BTW News Briefs

2016 PEN Literary Awards Longlists Announced

Throughout this week, literary website and e-newsletter LitHub is helping the PEN American Center announce the longlists for the 2016 PEN Literary Awards.

To date, longlists have been announced in the categories of debut fiction, essay, literary science writing, literary sports writing, diversity, and biography. See the longlists here.

The longlist for translation will be announced on Thursday, December 10.

Chicago Review Press CEO Announces Retirement

Chicago Review Press CEO Curt Matthews has announced that he will step down from the daily management of CRP, Inc. at the end of this year.

Chicago Review Press, Inc. is the parent company of Chicago Review Press Books (CRP), Triumph Books, and Independent Publishers Group (IPG).

Matthews, who founded the company with his wife, Linda, in 1973, will be succeeded as CEO by his son Joe, currently IPG’s chief operations officer. Matthews will stay on as chairman of the board and will keep an office at company headquarters to ensure a smooth transition.

James LaRue to Head ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom

Effective January 4, 2016, James LaRue will become the new director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and executive director of the organization’s Freedom to Read Foundation.

LaRue is currently the CEO of LaRue & Associates and was previously the director of the Douglas County Libraries (Colorado) and Library Services Director at the Greeley Public Library (Colorado). He also held positions at Illinois’ Lincoln Library and Illinois State University earlier in his career. LaRue was president of the Colorado Council for Library Development from 2002–2003 and president of the Colorado Library Association from1998–1999.

He has been active on ALA’s Digital Content Working Group since 2011 and is currently a member of the Library Leadership and Management Association and Public Library Association, and the ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table.

Simon & Schuster to Distribute Insight Editions

Effective July 1, 2016, Simon & Schuster will handle sales and distribution for Insight Editions, an independent publisher of high-quality illustrated books on entertainment, photography, history, and the arts.

The company, which was founded in 2001, has published bestselling collectible books for popular franchises and in 2016 will launch its new Incredibuilds line of books.

Matt Baldacci Joins Shelf Awareness

Shelf Awareness founders John Mutter and Jenn Risko have hired Matt Baldacci to be the company’s new director of business development.

Baldacci will be responsible for driving new and existing business with current and potential advertisers and will assist with strategic initiatives to foster company growth and to improve how the company serves its clients, subscribers, and partners.

Baldacci’s long publishing career includes positions at St. Martin’s, Simon & Schuster, and DK Publishing. Most recently, he was vice president of trade marketing at Scholastic.