HarperCollins launches Christian imprint

HarperCollins is creating a new Christian imprint publishing commercial fiction and non-fiction.

Titled 'Harper Inspire', it will launch in spring to deliver books “with insight, impact and imagination as it seeks to create and develop titles with global and commercial appeal”.  It will also manage “a bedrock of classic titles” from the Marshall Pickering imprint, which was previously housed within HarperCollins UK.

Harper Inspire seeks to release up to five books a year for its first three years, launching with London-born author Wendy Alec’s Chronicles of Brothers series. The first four books in the series are: The Fall of Lucifer, Messiah, The First Judgement, Son of Perdition and A Pale Horse, all to be published on 28th June, while a fifth title, End of Days, will follow in the autumn.  Alec plans to continue the story further with future books carrying out the saga.

Originally self-published, the series follows the story of a dark angel’s fall and his efforts to corrupt humanity, and has sold nearly three-quarters of a million copies, according to HarperCollins. Before writing the Chronicles of Brothers, Alec worked in advertising and television production, including launching God TV, a Christian media network, in 1995.

Rose Sandy, affiliate publisher at Harper Inspire, said: “Although we know the Christian market is a huge one, I believe we have the potential to reach an even wider audience.

“Harper Inspire will be a place to find stimulating, motivating reads on contemporary topics for the curious mind. I am thrilled to launch with Wendy’s cinematic and epic Chronicles of Brothers saga, and can’t wait to see where the road takes us next."

David Moberg, senior vice president and group publisher at HarperCollins Christian Publishing, describes the imprint as “an exciting new venture for UK-based authors who have been looking for a publishing platform that will support their inspirational messages and stories”.

He said: “The team has great ideas and we look forward to working with authors who will leave life-changing impressions on readers. That’s our job as publishers and I look forward to Inspire’s launch.”