Contact: Jason Jones, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 615-306-8627, jjones@thomasnelson.com

NASHVILLE, May 4, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- The accolades and awards continue to pour in for Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010) - Eric Metaxas' powerful biography of the German theologian executed in April 1945 for his role in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) crowned it on Monday evening as not only its 2011 Christian Book of the Year, but its Non-Fiction Book of the Year.

The announcement marks the third consecutive Christian Book of the Year Award for Nashville-based Thomas Nelson Publishers.

"Nothing could make us prouder at Nelson than the success of Bonhoeffer," said Joel Miller, Vice President of Acquisitions and Editorial for Nelson's Nonfiction Trade Group. "Eric Metaxas presents a figure who speaks both to our times and to our spirits. It's been an honor to work with him and a joy to see such a wide and eager reception of his important work."

Called a "biography of uncommon power," Bonhoeffer has appeared on several bestseller lists, including the ECPA Top 50 and the New York Times lists (six separate appearances); and has been featured in the Washington Post, Christianity Today, Publishers Weekly, NPR, FoxNews, the Wall St. Journal, C-SPAN, Harpers, and more.

Published in March of 2010, its impact and status as a classic is already widely-recognized, having made six "Best of 2010" lists, including Barnes & Noble, Kirkus Reviews, Relevant and Christianbook.com, among others.

The book is slated to release in paperback this fall.

FOR INTERVIEWS WITH AUTHOR ERIC METAXAS, REVIEW COPIES, EXCERPTS OR IMAGES, CONTACT:

JASON JONES, PUBLICIST, THOMAS NELSON PUBLISHERS
JJONES@THOMASNELSON.COM