Little, Brown Makes Staffing Changes
Michelle Howry has been named editorial director of the division’s Little, Brown Spark imprint, while Mulholland’s Joshua Kendall and Algonquin’s Nadxieli Nieto have left the company. more...Bookshop.org Teams with Draft2Digital
The online bookselling platform has partnered with the self-publishing company to allow self-published authors to sell e-books on its site. more...
Harper Wave Relaunches as Frontlist Imprint
Led by SVP and publisher Diana Baroni, the wellness imprint—which had been dormant for several years—will release around 10 nonfiction titles per year, aiming to “inspire readers to see the world through new lenses.” more...
Aaron Priest Turns Agency Over to Mitch Hoffman
After more than five decades heading his eponymous literary agency, Priest has announced his retirement, with Hoffman (pictured), a senior agent, taking over as owner and president at the firm. more...and more.
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Publisher NewsLiate Stehlik Promoted to CEO of HarperCollins U.S. Trade
Stehlik, who has been with HarperCollins for 20 years, was previously president and publisher of its Morrow Group and children’s division. In her new role, she will oversee the company’s adult and children’s trade publishing divisions and sales in the United States.
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Libraries
ALA’s ‘Recharging’ Conference Addresses Professional Pain Points
The American Library Association’s February 10 virtual conference, “Recharging in Challenging Times,” replaced LibLearnX and drew more than 1,100 attendees with a message of self-care and a conversation with librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen.
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Promotional
Second Auction Set to Support Minnesotans, Immigrants
Kingdom of Threads, the Connecticut-based wholesaler of book-themed merch, will host Book Lovers for Liberation, an online auction featuring signed books, literary swag, and more, next week.
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Religion
Christian Retailers Posted Small Sales Gain in 2025
In its annual report on the state of Christian retail, the Parable Group found that same-store sales at participating outlets rose 2.3% in 2025 over 2024, with Bibles remaining the strongest category.
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Financial Reporting
Trade Sales Were Mixed in 2025, While Religion Sales Rose
The final AAP StatShot report for the year found small increases in the children’s/YA and religion books segments compared to 2024, as well as a slight decline for adult books.
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Bookselling
Minnesota Authors Team with Bookstores to Support Immigrants
More than 50 authors are fanning out to indie bookshops around the state on February 28 as part of Authors for Minnesota Day, giving signed copies of their latest releases to anyone who makes a donation to two immigration rights organizations.
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Bookselling
Book Club Picks for February 2026
Read with Jenna selects Maurene Goo’s first adult novel, Good Morning America spotlights Leodora Darlington’s debut thriller, and more.
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People
Kent Carroll Retires After Five Decades in Publishing
Carroll, who got his start at Grove Press in the 1970s, has retired as publisher-at-large at Europa Editions, marking an end to his long publishing career.
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Obituaries
Editor and Agent Will Murphy Dies at 57
Most recently an agent with Folio, Murphy spent much of his career as an editor at Random House, working with such authors as David Brooks, Pope Francis, and Salman Rushdie. He died of a heart attack on February 1.
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Comics
Everything’s Closing In: PW Talks with Ezra Claytan Daniels
Horror emerges from central Florida’s swamps in Mama Came Callin’ (Morrow and HarperAlley, Feb.), as a young biracial woman named Kirah investigates the elusive costumed-killer Gator Man who terrorizes her.
