Following the demise of the Costa Book Awards in 2022, UK chain Caffe Nero is launching the Nero Book Awards, in four categories: debut fiction, fiction, nonfiction, and children’s fiction. The first shortlist will be announced in November, and the winners will be named in January 2024, honoring writing from the UK and Ireland. Former director of the Costa Awards Amanda Johnson will run the new program, which is being administered by the Booksellers Association, working in partnership with Brunel University London and Right To Dream.
AALA’s New Gailey Award
Bookselling: More Barnes & Noble Store Changes
In New York, Barnes & Noble will open their 8,000-square-foot Upper East Side bookstore at Third Avenue and 87th Street on July 12, and a 9,000-square-foot store in the Bridgehampton Commons is expected to open in October. A BN in Lewisville, TX will close on May 21, where it has operated for 28 years, after the landlord declined to renew the lease.
Disruptions Leave A Number of Children’s Book Creators Looking for New Representation
Unrelated and varied circumstances at three different literary agencies last week left a number of children’s and young adult authors and illustrators looking for new representation, and became the focus of much discussion and concern on social media. The development with the biggest impact was at New Leaf Literary Agency, coming after the agency “parted ways amicably” with agent Jordan Hamessley, according to emails sent to clients. Update: After this story ran, Hamessley, who had not responded to our DMs, posted a lengthy statement on Twitter: “It was not my choice to leave, and I am heartbroken to learn that […]
Publishers and IA “Cautiously Optimistic” Negotiations Could End Soon
As AAP ceo Maria Pallante implied at the organization’s annual meeting, the publishers and the Internet Archive asked Federal judge John Koeltl for yet another postponement to file a proposal for judgment to be entered following his verdict finding the IA guilty of copyright infringement. But the parties see the possibility of resolution soon, writing: “Since our last extension request, the parties have resolved all but a few substantive issues with respect to injunctive relief, and expect that further discussion will resolve all but potentially one. The parties have also had a further exchange of proposals regarding the resolution of […]
Calling Attention to Banned Books Lifts Them Up
Open Road has found that highlighting banned and challenged books in targeted promotions significantly drives awareness and sales. In their initial marketing efforts to “highly targeted segments of power readers” identified by the company’s data science and machine learning technology, “The initial response from readers has been extraordinary, with unheard-of open rates above 75 percent on segmented email sends.” As a result, the company is rolling out a Free Voices marketing initiative, open to all publishers, that can promote ebook editions (which require “limited time, consumer-friendly ebook pricing”), print and audio editions, or both. Chief marketing officer Peter McCarthy says […]