Publishers Weekly - June 13, 2022

148 Pages·2022·73.4 MB·English

THE ARTS
9781538161364 9781538156599 9781538158005
BIOGRAPHIES & MEMOIRS
9781538162033 9781538164921 9781538153581
PERFORMING ARTS
& POP CULTURE
9781538164198 9781538161289 9781636710686
www.rowman.com | 800-462-6420
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■ The association’s conference takes place in
Y the nation’s capital June 23–28. Check out
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Volume 269 June 13,
“Readers will have a rollicking
Number 25 2022
ISSN 0000-0019 good time”—Publishers Weekly
F
E AT U R E S
22
Marching on Washington
Librarians prepare to gather in the nation’s capital for the 2022
American Library Association Annual Conference.
42
D.C. Publishing Spotlight
Almost everything has changed for Washington publishers since the
ALA last met in the city before the pandemic.
66
Wrapping Up a Difficult Year
School librarians assess the “new normal” of being back in person.
77
Up for the Fight
Comics librarians defend their collections from censorship, deal with
(cid:43)
Miss Blaine’s
supply chain issues, and prepare for an in-person annual ALA meeting.
86 Prefect and the
Labor of Love
Vampire Menace
Emiko Jean’s adult fiction debut tackles the joy and pain of motherhood.
119–135
BookLife
Olga Wojtas. Felony & Mayhem, $26 (272p)
(cid:44)(cid:54)(cid:37)(cid:49)(cid:3)(cid:28)(cid:26)(cid:27)(cid:16)(cid:20)(cid:16)(cid:25)(cid:22)(cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:23)(cid:16)(cid:21)(cid:23)(cid:28)(cid:16)(cid:24)
An indie author provides tips for finishing unfinished projects, plus
we’ve got reviews and more.
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W
ojtas’s excellent sequel to 2018’s Miss Blaine’s
N
E W S
Prefect and the Golden Samovar continues the time-
8 Filling the BookExpo Void
traveling adventures of middle-aged Edinburgh li-
Many in the industry miss certain aspects of BookExpo, but prospects brarian Shona McMonagle, a proud graduate of
for the emergence of a new in-person show to replace it are uncertain.
the Marcia Blaine School for Girls, where she re-
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10 A Different Kind of Museum
(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:68)(cid:3) (cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3) (cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:92)(cid:3) (cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:193)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3) (cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:68)(cid:3)
Planet Word, which opened in Washington, D.C., in fall 2021, may
whiz at history and advanced mathematics, and her
be the world’s first museum devoted to the concept of language.
(cid:180)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3) (cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3) (cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3) (cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:17)(cid:181)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3) (cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)
14 Celebrating 100 Years of ‘Ulysses’ accomplishments come into play when she’s spir-
On the centennial of the publication of James Joyce’s modernist ited back to 1900 and the French Alpine village of
masterpiece, several new books offer help to mystified readers. Sans-Soleil on a mission for the remarkable Marcia
(cid:37)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3) (cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:183)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:17)(cid:3) (cid:58)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3) (cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3) (cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)
16 Deals
might be, though, is uncertain, as Miss Blaine failed
Dial nabs an untitled memoir from Chelsea Handler, Sofia Samatar
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sells a new starship novel to Tordotcom, and more.
it may have something to do with the villagers who
have recently gone missing and are believed to have
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VISIT US ONLINE FOR ADDITIONAL NEWS, also with the mysterious Scottish milord who lives
REVIEWS, BESTSELLERS & FEATURES.
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vish of unexpected events, all narrated with aplomb
publishersweekly.com and wry wit by the erudite and intrepid librarian, who
often hilariously misconstrues the clues she ferrets
twitter.com/PublishersWkly (cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:17) (June)
—Publishers Weekly
May 13, 2022
facebook.com/pubweekly
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17 From the Archive
In June 1994, we reported on the firing of Simon & Schuster CEO Dick
Snyder, who had been one of the most powerful people in the industry.
D & C
E PA R T M E N T S O L U M N S
on the
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An author makes the case for stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
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The Week in Publishing
Penguin Random House Publisher
Services will take over distribution of President George Slowik Jr.
CEO & Publisher Cevin Bryerman
the adult and children’s print books Senior V-P, Editorial Director Jim Milliot
COO Carl Pritzkat
Senior V-P, Children’s Book Editor Diane Roback
published by Disney Publishing
Senior V-P, Executive Editor Jonathan Segura
V-P, Sales & Associate Publisher Joe Murray
Worldwide next April. PRHPS will
V-P, Operations Ryk Hsieh
Art Director Clive Chiu
also take on distribution of Marvel Managing Editor Daniel Berchenko
News Director Rachel Deahl
Publishing’s collected editions and graphic novels to the trade. Senior News Editor Calvin Reid
News & Digital Editor John Maher
Features Editor Carolyn Juris
Senior Writer Andrew R. Albanese
Tertulia, a free book dis- Angela Bole, current CEO of the trade Bookselling & International Editor Ed Nawotka
SeniorReviews Editor Peter Cannon
Senior Reviews Editor, Children’s Amanda Bruns
covery app, launched last association IBPA, will leave that
Reviews Editors: David Adams, Stephanie Buschardt,
Phoebe Cramer, Meg Lemke, Maya C. Popa,
week on iOS. Created by role on November 30 to take
Amanda Ramirez, Carliann Rittman, David Varno
Associate Reviews Editor Marc Greenawalt
two Artsy veterans, over as CEO of the publishing Religion Editor Emma Koonse Wenner
Deputy Children’s Book Editor Emma Kantor
the app includes a technology company Firebrand Editorial Assistant, Children’s Books Iyana Jones
Assistant Editor Drucilla Shultz
purchasing option Group, succeeding company Associate Editor, News Sophia Stewart
Copy Chief Robby Ritacco
and has a catalog of founder and CEO Fran Toolan. Director of Marketing Krista Rafanello
Marketing Manager Stacey Gill
about 15 million titles. DirectorofSpecialEditorialProjects Adam Boretz
BookLife Editor Matia Madrona Query
BookLife Reviews Editor Alan Scherstuhl
Indigo Books & Music
Director of Digital Operations Michael Morris
Digital Editorial Coordinator Marian Amo
Kent Watson saw sales grow 17.4% in
Digital Department Assistant Nathalie Mairena
Digital Advertising Assistant Beatrice Viri
has been named the fi scal year ended HR Generalist Nathaly Rivas
Accounts Receivable Cynthia Flaim
executive director April 2 over fi scal 2021, Accounts Payable Sylvia Joanne Slowik
Assistant Office Manager Catherine Hosch
of Small Press Distribution. rising to C$1.06 billion. Correspondents:
West Coast Nathalie op de Beeck 253-306-3793
Watson replaces interim Canada’s largest book- Midwest Claire Kirch 218-310-1867
Asia Teri Tan ([email protected])
executive director Cindy store chain had an Editor at Large Louisa Ermelino
Contributing Editors: Michael Coffey, Sari Feldman,
Liz Hartman, Brian Kenney, Daniel Lefferts, Sally Lodge,
Myers, who stepped into operating profi t of C$29
Heidi MacDonald, Shannon Maughan, Marcia Z. Nelson, Diane
Patrick, Karen Raugust, Sonia Jaffe Robbins,
the role after the resigna- million, compared to a loss of C$31.9
Judith Rosen
Regional Sales Team: Deena Ali, Ian Littauer, Julia Molino
tion of Brent Cunningham. million in fi scal 2021. Sales Coordinator Monique Vieu
Circulation Next Steps Marketing
Collections Alan Kula, AK Collections
IT Support ACS International
Online & On-Air Licensing Director Christi Cassidy LLC
Production/Manufacturing Publishing Experts
Web Engineering Mediapolis
Interns: Kamille Carrera Pereira, Jason Chen, Ryan Phung
The Week Ahead a new series from Dark Horse that
How to Reach Us
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Phone: [phone]; fax: [phone];
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More to Come nMeewd baloisotk B bryia Cn aSldelezcnoictkt , © SLIMANELALAMI MJIauonli naLi iqMtutaoeul iVeniroe iujlmi tmtoavluiineeour@@@pppuuubbbllliiissshhheeerrrssswwweeeeeekkklllyyy...cccooommm
Independent Authors
Senior news editor Calvin Reid BigTree, an illustrated
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Geof Darrow about the release of 2023.
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Shaolin Cowboy: Cruel to Be Kin, publishersweekly.com/selznick
6 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ■ JUNE 13, 2022

News
Filling the BookExpo Void
Many in the industry miss certain aspects of BookExpo, but prospects for
the emergence of a new in-person trade show to replace it are uncertain
A
nother May has come and gone without
BookExpo or any other in-person, indus-
trywide spring show taking its place. As the
pandemic eases, more and more publishing
and publishing-related conferences, meetings, and
fairs are moving from online-only events to either in-
person or hybrid affairs. That has raised the question
of whether there’s any interest in seeing a new national
in-person trade show emerge that could gather the
various segments of the book industry together in
2023. Interviews with a myriad of publishers, book-
sellers, and other publishing players yielded only one
consensus: if a new show is to be developed, it should
The last BookExpo was held in 2019.
not look like the retired BookExpo. Indeed, no one wants
a new show whose business model would rely on exhib- but one that would be held in the summer, would be an
itors taking out large, expensive booths. attractive prospect. That timing, however, poses one of a
In the absence of in-person shows, publishers have turned number of conflicts any new show operator would need to
to various digital initiatives to reach their trade partners— overcome: while booksellers prefer a summer event, pub-
particularly independent booksellers. Macmillan said that lishers generally favored an early spring trade show.
from June 13 to 17 it will be holding the Macmillan Fall into Another point of disagreement is where the show should
Summer Reading campaign, a weeklong virtual preview of be located. Some booksellers said New York City, despite its
upcoming titles being published in June through December. high cost, is a draw. Since the trade publishing world is centered
A handful of online conferences also sprung up to fill the void in New York, it makes the most sense to have it there, noted
left by BookExpo’s demise, including the PW-produced U.S. Pamela Klinger-Horn, special events coordinator at Valley
Book Show. (PW has announced plans for a third U.S. Book Bookseller in Stillwater, Minn. “BookExpo was the only time
Show, currently set for May 23–25, 2023.) during the year when I could see my contacts from every house,
The success of their virtual ventures—augmented by their every imprint, and most staff members,” she explained. “As
attendance at smaller in-person events, especially those held fabulous as Winter Institute is, not everyone can be there.”
by the regional bookseller associations plus ABA’s Winter John Evans, co-owner of Los Angeles’s Diesel Bookstore,
Institute—seems to have convinced the biggest companies said he and his partner, Alison Reid, have discussed what a
that they can efficiently reach the audiences they need via new show should look like since BookExpo’s demise. He envi-
Zoom and other online services. As one major publisher sions a “Summer Institute kind of thing” that features some
observed, “The opportunities for account-facing engagements education, but is mostly editor, author, and publisher focused
is just not as urgent or productive as pre-Zoom times.” All the and is only for booksellers. Evans would like to see the show
biggest companies made it clear that their participation in a move around the country and possibly be attached to a
national in-person conference would be limited. regional show.
Smaller and independent publishers were more interested Evans was not the only one to suggest that a national show
in a national event, but only if the show underwent a complete be conducted with another event. IPG CEO Joe Matthews
makeover from BookExpo in its final years. Booksellers were said he has long thought that a national show could be held
generally the most enthusiastic about a national event. in conjunction with annual events hosted by such organiza-
Many said creating a broader version of Winter Institute, tions as IBPA, PubWest, ECPA, or the Book Manufacturers
8 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ■ JUNE 13, 2022