We apologize to everyone who is angry and disappointed about our recent decision not to accept an ad in Shelf Awareness for Readers.

There was some discussion about it yesterday that we want to clarify. Shelf Awareness for Readers is the weekly e-mail newsletter for consumers that we publish on behalf of more than 250 independent bookstores, reaching 600,000 readers, with the goal of helping booksellers promote reading and sell more books. Our bookstore partners cannot block titles that are advertised. As a result, we are careful to keep in mind that every advertised title we include appears to the bookstores' customers as something the store itself is endorsing.

In the case of Israel Alone by Bernard-Henri Lévy, we decided not to run an ad for it in Shelf Awareness for Readers because our bookstore partners have no way to de-select a title in their newsletters other than not to send the publication. We are currently exploring options that address that challenge.

The ad policy for Shelf Awareness Pro--the publication you are reading--is different. It is our own publication sent to our own trade audience, in which we can offer a broad range of voices and viewpoints. Concerning Israel Alone, we are considering how to cover the book, and related titles, in Shelf Awareness Pro.

Kelly Barth, Chris Luxem, and Mary Wahlmeier Bracciano will take full ownership of the Raven Book Store, Lawrence, Kan., effective January 1, 2025. With more than 40 years of Raven experience among them, "these talented booksellers are poised to usher the Raven into a flourishing future," the company noted, adding that a seller-financed deal with outgoing majority owner Danny Caine "will enable the bookstore to continue its mission of literacy, advocacy, and welcoming as it enters a new era."

Luxem, Barth, and Wahlmeier Bracciano have all been acting in a minority owner capacity since January 2022. In that time they have shaped the practices, culture, and trajectory of the store and their goal is to continue that work as they take over full ownership.

Barth, a Raven Bookseller since 1997, will focus on adult frontlist buying and employee relations. "After nearly 30 years as a bookseller, I'm so humbled and thrilled being entrusted with this beloved store," she said.

Luxem, with nearly 10 years of experience, is an inventory and handselling specialist. He added: "I am extremely grateful for Danny's contributions to the Raven Book Store and I look forward to collaborating with Kelly, Mary, and our dedicated team of booksellers to continue creating a welcoming space for readers."

Caine observed that "being a steward of the Raven for the last seven-plus years has been the biggest honor of my life. I'm really excited to see the amazing things Chris, Kelly, and Mary will do with this wonderful store." 

In addition to moving on from the Raven, Caine will step down from his seat on the American Booksellers Association Board, effective immediately. He has relocated to his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, where he has taken a job as multimedia content creator for the Institute of Local Self-Reliance. 

Nan Graham will step down as publisher of Scribner at the end of the year and take a new role with the imprint, focusing on editing her existing authors and acquiring new titles for Scribner's list. Simon & Schuster will begin a search for the next publisher of Scribner.

Nan Graham (photo: David Jacobs)

Graham joined S&S in 1994 as Scribner's first editor-in-chief following S&S's acquisition of Charles Scribner's Sons. She was named senior v-p and publisher of the imprint in 2012. She has edited Pulitzer Prize winners, including All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, and The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee. Other authors she has edited include Don DeLillo, Annie Proulx, Rachel Kushner, Jennifer Egan, Colm Tóibín, and Stephen King. She also edited many major memoirs, including Jeannette Walls's The Glass Castle and Steve Martin's Born Standing Up, as well as Hillary Rodham Clinton's Living History. In 2011, she received the Maxwell E. Perkins Award, presented by the Center for Fiction.

S&S CEO Jonathan Karp said, "Nan's range as an editor is extraordinary. In addition to being a great editor, Nan has been a superb publisher and generous mentor. A revered and integral part of our company, we'll continue to benefit from Nan's wisdom and multitudinous gifts in the coming years, and most importantly, so will the new and returning authors she nurtures and champions as only she can."

Graham said, "I loved being the editor-in-chief of Scribner beginning 30 years ago, and I've loved being the publisher of Scribner, building a superb team that excels in every aspect of publishing. I've been incredibly fortunate to edit my own list of stellar authors and to help launch so many transformative, bestselling, award-winning books from other Scribner editors. I'm proud of making Scribner an imprint where editors, publicists and marketers come of age and thrive, working on behalf of writers who have flourished here. Now it's time to turn my attention more fully, once again, to the writers I've worked with for years, and to finding the occasional writer new to me and to Scribner. I'll continue to champion the Scribner imprint and our singularly excellent staff and authors."

Story Line Books, a new bookstore located inside the historic Union Depot railroad station in St. Paul, Minn., hosted its grand opening celebration late last month. MPR News reported that owner Danielle Miller "was looking for a new career, and she and her husband were toying with moving from their home in Lincoln, Neb., to Minnesota to be closer to family. On a visit to Minnesota, she saw a spot for lease."

"Wouldn't it be just so fun to open a bookstore?" she asked her husband, who replied, "Why don't you just do that?" 

When Miller began researching, her background in entrepreneurial and small business law came in handy. The thriving indie bookstore scene in the Twin Cities was encouraging as well, but the location sealed the deal.

"My husband and I, we're train people," she said. "Every time we travel, we figure out a way to take the train, even if it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for us to be taking the train. I found the spot in Union Depot, and that felt like lightning striking."

Miller hopes the bookstore will become a cozy resting place for travelers looking for reading material. She has a selection of children's books, including many books from Minnesota presses, along with gifts, stationery, and travel essentials.

In an interview with the Star Tribune, Miller said, "I have a three-year lease. So, that would be sort of when I'll know. But the first two weekends here were already more than I thought they'd be. I was more crowded than I thought I would be. I did more business than I thought I would. So, I'm feeling incredibly hopeful."

Grand Gesture Books, a Black-owned romance bookstore that debuted as an online store in 2023, will host a grand opening celebration on Saturday, October 26, for its new bricks-and-mortar storefront in Portland, Ore., Oregon Live reported.

Located at 814 S.W. 10th Ave., the 1,200-square-foot store carries a wide assortment of romance titles with an emphasis on those written by diverse authors. In addition to books, there are tote bags, book-themed candles, postcards, and other sidelines. Owner Katherine Morgan plans to host plenty of events, and has even been ordained in order to officiate weddings at the bookstore.

Prior to launching Grand Gesture, Morgan worked at Powell's for seven years, where she eventually ran the romance section. Earlier this year she launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with opening the store; so far that has raised just shy of $30,000.

Morgan has already hosted the bookstore's first author reading, which featured Colby Wilkens (If I Stopped Haunting You; If I Dig You). Following the grand opening on Saturday, Morgan will host a ribbon cutting on Monday.

Heather Fain is joining the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group as senior v-p, publishing, marketing and backlist strategy, effective October 30.

Heather Fain

Fain has nearly 25 years of publishing and marketing experience, most recently as chief operating officer of Pushkin Industries, a podcast and audiobook production company. Before that, she was the senior v-p of marketing strategy for the Hachette Book Group, where she also served as deputy publisher for Little, Brown.

The company said that "the breadth of Heather's extensive publishing experience, creative leadership, and passion for books make her the perfect leader of our powerhouse marketing team. Under Heather's guidance, we will expand our marketing reach, identify new audiences, and ensure continued growth for our authors and their books."

Fain said, "I am thrilled to be joining the KDPG team to continue to grow one of the most prestigious lists in book publishing. I'm looking forward to bringing my publishing and digital media experience to work with the talented team that has long been a standard bearer for bringing great books into the world."

2 Dandelions Bookshop in Brighton, Mich., celebrated the release of Colleen Cambridge's Murder Takes the Stage, the latest in her Phyllida Bright Mystery series. Partygoers were given red gloves (similar to the ones on the book's cover). (Photo: Dennis Galloway)

"Love is in the air!" the Lynx bookstore, Gainesville, Fla., posted on Facebook. "Congratulations to Bo and Angela on their engagement--thank you for letting us be part of your very special day."

"Vote like your books depend on it!" That was the recent sidewalk chalkboard message in front of the Book & Cover, Chattanooga, Tenn, which noted: "And they do! Early voting begins today in Tennessee and runs through the end of October. Our Georgia neighbors began early voting yesterday and broke records for ballots cast. Read Books. Stay Curious. Vote!"

Marc Waldman has been promoted to v-p of logistics, HarperCollins North America. He joined the company a year ago as senior director of logistics and already, the company, said led it through "numerous transformation initiatives," including "finding new vendor partners, increasing transparency in shipment tracking, reducing unnecessary shipping costs, and building a small but effective logistics support team."

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In the Morrow Group publicity department:

Eliza Rosenberry has been promoted to senior director of publicity. She has been with Morrow since 2017.

Kelsey Manning has been promoted to senior director of marketing. She has been overseeing the fiction marketing program.

The Teen Breakup Survival Guide: Skills to Help You Deal with Intense Emotions, Cultivate Self-Love, and Come Back with Confidence by Lenora M. Ziegler (New Harbinger Publications).

Nickelodeon Studios is about to begin production on My Weird School, a movie based on Dan Gutman's bestselling book series, Deadline reported. Production starts in Vancouver, Canada, this month. The movie will stream on Paramount+ and air on Nickelodeon channels. Premiere details have yet to be announced. Gutman's s My Weird School series features more than 100 titles and has sold 35 million copies. 

My Weird School is directed by Jonathan Judge (The Really Loud House). The cast includes Hero Hunter, Aaron Harris, Harper Zilmer, Nakai Takawira, Sean "Seandoesmagic" Sotaridona, Liv Pearsall, and Adam Rose. Production of the movie for Nickelodeon Studios is overseen by Shauna Phelan, head of Nickelodeon & Awesomeness Live-Action. Brittany Cope and Brin Lukens serves as Nickelodeon's executive in charge of production.

"We are so excited to bring this beloved book series to life with a dream cast of actors and influencers we know our audience will love, and a creative team lead by Jonathan Judge who will elevate the movie in a hilarious way for Nickelodeon's kids and family audience," said Phelan.

Barnes & Noble has chosen Swift River by Essie Chambers as the $10,000 Discover Prize Winner, honoring the "best new author published this year." The title was voted on by B&N booksellers from the company's monthly Discover picks.

B&N CEO James Daunt commented: "There is an undeniable thrill that comes with finding a new author with so much promise. Essie Chambers is a perfect example--it was clear from the very first page that this book was something to be celebrated. We could not be more pleased to announce her as the winner of our Discover Prize for 2024."

The five runners-up were:

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
Pearly Everlasting by Tammy Armstrong
888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers by Abraham Chang
Piglet by Lottie Hazell
Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connor

photo: Amy Hu

Ellie Yang Camp is an artist, educator, and author from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been a high school history teacher, full-time parent, calligrapher, anti-racist educator, and now an author. Her first book, Louder Than the Lies: Asian American Identity, Solidarity, and Self-Love (Heyday Books, October 22, 2024), is a primer on racism that offers an intersectional, anti-racist, coalition-building view of Asian American identity.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

With candor and insight, educator Ellie Yang Camp unpacks the confusing dynamics and complicated systems that shape the racial experiences of Asian Americans.

On your nightstand now:

Right now, I'm working my way through Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park, which is complicated but also unlike anything I've read before so it's exciting that I have no idea where the story is going. To balance that out I'm reading the YA book The Misdirection of Fault Lines by Anna Gracia, about the drama between three competitive Asian American girls at a summer tennis tournament. I'm also finishing up the audiobook to Curtis Chin's memoir Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, which has been delightful.

Favorite book when you were a child:

I'm a slow reader and did not read for fun as a child, so I can't say I had a favorite book. Also, as the child of Taiwanese immigrants, there were no books around me in the 1980s that reflected my world back to me enough to maintain my interest, and I didn't start reading avidly until I was in my 30s. However, as a mom I read Dumpling Days by Grace Lin with my kid. It's about a Taiwanese American girl's first visit to Taiwan and was the first time I ever read anything that felt true to my childhood. The experience made me cry even though it's not a sad book! I wish I could have read that book as a child.

Your top five authors:

Min Jin Lee, Kiley Reid, Angie Kim, Brit Bennett, Elizabeth Acevedo.

Book you've faked reading:

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain in high school. I definitely CliffsNotes-ed that one.

Book you're an evangelist for:

Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage by Rachel E. Gross. It's a fascinating book about the history of how we know what we know about women's bodies, which after reading the book, is apparently not very much! I've suggested this book to many, many friends.

Book you've bought for the cover:

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee. I was intrigued by an Asian girl dressed up like a Southern belle on the cover. It's a YA historical fiction that imagines what living in Atlanta at the turn of the 20th century under Jim Crow would have been like for a Chinese American girl, and it did not disappoint! A lot of people don't know that Asian Americans were already living in the South by then.

Book you hid from your parents:

This wasn't much of an issue for me because I didn't read much as a kid, but I do remember my mom being dismayed when I came home from college with a copy of Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, which I actually didn't finish reading either.

Book that changed your life:

I Bring the Voices of My People by Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes. The way it centered the experiences of women of color, including Asian American women, in understanding the system of white supremacy helped me see that a book like mine could exist.

Favorite line from a book:

"I learned to make my mind large, as the universe is large, so that there is room for paradoxes." --Maxine Hong Kingston, Woman Warrior

Five books you'll never part with:

Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong quietly pierced my core, causing all these Asian American feelings to ooze out from my insides. Part of my desire to write my book was to anchor these feelings in an understanding of history and the system of white supremacy, rather than leaving them untethered.

The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton is always on my desk, and I flip through it whenever I need to feel more grounded. Her poetry is unmatched.

Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee is a book I first read in my 20s and has grown along with me. I don't reread a lot of books, but Min Jin Lee writes with such care and insight that I've loved returning to this one at least once a decade to notice new things I didn't get when I was younger.

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa is the book I keep in my glove compartment to read when I'm stuck waiting somewhere. The skillful elegance and craft of her writing makes me swoon.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck was assigned to me in high school, and it was the first time I stayed up way past bedtime reading a book. It's still one of my favorite books.

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

Green Island by Shawna Yang Ryan is a fictionalized account about the transnational politics that surrounded the Taiwanese American community that I grew up around. It was thrilling to read a story about families adjacent to mine that captured the drama and suspense of our histories.

Book you wish you wrote:

How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith is a powerful work about how we talk about the history of slavery in the U.S. and how that informs our identities as Americans. The ways Smith reflects on the purpose and craft of uncovering history, wrestling with it, and making meaning of it spoke deeply to my history nerd educator heart.

Laurie L. Dove's atmospheric, frequently grim, and emotionally charged debut, Mask of the Deer Woman, features a former police detective trying to outrun her old life by taking a job as tribal marshal on an Oklahoma reservation. Carrie Starr is half Indigenous, but out of touch with that part of her personal history. Tasked with solving the cold cases of a growing number of missing Indigenous women and girls, she is inclined to focus instead on her own lost daughter.

Marshal Starr is the novel's protagonist, but Mask of the Deer Woman's chapters shift among various characters, beginning with Chenoa Cloud, a college student from the rez who is determined to prove the presence of an endangered beetle on her tribal grounds. Documenting an endangered species promises to earn her funding and a job--a way off the rez for good, and not like the others "who left and never came back, or who couldn't come back." Chenoa's disappearance into the Saliquaw Nation's backcountry sets the stage for Starr's arrival. The Bureau of Indian Affairs job is a last resort for Starr, and not one she relishes, but her daughter's murder and the man she subsequently gunned down ended her career as detective. Trading on her late father's Saliquaw identity earns her a poorly appointed cinder-block office, a BIA-issued, broken-down Ford Bronco, and the locals' distrust. She carries a bottle of Jameson in her backpack and under the Bronco's front seat, and a joint in her shirt pocket. Each missing young woman blurs into her daughter, and she flinches away from "the terrain she'd have to cover in the process. The dark space of whatever was out there. Caves. Old mines. Her own mind."

Beyond the intoxicants she takes to escape her pain, Starr is knocked off-balance by tales of the Deer Woman. Part monster, part avenging angel, part capricious force of nature, this legend seems to follow the disoriented marshal, although the boundaries between magic, hallucination, and self-medicated grief are unclear. To boot, the rez is at odds with the nearest town, and the tribal council must field a controversial proposal to frack for oil, with associated infrastructure. Political and commercial machinations accompany the missing women and the struggling tribal marshal in a novel of grief, violence, community, empowerment, and pain.

This dark mystery will thrill readers and immerse them in a powerfully portrayed world of great losses and high stakes. --Julia Kastner, blogger at pagesofjulia

Shelf Talker: A disgraced police detective takes a job as tribal marshal to pursue the mystery of a series of missing women, but has trouble seeing beyond her own lost daughter.

First, let's talk about witches. If it's Halloween season, there are going to be witches. Just last weekend there was a whole parade of them downtown where I live. But if we're talking witches, we probably have to start with Salem, Mass.

Earlier this week, Boston.com did what is probably its annual feature on the town, noting that Salem "transforms into a bustling hub of spooky fun every October, drawing in a million visitors eager to experience the city's rich history and Halloween spirit. At the heart of this vibrant time is Wicked Good Books, a beloved independent bookstore that has become a key player in the town's October festivities."

Visitors waiting to enter Wicked Good Books

While co-owner Denise Kent described the month "as just punishing. It's just exhausting," she acknowledged the benefits of the stress, adding: "October allows us to thrive. It allows a little bookstore to thrive.... We'll take the time to help people find the right book, because that's where the magic is really at every day.... Bookstores are important to communities. I think that we are important to our community because we employ our neighbors and we bring something other than just witch hysteria tourism to Salem." 

As Halloween approaches, indie booksellers have been getting into the spirit of the season in a variety of ways and sharing their spooky enthusiasm in social media posts. 

Yes, there are portents everywhere:

Black Cat Books & Oddities

More witches
Black Cat Books & Oddities, Medina, Ohio: "Who's out and about for Witches Weekend?!"

About Time Bookstore, Libertyville, Ill.: "This Witch is ready for tonight! See you all soon for Witches Night Out."

Anthology for Books, Geneseo, Ill.: "Grab your pointy hat and broom (even if they're invisible)... when Anthology joins other local businesses in WITCHES WEEKEND." 

Curious Iguana, Frederick, Md.: "Join us at Attaboy Barrel House for our second annual witchy book fair for adults." 

Mysterious cats
A Sanctuary Cafe, Boston, Mass.: "Happy almost-Halloween! Get into the spirit with our Spooky Specialties drink menu, featuring Elinor's Elixir.... If you want more trick in your treat, ask for extra spicy! Disclaimer: No cats are involved in the making of these drinks."

Horton's Books & Gifts, Carrollton, Ga.: "Dante's ready to promote his staff pick at tonight's Spooky Season Book Fair!"

City Lights Books

Skeletal booksellers
City Lights Books, San Francisco, Calif.: "Our skinniest bookseller will be working his next month of shifts in the jewel box window!"

The Last Word, Mt. Airy, Md.: "When the couch rot sets in and the next thing you know you're nothing but bones."

Alienated Majesty Books, Austin, Tex.: "New windows thanks to the incredible @arfranklinstein!!!... tell us which skeleton ur most spiritually called toward."

Athena Books, Greenwich, Conn.: "Looking for a fun and healthy alternative to giving out candy for Halloween? Give out $1 coupons to Athena Books! Buy 25 coupons for $20 in store now!"

Roebling Books, Covington, Ky.: "Did you hear about @roeblingbooks new fall drinks? Everyone is DYING to try them!"

Secret World Books, Highland Park, Ill.: "Some new friends reading in the window...."

Eerie displays
Betty's Books, Webster Groves, Mo.: "It's finally Spooky Season at BB's and we've got the front table to prove it! Swing by and check out our fave Halloween-y reads."

Deadtime Stories Books & Gifts, Lansing, Mich.: "It's Vampire Week! From sparkly classics to Gen Z immortals, we've got something for you to sink your teeth into! 

True Leaves Bookshop, Princeton, Ill.: "Spooky Fun at True Leaves Bookshop this Halloween!"

Wellesley Books

Stephen King's 50th
Wellesley Books, Wellesley, Mass.: " On April 5th, 1974, Stephen King... published Carrie, his first full-length novel. We are celebrating 50 years of Stephen King with a display featuring his latest works and some classics."

Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, N.C.: "Climb the Dark Tower with us as we celebrate #50YearsofKing and the master of horror."

Chalkboards... or Ouija boards?
Split Rock Books, Cold Spring, N.Y.: "This place is lit with good boooks!"

Book Love, Senoia, Calif.: "Witch book will you choose?"

Uncanny events
Story on the Square, McDonough, Ga.: "Think you're frighteningly good at trivia? Join us for a hauntingly fun Halloween Trivia Night where we'll test your knowledge on spooky music, movies, traditions, and more! Come in costume for a chance to win Best Costume Prize!"

Rhythm & Co. Books, Glen Rose, Tex.: "It's that time again! Late night, fun night, Thursday! Come by and have a guess at how many eyeballs are in the jar. Win the jar and a gift card!!"

Wandering Raccoon Books, Grimes, Iowa: "We're all dressed up for our first ever Trunk or Treat!"

War on Books, Roanoke, Va.: "We couldn't wait to drop this list of #halloweenreads I've curated in anticipation of the HALLOWEEN MARKET at @goldencactusbrewing! Join War On Books alongside over a dozen other local vendors for a very special Halloween-themed MID-WEEK MARKET."

Inkwell Books & Threads, Rockton, Ill.: "Don't forget next week, Wednesday, October 30 for our Sleepy Hollow event."

I think the patron saint (patron spirit?) of Halloween for those of us in the book trade should be Christopher Morley. In his classic novel The Haunted Bookshop, he writes that the Parnasus at Home bookstore features a "large placard in a frame," which reads:

This shop is haunted by the ghosts
Of all great literature, in hosts

As readers, we are all haunted, in the best possible way, by the books we've read and the authors who've possessed us. We are mediums, channeling the eloquently dead. Happy bookish Halloween.