Over the last month, I have been anxiously watching developments concerning Authentic Publishing, STL Distribution and Wesley Owen bookshops – all part of Biblica (was IBS-STL). They hit the financial buffers despite having had a good year, largely because of cash-flow problems caused by an extremely problematic new computer system. It’s very sad that this has happened, but it looks like there has been nearly as positive an outcome as could be hoped for. Authentic and STL have new buyers. Wesley Owen doesn’t, though some of the shops have been bought. The press release below relates only to Authentic, which has been the main focus of my concern as it publishes all my books in the UK, and most of them in other markets, too (Dark Matter is published by IVP in the USA). It has a great team, and I’m delighted that they will still be there to work with in the future.

Koorong, the leading Christian bookseller in Australia has bought both Authentic publishing and eight Wesley Owen bookshops. Contracts were signed on Friday 18^th December and will take effect immediately. This brings to an end a month of speculation about the future of Authentic’s list, which has already had an immensely successful year. 

“We are delighted with this news” said Mark Finnie, Authentic’s Publishing Director. “Koorong is one of the most highly respected retailers and distributors in the Christian publishing world. One prospective buyer commented that ‘Authentic publishing has a list to die for’ and we believe that working together we have an outstanding company. We are also looking forward to being able to reprint titles that have done particularly well this year, including Michele Guinness’s Autumn Leave, Helen Berhane’s Song of the Nightingale, Robin Oake’s Father Forgive, and the Tozer and Goldsworthy collections. 

We have a strong list coming up for 2010, with new titles from Adrian Plass, Jeff Lucas, G.P. Taylor and Claire Connor, Bob Hartman, Susie Poole, Nick Page, Dave Hopwood, Cris Rogers and Damaris. We are delighted to welcome Rob Parsons and Anne Atkins to Authentic and we are actively looking for new talent.  

Our authors are speaking at all the major Christian events in the UK, including Spring Harvest, New Word Alive, New Wine, Soul Survivor, Keswick and for the first time we have six authors appearing at the mainstream Words by the Water book festival in March. We are sure that 2010 will be an excellent year for Authentic and Paternoster authors and thank you for your partnership at this exciting time in our history.” 

Paul Bootes, Koorong Managing Director says “We are excited by the opportunity of being involved in Christian publishing and we are committed to continuing the important ministry of Authentic and Paternoster in the UK and around the world. The first few months will be a time of transition; we appreciate and rely on your patience and understanding as we begin this process.”