“Mike Nappa is an old friend and a very talented writer. I recommend him highly.”
— Scott Derrickson
Director of Marvel Studios’ Dr. Strange

Mike Nappa is founder and Chief Agent at Nappaland Literary Agency. He’s also the infuriating guy who wrote the annoying publishing manual, 77 Reasons Why Your Book Was Rejected [And How to Be Sure It Won’t Happen Again]. Mike’s a bestselling author, a writing instructor, and an award-winning creator of many works that have cumulatively sold millions of copies worldwide.

Mikey’s highlight reel includes several VeggieTales comicspopular suspense novels, and narrative design/scriptwriting for “Run to My Heart” from Talofa Games in association with Niantic (“Pokémon Go”).

A practical theologian, Mike is known for his “coffee-shop theology” and inspirational books, as well as his award-winning suspense novels, and lots of articles on random topics such as data intelligence, biblical studies, pop culture, the publishing industry, and pretty much anything he finds interesting at the moment. He’s proud to be an Arab-American (POC) active in the publishing industry.

Learn more about Mikey by Googling his name or checking him out on Wikipedia.

Mike Nappa Career Highlights

Bestsellers

  • Reflections for the Grieving Soul ((#1— Amazon “New Release Christian Devotional” Category bestseller; #7— Amazon “Grief and Bereavement” Category bestseller; and #23 — ECPA bestseller, new release)
  • Lunch Box Trivia (#2— Amazon “Parenting/School-Age Children” Category bestseller)
  • Instant Family Devotions (#3 Amazon Kindle bestseller, “Devotional” Category)
  • Annabel Lee (#4 — CBA bestseller, suspense fiction)
  • Lunch Box Laughs (#5— Amazon “Humor/Religion” Category bestseller)
  • The Raven (#6 — CBA bestseller, suspense fiction)
  • A Heart Like His (#7 — CBA bestseller)
  • Lunch Box Promises (#10— Amazon “Religion/Inspirational” Category bestseller)
  • The Prayer of Jesus (#13 — CBA bestseller)
  • An Introduction to Family Nights (#20 — CBA bestseller)
  • 52 Fun Family Devotions (#15 — Amazon.com “Inspirational” Category bestseller)
  • Who Moved My Church? (#35 — Amazon.com “Christian Living/Stewardship” Category bestseller)
  • The Jesus Survey (#39 — Amazon.com “Youth Ministry” Category bestseller)
  • 77 Reasons Why Your Book Was Rejected (#78 — Amazon.com “Writing/Writing Skills” Category bestseller)

“Mike Nappa’s Annabel Lee is a fast-paced thriller … From the first chapter on, I found it impossible to put down.”
— Lois Duncan
New York Times bestselling author of I Know What You Did Last Summer


Notable Achievements & Awards

  • Gold Award Winner (writing): 2024 Illumination Awards, Fiction (for Annabel Lee novel)
  • Bronze Award Winner (writing): 2024 Illumination Awards, Inspirational (for Hard Way Home, memoir)
  • Bronze Award Winner (writing): 2024 Illumination Awards, Theology (for Bible-Smart: Matthew, commentary)
  • Bronze Award Winner (writing): 2024 Illumination Awards, Education (for Welcome to Bible World, children’s book)
  • Bronze Award Winner (writing): Fall 2023 Bookfest Awards, Fiction (for A Dream Within A Dream novel)
  • Named to Top 10 “Exciting Christian Suspense Authors” List (writing): 2022 (Crosswalk.com)
  • Bronze Award Winner (writing): Fall 2023 Bookfest Awards (for A Dream Within A Dream novel)
  • Named to Top 10 “Exciting Christian Suspense Authors” List (writing): 2022 (Crosswalk.com)
  • Winner (writing): 2017 Colorado Gold Author Award. (Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Association)
  • Winner (editorial): 2015 Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award (for Cindy K. Sproles’ novel, Mercy’s Rain)
  • Winner (writing): 2013 Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year Award. (For The Jesus Survey.)
  • Winner (writing): 2010 International Book Award, Fiction (for Drift novel)
  • Winner (editorial): 2009 Campbell Award of Excellence. (For Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum; editorial team award.)
  • Winner (writing): 2009 Moose Award for marketing copywriting excellence. Awarded by Group Publishing.
  • Winner (writing): 2007 “Best TV Pilot” Faith and Values Screenwriting Award. (For the animated cartoon, Twilight Rising.)
  • Winner (writing): 2002 Silver Angel Award, from Excellence in Media. (For The Courage to be Christian.)
  • Winner (writing): 2001 Best Cartoon Award, from the Evangelical Press Association. (For Johnny Grav & The Visioneer serialized children’s comic.)
  • Winner (writing): 2000 Year’s Best Resources. Awarded by Christian Parenting Today magazine. (For Lunch Box Trivia & Lunch Box Promises children’s books.)
  • Winner (writing): 2000 Studyweb.com Educational Excellence Award. (For Nappaland.com “The Free Internet Magazine for Families.”)
  • Winner (editorial): 1994 ECPA Gold Medallion Award. (For Group’ Hands-On Bible Curriculum; editorial team award.)

  • Finalist (writing): 2011 Page International Screenwriting Awards. (For Jessie’s Den TV pilot.)
  • Finalist (writing): 2003 Best Cartoon Award, from the Evangelical Press Association. (For Johnny Grav & The Visioneer serialized children’s comic.)
  • Finalist (writing): 2002 ECPA Gold Medallion Award. (For Family Nights Tool Chest series.)
  • Finalist (writing): 2002 Best Cartoon Award, from the Evangelical Press Association. (For Johnny Grav & The Visioneer serialized children’s comic.)

  • Semi-Finalist (writing): 2022 “Writers’ Access Support Staff Training Program,” from Hollywood-based Writer’s Guild Foundation.

  • Mike’s work has been translated into several languages worldwide, including Dutch, German, Indonesian, Italian, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Turkish.

  • Mike has been the supervising and acquisitions editor for several bestselling and award-winning authors within the CBA industry, including Alton Ganksy, Dr. Timothy Paul Jones, Dr. Gregory Coles, Glenys Nellist, Crystal Bowman, Sharon Carter Rogers, Nancy Moser, and Tim Wesemann.

  • In 2000, a contest for Mike’s serialized comic in Clubhouse Magazine set the magazine’s “Highest Reader Response Record.” As of 2023, that record still stands. Woohoo! (For Johnny Grav & The Visioneer.)


Books with Significant Sales

A partial listing of Mike Nappa’s top-selling books is as follows:

  • An Introduction to Family Nights (ChariotVictor/ David C. Cook) 137,000 units sold
  • 52 Fun Family Devotions (Augsburg Books) 115,000 units sold
  • Hometown Nazareth: iGrow Chart (Group VBS) 83,000 units sold
  • Family Nights: Basic Christian Beliefs (ChariotVictor/ David C. Cook) 67,000 units sold
  • Lunch Box… children’s book series (Bean Sprouts/Standard) (three books) 62,000 units sold
  • A Heart Like His (Barbour Publishing) 58,000 units sold
  • The Prayer of Jesus (Barbour) 45,000 units sold
  • Family Nights: Christian Character Qualities (ChariotVictor/ David C. Cook) 41,000 units sold
  • 1995–1996 Student Plan-It Devotional Calendar (Group Publishing) 40,000 units sold
  • Zachary’s Zoo (Zonderkidz) (children’s book) 37,000 units sold
  • Who Moved My Church? (RiverOak/ David C. Cook) (novella) 35,000 units sold
  • 1992–1993 Student Plan-It Devotional Calendar (Group Publishing) 35,000 units sold
  • The Heart of a Father (Barbour) 25,000 units sold
  • Heartwarming Christmas Stories (RiverOak/ David C. Cook) 21,000 units sold
  • Bore No More (Group) 20,000 units sold
  • Bibleman Bible Storybook (B&H Kids) 18,000 units sold
  • Get Real: Making Core Christian Beliefs Relevant to Teens (Group) 18,000 units sold
  • Instant Family Devotions (Baker Books) 17,000 units sold
  • What I Wish My Youth Leader Knew About Youth Ministry: A National Survey (Standard) 17,000 units sold
  • Tuesdays with Matthew (RiverOak/David C. Cook) (novel) 16,000 units sold
  • Legacy of Joy: A Devotional for Dads (Barbour) 16,000 units sold
  • A Mind Like His (Barbour) 14,000 units sold
  • Annabel Lee (Revell) 11,000 units sold

Significant Positions within the Publishing Industry

  • President, Nappaland Communications Inc.
  • Chief Agent, Nappaland Literary Agency (a division of Nappaland Communications Inc.)
  • Publisher, NerdFans.com E-Magazine (a publication of Nappaland Communications Inc.)
  • Features writer, Beliefnet.com, Christianity.com, and Crosswalk.com
  • Editor in Chief, Ultimate Escapes DESTINATION Magazine
  • Senior Creative Specialist in Marketing Copywriting, Group Publishing
  • Acquisitions & Editorial Director of Suspense Fiction, Barbour Publishing
  • Acquisitions Editor, David C. Cook
  • Acquisitions Editor, Group Publishing
  • Contributing Editor, CBA Frontline magazine
  • Judge, Christy Awards (for excellence in Christian fiction)
  • Movie Critic/Radio Personality (weekly), KPXQ Radio Station (Phoenix, AZ)
  • Columnist/Cultural Commentator, HomeLife magazine
  • Columnist/Parenting Expert, Focus on the Family magazine (Growing Years Edition)
  • Columnist/Music Critic, FaithWorks magazine
  • Columnist, ParentLife magazine, Living with Teenagers magazine, Christian Single magazine, Youth 97, 98 magazine, CBN.com
  • Regular Contributor (Celebrity Features), Crosswalk.com
  • Regular Contributor (Feature Articles & Reviews), CBA Marketplace magazine
  • Regular Contributor (children’s fiction and comics), Focus on the Family Clubhouse magazine
  • Music critic, CCM magazine
  • Contributor, Writer’s Digest magazine

Significant Media Coverage for Mike Nappa

The following is a partial list of places that have covered Mike Nappa and/or his work in their publications or broadcasts:

  • People magazine
  • US News & World Report
  • Publisher’s Weekly
  • Marriage Partnership (cover story)
  • Guide to Literary Agents
  • The Pat Williams Show
  • AnnVoskamp.com
  • CBA Marketplace
  • Christian Retailing
  • CBA Frontline
  • The 700 Club television show (twice)
  • CBN News
  • Decision Today syndicated radio program
  • Jesus Calling Podcast
  • Moody Radio
  • Faith Radio Network
  • Foreword Reviews magazine
  • The Writer magazine
  • MOPS Momsense and First Edition syndicated radio programs
  • Focus on the Family syndicated radio program

Learn more about Mikey by Googling his name or checking him out on Wikipedia.

What People Are Saying About Mike Nappa

“Mike Nappa is an old friend and a very talented writer. I recommend him highly!”
—Scott Derrickson, Director of Marvel Studios Dr. Strange

“Mike Nappa’s Annabel Lee is a fast-paced thriller, filled with unexpected twists and peopled by unique and memorable characters. From the first chapter on, I found it impossible to put down.”
—Lois Duncan, Mystery Writers of America Grand Master and New York Times bestselling author (I Know What You Did Last Summer)

“If you are taking the hard way home, you will find encouragement here. If you are a friend of one who is walking that road, it will remind you that there is no greater gift than friendship.”
—Gary Chapman, PhD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Five Love Languages

“[Mike Nappa’s] Drift is brooding, ghostly, romantic and utterly sexy—something to read on cold nights under warm blankets!”
—Ethan Van Sciver, award-winning comic book artist (Green Lantern and Superman/Batman)

“[Mike Nappa] leaves you bound and helpless against the need to turn the page. Great stuff!”
—Gail Simone, award-winning comic book writer (Wonder Woman; Action Comics)

“Mike Nappa [knows] every conceivable reason why a publisher would reject your book as well as sage advice on what to do about it. Invaluable for both novice and experienced authors alike.”
—Robert Bly, “America’s Top Copywriter,” and author of The Copywriter’s Handbook

“During the time I’ve known Mike, I’ve seen him develop some of the most creative and progressive children’s content in the marketplace.”
—Jesse Florea, Editorial Director of Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. kids’ magazines

“Mike Nappa: Your agenting and mentoring have transformed my writing life … so worth the perspiration.”
—Dr. Gregory Coles, bestselling author of Single, Gay, Christian

Free Download Bonus! (Just because Mikey likes you.)