Before Amen Wins 2015 Audie Award
Bestselling Book by Max Lucado Marks First Win
for Thomas Nelson

Contact:   Jana Muntsinger, MMPR
tel:   832.247.9308 or 281.251.0480
web:   jana@mmpublicrelations.com

For the first time in 20 years, a Thomas Nelson book has received one of the prestigious Audie Awards®. Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer by Max Lucado and narrated by Ben Holland, was awarded the 2015 Audie Award in the Inspirational/Faith-Based Non-Fiction category on Thursday, May 28, at the Audie Awards Gala in New York City.

Although this is their first Audie Award, this is not the first collaboration for Ben Holland and Max Lucado. Holland has narrated numerous Lucado audio books including The Cure for the Common Life, In the Grip of Grace, In the Eye of the Storm, A Gentle Thunder, The Angels Were Silent and He Chose the Nails.

“We are extremely gratified by this honor for both Max Lucado and Thomas Nelson,” says David Moberg, Senior Vice President and Group Publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing. “Max continues to be the leader in providing inspirational content to the book market and the Thomas Nelson audio team excelled in producing this audio book.”

The book campaign for Before Amen has been extremely successful – Before Amen landed on multiple bestsellers lists including The New York Times and ECPA. Before Amen was chosen as the 2015 Book of the Year by Family Christian Stores. In addition, more than 100,000 people signed up at www.BeforeAmen.com/prayer-challenge to take the Before Amen Prayer Challenge and 34,000 women participated in a Before Amen online Bible Study hosted by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The Before Amen CD, MP3 CD and library editions are distributed by Brilliance Audio.

The Audies, sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association (APA), is the premier awards program in the United States recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment. Through the Audie Award competition, publishers enter titles in various categories for recognition of excellence. Finalists are selected by a diverse group of experienced judges and, from that group of finalists, one winner is awarded.

Max Lucado’s next book will be releasing in September 2015 for Thomas Nelson and is entitled Glory Days: Living Your Promised Land Life Now. The simultaneously released audio edition will once again be narrated by Ben Holland.

About Max Lucado:

Max Lucado is the leading inspirational author in the United States. His writings have been shaped into bestselling books, videos, devotionals, songs, greeting cards, booklets, Bible studies, commentaries and theatrically-released movies. More than 120 million Lucado products have been printed in 54 languages, including 92 million books to date. According to a LifeWay national survey, 1 in 6 Americans are familiar with Max Lucado and 1 in 7 Americans have read a Lucado book. Lucado has been featured on countless national media outlets including The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Huckabee, and Fox & Friends. Max and his wife of more than 30 years, Denalyn, call San Antonio, Texas, home. Max has served the people of Oak Hills Church for 25 years. http://www.maxlucado.com

About Thomas Nelson:
Thomas Nelson publishers is a world-leading provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson, is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

About Audio Publishers Association:

The Audio Publishers Association (APA) is a not-for-profit trade organization whose primary goals are to promote awareness of the audiobook industry, gather and disseminate industry statistics, encourage high production standards and represent the interests of audiobook publishers. Since 1986, the APA has worked to bring audio publishers together to increase interest in audiobooks. Please visit www.audiopub.org for more information.