Innovative Marketing for Rumors of Another World

Zondervan Sponsors Author’s First Multi-City Book Tour

July 9, 2003—Zondervan announces an innovative marketing campaign for the launch of Philip Yancey’s book, Rumors of Another World: What On Earth Are We Missing? (September 2, 2003). Zondervan—in conjunction with Harper Collins UK and Harper Collins Canada—is embarking on an international marketing effort unrivaled at the publishing house this fall. The goal of this broad marketing launch is to reach both Yancey’s core Christian readers, who have purchased more than 7.6X million copies of his books, as well as targeting new readers who are interested in matters of faith.

“Rumors of Another World is poised to be one of our biggest books of the year,” says John Topliff, Vice President, Marketing for Zondervan’s Book Group. “Yancey is writing to a unique and dynamic audience, so we have tailored our marketing efforts to match. We expect this to be Yancey’s best-selling book ever.” Zondervan has published 16 X titles by Philip Yancey over in the last 25 X years.

Zondervan is sponsoring an unprecedented 12-city tour this fall~~, the first multi-city book tour for Philip Yancey~~. In most ~~each~~ citiesy, Yancey will host two major events—a traditional book signing in a local general market bookstore and a pastors’ and lay leaders’ breakfast sponsored by a CBA store. The reason for the two-pronged approach is strategic, according to Zondervan’s Topliff: “Rumors of Another World is written for both the person of Christian faith and the inquisitive ~~seeking~~ non-Christian. These two events will reach both audiences within one market—the influencers as well as those on the borderlands of belief.” The tour will begin with a pre-release event in Zondervan’s headquarters of Grand Rapids, MI, on August 26. Tour cities and dates are set, but are subject to change:

· Seattle – September 3-5

· Atlanta – September 10-12

· Denver – September 14

· Dallas – September 15-17

· Chapel Hill, NC – September 18-19

· Nashville – September 23-27

· San Diego – September 30-October 1

· Orange County, CA – October 2-3

· Chicago – October 13-15

· Washington, DC – October 28-30

· Toronto, Canada – November 12-14

· Birmingham, AL – January 5-7

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Rumors Marketing Release, page two

In each market, Yancey will be available for media interviews with newspapers, television and radio outlets. ~~“Significantly, the~~ ~~Rumors~~ ~~tour is the only author tour planned for Zondervan this year,” adds Topliff.~~ A series of high-profile speaking appearances will serve as forums for Yancey to discuss his new book, including the Religion News Writers Convention (Sept 5), Outreach Convention (Oct 1), Praise Gathering (Oct 11), and international trips to New Zealand (July) and Africa (Nov-Dec).

Yancey will be the featured speaker on a live satellite broadcast September 14, 2003, from Mission Hills Church outside of Denver, Colorado in Greenwood Village. Yancey will be speaking to thousands of viewers on the topic of Rumors of Another World. The satellite simulcast, produced by Church Communication Network (CCN), will reach CCN’s 1,500 North American subscriber churches as well as non-subscribing churches and organizations on a pay-per-view basis.

Zondervan has created a comprehensive consumer marketing campaign to support the release of Rumors of Another World. . During the late summer (July to September), Zondervan will launch a “Back to School with Yancey” campaign in CBA retail outlets. Six ~~All~~ Yancey backlist titles with Zondervan will be available for $9.97 (What’s So Amazing About Grace?, The Jesus I Never Knew, The Bible I Never Read, Disappointment with God, Where’s God When It Hurts?, Reaching for the Invisible God). With the purchase any of these paperbacks, customers can purchase Rumors for less than half-price at a mere $10.00. Zondervan is supporting this campaign with a free merchandising kit (ISBN#: 0-310-254-345) consisting of a full color end cap header, five shelf talkers and a 5x7 tent card with tear off coupons.

In a new marketing effort for Zondervan, Rumors will be supported by a new consumer-oriented campaign featuring an 8-page Reading Group Guide (ISBN#: 0-310-256-259, package of 10), tri-fold ~~color~~ “Share the Rumors” Recommenders Guide (ISBN#: 0-310-256-232, package of 10) and Rumors Merchandising Kit (End cap header, five shelf talkers, 10 Reading Group Guide, 10 Recommenders Guide, ISBN#: 0-310-254-469). All components are free to bookstores and consumers.

Zondervan is creating four unique websites – www.rumorsofanotherworld.com (for those who hear of his new book but are not familiar with his name), www.philipyancey.com (for those familiar with the author and his writing), ~~www.rumorsofanotherworld.com~~ ~~(for those who hear of his new book but are not familiar with his name),~~ www.rumoursofanotherworld.uk (for readers in the United Kingdom) and www.rumoursofanotherworld.ca (for Canadian readers.). Internet interviews and profiles have already been scheduled for CBN.org, Christianbook.com, Crosswalk.com and many others. ~~National print advertisements will appear in a wide variety of publications this fall including~~ ~~Christianity Today~~, ~~Today’s Christian Woman~~, ~~Leadership~~, ~~Discipleship Journal~~, ~~Re:generation Quarterly~~ ~~and~~ ~~Relevant Magazine~~.

Zondervan is also including Rumors of Another World in its “Fresh Voices” sampler. This 240-page trade paper book will contain the best writings from ten of Zondervan’s non-fiction authors including Yancey, Rick Warren’s The PPurpose Driven Life, Joni Eareck~~rick~~son Tada’s The God I Love, Lee Strobel~~ebel~~’s The Case for a Creator and Jim Cymbala’s Breakthrough Prayer. The book will be sold to bookstores for 99¢ each. “We created the ‘“”Fresh Voices’”” sampler to introduce readers to wide variety of authors and subjects available from Zondervan,” says Topliff. “We have priced this sampler well below cost to give the stores a strong incentive to distribute many, many copies.” There will be dollars off coupons for each title in “Fresh Voices” sampler. ~~COUPONS IN FRESH VOICES?~~

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Rumors Marketing Release, page three

Yancey, an award-winning writer and international traveler, often pens essays for Christianity Today and other journals of religious thought. T~~But t~~his new volume, Rumors of Another World, finds Yancey asking the same questions as those outside the organized church. His new book reads much like a conversation, inviting those skeptical of religion and burned by the church to consider the possibility of an unseen, supernatural world coexisting with our visible world.

Raised in the Deep South, Philip Yancey has spent a lifetime recovering from the toxic faith and church of his youth. He draws from his difficult, racist childhood in writing personal, deeply profound books on suffering, pain, joy and grace. With more than 7.6 million books in print, Yancey is one of the most popular and award-winning authors in the religious community. Two of his works—The Jesus I Never Knew (1996) and What’s So Amazing About Grace (1998)—were awarded the ECPA* Christian Book of the Year award. A graduate of Wheaton College Graduate School and the University of Chicago, Yancey and his wife Janet live amidst the natural splendor of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins, is an international Christian communications company and the #1 publisher of the Bible worldwide. The company produces award-winning books, ministry resources and inspirational gifts as well as providing content in the form of eBooks, videos, CD-ROMs and audio books. Zondervan has been based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, during its seventy years of business.

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July 8, 2003

(*ECPA = Evangelical Christian Publishers Association)

Rumors of Another World:

What On Earth Are We Missing?

By Philip Yancey

Available September 2, 2003

Published by Zondervan

Category: Religion/Christian Living

ISBN: 0-310-25217-2

$22.99, jacketed hardcover, 272 pages