As I shared recently, I’ve moved back to SPCK Group to work for IVP, the UK’s leading evangelical publisher.
As well as doing some digital marketing, I’m also starting to commission books and content.
So, if you’ve got an idea, I’d love to hear from you! While there are some theological limits on what we publish, I believe that evangelicalism is a big tent, with a lot of space for generosity, and so if you might not have thought of IVP in the first instance for your book, then why not run it by me?
I’m also hoping to make the IVP blog a more interesting space for readers – so if you LOVE an IVP book and want to share some thoughts, or just have a piece that you are looking for a home for, then let’s chat!
Either way, drop me an email…
Archie Catchpole
Hi Tom,
I hope that you’re doing alright!
We don’t know each other (I don’t think), although I grew up in Guildford going to Millmead and I was at LST probably a few years after you left. In the heady days when I was on facebook, I was also part of a group you were in – EDGE.
I currently live in Edinburgh and am a community outreach worker at Portobello Baptist Church.
My real passion – beyond Jesus, my cat, and my wife – is writing (am I allowed to enjoy how cringey this line is?). More specifically, I would love to live to share the scriptures through the written word. It’s here that perhaps you may be able to help me?
For the past few months I’ve been working under my own steam on a bible commentary project for young christians (20 to pushing 40, if this isn’t too wide an age range). Working title: “No Figs and Big Bricks: Stories in Mark 11-13.” My hope is to present the biblical story – in all its complicated glory – in a way that is engaging and accessible, so that it may transform readers as much as it informs them. I know there’s already a multitude of books out there that aim to do this. Many of them are excellent! What I feel is “new”/“different” about mine is that young adults would (hopefully) actually enjoy reading it. In my most self-indulgent moments, I imagine myself as the John Mark Comer of biblical commentary. Perhaps that paints a useful picture? If not, forget I said it.
I understand that this sort of book might be hard to market and publish – especially given that I have extremely little platform. But I am desperate to help open the scriptures for/with young people, and I’m very keen to learn about how I can best do this. I wonder if you are able to offer any helpful comments or tips? Totally no worries if not!!
I really appreciate you taking the time to read this (if you’ve made it this far). And I look forward to hearing from you soon.
All the best and God bless,
Archie
(P.S. I have a draft of the first three chapters and an outline of the rest ready and raring to go if that would be helpful.)
Tom Creedy
Hi, Archie – nice to hear from you. I’d be fascinated to connect. If this is still something you are working on, do get in touch.
Stephanie Sathiyaraj
Dear Tom,
I am Stephanie from the Evangelical Alliance. We just launched our new book Being Human and we would love to send you a copy. At your earliest convenience, do let us know your preferred mailing address.
God Bless,
Stephanie
Tom Creedy
Hi, Stephanie – I’ve had a copy come, thankyou!
Catherine McDowell
hi Tom,
On the subject of being human…it’s always awkward to recommend one’s own work but here goes…..you might be interested in my The Image of God in the Garden of Eden: The Creation of Humankind in Genesis 2:5-3:24 in Light of the mīs pî, pīt pî, and wpt-r Rituals of Mesopotamia. You can read more about it at
https://www.eisenbrauns.org/books/titles/978-1-57506-348-5.html.
It’s a topic I’m still very interested in, and I hope to do some more work on it soon…but at a more popular/lay accessible level, perhaps. I’m enjoying your blog!
Tom Creedy
thanks for this, Catherine, it’s gone on my wishlist!