BTW News Briefs

Here’s what’s happening this week in the book industry:

The New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association is launching a Professional Bookselling Certification program.

Applications are open for the National Book Foundation’s 2020 Innovations in Reading Prize, which recognizes visionary literature programs that promote reading and comes with a $10,000 prize.

Tin House Books is accepting applications for the inaugural Independent Bookseller Scholarship to the Tin House Summer Workshop. One bookseller-writer will be chosen as a Tin House Scholar and will receive full tuition and room and board to the summer workshop, which takes place July 11-19 on the Reed College campus in Portland, Oregon. The deadline to apply is March 11.

Workman Publishing is donating proceeds from sales of OUTBACK: The Amazing Animals of Australia: A Photicular Book by Ella Morton to WIRES Australian Wildlife Rescue Organization. For every copy of OUTBACK sold between January 18 and February 29, Workman will make a $2 donation to WIRES.

HarperCollins Children’s Books has launched new imprint Quill Tree, which aims to publish books by authors with “a strong point of view.”

Albert Whitman & Company has brought its sales and distribution operations in-house and is no longer distributed by IPG; Baker & Taylor Publisher Services will serve select markets internationally.

Skyhorse Publishing has acquired the right to publish books using The World Almanac name.

Starting July 1, W.W. Norton & Company will handle sales and distribution for Abbeville Press.

At Penguin Random House, Reagan Arthur, formerly of Little, Brown, has been named the successor of Sonny Mehta; effective February 11, she becomes executive vice president and publisher for Knopf, Pantheon, and Schocken. In addition, Maya Mavjee, former president and publisher of the Crown Publishing Group, will rejoin PRH on March 2 as the president and publisher for the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

The National Book Foundation has appointed three new members to its board of directors: James Daunt, chief executive officer, Barnes & Noble, Inc.; Kimball Hastings, vice president of global communications, Ralph Lauren; and Amandeep Kochar, executive vice president and general manager, Baker & Taylor.

Bestselling author and visual artist Nell Painter has been appointed the chair of MacDowell Colony Board of Directors.

Baroness Helena Kennedy QC is stepping down as chair of the Booker Prize Foundation after five years.

The​ ​We​ ​Need​ ​Diverse​ ​Books​ ​Walter​ ​Awards​ ​Judging​ ​Committee​ ​has​ ​selected​ ​the​ ​winners​ ​and honorees​ ​for​ ​the​ ​fifth​ ​annual​ ​Walter​ ​Dean​ ​Myers​ ​Awards​ ​for​ ​Outstanding​ ​Children’s​ ​Literature.

The Mystery Writers of America has announced the nominees for the 2020 Edgar Allan Poe awards.

The Romantic Novelists Association has named Milly Johnson as the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Achievement Award.

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators announced the winners of the 2020 Golden Kite and Sid Fleischmann Awards.

Share your news in BTW News Briefs! Publishers and industry partners are welcome to e-mail [email protected] with news about awards, imprint launches, distribution changes, staff promotions, and more.