R.I. District Court Grants Preliminary Injunction in IMLS Case
The District Court of Rhode Island has granted 21 states’ attorneys a preliminary injunction to stop the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services by the Trump administration. more...Schomburg Center Director Joy Bivins to Keynote U.S. Book Show
Bivins, who has led the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York since 2021, will be in conversation with Randy Winston, creative director for fiction at the Black List, at this year’s U.S. Book Show on June 3. more...
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden Fired by White House
“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. more...
NEA Literary Grants Terminated, Staff Depart as Trump Proposes Eliminating the Agency
At least 38 publishers and a number of literary organizations received letters from the National Endowment for the Arts saying their grants were withdrawn or terminated, while four literary arts staffers at the NEA said their last day will be on May 30. more...and more. Sign up here!
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Publisher News831 Stories Takes a Novel Approach to Book Covers
In the red-hot world of romance novels, the startup “romantic fiction company” is looking to stand out with its uniform, color-blocked, Easter egg–heavy cover design.
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Bookselling
This Week’s Bestsellers: May 12, 2025
Ana Huang tops our trade paperback list and has the #1 book in the country with King of Envy, book five in her spicy Kings of Sin billionaire romance series. Plus Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures, a handsell favorite, gets its paperback release, and Natasha Wing’s Night Before series goes to the virtual dentist.
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Publisher News
How ‘Flashlight’ by Susan Choi Got Made
An inside look at the publication process for the National Book Award winner’s latest novel.
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Book Deals
Book Deals: Week of May 12, 2025
William Morrow picks up a collaboration between James Patterson and YouTuber MrBeast, Michael J. Fox sells a memoir to Flatiron, Abrams will adapt Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’ as a graphic novel, and more in this week’s book deals.
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Awards & Prizes
PEN America Literary Awards Return After a Tumultuous Year
While it was largely business as usual following the cancelation 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.
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Religion
HCCP Promotes Two to Top Leadership Roles
HarperCollins Christian Publishing has moved Melinda Bouma and Philip Nation up its executive leadership ladder as it readies for the retirement of SVP and group publisher John Kramp in December.
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Obituaries
Maureen O’Brien, Former ‘PW’ Editor, Dies at 67
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.
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Financial Reporting
HarperCollins Boss Weighs In on the Economy, Big Tech
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%.
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Religion
Catholic Publishers Race to Write Pope Leo XIV’s Story
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.
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Libraries
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden Fired by White House
“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.
