ILWU Local 5 announced on Wednesday that 92 percent of union members who work at Powell’s Books voted to authorize a strike against the bookstore. The union said: “This vote gives the ILWU Local 5 bargaining team the authority to call for a strike if it becomes necessary in the course of negotiations. It doesn’t mean Powell’s workers are going on strike right away, but it does mean they have the option and are getting strike-ready!” Union employees have been calling renewed attention to their open petition recently, garnering signatures in support of the message, “Tell Powell’s Books: Workers Deserve […]
Archives for August 2023
August Auguries: The S Stands for Sale
Coming truly full circle, the latest round of bids for Simon & Schuster were due on Tuesday, August 1 — on the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the antitrust trial in which DC District Court Judge Florence Pan wound up enjoining the planned $2.175 billion sales of S&S to Penguin Random House. While it was a major event in book publishing, history will remember August 1, 2023 at the same E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse instead, since that is the day that former president Donald Trump was indicted on four counts connected to his attempts to overturn the results of […]
People 8/3
Knopf president Reagan Arthur has issued the next of her retirement memos, this time acknowledging senior editor Ann Close, who will retire in December.
September Indie Next List
The ABA named Lauren Groff’s The Vaster Wilds its #1 pick for September.
Imprints: Crime Ink
Penzler Publishers is launching Crime Ink, an imprint publishing literary true crime. Tom Wickersham will head the line as editor; he was formerly the manager of The Mysterious Bookshop. Charles Perry becomes publisher, adding to his role as publisher of other Penzler imprints (The Mysterious Press, American Mystery Classics, Scarlet, and MysteriousPress.com). Luisa Smith will serve as editor-in-chief of Penzler Publishers. The imprint will launch with six titles in its first year, starting in winter 2024. Otto Penzler says in a release, “True crime is an important publishing category that has enjoyed a long history of success. When Tom Wickersham […]
Distribution: Enchanted Lion Books and Familius
Abrams will distribute ebook and print for titles for Enchanted Lion Books and Familius in North America and internationally beginning next spring.