Author Melody Carlson is passionate about writing about the challenges and struggles young adults face, and her readers have responded by making her one of the Christian products industry’s leading novelists. Her books have been finalists and winners of various writing awards, including The Gold Medallion, The Christy, and The Rita Award.

Carlson’s TrueColors series, which focuses on hard-hitting issues such as suicide, addiction, and cutting, continues to top NavPress’ bestsellers list with more than 350,000 copies sold. Carlson’s edgy, new Secrets series promises to follow in TrueColor’s footsteps.

Secrets is a fiction series that delves into the lives of teens whose secrets can make or break them. These realistic books offer readers hope by helping them discover that solid faith, loyal friends, and a persistent spirit will see them through rough times.

“All teens have secrets—many are happy secrets, but some are not,” explains Carlson. “My hope is that my new series will help readers to realize that undisclosed heartbreaks are best healed when brought into the

In Forgotten, the first book in the Secrets series, teenager Adele is forced to grow up quickly when she becomes homeless and tries to conceal it from her classmates. It releases Aug. 1.

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and Student Leadership University announced a new partnership with NavPress at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on July 16 to promote ERLC's Josiah Road initiative.

Find out more about it.

NavPress, a leader in discipleship and Scripture-memory resources, debuted the VerseMinder Topical Memory System iPhone application on iTunes.

Based on the popular Topical Memory System (TMS) developed by The Navigators, VerseMinder Topical Memory System marks a first-of-its-kind development for NavPress. With 60 verses in the NIV, NASB, KJV, and NKJV versions, all organized by topics, this app helps users memorize Bible verses in the translation of their choice and at their own pace.

“NavPress is excited to make our Scripture memory system available for a mobile device.  We believe in the truth and sufficiency of Scripture for the whole of life and are committed to translating that belief into new tools in this digital age,” says Michael Visentine, NavPress COO.  “We are currently looking into additional mobile platforms and plan on launching more apps in the future.”

VerseMinder Topical Memory System is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad and doesn’t need an Internet connection. It requires .5 MB and iOS 3.0 or later.

It retails for $3.99 at iTunes.

More than 800 years ago St. Francis of Assisi single-handedly altered the spiritual and political climate of his time. Today, Chasing Francis, a captivating book that examines the lessons the saint can teach contemporary Christians, has received an endorsement from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams.

“I’ve now read it twice and found it equally compelling both times. It’s a challenging, disarming, and delightful book, and the vision behind it is a serious one. It’s a remarkable book,” says Dr. Williams.

This significant endorsement carries great weight in the Episcopal Church and has sparked a renewed interest in Chasing Francis, which is a creative and compelling hybrid of fiction, theology, and historical biography. The first book by musician Ian Morgan Cron, Chasing Francis masterfully weaves actual accounts of St. Francis' radical impact on the world into the fictional story of a New England minister on a pilgrimage to regain his faith.

Listen to Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams’ address at the “Fresh Expression: Changing the Landscape” conference in which he summarizes the plot of Chasing Francis; discusses the five principles the book emphasizes for the church: transcendence, community, beauty, dignity, and meaning; and explains why he is recommending it. (Begin at minute mark 23:00.)

Best-selling author Jerusha Clark has written on a variety of topics, but her latest NavPress release tackles a difficult subject that all too many families are familiar with: postpartum depression (PPD).

Many books on PPD recently have entered the marketplace, but Jerusha's Living Beyond Postpartum Depression: Help and Hope for the Hurting Mom and Those Around Her is unique because it also is written for the friends and family of someone with a PPD condition.

“I decided to address not just the mother struggling with PPD, but also those surrounding her for two primary and interconnected reasons,” Jerusha explains. “First, it’s nearly impossible for a woman in the throes of a postpartum depression to read about her condition. Frankly, I couldn’t read anything during my battle, even Scripture, which heaped a painful weight of guilt on me.

“Secondly, the family, friends, pastors, and clinicians surrounding moms fighting against PPD are often every bit as impacted as the strugglers, though in unique and sometimes confusing ways. That’s why various chapters within the book explore how postpartum conditions—not just PPD, but all of the various manifestations of postnatal disorders—effect individuals walking alongside those who suffer.”

Jerusha is the guest on Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast June 22-23, speaking on “Wedded Bliss: Fact or Fiction?” Her 2009 NavPress release, When I Get Married…, addresses common misconceptions about marriage.

NavPress, the publishing arm of the U.S.-based Navigators, announces that it has filled an important position in its marketing department with the hiring of Tom Lathrop. In his new role as marketing manager, Tom will develop marketing plans to promote key titles to the trade and direct markets as well as be involved with project management.

Tom comes to NavPress from Word Distribution where he served for 11 years. He also has more than 19 years of experience working in and with the Christian retail industry.

"We are thrilled to have Tom join NavPress,” says Julie Langmade, NavPress director of marketing. “His background in retail sales and his attention to detail will be a great enhancement to our current marketing team."

NavPress, the publishing arm of the Colorado Springs-based U.S. Navigators, is pleased to announce that Eric Helus has been promoted to Sales Director. He will be leading the sales department in planning and setting sales direction, directing the sales efforts of the organization's products and services, and monitoring market changes with retail accounts.

Helus came to NavPress in September 2002 as a CBA/international sales rep and was a key part in developing and implementing the ABA channel strategy over the next four years. In 2006 he became the Trade Sales Manager, managing both the CBA and ABA trade business.

“We are excited to welcome Eric in his new role as sales director. He is an exceptional sales professional with a proven track record in the retail book market. With Eric’s help, we hope to boost the growth of our business, with specific focus in the area of discipleship. Eric brings a wealth of talent and expertise that will serve our customers well,” says Michael Visentine, COO of NavPress.