Howorth to Be Honored by Authors Guild

Richard Howorth, founder of Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi, former American Booksellers Association president, and current Oxford mayor, will be honored with the Authors Guild Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community at the Authors Guild Dinner on May 5. The dinner will be held at the Metropolitan Club in New York City, and will benefit the Authors Guild Foundation and the Authors League Fund. Louis Rubin, distinguished professor of English emeritus at the University of North Carolina, and founder of Algonquin Books, will also be presented the Distinguished Service award.

Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild, told BTW via e-mail that Howorth was an easy choice. "Richard Howorth, through Square Books, has developed a lively literary community that serves readers and authors well," Aiken said. "Richard founded and operates the kind of spirited, independent bookstore that all authors wish they had in their hometowns. We're delighted to honor him."

"All my years involved with books, booksellers, writers, publishers, editors, sales reps, the ABA, our bookstore and the great staff there, and the very supportive community here, and just the whole racket has been only a great privilege," Howorth noted via e-mail. "It's peculiar, and humbling, to be honored for having done something that has been only a joy (okay, I admit there's been some toil) and I'm grateful to the many people who have helped me, and to the Author's Guild."