Christian Book Expo

Christian Book Expo Update


Published in: E-Link, September 2008, Mark Kuyper, ECPA President/CEO

We have many exciting developments to report to you as we continue to plan and develop the Christian Book Expo. I spent last week in Houston and Dallas making presentations to churches and organizations representing nearly 2000 churches in the area. In many respects, as I meet and talk with pastors, publishers, authors, community leaders, etc., this event is starting to take on a life of its own as many are desiring to participate in various ways. I can't tell you how energizing it is to be on the front lines and see the moment of "ah-ha" in their eyes and immediately the conversations start as to how they want to be involved. (Have you seen Chip MacGregor's recent blog post?)

In the coming weeks we will have many major announcements to make. Please be sure to have everyone in your company who will have a role in the Christian Book Expo sign up for the CBE event blog and subscribe to the feed. In the meantime, here is just a brief update on some of the exciting activity happening:

  • Retail: We expect to make an announcement about retailer involvement in the next few days.

  • Fiction: Chi Libris and the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) will have booths and are working with our fiction committee to develop a collaborative fiction event for each day of the Expo.

  • Panel discussions: We have been working with Christianity Today to develop our panel discussions and will announce the topics very soon. I showed the tentative list to a publisher last week and he said if we run any three of the 12 we have on the list, every pastor in town will want to come!

  • Consumer marketing: A new consumer-friendly brand package will be announced in the next week or two along with the complete marketing plan. The consumer web site is currently in development.

  • International rights: At our last steering committee one of the publishers told us that many internationals were planning to come to the Christian Book Expo, so we developed some program ideas that include training sessions, and sent a survey out to quantify interest. Early results suggest that slightly more than half of those surveyed are either coming or planning to come, so we are working on plans for a rights area. More details to come.

  • Production companies and programming: We will announce the name of the event production companies for our Christian Book Award and the evening events in the next week or two. We asked the production companies to create an experience like nothing the Christian community has seen before. We will begin selecting authors from the names currently submitted to participate in those programmed events. We plan to use a wide range of authors reflecting diversity in popularity, gender, race and spiritual tradition.

  • Authors and diversity: We are looking for more African American, Hispanic/Latino and charismatic authors for our programming. Please give serious consideration to any authors you may have from these groups and get their names in right away.

  • Authors and Church workshops: We also need more authors for workshops aimed at church staff including pastors, administrators, CE directors, youth workers, etc. Please consider what authors you have for this important group we expect to attract to the event and submit their names to us as soon as possible..

  • Media and publicity: Publicity efforts are moving forward as national and local media lists (including bloggers) are being drafted this month. Online press registration for the show launches in September, and a fully functional press room will be in place on site (March 19-22). Targeted and regular communication with media, describing show events and offering interviews with authors, extends from September through Christian Book Expo.

  • Publicists: An FAQ document for publicists at member publishing houses was issued via email this month. If your in-house publicist would like to be added to our list for routine media updates, contact Pamela McClure at McClure Muntsinger Public Relations.

  • Show floor: The show floor is in final development and we will begin exhibitor space assignments within the next several weeks.  We will place publishers with eight or more booths first so we can anchor the floor, and then we will place the remaining companies. All companies will be placed in the order of the date we received the contract. Expect a call soon so we can show you the map and locate your booth.

  • Associated events for writers: Jerry Jenkins' will host his Christian Writers Conference in conjunction with event. The Advanced Writers and Speakers Association is working on plans for a booth and an event for their authors.

  • Agents: We have been asked by a couple of agents to explore the idea an Agent Center for meetings between agents and authors or editors. We are developing a plan and should have an announcement soon.

  • Bible exhibit and outreach to area schools and homeschoolers: The center of the show floor will feature an extensive exhibit of antique Bibles and historical documents.  We hope to be able to include a working replica of the Gutenberg printing press in this area! We are working on plans to invite Christian schools and homeschoolers to visit the exhibit. Contact Carl Dunn at Advocace Media if you have Bibles you would like to be included.

We will have more developments and major announcements to share with you and will use the blog in the coming weeks to post this news, so please sign up for the CBE blog feed in the upper right corner at christianbookexpo.typepad.com.   

Please contact me if you have any questions and we look forward to working with you on producing an unprecedented consumer event for Christian publishers and authors!


MARCH 20-22, 2009
Dallas Convention Center
Dallas, Texas


Your audience. Your message. Your Event. It’s what you’ve been waiting for. It’s time.