The Most Awarded Catholic Book Publisher in 2024. . .
BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE AWARD-WINNING PUBLISHING IMPRINTS FROM WORD ON FIRE
The Most Awarded Catholic Book Publisher in 2024...
BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE AWARD-WINNING PUBLISHING IMPRINTS FROM WORD ON FIRE
Word on Fire has quickly become the most awarded Catholic publisher. But what makes them so successful in reaching Catholics and non-Catholics alike with the Gospel message? Directors and editors from Word on Fire Publishing shared about their highly recognized imprints and how they are bringing beauty, goodness, and truth into print.
Brandon Vogt, Senior Publishing Director for Word on Fire, shed light on the history of Word on Fire’s award-winning publishing branch and its ascent to becoming the leader in the Catholic publishing world.
Can you share about the history of Word on Fire Publishing? How did it get to where it is now?
Word on Fire published its first book in 2015, yet in our first few years, we released only a handful of books each year, mostly essay collections from Bishop Barron, Lent and Advent reflection booklets, and the Word on Fire Classics line of books. Books were important to our mission but publishing had not yet become a key focus of the ministry.
That changed around 2019 as we began work on the first volume of The Word on Fire Bible. We released that in June 2020, smack in the middle of the pandemic. When we published that first volume, we didn’t quite know what to expect. We ordered 50,000 copies, which seemed like a lot to us. We thought that would last us for a year or two. Much to our shock, we ended up selling out all the leather copies on launch day, and most of the hardcover and paperback editions in the next few weeks. Since then, we’ve sold over 350,000 copies of Volume I alone. The Word on Fire Bible has already become the bestselling Catholic Bible of our generation.
At that point we knew we had something special and we needed to get more serious about publishing. And thus Word on Fire Publishing was officially born. We began shifting resources, as I moved from serving as Senior Content Director, focused mainly on digital campaigns, to Senior Publishing Director, a new position dedicated solely to books.
Then we got clear on our mission. Word on Fire Publishing aimed to produce books that creatively engage the modern world through beauty, goodness, and truth. Note the special emphasis on beauty—we committed to lead with beauty, one of the core Word on Fire principles—and that beauty is reflected in both the content of our books and in their extraordinary design and quality.
We also sought to publish books that Catholic evangelists should read. This fits alongside the mission of our Word on Fire Institute, which is to form Catholic evangelists. We publish books that aren’t only interesting, but important and helpful for Catholic evangelists.
And with that, we were off and running. We grew our publishing team from one to nine, and we went from publishing seven books in 2019 to thirty five books in 2024.
Why was it so important to create and develop a robust publishing department at Word on Fire?
Bishop Barron often gets asked, “How do I get started as an evangelist?” His standard response is, “Read, read, read.” That’s why Word on Fire is committed to books, and that’s why our publishing team exists. Books change lives, books shape evangelists, and as St. Josemaría Escrivá said, “Reading has made many saints.”
Also, in a world in which so many of us are glued to screens all day, we’re committed to releasing beautiful print books that take people offline, books you can hold, touch, and smell, and pass onto others. As a leading digital ministry, we obviously value the online world and the many avenues it provides for evangelization, but we’re just as committed to offline engagement.
Word on Fire Publishing has earned a lot of recognition and awards for its achievements over the past two years, including 41 in all for 2024. Can you share more about that success?
This was the second year in which Word on Fire participated in the annual Catholic Press Association Book Awards, and we were thrilled to receive 41 awards, more than any other publisher. That’s primarily a testament to our gifted authors and illustrators, but also to everyone at Word on Fire who brings these books to life.
We were especially delighted to learn that in several categories, Word on Fire books earned the first and second place awards! This included the heralded “Author of the Year” category, in which Bishop Barron won First Place for his book This Is My Body, and Holly Ordway, a Word on Fire Institute Professor, won Second Place for her two Word on Fire books, Tolkien’s Faith and As Kingfishers Catch Fire. Having the top two Catholic authors of the year writing for Word on Fire is a tremendous honor!
One of the crowning achievements from the Word on Fire Publishing department has been The Word on Fire Bible which won 4 awards in 2024 alone. What makes this Bible stand out among other versions?
With the Word on Fire Bible, we aimed to create a “cathedral in print,” a printed Bible unsurpassed in both the beauty of its design and the genius of its commentary. We are proud of how it turned out, but more so by the enormously positive reception. So many people have told us, “This is the most beautiful Bible I’ve ever seen!” or “I finally enjoy reading the Bible each day!” The Bible is the Word of God and thus deserves the best treatment we can possibly offer. That’s what we tried to create; that’s what we offered the Lord.
Additionally, Word on Fire has established strong partnerships with some other key authors. Prominent among them is Dr. Peter Kreeft, whose works such as Socrates’ Children: An Introduction to Philosophy from the 100 Greatest Philosophers and Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings each won 2 awards for 2024. What is it about Dr. Kreeft that makes him one of today’s greatest authors?
Dr. Kreeft has been compared to both C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton, and it’s easy to see why. His wit and wisdom sparkle through all of his hundred-plus books. He is a master at sharing complicated philosophy or theology in simple, clear, engaging, and even funny prose.
He is also incredibly versatile. He’s not a specialist, but a generalist—always a sign of a capacious soul. You mentioned two of his bestselling Word on Fire series, Socrates’ Children and Food for the Soul, the former a four-volume history of philosophy and the latter a three-volume Bible commentary. I’m not sure there has ever been another author who wrote multi-volume series in both genres. (He also has books on literature, surfing, suffering, parenting, and prayer.) To read any book by Dr. Kreeft is to see reality through a wise and wondrous lens.
Where do you see Word on Fire publishing in the next five years? What are other areas that you hope to prioritize?
We are excited to grow our three new imprints, Word on Fire Academic (dedicated to scholarly books and a journal called The New Ressourcement), Word on Fire Votive (beautiful children's books that awaken the imagination), and a forthcoming literary imprint that will publish fiction, poetry, and literary titles.
We also have several more big projects up our sleeve. At Word on Fire, we dream and we build. There is always something exciting coming!
“Bishop Barron often gets asked, ‘How do I get started as an evangelist?’ His standard response is, ‘Read, read, read.’”
Haley Stewart, Editor of Word on Fire Votive, explained the mission of and need for a wholesome, virtuous, and story-centric children’s book line in today's society.
Why did Word on Fire create a children’s book imprint?
As an apostolate devoted to evangelization, Word on Fire understands that evangelizing within the domestic church is key to forming the next generation. The stories we are shaped by as children have a huge influence on how we understand God, the world, and our own lives. By offering stories that are compelling, beautiful, and full of truth, Word on Fire Votive seeks to spark the imaginations of young readers to prepare them to navigate the world with hope and understand and embrace the truest story: the Gospel.
What is the vision for Word on Fire Votive?
From board books for toddlers to stories for teens, Votive partners with inspired writers and brilliant artists to produce books that will delight young readers and prepare their hearts to know and love God. As our name Votive suggests, we create books as a prayerful offering, like a small candle that shines in the darkness.
Three Word on Fire Votive books received recognition from the Catholic Media Association in 2024:
First, The Golden Key and Other Fairy Tales by George MacDonald. Why would a Catholic organization publish a book containing fairy tales?
As C.S. Lewis points out, “The value of the myth is that it takes all the things we know and restores to them the rich significance which has been hidden by ‘the veil of familiarity’ . . . by putting bread, gold, horse, apple, or the very roads into a myth, we do not retreat from reality: we rediscover it.” Fairy tales offer us this opportunity to see the truth with fresh eyes. This particular volume invites the reader into a world in which our longing for the transcendent is at last satisfied, a kingdom in which evil threatens but does not triumph, a narrative of love that is stronger than darkness. In these stories we find the echo of the Great Story that turns at the moment of seeming despair, Christ on the cross—the moment that surprises us because it turns excruciating loss into glorious victory.
Second, can you speak about the charming selection of stories in Saintly Creatures: 14 Tales of Animals and Their Holy Companions?
The author, Alexi Sargeant, did an incredible job of choosing saints to include from different eras of history and different parts of the world. Some are very familiar stories like St. Francis of Assisi and the Wolf and others are more obscure like Bl. James Heo In-baek and the Tiger. Each of the saints included have a compelling story in their life about an animal. By introducing them to the saints, children will be inspired by their holiness!
Third, there’s Bless the Lord. How were you able to present an Old Testament canticle in a board book for kids?
The song from the Book of Daniel that is included in the Liturgy of the Hours is so vibrant with all its references to God’s beautiful creation. The illustrator did a masterful job of drawing out those colorful images from the prayer that leads us to awe and wonder. And she creatively had each scene follow three toddlers as they encounter God’s world and the animals, seasons, and people in it.
What’s next for Word on Fire Votive, and can you share more about the new Word on Fire Votive Podcast?
We have many exciting books in the pipeline but one project we’re especially excited about is The Story of All Stories, a Word on Fire Votive Bible for young readers by Emily Stimpson Chapman. It includes 75 Bible stories paired with beautiful illustrations to draw the reader into the drama of salvation history and form the imagination with the great story of God’s love for us.
The Word on Fire Votive Podcast is a project that I have loved developing! The show features writers, artists, and educators about how to share beautiful art and good stories that evangelize the next generation. Topics we’ve covered include why we should read fairy tales, how to bring the saints to life for young readers, whether or not to read books about death to children and more!
“We create books as a prayerful offering, like a small candle that shines in the darkness.”
Wholesome books that respect the child reader in a time they are desperately needed
Dr. Jason Paone, Editor of Word on Fire Academic, revealed how the imprint promotes a vital Catholic intellectual culture that can rejuvenate the Church and illuminate the world.
What is the goal of Word on Fire Academic and how does it fit into the mission of evangelization?
Word on Fire Academic works for the evangelization of culture through scholarly publishing. Throughout the Catholic tradition, teachers, schools, and thinkers have played an essential role in the life and growth of the Church. And thus, the mission of Word on Fire Academic is to promote a vital Catholic intellectual culture that can rejuvenate the Church and illuminate the world. Following Bishop Barron, Word on Fire Academic is guided by the conviction that the beauty and wisdom of the Catholic intellectual tradition is a powerful and alluring witness to the truth of the Gospel.
Who do you hope to reach with this imprint? How?
Our target audience includes scholars, researchers, students, and seminarians, but many of our books also aspire to broaden the current audience for Catholic theology and philosophy. Many of our books are suitable for patient, attentive readers who aspire to learn, even if they aren’t formally students or scholars.
Word on Fire Academic published several books in 2024 that received awards from the Catholic Media Association, especially The Theology of Robert Barron by Matthew Levering. What is it that makes Bishop Barron distinctive?
Bishop Robert Barron is simultaneously an evangelist and a theologian, and in his work, he never separates these two vocations. He’s written a dozen or more scholarly books and published many research papers, but his scholarship is always in some way oriented to the conversion and evangelization of contemporary culture. Conversely, even his popular works are enriched by his profound theological learning. Bishop Barron’s Catholicism is especially refreshing and compelling in part because of the undaunted confidence he has in the “relevance” and intelligibility of Catholic theology in the modern world.
Additionally, Word on Fire’s Dr. Holly Ordway received Second Place recognition for Author of the Year – second only to Bishop Barron himself – for her book Tolkien’s Faith. What has Dr. Ordway's research revealed about J. R. R. Tolkien?
Through a rich and engrossing biographical narrative, Holly Ordway shows what many biographers and Tolkien scholars have largely neglected: his faith. In this meticulously researched work, Ordway shows how Tolkien’s Catholicism shaped his life, his imagination, and, naturally enough, his storytelling.
Word on Fire Academic just recently launched a new academic journal, The New Ressourcement, which in its first few months has quickly become the most subscribed-to Catholic Academic journal. What value does Word on Fire hope to bring to the academy?
Drawing inspiration from the ressourcement movement of mid-twentieth-century Catholic theologians, The New Ressourcement aims to help rejuvenate the Catholic academy and its engagement with the world of the twenty-first century. This journal aims to provide both a model and outlet for Catholic thought that reflects both the timelessness and radical newness of the Gospel.
“Many of our books are suitable for patient, attentive readers who aspire to learn, even if they aren’t formally students or scholars.”
Creatively engaging the modern world through beauty, goodness, and truth.
Brandon Vogt
Brandon Vogt
Brandon Vogt works as Senior Publishing Director at Word on Fire. He is the bestselling author of thirteen books and the founder of ClaritasU. He also founded Chesterton Academy of Orlando, a classical high school grounded in the Catholic faith, and StrangeNotions.com, a place of dialogue between Catholics and atheists.
Brandon Vogt works as Senior Publishing Director at Word on Fire. He is the bestselling author of thirteen books and the founder of ClaritasU. He also founded Chesterton Academy of Orlando, a classical high school grounded in the Catholic faith, and StrangeNotions.com, a place of dialogue between Catholics and atheists.
Haley Stewart
Haley Stewart
Haley Stewart is the Editor of Word on Fire Votive and the award-winning author of The Sister Seraphina Mysteries, a series for young readers. Haley also wrote the introduction to The Golden Key and Other Fairy Tales. She has four children and lives in Florida.
Haley Stewart is the Editor of Word on Fire Votive and the award-winning author of The Sister Seraphina Mysteries, a series for young readers. Haley also wrote the introduction to The Golden Key and Other Fairy Tales. She has four children and lives in Florida.
Jason C. Paone, Ph.D.
Jason C. Paone, Ph.D.
Jason C. Paone is the editor of Word on Fire Academic and an adjunct professor at the University of Saint Thomas in Houston. He is the creator and managing editor of The New Ressourcement and the editor of Thomas Aquinas: Selected Commentaries on the New Testament. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife and three children.
Jason C. Paone is the editor of Word on Fire Academic and an adjunct professor at the University of Saint Thomas in Houston. He is the creator and managing editor of The New Ressourcement and the editor of Thomas Aquinas: Selected Commentaries on the New Testament. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife and three children.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Scott Hahn
Dr. Scott Hahn is the Fr. Michael Scanlan Professor of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has taught for over thirty years. Author or editor of over forty books, Dr. Hahn is also Founder and President of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology (www.stpaulcenter.com).
Word on Fire
Privacy
Contact us at support@wordonfire.org or (866) 928-1237
Word on Fire
Privacy
Contact us at support@wordonfire.org or (866) 928-1237
Learn about the Catholic sensibility of Bishop Barron.
In this issue of Evangelization & Culture, you will see the Catholic faith through the unique lens of Bishop Barron. Explore some of Bishop Barron’s theological writings, as well as the saints, spiritual masters, and mentors who played a key role in his own spiritual and intellectual formation. Dr. Eleonore Stump unpacks the mind of St. Thomas Aquinas. Dr. Matthew Nelson reflects on the pivotal influence of Robert Sokolowski. Dr. Scott Hahn examines the inner logic of Sacred Scripture through Barron’s biblical hermeneutic. Finally, Bishop Barron shares his lecture given at Oxford University on St. John Henry Newman and the New Evangelization.
“I detest ‘dumbed-down Catholicism’ and ‘beige Catholicism.’”
BISHOP ROBERT BARRON