BTW News Briefs

National Jewish Book Award Winners Announced

On January 14, the National Jewish Book Council announced the winners of the 2008 National Jewish Book Awards to be honored on March 5 at a ceremony at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan. The winners include:

• Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir: Marie Syrkin: Values Beyond the Self by Carole S. Kessner (Brandeis University Press/University Press of New England)

• Children's & Young Adult Literature: The Diary of Laura's Twin by Kathy Kacer (Second Story Press)

• Fiction: Songs for the Butcher's Daughter by Peter Manseau (Free Press)

The full list of winners is available at www.jewishbookcouncil.org.

NRF: Holiday Sales Down by 2.8 Percent

Figures released this week by the National Retail Federation indicate that retail industry sales for December (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) were down 2.2 percent unadjusted over last year and decreased 1.4 percent seasonally adjusted from November.

November sales were revised down to a 3.4 percent decline unadjusted year-over-year from the original reported 2.2 percent. As a result, initial 2008 holiday sales, which combine November and December sales, declined 2.8 percent to $447.5 billion, weaker than NRF's projected 2.2 percent holiday forecast. Holiday sales in 2007 were $460.2 billion. This represents the first decline in holiday sales since NRF started forecasting and tracking the numbers in 1995.

December retail sales released by the U.S. Commerce Department show total retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gasoline stations, and restaurants) decreased 2.7 percent seasonally adjusted from last month and dropped 7.9 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

New Distribution Arrangements

Ingram Publishers Services began distributing AVA Publishing on January 2, and will begin distribution for Poisoned Pen Press on February 2. AVA Publishing, based in West Sussex, England, produces books in applied visual and communication arts. Poisoned Pen Press is an independent publisher specializing in the field of mystery.

Consortium Book Sales & Distribution (Consortium) began distribution arrangements with two design companies effective this month: Whitelines, based in Sweden, and BIS Publishers, based in The Netherlands.

Lerner Publishing Group announced a new distribution agreement with London-based Andersen Press. New Americanized titles will be published under the imprint of Andersen Press USA beginning fall 2009.