Paula Wiseman, v-p and publisher of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, will retire at the end of the year after a long career in children's publishing, most of it at S&S, where she has overseen her eponymous imprint Paula Wiseman Books. She will continue to edit books on a freelance basis beginning in January 2025. 

Paula Wiseman (photo: Emma Venditti)

Wiseman began her career in publishing as an assistant at Dial Books for Young Readers and went on to be editor-in-chief at Philomel/Putnam. In 1995, she launched the Silver Whistle imprint at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich as editorial director. Wiseman joined S&S in 2002.

As part of this transition, senior editor Catherine Laudone and assistant editor Danielle Collins will move to Beach Lane Books full time. Beginning in 2025, titles originally acquired for Paula Wiseman Books will be published under Beach Lane, which will also house the Paula Wiseman Books backlist. Future titles edited by Wiseman will be published as A Paula Wiseman Book.

"Simon & Schuster has been a world of creativity, fresh ideas and constant support for me and my team for the last 22 years," Wiseman said. "My authors and illustrators and I have thrived here, and I am grateful to all the very smart team at Simon & Schuster whom I have collaborated with from art direction to marketing and selling our books. I am looking forward to what's ahead in my new editor-at-large role."

Jon Anderson, president & publisher of the S&S Children's Division, commented: "In the 15-plus years that I've had the privilege to work with Paula, I've been in awe of her keen editorial eye, her excellent taste and her ability to work with an astonishing range of talent ranging from First Ladies to Duchesses, senators to sports legends, poets to Pulitzer Prize winners and literary legends from both the Adult and Children's publishing worlds. While I'll miss seeing Paula in the office, I'm incredibly happy that she'll be continuing to produce books for Simon & Schuster in the years ahead."

The Olive Press Christian Bookstore hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony in Rockmart, Ga., on Saturday, August 3, Polk Today reported.

The store, which is owned by Jason and Paige Purser and Chris and Jenny Bailey, sells Bibles, Christian books, and related gifts. Located at 107 E. Church St., the bookstore is open Tuesday through Saturday and also provides space for gatherings like Bible study groups.

"We are thankful for the support of our family, friends and the Rockmart community for helping us in our mission to be able to provide a place where people now have a new opportunity to connect and grow in their spiritual life," co-owner Jason Purser said.

Prior to opening a bricks-and-mortar location, Purser was running a pop-up location within Sanity Coffee in Rockmart. After meeting Purser through the pop-up, Bailey offered to help open a bricks-and-mortar store.

Branch Books, a new and used bookstore in Hartselle, Ala., has opened a second location, at 2038 Pear Drive NW, Suite E, in Cullman. The Cullman Tribune reported that co-owners Robert and Cheryl Kahlstorf, who launched their first store five years ago, were inspired to open a second shop "after some of their Hartselle customers told them they were sad a bookstore in Cullman was closing."

"A lot of our readers and customers live in Cullman," Cheryl Kahlstorf said. "Several of them asked us if we would consider opening a location in Cullman. Since we had many more books than what we could display in Hartselle, we decided to go ahead and open one in Cullman as well."

She added that opening a second location was a lot easier than starting the first: "We know more of what type of books people are interested in now. With the price of everything going up, we like to offer people an opportunity to be able to still read at a reasonable price."

Branch Books also offers DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, Playaways (audiobooks for kids), and more. "We have a large amount of homeschool books and books for kids, as well as books for young adults and senior citizens," Kahlstorf noted. "There is also a signed book section, and a collectible book section for people who want to use books to decorate their homes."

Heresy Press, which was founded last year and plans to publish six "unapologetically free-spirited works of fiction per year that will show the world that novels don't have to be instruments of social justice or manuals of good behavior but simply compelling stories," is becoming an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing.

Bernard Schweizer, who founded Heresy Press a little over a year ago with his wife, Liang Schweizer, will continue to serve as director. "There's a hunger for liberated literature that tests boundaries, including unabashedly funny and blasphemous stories,” Schweizer said. "Skyhorse, with its explicit commitment to viewpoint diversity, is the perfect partner to help bring Heresy Press products to an ever growing and enthusiastic audience."

Among Heresy Press's forthcoming titles are Devil Take It by Daniel Debs Nossiter, Shibboleth by Thomas Peermohamed Lambert, and Michael Liska's debut, Alice, or the Wild Child. Heresy Press's advisory board includes Nadine Strossen, Joyce Carol Oates, Steven Pinker, Sherman Alexie, Junot Diaz, Richard North Patterson, Meghan Daum, and others.

British children's author Jeremy Strong, who wrote more than 100 books with a focus on middle-grade titles, died August 5. He was 74. The Bookseller reported that Strong studied English at York University, after which he was a teacher and head teacher. He became a full-time writer in 1991. 

His bestselling titles included The Hundred-mile-an-hour Dog, My Sister's Got a Spoon Up Her Nose, Viking at School, My Brother's Famous Bottom, and The Indoor Pirates on Treasure Island. Earlier this year, Strong signed a deal for Fox Goes North, a fable about friendship and "saying goodbye to the ones we love."

"In a career spanning six decades, Jeremy Strong proved himself time and again to be the king of comedy," said Puffin editorial director Ben Horslen, who edited Strong for many years, adding that "he demonstrated a laser instinct for what kids find funny, honed by his years as a primary school teacher. That time in the classroom also fostered a lifelong passion to, as he put it, 'encourage reading amongst ordinary children.' His books delivered an irresistible blend of anarchic energy, clever wordplay and hilarious characters that could tempt even the most reluctant reader. 

"At his many thousands of public events, Jeremy was brilliant at talking to children, making them laugh, bringing his stories alive. In private, he was intelligent, thoughtful, unfailingly courteous and, above all, kind. Always quick to credit those who supported his books--teachers, librarians and booksellers--he often made light of his considerable talent. But the millions of sales speak for themselves." 

Scholastic group managing director Catherine Bell said: "Jeremy was a wonderful writer who did so much to inspire and engage children with books and reading for the sheer joy of it. Starting his career as a primary school teacher, Jeremy became a brilliantly talented storyteller whose empathy, warmth and humor always shone through his work, often using his teaching experiences to great humorous effect."

Anthony Goff, Strong's longtime literary agent, added: "Jeremy had a phenomenal career lasting more than 40 years and with over a hundred books published. Children adored his humor and many people have told me that their love of reading started with his books. In person he was gentle and kind, and he had a sense of fun that matched his writing exactly. Representing him has never been anything less than a complete pleasure."

BookPeople, Austin, Tex., shared a photo of the shop's election-themed sales floor display on Instagram, noting "Everybody's talking about weirdness these days for some reason.... On an unrelated note, see the link in our bio to make sure you're registered to vote!"

"Bookstores are the best sun block" was the wise, seasonally appropriate advice offered on the sidewalk chalkboard in front of Little Professor Book Center, Athens, Ohio. (photo courtesy of Jeff Kallet, sales & events, Ohio University Press)

Leah Morse has been promoted to publicity manager in Harlequin Trade Publishing's New York office.

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At Hachette Book Group's online & digital team:

Fantasia Brown is promoted to national account manager.

Cristal Sanchez is promoted to sales associate.

Be BOLD Today: Unleash Your Potential, Master Your Mindset, and Achieve Success by Leigh Burgess (the Collective Book Studio).

Today:
Fresh Air: Ala Stanford, M.D., author of Take Care of Them Like My Own: Faith, Fortitude, and a Surgeon's Fight for Health Justice (Simon & Schuster, $28.99, 9781668004067).

Tomorrow:
The View repeat: Questlove, author of Hip-Hop Is History (AUWA, $30, 9780374614072).

The Talk repeat: Lewis Howes, author of The Greatness Mindset: Unlock the Power of Your Mind and Live Your Best Life Today (Hay House, $26.99, 9781401971908).

Leila Cohan will co-write and showrun a Netflix series adaptation of Emily Henry's bestselling novel Happy Place, Deadline reported, adding that the project remains in development at Netflix. Jennifer Lopez is producing the series through her Nuyorican label with Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina.

Cohan was nominated for an Emmy in 2021 for Bridgerton in the Outstanding Drama Series category. Most recently, she served as co-exec producer on the forthcoming Netflix thriller The Perfect Couple and Hallmark+'s Chicken Sisters. 

Sisters in Crime Australia has released a shortlist for the 24th Davitt Awards, recognizing the best crime and mystery books by Australian women. The shortlists are presented in four categories: adult novels, nonfiction books, YA novels, and children's novels. Four of the adult novels are debut works. All 37 debut books are also under consideration for the Debut Award. Check out the complete shortlist here.

Judges' coordinator Ruth Wykes said, "It's been a Herculean task for the six judges--so many fabulous books have missed the cut. Australian women's crime writing is riding a huge wave that has left our shores and is now sweeping around the world."

Six Davitt Awards will be presented August 31 in Melbourne, including Best Adult Novel; Best Young Adult Novel; Best Children's Novel; Best Nonfiction Book; Best Debut Book (any category); and Readers' Choice (as voted by the 600-plus members of Sisters in Crime Australia). 

Lochan Sharma was born in Nepal to a family of Bhutanese refugees. Sharma's family moved to the United States in 2008 and now live in Concord, N.H. He's working on his undergrad biology degree at Keene State College and spends his free time playing music. His debut is the YA novel Go Home (Groundwood Books, August 6, 2024), written with Terry Farish.

Handsell readers your book:

Teens Olive and Gabe's romance becomes strained due to their conflicting views on Samir, a new neighbor and immigrant. Olive is torn between love and empathy.

On your nightstand now:

I have many books that I have yet to read but feel that I must. The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien has been sitting on my nightstand staring at me for years. Eventually I'll get past page three. Currently I am working my way through Ulysses by James Joyce. It is a tough read and I understand why many say that it is dull and a slog to get through, but I have enjoyed it so far.

Favorite book when you were a child:

I was in love with the Percy Jackson books and all the subsequent Rick Riordan books that took place in the same universe. Ancient mythology is fascinating, and bringing those tales into the modern era made it relatable to younger me. Also, since the series was long, the books became a way for me to get immersed in a story for longer than a few weeks and escape an otherwise mundane life.

Your top five authors:

In no specific order: Suzanne Collins, John Green, Rick Riordan, Mark Twain, Stephen King.

Book you've faked reading:

I can't say that I have ever lied about reading a book in its entirety, but I have lied about finishing a book, specifically It by Stephen King. It's a great book and I loved the first 90% of it but I had to return it to the library and never went back to it.

Book you're an evangelist for:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. This book does a great job of dealing with difficult topics in a way that is accessible to younger audiences without being condescending. It's not only a YA novel--anyone and everyone should read this book because there is something to be gained from it.

Book you've bought for the cover:

The play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany. I had already read it, but the look and feel of the cover just felt right and I had to have it. The play itself is not great, so I have yet to open the new copy.

Book you hid from your parents:

My parents were always supportive of my reading habit, so they never stopped me from reading any book that I found and took a liking to. Although I did pretend that I had no interest in the more "girly" books that my sister had and would read them when no one else was around.

Book that changed your life:

Eragon by Christopher Paolini. My first-grade teacher gifted me this book to challenge me. That gift sparked a love of reading in me which led to me reading any book I could get my hands on for the next eight years. Along with being an important part of my reading journey, this book is also partially the reason I started working on Go Home. Paolini was 19 when he published Eragon, the same age I am now. If I had not been gifted Eragon, I may never have pursued literature.

Favorite line from a book:

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" --J.K. Rowling. This quote pops into my head anytime mental health is brought up and is a reminder to me that mental issues are not imaginary.

Five books you'll never part with:

The Giver by Lois Lowry. This was the first book that made me actually think. My approach to reading was similar to how the population of the Community behave: just accepting what I read without further inquiry. I learned alongside Jonas the importance of being skeptical of the information you are given.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. I love going back to this novel from 1876 and rediscovering the timelessness of the story.

The Harry Potter novels are possibly the books I have had the most interaction with. I have read and listened through these books many times and engage in online and in person discourse about the most minuscule details about these books. I realize the shortcomings of the novels where world building and logic is concerned, but the characters and the possibilities of what could be in the magical world always keeps me engaged.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. An eye-opening memoir for me. The contrast of humor and the horrifying reality of apartheid is beautifully done and highlights how far Trevor Noah has come.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. This book made me tear up, which does not happen to me very often when reading. I was--and still am--invested in the wellbeing of the characters John Green created.

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

So many books. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin was such a satisfying read. It was the first mystery novel I read, and I wish I could experience the feeling of not knowing how everything is going to end all over again.

Ann Clare LeZotte (Show Me a Sign) takes inspiration from a real-life court case and her own experiences as a "completely deaf" member of the Deaf community to sensitively explore language deprivation among deaf children in Deer Run Home, a devastating but hopeful middle-grade novel-in-verse.

Twelve-year-old Effie, who's deaf, speaks American Sign Language (ASL), which her family refuses to learn. She and her 16-year-old sister, Deja, are living with their mom and stepdad during the Covid-19 pandemic when Effie starts having bad dreams: "I was locked/ in a closet without/ a doorknob./ Nightmare man,/ long hands." Effie's mom will listen only if Effie uses her oral voice--something that "feels faraway/ too hard, not mine"--so, reasoning that Effie is "acting out," Effie's mom sends the girls to their dad's. It isn't much better at Dad's trailer--he stomps on the floor or claps in her face and points to things to communicate. Her one comfort is Golden Eyes, a lone deer who's been separated from his herd because of the "new, small-box/ too-close-together houses" being built on the deer's land. She knows what it's like to not have a welcoming home and vows to try to keep him safe. When schools reopen, Effie is assigned to a new school; fortunately, her previous ASL interpreter, Miss Kathy, will be there, too. Signing with Miss Kathy after not signing for so long is like "all the dead plants/ on our porch/ coming alive/ from a downpour,/ then flowering." Miss Kathy notices that Effie is being neglected, so she convinces Effie's dad to let the girl stay with her for a month. But Miss Kathy senses that something far worse may have happened to Effie. Is Effie ready to unlock those memories?

Deer Run Home is a heartrending novel that deals with the pain and trauma of child sexual abuse and neglect yet remains encouraging in its exploration of resiliency, advocating for oneself, and self-worth. LeZotte deftly contrasts the neglect and abuse Effie experiences at home with the support and compassion she receives at school. Effie feels invisible, as if she "could be a/ wall hanging,/ a mounted TV,/ or a ticking clock" when she's with Deja. But Effie's new friend, Cait, who has cerebral palsy, wants to learn ASL, and Effie's teacher encourages Effie: "lean into your way with words." LeZotte also adroitly connects the community's treatment of nature to Effie's family's view of her as a nuisance. Effie, like the displaced deer population that "can never be anywhere safe,/ because it's all been taken away," has no sanctuary. A moving, emotionally affecting novel. --Lana Barnes, freelance reviewer and proofreader

Shelf Talker: A heartrending yet encouraging middle grade novel-in-verse that explores language deprivation among deaf children.

The following were the most popular book club books during July based on votes from book club readers in more than 88,000 book clubs registered at Bookmovement.com:

1. The Women: A Novel by Kristin Hannah (HarperCollins)
2. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride (Riverhead Books)
3. The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters (Catapult)
4. First Lie Wins: A Novel by Ashley Elston (Pamela Dorman Books)
5. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (Harper)
6. West with Giraffes: A Novel by Lynda Rutledge (Lake Union)
7. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (Doubleday)
8. Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel by Shelby Van Pelt (Ecco)
9. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden (Grand Central)
10. James: A Novel by Percival Everett (Doubleday)

Rising Stars:
Weyward by Emilia Hart (Griffin)
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (Crown)