school visits with local children. Lucado also preached to a standing-room-only crowd of Ethiopians on Sunday, May 10, at the Full Gospel Church near Adama. Max and Denalyn Lucado were also able to meet their sponsored child, Mimi and her family, during the trip.

Max believes his writing and speaking ministry has been permanently impacted by this trip. “God is up to something big in Ethiopia, in America, and around the world,” says Lucado. “I believe we can all make a difference if we jump into the middle of what He is doing.”

Thomas Nelson CEO Hyatt was deeply moved by what he saw on the trip: “We came to minister to the poor and needy. But it is they who have ministered to us, exposing our own poverty and need.”

“It was a great privilege to accompany Max and his family on his first-ever trip to Africa,” said Richard Stearns, president of World Vision. “As expected, Max was a quick study and immediately embraced and understood World Vision’s strategies for empowering the poor and tackling the causes of poverty. We appreciate that he has graciously agreed to use his influence in helping 25,000 more children through World Vision’s sponsorship programs.”

In late April 2009, Max Lucado returned from another mission trip to Honduras with Mike Silva International, speaking to more than 160,000 in attendance at the multi-day event. He also spent several years in Brazil as a missionary church planter.

Max Lucado has more than 65 million books in print and a publishing career that has spanned nearly 25 years. His books have been on many national bestseller lists including The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and USA Today. Max and his wife Denalyn live in San Antonio, Texas, where he is Minister of Writing and Preaching at Oak Hills Church.

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty.

Contact: Dave Schroeder
Director of Marketing
Tel: (615) 902-2127
Fax: (615) 902-2219
Email: dschroeder@thomasnelson.com

Mansfield, who still approaches life with “three chords and an attitude,” offers an authentic, funny, and irreverent account of highs and lows he experienced as a successful record exec and in-demand producer.
With his wife Connie along on the road trip, Mansfield returns to some of his musical milestones. Ipods set to shuffle mode, songs such as “Eight Miles High” by the Byrds and “Are You Ready for the Country?” by Waylon Jennings evoke stories from his past, such as:

•    watching from backstage at the iconic Monterey Pop Festival, sitting fifty feet away from pumped up performances by Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, the Who, the Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Buffalo Springfield and more
•    living the high life as a record executive, at a time when it was the business equivalent of being a rock star: a continuous indulgence of parties, luncheons, dinners, concerts, screenings, and hanging out with the rich and famous;
•    his “Hangover House” crash pad days in L.A’s Laurel Canyon
•    wild times partying in Nashville and Texas with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and the rest of the “Outlaw” gang;

Along the way, Mansfield recalls the musical icons, pop stars, wild men, and troubled souls he encountered, including The Beatles and Waylon Jennings, who were the high points of his musical career. He’s written two previous books about his time with the Beatles, and shares more stories in Between Wyomings. The Outlaw crew take center stage here, especially Waylon, who was “a soul mate. The two of us had so much in common it was scary,” Mansfield recalls.

“Nashville was the place of my greatest creative accomplishments as well as the spot on this earth where I reached my lowest point.” Mansfield’s previous marriage even ended in a scenario that sounds like a country song: “my wife ran off with a friend of mine who also took my favorite clothes.”  But it was also in Nashville where he met Connie and began transforming his life.

The pilgrimage comes full circle when Mansfield returns to the scene of what he thought was the peak experience of his life. He suspends the road trip and hops a plane to visit the London rooftop where the Beatles played together for the last time. “That cold January day had always been the biggest day in my life. As I look around I discover—it’s just a roof,” he writes. “The problem was not with the people, places, and past occurrences—it was my prioritizing of these things. I had become a grown man hanging onto this Britannia-based ‘blanky’ instead of moving out and beyond that in space and time.”

The soundtrack for this story includes:
“Eight Miles High” - The Byrds
“Are You Ready for the Country” - Waylon Jennings
“On the Way Home” - Buffalo Springfield
“Coming Back to Life” - Pink Floyd
“Good Vibrations” - The Beach Boys
“Tiny Bubbles” - Don Ho
“By the Time I Get to Phoenix” - Glen Campbell

An iMix of these and other tunes selected by Ken Mansfield can be purchased at
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=301753540   

About The Author
KEN MANSFIELD is the former U.S. manager of Apple Records, and a Grammy Award-winning producer and record-label executive who has worked with artists as diverse as the Beatles, Waylon Jennings, The Beach Boys, The Four Freshman, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Don Ho, Glen Campbell, Badfinger, Judy Garland, Buck Owens, Eric Burdon, Andy Williams, The Band, David Cassidy, Dolly Parton, and The Flying Burrito Brothers. A highly sought-after public speaker, he is the author of two other books: The Beatles, the Bible and Bodega Bay and The White Book.

Contact:    Curt Harding
Senior Publicist
(615) 902-2246
charding@thomasnelson.com