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Dismissed
In the latest blow to the library and arts community, the Trump administration has fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, who has led the agency since 2016, casting a pall of uncertainty over its future. The PEN America Literary Awards returned last night following the cancellation of the 2024 ceremony over author withdrawals—which once again, though to a far lesser extent, touched this year’s awards. HarperCollins posted lackluster Q3 results, but the CEO of parent company News Corp had some lively takes on the economy and AI in its quarterly report. Amazon is holding firm that the scheduling of its annual book sale the same week as Independent Bookstore Day was “unintentional,” but won’t promise to avoid the overlap in the future, reports Retail Brew. A trove of George Orwell’s papers will be preserved in an archive at the University College London after an outcry over their dispersal, per the Guardian. The Atlantic profiled Carl Hiaasen, whose adult and middle grade novels put Florida on the literary map. The New York Times pays homage to the influential cookbook author Marcella Hazan. And former PW editor Maureen O’Brien has died at 67.
“Tonight, the White House informed Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden that she has been relieved of her position,” a spokesperson confirmed in an email to PW on May 8. Hayden was the first woman and first Black person to head the nation’s library, which she had done since 2016. more »
While it was largely business as usual following the cancellation of last year’s ceremony, the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award was not conferred for a second year in a row due to nominee withdrawals. The $75,000 purse was donated to the nonprofits Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and Palestine Legal. more »
The release of HarperCollins’s third quarter results was accompanied by observations from Robert Thomson, CEO of HC parent company News Corp, about the realignment of the company, the current economy, and the integrity of Big Tech. Sales at HC rose 2% in the quarter, while profits increased 3%. more »
Maureen O’Brien, who worked as an editor at Publishers Weekly from 1987 to 1996, died on April 12. Her colleagues remember her as a force of nature who loved nothing more than chasing a good story. more »
There are no biographic books—yet—on the first American to be named pope, Cardinal Robert F. Prevost. But Catholic publishers and journalists practiced at on-the-spot papal biographies are already racing to research and write those first books. more »
HarperCollins Christian Publishing has moved Melinda Bouma (l.) and Philip Nation up its executive leadership ladder as it readies for the retirement of SVP and group publisher John Kramp in December. more »
In her new role at Random House, Caldwell, previously senior editor at Grand Central Publishing, will specialize in nonfiction. more »
The Children’s Book Council and its charitable arm Every Child a Reader, in conjunction with Scholastic, has named Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man as its anchor for Children’s Book Week this fall. The national literacy event, slated for November 3–9, will kick off the release of the series’ 14th book, Big Jim Believes. more »
Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Mass., and advocacy groups EveryLibrary and the Rhode Island chapter of Authors Against Book Bans are partnering today to host a free virtual reading in honor of Children’s Book Week and Floyd Cooper Day. more »
Calico Critters is entering the world of publishing in the U.S. and Canada for the first time this year, through Macmillan Children’s Books. The popular line of collectible animal figures is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025. more »
Independent Publishers Group has announced the addition of seven publishers to its sales and distribution programs. more »
In Flashes of Brilliance, the photo editor traces the evolution of photography from the mid-19th to the early 20th century. more »
Job Moves
- Julia McGarry has been promoted to senior publicist at Zando.
- Caroline Lambe has been promoted to head of marketing and publicity for adult trade at Watkins Media.
Bookstore News
- Resignations at Florida Bookstore: Several employees of Bodacious Bookstore & Cafe in Pensacola said they quit their jobs after a manager directed them to remove LGBTQ+ titles from shelves.
- Florida Children’s Bookshop Opens: The Story Garden, St. Petersburg’s first children’s-only bookstore, opened earlier this spring.
Click here to join the conversation in PW's Facebook group for booksellers.
King of Envy by Ana Huang is #1 on our overall list this week. See the full list »
King of Envy by Ana Huang is the #1 title on PW’s trade paperback bestseller list. See the full list »
‘Toni at Random: The Iconic Writer’s Legendary Editorship’ by Dana A. Williams“Howard University English professor Williams spotlights Toni Morrison’s efforts to shepherd Black literature into the mainstream in this enthralling chronicle of her tenure as an editor at Random House in the 1960s and ’70s.” more »
Picture of the Day
At this year’s Book Manufacturers’ Institute Spring Management Conference, held on April 28 in Nashville, Matt Kennell (l.) of Versa Press was awarded the 2025 Rising Star Award, presented by Andy Fetherman (r.) of Muller Martini.
PW Daily Team: John Maher, Sophia Stewart, Eva Baron
PW News Team: John Maher, Ed Nawotka, Sophia Stewart, Jim Milliot, Cathy Lynn Grossman, Claire Kirch, Nathalie op de Beeck
To submit pictures of the day, email pics@publishersweekly.com.
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PW News Team: John Maher, Ed Nawotka, Sophia Stewart, Jim Milliot, Cathy Lynn Grossman, Claire Kirch, Nathalie op de Beeck
To submit pictures of the day, email pics@publishersweekly.com.
To submit an obituary, email obituaries@publishersweekly.com.
Send editorial questions about this e-newsletter to John Maher.
Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to Joe Murray.
For additional assistance, contact us by email or at the address below:
Publishers Weekly
49 West 23rd Street
Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10010
Phone 212-377-5500
Copyright 2025, PWxyz, LLC. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and the PW Logo are trademarks of PWxyz, LLC.
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