Howard Books

Howard Books is a Christian publishing imprint with roots in Howard Publishing, a company established in 1969 by Alton Howard in West Monroe, Louisiana. Howard, an author and hymn writer associated with the Churches of Christ, began the business from his home by publishing religious hymnals, including Songs of the Church and Songs of Faith and Praise. The latter became a long-running title used by churches in multiple countries and provided the foundation for the company’s later expansion. In 1990, Alton Howard’s son John assumed leadership. Under his direction, the business broadened beyond hymnals into a general Christian publishing program covering inspirational writing, Christian living, religious studies, memoir, family and relationship books, and other nonfiction and trade categories. This transition changed Howard from a specialist hymnal publisher into a wider Christian publishing house. Simon & Schuster acquired Howard Publishing in 2006. Following the acquisition, the company adopted the Howard Books name, retaining the recognition associated with the Howard identity while operating within Simon & Schuster’s larger publishing structure. John Howard continued as an executive vice president during the transition and remained involved with the business until its relocation. In September 2009, the operation moved from West Monroe to Brentwood, Tennessee, in the Nashville area. Jonathan Merkh became executive vice president and publisher after the move and was responsible for the imprint’s editorial and publishing direction. Howard Books developed a list centered on inspirational and Christian-interest content, while also publishing commercially oriented titles by authors with broad audiences. The imprint’s authors and titles appeared on Christian bestseller lists and, in some cases, on The New York Times bestseller list. The published roster associated with Howard Books included Christian leaders, writers, musicians, entertainers, business personalities, and public figures. Authors and contributors named in reference material include Karen Kingsbury, members of the Robertson family associated with Duck Dynasty, Jay Sekulow, Charles Stanley, Allison Pataki, Tim Conway, Dave Ramsey, Frank Peretti, Brad Paisley, Katie Davis, Rick Warren, and Laura Schroff. Howard Books is best understood as a Christian-focused publishing brand rather than a standalone publicly traded company. Its historical identity combines church music publishing, inspirational books, and mainstream trade distribution through Simon & Schuster. Public reference material does not clearly establish the imprint’s present operating status, independent corporate structure, or a current official website, so those details remain unconfirmed.

Howard Books developed from Howard Publishing, a religious publishing business founded in 1969 by Alton Howard. Howard was an author and hymn writer who played an influential role in the musical traditions of Churches of Christ from the 1960s onward. He initially operated the company from his home and established its reputation through church hymnals. One of the earliest and most important titles was Songs of the Church, followed by Songs of Faith and Praise. The latter remained in print and was used by congregations internationally, giving the company a durable base in church music publishing. The company changed direction in 1990 when Alton Howard’s son, John Howard, took over. Under John’s leadership, Howard Publishing expanded beyond hymnals and began publishing a broader range of Christian and general-interest books. Its list came to include works in multiple genres, while maintaining a core emphasis on Christian faith, religious practice, inspiration, and personal development. This period transformed the company from a specialist hymnal publisher into a broader Christian publishing house. Simon & Schuster purchased Howard Publishing in 2006. The acquisition was followed by a modest change in identity from Howard Publishing to Howard Books. The rebranded operation continued to publish Christian and inspirational material as part of Simon & Schuster’s wider publishing organization. John Howard served as executive vice president and continued working with the company and its staff during the post-acquisition period. In September 2009, Howard Books moved its base from West Monroe, Louisiana, to Brentwood, Tennessee. Following the relocation, Jonathan Merkh became executive vice president and publisher, overseeing the imprint’s publishing direction. The move placed the operation in the Nashville-area publishing environment, which has longstanding links to Christian music and religious publishing. Howard Books’ catalog included Christian-living books and inspirational works, as well as titles connected with ministry, public faith, memoir, music, entertainment, business, and personal experience. The imprint achieved visibility through Christian bestseller lists and had several titles reach The New York Times bestseller list. Reference material associates the imprint with authors including Karen Kingsbury, members of the Robertson family, Jay Sekulow, Charles Stanley, Allison Pataki, Tim Conway, Dave Ramsey, Frank Peretti, Brad Paisley, Katie Davis, Rick Warren, and Laura Schroff. Alton Howard died on October 28, 2006, aged 81, the same year in which Simon & Schuster acquired the company. Available reference material documents the imprint’s historical development and its Simon & Schuster ownership, but does not definitively establish its current status, present management, or whether it continues to operate as a distinct active imprint. Those matters therefore remain unresolved.

• 2009

  Relocation to Brentwood

  [1]Howard Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Howard Books moves from West Monroe, Louisiana, to Brentwood, Tennessee, and Jonathan Merkh becomes executive vice president and publisher.

• 2006

  Simon & Schuster acquisition

  [1]Howard Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Simon & Schuster acquires Howard Publishing, after which the business adopts the Howard Books name.

• 2006

  Death of founder Alton Howard

  [1]Howard Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Alton Howard dies on October 28 at age 81.

• 1990

  John Howard assumes leadership

  [1]Howard Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Alton Howard’s son John takes over and broadens the company from hymnal publishing into a wider Christian and trade publishing program.

• 1969

  Howard Publishing is founded

  [1]Howard Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Alton Howard establishes Howard Publishing in West Monroe, Louisiana, initially focusing on church hymnals.

A Christian publishing brand focused on inspirational, faith-based, and Christian-living content, with a catalog extending from church hymnals to commercially successful trade books.

• Hymnal

  Songs of the Church

  A hymnal created and published by founder Alton Howard. It was the work that helped establish Howard Publishing and its early identity as a church-music publisher.

• Hymnal

  Songs of Faith and Praise

  A subsequent Alton Howard hymnal that became a lasting part of the company’s catalog. Reference material states that it remained in print and was used by churches worldwide.

• Christian nonfiction

  Christian living and inspirational books

  Howard Books’ central trade category, covering books on Christian practice, personal faith, inspiration, ministry, and everyday life. The category formed the core of the imprint after its expansion beyond hymnals.

• Trade publishing · 1990

  Christian trade and general-interest titles

  Under John Howard’s leadership, the company added books across multiple genres rather than limiting itself to church music. The broader list included memoir, biography, public-affairs, family, entertainment, and other inspirational subjects.

• 2009

  Relocate the publishing operation to BrentwoodStrategy

  Background

  Following the acquisition period, the company changed its operating location from West Monroe, Louisiana, to the Nashville-area city of Brentwood, Tennessee.

  Action taken

  Howard Books moved its operation in September 2009, with Jonathan Merkh taking the role of executive vice president and publisher.

  Aftermath

  Merkh became responsible for the imprint’s publishing direction. The available reference does not document later organizational results or the imprint’s current status.

  Source

• 2006

  Join Simon & SchusterM&A

  Background

  Howard Publishing had developed from a hymnal specialist into a broader Christian publisher and was acquired by Simon & Schuster.

  Action taken

  Simon & Schuster purchased the company and subsequently operated it under the Howard Books name.

  Aftermath

  The business continued as a Christian-focused publishing operation within Simon & Schuster, with John Howard remaining an executive during the transition.

  Source

1. 1Howard Booksen.wikipedia.org