People 4/23

Jenna Bush Hager is launching the Read With Jenna Book Festival, a two-day event in Nashville, TN, that will take place May 30-31. Programming will include book signings, conversations with authors, a live recording of Jenna’s Open Book podcast, and more. Tickets are $399 and up.

Hager says, “I’ll be joined by Elin Hilderbrand, Ann Patchett, Alison Espach, Rumaan Alam, Jessica Soffer and many more Read With Jenna authors.”

Deseret Book will discontinue Seagull Book stores and brands, which specialized in Latter-day Saint publications, after several years of decline. Deseret Book president Laurel Day says the “The business model is no longer filling the needs it once did as times and customer behaviors have changed. After extensive analysis and deep consideration, we have made the difficult decision to phase out our Seagull brands over the coming year.”

By the end of the year, the company will close all stores and their warehouse in American Fork, UT. Two hundred employees will be laid off.

Michelle Jackson has been promoted to senior agent at LCS Literary Services.