Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today’s stories.
Denne Michele Norris has been named the next editor in chief of Electric Literature. A former editor at Apogee and the Rumpus, Norris is also known as a cohost of the Food 4 Thot podcast. In the announcement, Electric Literature made note of the historic significance of the appointment: “Norris is the first Black and openly transgender woman to serve as editor in chief of a major U.S. literary publication.”
CEO Allison Hill has written a letter to members of the American Booksellers Association (ABA) to offer further details about two recent racist and transphobic actions. Hill described the uploading of the incorrect cover art for Blackout as a “terrible mistake with terrible racist implications,” but assured that an investigation found “no reason to believe the action was malicious in intention.” Meanwhile, she explained that a virulently anti-trans book managed to make it into the ABA Box Mailing program because of a policy to “not review or screen titles.” The letter then offers details about how the ABA intends to guard against future incidents and rebuild trust. Plans include the hiring of a new copyeditor and a diversity, equity, inclusion, and access membership manager. (Shelf Awareness)
Hachette Book Group has postponed plans to reopen its offices in September due to concerns about the Delta variant. A new reopening date has not been set, but Pietsch says employees will be notified at least four weeks ahead of time. (Publishers Weekly)
“It remains to be seen if these old bookselling habits will fade over time, or if I’ll always be a bookseller at heart.” Danika Ellis reflects on her time as a used bookseller. (Book Riot)
The inaugural issue of the biannual Book Art Review is due out in the fall. Published by the Center for Book Arts, the magazine seeks to “make book art criticism more visible and more valuable.” (Publishers Weekly)
“I hope to see more exhibitions like From the Limitations of Now. An effort toward the contemporary moment is, strictly speaking, a push away from preservation of the past moment.” Nickolas Calabrese reviews an exhibition at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa and considers the future of “the sometimes heartless heartland of America.” (Believer)
Editor Marysue Rucci has been given an eponymous imprint at Scribner. Most recently she served as vice president and editor in chief of Simon & Schuster.
