As booksellers think about what gradual re-opening looks like, Powell’s Books owner Emily Powell vows, “Powell’s will be here. It may look different. It may feel different for a while. But it will be here.” At the same time, for them, remote ordering is past its peak: “Powell’s has caught up with its orders now, Powell said, but the surge in business early in the pandemic has ebbed.” In Seattle, though, Elliott Bay Book Company manager Tracy Taylor said staff has been surprised at the constant pace of online orders: “It’s been consistent for the entire seven weeks. We thought […]
Bookstores
People, Etc.
At Macmillan Children’s, Morgan Kane has been promoted to assistant director, publicity; Justin Krasner to senior editor of Odd Dot; Rachel Murray to associate editor at Holt Children’s; and Jessica Chung to junior designer. Daniel Ehrenhaft is leaving Soho Teen to devote more time to the nonprofit WAAC and to explore new opportunities in service of young adult literature. Alexa Wejko has been promoted to editor at Soho Teen, in addition to her role as publicist. Bill Shannon, 57, longtime director of contracts at the Knopf Doubleday Group, died on May 9, from complications of kidney cancer. He joined Knopf in 2000. […]
Two Longtime Barnes & Noble Warehouse Employees Have Died of Covid-19
Longtime employees at Barnes & Noble’s New Jersey distribution center Felix Ramirez and Alberto Joyasaca have died from complications related to Covid-19. Ramirez died April 13, according to co-workers, and Joyasaca died on May 4. BN spokesperson Alex Ortolani confirmed Ramirez’s death to NJ.com, saying the company was “deeply saddened by his passing.” Ortolani reports that the facility was closed for five days, through April 22 and he indicates there have been no positive cases in employees since then. He says they have closed four times already for a “deep cleaning,” with another one planned for May 9. In late […]
Books-A-Million Says It Reopened “The Majority” of Their Stores
With the biggest concentration of its stores in the South, Books-A-Million announced Wednesday that it “has opened the majority of its stores to customers following local guidelines for safe and secure shopping.” Ceo Terrance G. Finley says in the announcement: “We are extremely appreciative of the support we have received from our customers during these difficult times.” He added, “Now that we are able to welcome our customers back to the stores in time for Mother’s Day, our booksellers stand ready to share the rich assortment of new books and products that we have been curating over the past weeks.” […]
People, Etc.
Mirabelle Korn has been promoted to editor at Chronicle Books. Claire Fallon has been promoted to publicity and operations associate at Coffee House Press, and Enrique Olivarez has joined the company as development director. Bookselling Bay Books in Coronado, CA has reopened in their new space, after the original location nearby was closed at the end of 2019. For now, the store accepts pickup orders from 10 AM to 2 PM and is providing free delivery within Coronado. Relief Stephen King and John Grisham will hold a free online conversation discussing their new books on Wednesday, April 29 at 7:00 […]
People, Etc.: Bob Loomis Dies at 93, Brody Promoted at HMH
Renowned former Random House editor Bob Loomis died Sunday at 93, following a fall. RH Publishing Group Gina Centrello calls him, “One of the greatest editors Random House, and our industry, has ever known.” She noted, “I was just one of many who adored and learned from Bob, who inspired several generations of editors and publishers. His values and work ethic are permanently embedded in the Random House DNA.” Loomis retired from Random House in 2011 after spending almost 55 years at the house. The NYT notes, “Loomis likened editing to a quasi-religious function. ‘You have to turn your collar […]