Justin Torres’s Blackouts won the National Book Award for Fiction at the 74th annual ceremony on Wednesday night. He kept his personal remarks short, as a group of finalists came to the stage to read a collective statement about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. “On behalf of the finalists, we oppose the ongoing bombardment of Gaza and call for the humanitarian ceasefire to address the urgent humanitarian needs of Palestinian civilians, particularly children,” nominee Aaliyah Bilal read. “We oppose antisemitism and anti-Palestinian sentiment and Islamophobia, equally, accepting the human dignity of all parties, knowing that further bloodshed, does nothing to secure […]
Dealmaker Updates – November
Authors Talk: Elizabeth Crook
The Madstone. (Little, Brown & Company, November 7, 2023. Editor: Ben George. Agent: Gail Hochman, Brandt & Hochman.) Elizabeth Crook has published five previous novels, including The Which Way Tree, The Night Journal, which received the Spur Award from Western Writers of America, and Monday, Monday, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2014 and winner of the Jesse H. Jones Award from the Texas Institute of Letters. She lives in Austin, TX with her family. How did you find your agent? In 1990 a friend introduced me to James (Jim) Landis, who was then editor-in-chief of William Morrow. Jim was […]
Academic Partnerships to Acquire Wiley University Services
Academic Partnerships, which provides online learning for public college students, has agreed to acquire Wiley’s university services arm, which “works with institutions to deliver career-connected education programs.” Academic Partnerships will pay $110 million along with up to $40 million in earnout based on results over the next two fiscal years. Pending regulatory approval, it is subject to close in early 2024. According to a release, “the combined company will provide universities with a best-in-class partner to support them in delivering programs online so more students can access affordable education, improve their careers, and meet employer and community needs.” “Wiley University […]
Amazon’s Best Books of the Year
Amazon named its Best Books of the Year, with The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride in the top spot.
People 11/15
Sarah Perillo has joined Publishers Lunch as data and operations manager. She was previously director of foreign rights at Curtis Brown.