Free Expression

To Kill a Mockingbird author to release second book; Government censorship may shutter independent Belarus bookstore; Anne Enright named first Laureate for Irish Fiction; Penguin inks sales/distribution deal with America’s Test Kitchen; BISG, ALA to survey library patrons’ digital preferences; Random House’s independent bookstore liaison expands duties to Penguin; Simon & Schuster introduces new multimedia imprint

In the wake of the horrifying massacre of the staff of Charlie Hebdo, ABFE Director Chris Finan looks at the courage it takes to stand up for free speech and the challenges facing booksellers.

As part of a social media campaign launched on Monday by ABA and ABFE, booksellers around the country are demonstrating both their solidarity with the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack and their support for free speech.

In a January 12 e-mail, ABA CEO Oren Teicher outlined ways that booksellers can express their solidarity with their colleagues in France in the wake of the horrific killings of the staff of Charlie Hebdo.

The American Booksellers Association and the American Booksellers for Free Expression have joined the National Coalition Against Censorship in condemning this week’s terrorist attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Morin becomes president and COO at Ingram; Survey finds rise in writers’ fear of government surveillance; Como sales rep retires; Binc Foundation elects president, new board member; IDW Publishing acquires Top Shelf Productions

Sony Pictures, which decided to pull The Interview from widespread distribution after threats from cyber-hackers, “should take a page from America’s booksellers,” wrote Ken Paulson, the president of the First Amendment Center, dean of the College of Mass Communication at Middle Tennessee State University, and a member of USA TODAY’s Board of Contributors, in a December 19 USA TODAY column.

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression has been reconstituted as the American Booksellers for Free Expression Group at ABA, starting January 1, 2015. With the change come a new address, telephone number, and e-mail address.

Macmillan returns to agency pricing on e-books, plans to test subscriptions; Nielsen Children’s Book Summit highlights growing market; Cameron Post wins again with help of Kids’ Right to Read Project; Duncan, Ellroy named Mystery Writers of America Grand Masters

Following protests by ABA and NAIBA, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed a bill that would have punished bookstores that mistakenly disclose customer information to the police and other third parties.

The sponsors of Banned Books Week are asking booksellers to respond to a short online survey, which will help organizers improve the only national celebration of the freedom to read.

Effective January 1, the operations of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression will be integrated into ABA’s in order to expand the free speech programming available to independent booksellers.

Richard Flanagan wins Man Booker Prize for Fiction; First Amendment groups challenge Idaho school’s parental consent form; Eric Schwartz joins Columbia University Press as editorial director

ABA and the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association are urging New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to veto a bill that discriminates against independent bookstores that mistakenly disclose customer information to the police and other third parties.
 

Following complaints from parents about mature content, seven books were removed from the Highland Park Independent School District’s reading list, including The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, who said he was baffled by the school’s decision.