BTW News Briefs [5]

Here’s what’s happening this week in the book industry:

Author Jason Reynolds has been named the new National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature [7] by the Library of Congress, succeeding Jacqueline Woodson.

The Book Industry Charitable Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications [8] for the Denver Publishing Institute [9]. This opportunity is open to current booksellers interested in learning about the publishing side of the industry; applications will be accepted through February 26.

Paz & Associates [10]’ upcoming four-day Bookstore Bootcamp filled to capacity so quickly that the group has added a one-and-a-half day mini-workshop, Owning a Bookstore: The Business Essentials, on March 1–2. For more information, call (904) 277-2664 or e-mail [email protected] [11].

Audible has settled a copyright dispute [12] with major publishers over the Captions program.

Publishers Lunch’s Buzz Books [13] sampling, which includes excerpts from a number of Wi15 authors, will go live on January 16.

Carina Press, an imprint of Harlequin, is launching an LGBTQ+ romance line [14] called Carina Adores.

IDW Publishing and Smithsonian are partnering on an illustrated books imprint [15]

Simon & Schuster has entered into a distribution agreement with Humanoids, Inc., effective March 1.

Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt will give the keynote at the Book Industry Study Group’s annual meeting.

Tracie D. Hall has been named the executive director [16] of the American Library Association.

George Coe has been named CEO [17] of Brodart.

The president of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), Damon Suede, and its executive director, Carol Ritter, have resigned [18].

The Audio Publishers Association will honor author Stephen King with a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2020 Audie Awards [19].

The finalists for the 2019 National Book Critics Circle awards [20] were announced.

Roger Robinson is the winner of the 2019 T.S. Eliot Prize [21] for his collection A Portable Paradise (Peepal Tree Press).

The finalists for the Story Prize [22] have been announced; the winner will be named at the annual award event on March 2.

Finalists have been announced for the 2020 RBC Taylor Prize [23].

The winners of the National Jewish Book Awards [24] have been announced.

The finalists for the PEN/Jean Stein Book Awards [25] have been announced.

Eighty-seven artists [26] have been awarded MacDowell Awards fellowships.

Author John le Carré was awarded the Olof Palme prize [27], which is given for “outstanding achievement” in the spirit of the assassinated Swedish prime minister.

Sibylle Berg has won the Swiss Grand Prix [28] award.

The nominees for the 2020 Left Coast Crime [29] “Lefty” Awards have been announced.


Share your news in BTW News Briefs! Publishers and industry partners are welcome to e-mail [email protected] [30] with news about awards, imprint launches, distribution changes, staff promotions, and more.