The first-ever Christian Book Expo is about a month away. Slated for March 19-22, the expo is at least two years in the making, as evidenced by the fact that Publishers Weekly reported on its conception way back in 2007. Although New York has long been the US epicenter of the publishing industry, the Christian Book Expo will premiere in Dallas, Texas.The location of the Christian Book Expo may seem like a minute detail, but it is in fact very telling as to the relationship of Christianity to both the publishing industry and New York. By creating their own book expo and holding it in Dallas, the organizers -- headed by Mark Kuyper of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association -- are setting Christian publishing apart from mainstream publishing.
It should be noted, however, that this is more of a reflection of where Christian industries are actually located than of the ECPA's agenda. Most of Christian publishers are located in Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, Miami, Tennessee, and, yes, Texas. Only 1 of the 66 exhibitors for the Christian Book Expo is located in New York. That exhibitor is GoBible, which is not even a traditional book publisher but rather an electronic device similar to an iPod that allows users to listen to the Bible. Some of the exhibitors are affiliated with major New York publishers, but their Christian divisions are located elsewhere: Howard Books was bought by Simon & Schuster in 2006 but remained in West Monroe, Louisiana; and Zondervan became part of HarperCollinsPublishers in 1988 but remains in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The Christian publishing industry in general and the Christian Book Expo in particular being located outside of the US's main publishing hub is problematic on several levels:
1. Christian publishing may be a step behind secular publishing by virtue of its seclusion. New York is, arguably, the epicenter of culture and new ideas in America.
2. There is less access to major resources elsewhere; New York abounds in cultural (see #1) and physical resources. Major secular publishers, authors, advertisers, printing press reps, etc., are in New York or come through New York.
3. In New York you get the best of the best because there is choice. People in the publishing industry move from company to company in New York, but you can't do that in Christian publishing because there is usually only one or two publishing houses in the smaller cities. That means, it's harder to get people to move for the job.
How many of you are Christians working in a publishing house in New York? Is it a Christian or secular house? Would you ever move outside of New York to take a job with a Christian publisher?
Anyone plan on attending the Christian Book Expo in Dallas?
Anyone plan on attending BEA in New York?
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