After garnering donations of over $44,000 during their first matching gift challenge, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation has secured pledges for another $41,000 in matching funds for a new round of gifts. Garth Stein, Tui Sutherland, and Amor Towles have combined their gifts for that match pool. Sutherland says, “I am so grateful for bookstores and the booksellers who have supported me — as an author, a reader, and above all as a mom of two bookworms — so we want to do anything we can to show them our love and support right now, when so many really need […]
Bookstores
Powell’s and McNally Jackson Have Substantial Layoffs
After closing their physical stores due to the spread of COVID-19, Powell’s Books reportedly announced temporary layoffs that dismissed roughly 85 percent of the 400 workers represented by ILWU Local 5, according to the union. Citing “the rapid, significant downturn in sales in the recent weeks and days,” human resources director Michelle Afroso wrote to employees that the store “needs to take to immediate steps to scale back the company.” She said, “If sales continue to decrease in the future, we will need to take further action. We will try to avoid additional layoffs by reducing the size of the […]
Status Reports: Bookstore Closings, Support Efforts
Along with the significant shutdown of the nation’s public libraries, independent booksellers are joining the call for social distancing and closing on a temporary basis, at least to the public, with many stores continuing to process shipments and/or make deliveries. Powell’s Books is among the most prominent to close so far, at least through the end of March, shuttering all five retail locations while continuing to operate online. New York area stores announcing closures include Astoria Bookshop, Three Lives & Company, Inquiring Minds (New Paltz), and Words Bookstore (Maplewood, NJ). Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, MI was among the first […]
Briefs: A New Wilkerson Book, Elliott Bay Unionizes, and More
People Liz Van Doren has been promoted to vp, executive editorial director at Highlights for Children. Forthcoming Isabel Wilkerson‘s next book, CASTE: THE ORIGINS OF OUR DISCONTENT, will be published by Random House on August 20. Her first book since the 2010 Pulitzer-winning The Warmth of Other Suns, it’s about “the human impulse to create hierarchies runs across societies and cultures.” Bookselling Workers at Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle have unionized, creating the newly formed Book Workers Union, which has been recognized by management. They write in their mission statement, “We organize because our people are what make Elliott […]
People, Etc.
Tim Holman will step down as the publisher of Orbit UK to focus on his role as svp and publisher of Orbit in the US, though he will continue to work from London. HBG ceo Michael Pietsch says, “I’m extremely happy that he has decided to devote 100% of his time and talent to even greater growth and creative publishing in the US market. Anna Jackson will move up to publisher of Orbit UK in April, reporting to Charlie King. Paola Crespo has been promoted to marketing manager at Orbit. At St. Martin’s publishing group: Rebecca Lang has been promoted to […]
People, Etc.
At Abrams Children’s Books, Hallie Patterson has been promoted to director of publicity and Brooke Shearouse to publicity manager. In the UK, John Murray publisher Mark Richards and Profile Books commercial director Diana Broccardo have founded Swift Press. They expect to publish 6 to 8 titles in 2021. The principal investors are Geoffrey Faber Holdings and Set Copyrights, co-owners of Faber & Faber. It’s the first time they have invested in another publisher. Swift will join the Independent Alliance for sales. Duke University press editorial director since 2005 Ken Wissoker is staying with the house, now as senior executive editor, […]