BTW News Briefs

BEA Reveals Lineups for Author Breakfasts

The full list of authors on tap for BookExpo America’s author breakfasts this year is now live on BEA’s website. The lineup includes actors Anjelica Huston, Lena Dunham, and Martin Short, talk show host Tavis Smiley, and authors Colm Tόibín, Jeff Kinney, Lisa Scottoline, and Carl Hiaasen, in addition to the previously announced emcees. One mystery author remains secreted for the breakfast on Friday, May 30.

The breakfasts will take place during BEA in New York City, running from Thursday, May 29, through Saturday, May 31.

Bryan Pearce Given Posthumous Humanitarian Award

Bryan Pearce, the former chief executive officer of the University Book Store in Seattle who died last April at the age of 55, was posthumously awarded the National Association of College Stores’ Humanitarian Award at the 2014 Campus Market Expo (CAMEX) in Dallas.

The annual award acknowledges the generous work of its recipient within the industry and association. The award was accepted on Pearce’s behalf by Louise Little, current CEO of University Book Store, at the opening session of the event. The award was also given posthumously to Roger Reynolds, former director of Brigham Young University Bookstore, who died last year.

Senate to Vote on Maria Contreras-Sweet for SBA Administrator

The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship voted unanimously last week to make Maria Contreras-Sweet the administrator of the Small Business Administration. Contreras-Sweet was nominated for the position by President Obama, and the backing of the Senate committee now pushes the nomination to the full Senate for a vote.

Contreras-Sweet founded Latino-owned business bank PROAMÉRICA in Los Angeles and as California’s secretary of business, transportation, and housing managed a budget of $14 million and oversaw a workforce of 42,000.

AAUP Releases Books for Understanding: Ukraine

The Association of American University Presses this week revealed its most recent Books for Understanding list, focusing on Ukraine. The scholarly bibliography highlights more than 80 titles from AAUP’s member presses and looks at Ukraine’s history and the country’s current conflict.

Books for Understanding is a free public service of AAUP that helps readers find relevant books based on current events.

Inaugural Pinckley Prizes Announced

The inaugural Pinckley Prizes for Crime Fiction, honoring longtime New Orleans Times-Picayune crime fiction columnist Diana Pinckley, are being awarded to Laura Lippman and Gwen Florio and will be presented on March 22 at the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. The prizes are administered by the New Orleans Chapter of the Women’s National Book Association, which Pinckley was a founding member of.

Lippman, who has penned 20 books in her career, will be given the Pinckley Prize for a Distinguished Body of Work. Florio will receive the Pinckley Prize for a Debut Novel for her first title, Montana (Permanent Press). Each winner will receive $2,500 and a paper rosette made from the pages of their books, created by New Orleans artist Yuka Petz.