Filed under: Uncategorized
I’m back blogging , but I’ve got a new home. For my latest posts on media, publishing, and spirituality, please visit http://blogs.navpress.com/michaeldmiller/My-Blog. I look forward to connecting with you there.
Filed under: Uncategorized
If you are a regular reader of my blog then you know that I’ve been talking about social networks and our connections with people around the globe through the Internet for many months. Behind the scenes NavPress has been working on the Pray! Network which has now moved from a beta stage to a public social network. We already have over 1,500 members that have joined the conversation around prayer.
The Pray! Network is a place where people who are passionate about prayer can connect, communicate, learn from one another, and grow. Members will be able to find other people who pray about the same things they do, have the same questions they do, enjoy the same kinds of prayer activities and venues, read the same books, and more. The possibilities to learn from one another and make new friendships and ministry connections are boundless.
You’re going to see our members already interacting with each other, sharing ideas, insights, resources, information about events, chatting, making new friendships, and encouraging one another to deepen their relationships with God through prayer.
I would encourage you to take a second to join and take a peek at what’s happening. This is totally new territory for NavPress but we’re thrilled to connect with people worldwide and create conversations around prayer! Drop me a comment and let me know what you think!
It is an incredible privilege to be a publisher of a Christian publishing company. I love books and all things print! From my earliest days I always have enjoyed sitting in a library surrounded by books.
I was reflecting the other day on just how much books have shaped my life and my thinking. On my desk right now are five new books that I am reading. In addition, there is a set of special books on the shelves of my library that are like good friends, always available to provide me with their counsel when I need it. I can’t imagine life without reading or without books. Publishers who have gone before have had a part in shaping my spiritual life and world view!
The opportunity to watch a new book develop is very impressive. The labor of authors wrestling with a message that God has placed on their heart and then entrusting that work to our NavPress team is a sacred thing. Then to watch our publishing pros take that message and create a finished product, a new Christian book! Wow! This is truly a labor of love!
It is the highest honor to be given the opportunity to produce practical, spiritual resources for the body of Christ. Thanks for allowing me to write this brief personal word to you and to ask: What do books mean to you?
“There is no end to the publishing of books….” Ecclesiastes 12 (The Message)
Two months ago, we launched our Blogger Review Program and had a far greater response that we expected. Most days we have at least one person join the program but average about three or four new participates. We have offered 10 different books, switching them every couple of weeks depending on how many people request each book. And within two weeks, we had people writing reviews and asking for more books.
While all of this is great and we appreciate the participation, what we like best about the program is how it allows us to join in on the conversations in the blog world. Most of the reviews are very positive, but others give us great feedback on how to make our products even better. We have enjoyed reading every single review. (Yes, you heard me correctly — every single one of them.)
Outside of just learning more about our products are viewed and used, we have enjoyed engaging with potential customers. Many of the bloggers haven’t ordered from NavPress prior to joining our program. This is very exciting for us because we get a chance to extend the reach of our brand with new customers.
Here are reviews from a few of our most recent bloggers:
Figtreevine reviewed Money, Purpose, Joy by Matt Bell
Novelized reviewed Refractions by Makoto Fujimura
In Rebas World reviewed Coffeehouse Theology by Ed Cyzewski
DeWeese Details reviewed The Summer the Wind Whispered My Name by Don Locke
Reformed Christian UK reviewed How Can a Good God Let Bad Things Happen? by Mark Tabb
Going forward, we will keep updating the books available and are always interested in hearing what books you would like to review. Because they get updated frequently, check back occasionally to see if anything peeks your interest. Also, if you have any questions or want to join the program, you can always email us at bloggerreview@navpress.com!
I have had an incredible number of responses to my earlier post regarding The Shack. If you have not looked at the comments, take a moment to read through them; they are very instructive.
Regardless of your opinion of the book, it has been a publishing phenomena! The author wrote the book initially for his family, but the message impacted them so greatly that they began to share it with their friends and the rest is history!
A self-published book with sales exceeding 5 million!
From the comments that post received, it seems that many of you think one of the most significant reasons why the book connects with people has to do with the character and nature of God. One person commented how the book helped him or her connect with the personal nature of God: “It does open a person’s mind to the personalness of God and how he really does care about the details of our lives, and how he orchestrates events for his purpose.” I understood this comment to mean that God is approachable, understanding of our human condition, and sympathetic to our troubles. God is available and relational. Review the comments others have left, and see if you see the same recurring theme.
So what do you think? Is this the real reason why The Shack connects with readers?
