The NYT reports that Alabama’s Human Resources Department has been investigating a complaint of possible elder abuse in connection with the planned publication of Harper Lee‘s Go Set A Watchman. They are doing so with the assistance of the Alabama Securities Commission. Investigators are said to have interviewed Lee, along with a number of her friends and employees at the assisted living facility where she lives.
Sara Weiss will join Ballantine Bantam Dell as senior editor, reporting to Jennifer Tung. Previously she was an editor at Grand Central.
Former California congressman George Miller will join Cengage Learning as senior education advisor, providing strategic counsel to company executives on a wide range of issues, including public policy and business strategy. Miller will work out of the company’s San Francisco and Washington offices.
Anne-Elisa Schaffer has joined Rightscenter, to work on sales and business development. She was in the book department at William Morris Endeavor.
Awards
Starting at 6:00 PM Thursday evening, the National Book Critics Circle will name their award winners across six categories, along with presenting Toni Morrison their Lifetime Achievement Award.
The shortlist was announced for Australia’s Stella Prize celebrating writing by women:
Foreign Soil by Maxine Beneba Clarke
The Strays by Emily Bitto
The Invisible History of the Human Race by Christine Kenneally
The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna
The Golden Age by Joan London
Heat and Light by Ellen van Neerven
Distribution
Third Man Books, the publishing arm of musician Jack White’s Third Man Records, will be distributed by Consortium.