Terry Pratchett, 66, author of more than 70 books including the Discworld series, died Thursday morning from complications of Alzheimer’s disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2007. Transworld managing director Larry Finlay said in a statement: “I was deeply saddened to learn that Sir Terry Pratchett has died. The world has lost one of its brightest, sharpest minds. In over 70 books, Terry enriched the planet like few before him. As all who read him know, Discworld was his vehicle to satirize this world: he did so brilliantly, with great skill, enormous humour and constant invention. Terry faced his Alzheimer’s disease (an ’embuggerance’, as he called it) publicly and bravely. Over the last few years, it was his writing that sustained him. His legacy will endure for decades to come.” A Just Giving page donating to the Research Institute to the Care of Older People (RICE) has been set up in his memory.
On the heels of the big NYT piece, Alabama Securities Commission Director Joseph Borg tells the AP that his agency’s portion of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Harper Lee‘s book deal has already been completed. Borg said, “We closed the file. Let’s just say that she was able to answer questions we asked to our satisfaction from our point of view.” He told the WSJ, “The first part of determining financial fraud, is ‘Do they understand what’s going on?'” Borg said. “Obviously, since I closed the file, it’s fair to say she understood.”
The agency conducted their review at the request of the Department of Human Resources. A spokesperson there declined to comment. But the Times, following up on their overreported scoop with a short piece, says “investigators conducting the larger inquiry for the Alabama Department of Human Resources continued their work this week.”
Kelley Ragland has been promoted to associate publisher at Minotaur in addition to her current responsibilities as editorial director of the imprint. Andrew Martin, vp, publisher of Minotaur, said in the announcement: “Over the past 22 years Kelley has become one of St. Martin’s most dedicated practitioners and advocates of the mystery and crime fiction trade, creating an impressive standing and profile within and without these Flatiron walls.”
At Dutton, Stephanie Kelly has been promoted to associate editor.
At Kids Can Press, Yasemin Uçar and Stacey Roderick have both been promoted to senior editor.
Robin Barnett has rejoined Zondervan, as director of public relations for the nonfiction trade team, reporting to vp of marketing, Tom Dean. Barnett has been senior publicist at Baker Publishing.
In the UK, Transworld senior editorial director Linda Evans is retiring after 23 years with the company.
Awards
The American Academy of Arts and Letters announced their literature prizes, totaling $250,000, going to 18 writers. Arts and Letters Awards in Literature will go to Annie Baker, Ann Goldstein, Glenn Greenwald, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ibrahim Muhawi, Vijay Seshadri, Jeffrey Skinner and Naomi Wallace.
Special awards are going to Adam Thirwell (young writer from the United Kingdom or Ireland); Michael Carroll for Little Reef and Other Stories (first fiction); Cormac McCarthy (outstanding novelist); Amy Rowland (young writer); Will Boast and Lysley Tenorio (residencies at the American Academy in Rome); Tiphanie Yanique for Land of Love and Drowning (young writer); Zachary Lazar (biennial mid-career prize); John Lahr (quality of prose style); and Christopher Paul Curtis (children’s literature).