Annie Proulx will receive the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters at the awards ceremony on November 15, honored “for her exceptional work and significant impact on American literature.” Actor Anne Hathaway (who starred in the film adaptation of Brokeback Mountain) will present the award. Proulx tells the AP, “I was astonished when first I heard that news. I simply had not thought of my various writings as a body of work that might be considered as a contribution to American letters. It almost seemed that I had been negligent in writing what I considered discrete novels and stories instead of shaping a holistic something that might be regarded as a life work.” Proulx added: “I feel writing the thing on the worktable should have the focus, and that awards should come like shifts in a veering wind, as gratifying surprises.”
The NBF’s Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community will be given to Scholastic president & ceo Richard (Dick) Robinson.
Luebbe chairman of the board Thomas Schierack resigned, “on the basis of different views on the strategic orientation” with the supervisory board. Board members Klaus Kluge and Ulrich Zimmermann have taken over his duties temporarily.
At Portfolio and Sentinel, Margot Stamas has been promoted to assistant director of publicity. Alison Coolidge has joined as publicist from Blue Rider Press. Alyssa Adler has been promoted to associate publicist.
At Penguin Random House, Lindsey Elias has been named associate director of consumer shows and conferences. Manuel Sangrise has been promoted to vice president, global corporate finance.
Todd Stocke has been promoted to senior vice president and editorial director for Sourcebooks.
JMH Scouting will scout for Muza in Poland.
Curt Stewart, key account executive for Macmillan, died suddenly after a short illness. Stewart joined the company in 2000 and originally worked with mass market books but in recent years transitioned to work across all Macmillan titles. Jennifer Gonzalez, vice president for children’s sales, says: “Curt was a dedicated and enthusiastic sales person who was beloved by his colleagues and his accounts. A true gentleman, possessing great manners, a devilishly wry wit and an endearing Southern drawl, he was always thoughtful with his comments and cared deeply about the company and our success. We lost him way too soon and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”
Forthcoming
Michael Ondaatje’s novel WARLIGHT will be published on May 8, 2018 by Knopf in the US and McClelland & Stewart in Canada, and May 10 by Jonathan Cape in the UK.
Awards
PEN Center USA announced the winners of its literary awards, to be presented at a ceremony in LA on October 27, where Margaret Atwood will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. The honorees:
Fiction: Black Sheep Boy, by Martin Pousson
Creative Nonfiction: When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi
Research Nonfiction: The Perfect Horse, by Elizabeth Letts
Poetry: Look, by Solmaz Sharif
Young Adult: Outrun the Moon, by Stacey Lee
Translation: Confessions, by Rabee Jaber, translated by Kareem James Abu-Zeid
Journalism: The White Flight of Derek Black, by Eli Saslow
Drama: Roe, by Lisa Loomer