Grupo Nelson and Simon & Schuster To Co-Publish Joel Osteen

By A�da Bardales -- Críticas, 5/15/2007

Grupo Nelson, Thomas Nelson’s Spanish-language imprint, and Simon & Schuster’s Atria announced this month plans to publish and distribute the Spanish-language version of Houston-based Pastor Joel Osteen’s upcoming book Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving your Life. Under the new agreement, which was announced after a long negotiation between the two publishers, S&S will distribute Lo mejor de ti. Siete pasos hacia la grandeza interior in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico; Grupo Nelson will supply the Latin American and Spanish markets.

Larry Downs, VP and publisher of Grupo Nelson, told Críticas he believed the publishing house has “what no other publisher has at this point: targeted distribution in both the Christian and religious channels.” Downs also emphasized his company’s strong distribution in the Latin American general market. This October, Grupo Nelson will release the international edition simultaneously with Atria’s U.S. Spanish- and English-language editions.

Grupo Nelson signed another agreement last month with Spanish publisher RBA. “I see this as a growing trend,” said Downs of the recent partnerships, “that allows the strengths of each [publisher] to dominate and carry the author’s message to a wider audience.” Downs said that he believes these projects will pave the way for future alliances with other publishers.