CrossHouse Publishing

E-books Now Available for CrossHouse Titles

2012-02-16T15:25:00.000-08:00

Last May, Amazon.com announced that it sells more Kindle e-books than both paperback and hardcover books combined. Since April, the company said it sold 105 e-books for every 100 print versions (excluding numbers for free e-books). The Association of American Publishers also acknowledged the growing popularity of digital versions, citing that e-books sales in March 2011 reached $69 million, up 146% from 2010 (source: New York Times article). These are just a few signals that readers are finding great benefits in the variety of e-readers and e-books now available.

We are always striving to improve our offerings for both authors and readers. So we have been diligently working to convert all of our print books into e-books, which are available for the Kindle, Nook, and iPad. We are adding more to the digital library every day.

Also, we now offer e-book creation and distribution as a standard benefit with our Legacy, Launch, and Limelight publishing packages. The Light package is designed exclusively for the creation and distribution of an e-book version only.

Check out our e-books available for the Kindle and Nook. Visit the iTunes store to find e-books for iPad.

A Faithful Man Who Finished the Race

2012-02-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

The CrossHouse team was sorry to learn of the January 27^th passing of 90-year-old veteran Christian broadcaster Paul Edwin Finkenbinder, known to the Latin American world as Hermano Pablo. Yet we rejoice in knowing he is now in heaven with his Savior.

Hermano Pablo desired to put the Gospel message on radio and TV in the Spanish-speaking world and worked tirelessly to see his unprecedented dream fulfilled. With few resources except for an unfaltering faith in God, Hermano Pablo doggedly pursued the vision even when others, including his own family and co-workers, wondered if the cost was worth it all.

His ministry began in 1942 as he and wife Linda served as missionaries in El Salvador. Years later, he began his radio ministry, A Message to theConscience, as well as a prime-time Bible drama reported to be the first regularly scheduled Christian TV broadcast outside the US. The radio program still continues to broadcast (through leadership by a board of directors and his successor) more than 6,400 times each day in 33 countries; in addition, 55,000 subscribers receive the program each day by email.

Last year Linda published That Powerful Light: The Story of Hermano Pablo, a biography of her husband. (This CrossHouse book was simultaneously released with the Spanish version, Esa Poderosa Luz, published by Zondervan.) She also celebrated their 70-year marriage through Magic Liquid, a book offering a transparent, honest account of their marriage that gives practical wisdom about keeping a relationship strong and Christ-centered.

In 2 Timothy 4:7, the apostle Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” We certainly believe that this applies to Hermano Pablo as well. His legacy and impact for Christ will certainly live on.

New Book by Helen Spaulding Completes Her "Go If You Must" Trilogy

2012-01-27T13:34:00.000-08:00

In her newest book, Go If You Must: His Will Is Perfect, Helen Spaulding wraps up her trilogy that describes her and her husband's nine fruitful "senior years" overseas as they followed Jesus' command to "go and teach". Ultimately empty-nested but believing she had many good years left, Helen, alongside husband Roger, found that her passion to serve God overseas was as fresh as it had been in her youth.

This third book, which is dedicated to Roger who went to be with the Lord last year, divulges the dramatic story of when Helen and Roger returned to Khabarovsk, where they primarily worked with children in orphanages. While struggling with language barriers and societal differences that would discourage many, the Spauldings pressed on to share the light of Jesus while they addressed personal needs of many they encountered.

The first two books in the series, Go If You Must: Even If You Aren't Perfect and Go If You Must: And He Will Go With You, trace years of serving in Liberia, a Somali refugee camp, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica (to assist in rebuilding a church), the Navajo Nation in the U.S., Costa Rica again (for an evangelism mission), Northern Finland, and Khabarovsk, Far East Russia.

All of the books demonstrate how God can use imperfect humans--many who feel led to pursue such a career yet believe they might not "qualify"--and enables those He calls to do His work in His power. By tracing Helen's service--all of which occurred after she was 52 years of age--the book illustrates the joys and sorrows, successes and failures, frustrations and "Wow!" moments in daily missions work. Helen writes in hopes of raising up more workers to labor in Christ's overseas vineyards and to praise God for the wonderful opportunities He gives when people are willing to pack up and follow Him.

Look No Further For Words of Encouragement

2012-01-19T12:42:00.000-08:00

Often a mere word or two, aptly stated, can boost another's fainting heart. Jan Burton hopes the words of her 56 poems compiled in Majestic Splendor will encourage others in the faith and move them to experience God's majesty. Her brief verses, heavily underscored with scriptural tenets, reflect on all aspects of the Christian life-including worship, trials, prayer, pressures, godly character, salvation, faith, and the lost world's needs.

Lines from Jan's poem, "Majesty", summarize what she hopes to convey:

"Reveal Your Majesty

Glorious splendor in the skies

I see fire burning in Your eyes

Without Your loving grace

Life here is just a vapor

Our walk is at a champion's stride

To be a champion, You run the race."

Jan is a registered nurse who serves the Lord on national and international medical and evangelical mission trips. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit she began writing Christian poetry in 1999 just after the death of her 13-year-old son. She and her husband, Daniel, live in Athens, AL.

Jan's book is a perfect example of the variety of books that we publish: from poetry to fiction, biographies to devotionals, mission stories to children's books.

New Year, New Spiritual Goals

2012-01-05T15:44:00.000-08:00

As the new year is now upon us, we tend to evaluate our lives and create goals and plans for the year. While sometimes considered cliché, new year’s resolutions are a natural reaction to a fresh calendar year, and something we can use to refocus our spiritual lives.

CrossHouse Publishing has published a selection of devotionals, and we want to specifically mention two because of their daily focus and a third that’s soon-to-be released.

The first is 365 Days of Life, in which Pastor Bob Perdue delivers 365 days worth of choices that spring directly from the pages of God's Word. Pithy, poignant, personal devotional meditations are accompanied by Scripture truths as well as interactive thoughts designed to help the reader determine what choice toward life he or she will make each day.

As many of our authors do, Bob shares from his sometimes-painful life pilgrimage in hopes of helping people pull back any layers that might hinder them from a closer walk with the Lord. With zany devotional titles such as "Choose Starbucks" and "Choose to Chill" alongside those such as "Choose Honesty" and "Choose Grace" readers will be entertained as well as challenged to take their choice-making to a deeper level.

The second we want to mention is PaceYourself, a compilation of 366 devotionals that each includes an inspirational story, a Scripture, and a daily challenge. Author Rebekah Trittipoe offers these with the mere purpose of helping each of us make our way through the daily grind--whether that be navigating the nettle-fraught mountainside or sitting at a desk slogging our way through a work day.

As with her extreme running—think ultra marathons with jaunts of up to 100 miles at a time—Rebekah's dedication to God's Word is steadfast and focused. Just as she encourages fellow runners to keep their eyes open to the beauty around them during a trek through challenging terrain, Rebekah inspires other believers to look for God's revelation not so much in theological treatise but in the mundane things of life--watching a simple sunrise, pulling weeds, taking in orphaned kittens, or hauling rocks for a backyard path.

The third book, which will be released in February, is Reunite God and Country by Alton Hensley. It’s a daily devotional meant for Americans who are prayerfully considering the 2012 Presidential election. Through each day’s reading, Alton hopes that others will experience the truth explained in James 4:8, which says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” This in turn will help readers make wise choices for the upcoming elections.

As we welcome 2012, all of us at CrossHouse Publishing want to say thanks to our authors and those who read our books. Without you we would not be where we are. We pray that 2012 brings many blessings and an even closer relationship with the Lord for you all.

Deadlines, Delays, and...Deity?

2011-12-22T11:53:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to lose sight of the important when the urgent is breathing down your neck?

In the book-publishing industry, so very often Christmas is a season marked with deadlines and stress. The printers are backlogged with orders, the shipping companies cannot guarantee deliveries, and sometimes it seems like the whole world has gone mad. Despite a lot of careful planning and preparations on our end, I have spent many a Christmas Eve praying, "Dear Lord, please let those books arrive in time." It's easy to lose sight of the Christ-child when tracking numbers are cluttering your mind.

I would encourage you this Christmas season to join me in making time for the important. What is "the important", you ask? The Christmas story. The gospel. The good news of Jesus coming to take away the sins of the world. Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection changed our earthly purpose and redirected our eternal destiny. What delayed shipment or slow printer (or last-minute shopping, or traffic jam, or...you fill in the blank) could possibly be more important than that?

As we at CrossHouse prepare to wrap up things for yet another Christmas season (and, yes, thankfully all the books are where they're supposed to be), we urge you throughout the next few days to push aside the urgent for a few moments and meditate on what is truly important:

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 NASB

Merry Christmas and many blessings to you and your families!

Katie Welch, Ph.D.
Publisher
CrossHouse Publishing

What Chains Do You Need Broken?

2011-12-15T13:42:00.000-08:00

Hope. We all need it--whether we are incarcerated by prison bars or by other difficult-to-bear circumstances. In Break the Chains, Eleanor Noble McQuade's 100 power-packed devotionals help readers cling to the friend who sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24). Only through absolute and utter dependence on Jesus during our times of trial do we gain hope as we navigate difficult waters.

Inspired by her correspondence with inmates while her 20-year-old grandson was incarcerated for several months, the author encourages readers to have a relationship with Christ, Who is always compassionate and loving and Who never turns away anyone who trusts in Him. Each of the 100 brief devotionals also contains a Scripture and a pertinent quotation that will uplift.

While Eleanor wrote Break the Chains specifically with prisoners in mind, the devotionals therein can also bring light to those who--despite not being in a literal prison cell--are held captive by unfavorable circumstances. In fact, after reading the manuscript, one of the CrossHouse editors commented how meaningful and relevant she found the devotionals to be, despite having no real knowledge of prison life.

We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Eleanor, who lives near her two daughters, sons-in-law, and six grandchildren in Baldwinsville, NY—a perfect example of how our authors are from all over the United States. Eleanor’s daughter actually designed the front cover; customizing the product is only one of the many perks our authors enjoy.

Thankfulness Should be a Year-Round Attitude, Even in Difficult Circumstances

2011-12-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

In hopes of continuing the spirit of Thanksgiving through this busy holiday season, we want to feature books written by Clark Crawford, who understands how to be thankful for every season of life because of the unsurpassable joys of Christ. After a life of childhood abuse, drug addiction, alcoholism, suicide attempts, and prison time, God miraculously healed and restored him. He was a successful businessperson in the construction industry before God called him into the ministry. He started Clark Crawford Ministries in 2008 after a life-changing event brought him back to his home in Dallas, TX.

Learn about the first step of his miraculous transformation in his first book, Thank God I Got Caught: From Prisoner to Worshipper. His second book, Thank God for My Enemies shares that while enemies are a fact of life, how one deals with one's enemies is the real issue. In his usual candid and straightforward approach, Clark Crawford honestly shares what God has taught him about how to forgive his enemies. The series’ third book, Thank God for My Cross, talks about what it means to die to one's sins and to turn one's life over completely to God through Jesus Christ.

We also recently released Clark’s new book, Unleashed, in which he encourages believers to get ready for The Third Great Awakening, which he says will start very soon. He also warns non-believers that they must turn to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior before something happens that could cut them off from being able to make that decision, such as a sudden death or the Second Coming of Christ.

We have enjoyed working with Clark on each of his four books. His gracious spirit and enthusiasm for the Lord is evident to all. Clark’s ministry, Cross Times, is currently expanding its reach to radio programming. To hear Clark speak, tune into one of the many radio stations where his message is broadcast. More information is available at his website, www.crosstimes.com.

Online Royalty Tracker Announced

2011-11-18T14:40:00.000-08:00

CrossHouse Publishing is excited to announce the completion of its new online royalty tracking system that has been launched at the CrossHouse Bookstore website, www.crosshousebooks.com. This system allows authors to keep track of their products' total sales and the royalties that they are accruing from these sales. The system keeps track of traditional print book sales, as well as eBook sales.

The online royalty tracker combines data from a variety of sources--from direct sales through CrossHouse's website and 800-number as well as sales from its network of distributors (Ingram US, Ingram UK, Ingram Australia, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Amazon's Kindle, Apple iBooks, among others).

Publisher Katie Welch said of the system: "We are so excited to finally have this resource available to our authors. Since authors are primarily responsible for their own promotion and marketing, a royalty tracking system like ours is essential in the self-publishing industry. The online royalty tracker provides authors with timely feedback so they can adjust their marketing efforts accordingly."

While the tracker will not be in "real-time", the CrossHouse staff anticipates updating the data around the 15th of each month. Authors previously received royalty information twice annually in March and September when the official royalty audits are conducted. Authors will continue to receive official reports and statements (as well as royalty checks) at these scheduled times.

Welch noted that the numbers reflected in the online royalty tracker are unofficial tallies and are not subjected to the more extensive auditing process that occurs in March and September.

All current CrossHouse authors are encouraged to create an online account at www.crosshousebooks.com. Once an account is upgraded to "author" status, authors will be able to view the royalties for the current accounting period, download statements and reports from previous royalty periods, and access important tax documents. Accounts with "author" status will also be able to order books directly at the online bookstore and receive 40-65% off of the retail price of their books.

Nearly 70 Years of Marriage and the "Magic" Isn't Gone

2011-11-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

In 1942 at the age of 19, Paul and Linda Finkenbinder first caught a glimpse of each other; that glimpse initiated instant love-awareness. Paul, of German descent but Hispanic in his upbringing by missionary parents in Puerto Rico, spoke two languages. Linda, of German-Amish descent, grew up in southern Michigan. When they married, they were poles apart in personality and life experiences. They spent years understanding each other's "languages".

Paul and Linda credit two things that kept their marriage together--putting God first and the determination that divorce was not a solution. God guided and molded their lives to accept, respect, and cultivate the love that drew them together--while He transformed their personalities to be more like Jesus. In Magic Liquid’s transparent and honest account, Paul and Linda provide couples with the practical wisdom that throughout the Finkenbinders' seven decades has kept their relationship strong and Christ-centered. In the book they identify seven guidelines that have been invaluable in their own relationship and that are necessary in any Christian union.

Not too many people today—including many authors of books on marriage—are able to back up their guidelines on love by 70 years of marriage, but the Finkenbinders can. Imagine celebrating your 90^th birthdays—as Paul and Linda just did—with the true love of your life!

In addition to authoring Magic Liquid, Linda also wrote That Powerful Light: The Story of Hermano Pablo. Paul Finkenbinder—aka Hermano Pablo in many circles—desired to put the Gospel message on radio and TV in the Spanish-speaking world and worked tirelessly to see his unprecedented dream fulfilled. With few resources except for an unfaltering faith in God, Hermano Pablo doggedly pursued the vision even when others, including his own family and co-workers, wondered if the cost was worth it all. Today, as Hermano Pablo and Linda look back on nearly 70 years in ministry they clearly see God's handiwork that made Hermano Pablo through his broadcasts one of the most influential Christian leaders in Latin America in the 20th century.

At 90-years young, Linda is one of our most senior CrossHouse authors. But you’d never know it from interacting with her! She is technology savvy, proficient in email, and even has a Facebook page. She is a true delight and an inspiration for younger generations.

Writers: Stay True to Yourselves

2011-11-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

Write what you know.

Authors commonly ask us what they should write—or what they should write next. It's always funny when you meet people, hear their testimonies and all that God has brought them through, and then find out that their manuscripts have absolutely nothing to do with their own personal story. The couple who struggled with many years of infertility who wants to publish a book about baptism. Or, the missionary who lost her husband to violence on the mission field who has written a book about quilting (especially comical if the person is an admitted amateur seamstress).

While, of course, there is nothing wrong with quilting or theology books, these writers have missed a crucial part of storytelling: authenticity. So, when asked by people what they should write, we have a simple answer: Write what you know. God has given you a unique story to tell. Nobody can tell your story the way you can. If you're wondering what to write, why not start with what God has taught you through your own unique life experiences?

This past weekend, CrossHouse Publishing had the opportunity to attend the East Texas Christian Writers Conference in Marshall, TX. East Texas Baptist University hosts this conference annually in October and has now completed its ninth year. At the Friday evening banquet, we listened to a keynote address by Rev. Cecil Murphey, who collaborated with Don Piper on 90 Minutes in Heaven. Rev. Murphey's talk addressed the issue of being authentic and transparent in writing. Murphey suggested that readers can tell when writers are being "real" and "transparent" and when they are trying to project an image that is incongruous with who they truly are.

We're really blessed here at CrossHouse to work with many authors who value authenticity. Through their books, they willingly confess their shortcomings and failures, their darkest days, and their deep regrets, so that others might learn from their experiences. They write what they know—even if it keeps them from sounding like they have the Christian life completely figured out.

So, how about you? What unique story has God given you to tell?

Where Do You Find Your Identity?

2011-10-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

People search for their identities in education, wealth, careers, and even in religious involvements. To try to find their true selves, people often set their lives on a course of frustration, strife, and even destruction.

For more than 40 years author Vince Mercardante Sr., experienced this same kind of identity search as he struggled with insecurity, shame, and guilt. One day while on an international flight in 2005, he cried out in desperation, "God, I don't know who I am”. It was then that he heard the voice of God say, “You are my son!" This set Vince on a path of discovering his true identity in Christ.

As Vince set out on that journey, he began to uncover helps that he now shares with others in Daddy’s Little Boy: A journey to finding your true identity in Christ. In the book he discloses that the greatest identity anyone could have in this life is that of being a son or daughter of the Living God. The other titles we frequently carry do not reflect who we are but only what we do. Being Daddy’s Little Boy or Girl (DLB/DLG) is a privilege bestowed on us by our Savior and older Brother, Jesus. Vince contends that when we understand who we truly are, the gates of hell will never prevail against us!

Vince first partnered with CrossHouse in 2007 with his book, The Offense ofGrace, in which he encourages all believers to understand their dependence on God’s grace and the blessing that comes from abiding in the Father's love. All of us at CrossHouse have thoroughly enjoyed working with Vince and his warm, gentle spirit. He has a wide-spread speaking ministry in Korea and a ministry website at www.fatherspeaks.org, through which he feels called to teach, preach, and demonstrate the Father’s love. He and his wife, Rose, are available for speaking engagements.

Who is CrossHouse Publishing?

2011-10-19T08:38:00.000-07:00

For awhile now, I have believed that CrossHouse Publishing was starting to take on a life of its own. And not just because we recently became independent from our long-time partner, Hannibal Books. No. I've noticed that the company—the company that just six years ago was publishing its first book—has started to take on its own "personality"

Leigh Buchanan wrote an Inc.com piece last year entitled "What's Your Company's Personality". In this article, Buchanan shares how a large advertising firm annually gives itself a personality test to determine what the company values most. Being a lover of all things Meyers-Briggs, I was intrigued by this concept. What personality traits does our company possess? While I have yet to figure out what our unique Meyers-Briggs personality type might be (the introversion/extroversion thing is tripping me up), I have settled on a few key words that best describe who we are.

(It would have been awesome if I could have made them into an acrostic that spells out C-R-O-S-S-H-O-U-S-E, but it just didn't work out that way.)

Anyway, here they are:

Global: We are based in Texas, but have authors across the country and around the globe.
Trustworthy: We are an accredited member of the Dallas Better Business Bureau.
Intentional: We are purposefully small so we can give each author the attention he or she deserves.
Personal: Our authors are our friends. We care about their ministries, their goals, and their messages. Our services are customized to meet each author’s specific needs.
Cutting-Edge: We actively monitor the publishing world so we can remain relevant in an ever-changing industry.
Quality-Conscious: We maintain superior editing, design, and printing standards so your book will have maximum reach and impact.
Reliable: We meet or beat deadlines.
Lasting: Many of our authors return to do their second, third, or even eighth book with us.

So, that's us.

More importantly, who are you? What life message do you have to share with the world? How can we help you get the word out?

Katie Welch, Ph.D.
Publisher
katie@crosshousepublishing.org

Self-Publisher CrossHouse Publishing Amicably Launches out on Its Own After Seven Years Under Traditional Publisher's Wing

2011-10-13T12:58:00.000-07:00

As book-publishing undergoes dramatic changes brought on by the technological revolution sweeping the world today, CrossHouse Publishing reflects the best of those trends. The small, independently-owned, Christian-oriented company is designed and fashioned to meet the headwinds facing the industry as a whole and to soar on the backs of the eagle-like new technology available today.

On October 1, 2011, CrossHouse Publishing officially was spun off from its parent company, KLMK Communications, d.b.a. Hannibal Books, which birthed and nurtured the new company into maturity. Hannibal Books will continue in the path of traditional publishers while CrossHouse Publishing will move forward rapidly into the emerging book self-publishing culture.

Corporately small, agile, and flexible, CrossHouse is designed to provide personalized service to self-published authors who desire to drive their own books into success in the marketplace. This contrasts with larger self-publishing companies, which have in recent years created their own versions of CrossHouse and rely heavily on impersonal phone banks to market their products to authors using software-based products that often leave new authors frustrated and feeling cut off from the freedom they had been promised.

The new company, officially known as Cross Communciations, Inc., is headed by Dr. Katie Welch, a Phi Beta Kappa Baylor University graduate, who also holds a Ph.d. degree in linguistics from the University of Texas in Arlington. Prior to forming Cross Communciations, Inc., two months ago, Dr. Welch worked for KLMK Communications, Inc., nurturing and leading CrossHouse Publishing into maturity.

Louis Moore, owner of KLMK Communications, Inc., said, "We anticipate that under the new ownership arrangement the company will continue to flourish and grow as it has for the past seven years."

"CrossHouse personifies every positive trend emerging in the book-publishing world's crystal ball: self-publishing, in which authors have more control over their final product, a cafeteria approach to services loaded with special perks for authors, flexibility in structure, agility in performance, and already set up for and fully embracing the current trends in the industry. Besides all I have described, CrossHouse offers personalized, individualized service unlike what you would find in some of the larger, phone-bank, self-publishing operations out there today," Moore said.

Dr. Welch said CrossHouse will continue to place a "premium on individualized service and quality products".

"To assure our authors of the quality of our service, we are a member of the Dallas Better Business Bureau," she said.

"We want our authors to have a positive first experience with the book-publishing industry. In fact, many of our authors return to do their second, third, or even eighth books with us."

"CrossHouse works with lay people, pastors, missionaries, women's ministry people, mom, dads, and anyone who wants to share their story," said Dr. Welch. She said the company's selection of authors has less to do with denominational labels and more to do with having an authentic, inspiring life message to share.

The company publishes trade books, fiction, non-fiction, devotionals, Bible-study materials, children's books, poetry books, and e-books.

For more information on CrossHouse Publishing, contact Dr. Welch at CrossHouse Publishing, 2844 S. FM 549, Rockwall, TX 75032, or by email at katie@crosshousepublishing.org, or by calling 1-877-212-0933.