8th Note Press, launched last year by TikTok owner ByteDance as an e-book publisher, will begin publishing its first print books in the new year and will sell them in bookstores, according to the Guardian. The imprint will continue to focus on genres popular on BookTok: romance, contemporary fiction, YA, and romantasy. 8th Note Press is publishing in partnership with Zando, the publishing house founded in 2020 by Molly Stern, formerly of Crown Publishers. Zando has launched imprints and partnerships with a variety of companies and people, including Crooked Media, the Atlantic, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Gillian Flynn.

The first 8th Note Press print title is On Screen & Off Again by Caitlin Cross, which will be published on February 4, followed on March 18 by The Last Man in Paradise by Syed M. Masood and To Have and Have More by Sanibel on April 15.

Jacob Bronstein, head of editorial and marketing at 8th Note Press, told the New York Times: "Expanding into print was always part of 8th Note's plan. Physical books are still overwhelmingly the most popular format, and certainly in specific genres, some of which we're playing in, they're still super important. So we knew that we needed to be in physical books."

Noe Valley Books opened last Thursday at 3957 24th St. in San Francisco, Calif., the same location where Folio Books closed earlier this year following the retirement of two longtime co-owners. Katerina Argyres, a third former Folio Books owner, is launching the new bookstore with help from former staff members Andrew McIntyre, Isaiah Scandrette, and Kit Fitzgerald.

"Noe Valley Books is open for business!!" the store posted on Instagram. "Thank you from the bottom of our book-loving hearts for helping us get to the finish line. We hit our fundraising goal only a week ago, which made it possible for us to fix up the store, get fixtures, support our staff, and (of course) fill the store with as many books as possible. Just in time for the holidays!"

The new bookshop has been supported by a crowdfunding campaign that enlisted more than 700 donors and raised more than $150,000. The San Francisco Standard reported that "even by Argyres' admission, the sum was ambitious."

"I got the advice that if you start a little too high, people will get, like, intimidated," she said. "But I need the neighborhood to know what I need."

The Standard noted that at one point during last Thursday's opening, Noe Valley Books "contained as many dogs as people. This appeared to be almost by design."
 
"The bookstore is just a front to get dogs in here," Argyres joked. "It's all I want."

Dandelion Bookshop will open in December at 139 S. Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park, Ill. Wednesday Journal reported that owners Jamie and Kurt Ericson came up with the idea of launching their own bookstore after the closure earlier this year of Centuries & Sleuths in Forest Park and the impending closure of the Book Table in Oak Park (see below).

"Having a bookstore here was big draw when we decided where to move," said Jamie Ericson, who moved to the area more than four years ago. "Losing a bookstore means a big hole in the community."

They chose the name for the bookstore because dandelions "represent hope, resilience and playfulness, and they're tied to the ideas of wishes and growth," she noted, adding that they are also stubborn and good inspiration for a new venture.

A children's books author who has worked in publishing throughout her career, Ericson said her connections from past jobs and support from the community have made it possible to open the new store, which will feature a variety of books while placing an emphasis on kids' books.

"Our empathy comes from reading," she observed. "Just putting yourself into someone else's shoes and another world that you probably can't easily step into.... It just opens so much up, and I think we need that more than ever."

Shelves have been ordered for the new bookshop, but if the Ericsons are unable to open fully in December, they may do a pop-up store in the same space in the meantime.

Jamie Ercison said she hopes the Dandelion Bookshop will be a place for local writing groups or others to meet and connect, noting: "Bookstores are such a connecting point. This is the birthplace of Ernest Hemingway; we have to have one here. I really want it to be community focused.... We would really just like to make sure it's a place for everyone."

The Book Table, Oak Park, Ill., which announced in August that it would be closing this year after more than two decades in business, will officially shut down sometime around Christmas, WBBM Newsradio reported. 

The good news for Oak Park's soon-to-open indie Dandelion Bookshop (see above) is that Book Table's co-owner Rachel Weaver said the decision was a personal one and that business is fine: "We're all doing our thing. We know Amazon has taken a bunch of cream off the top; we know Barnes & Noble is starting to open up stores again in the city, but really we've reached a point where we know what our market share is, and we're all pretty happily coinciding."

Co-owner Jason Smith added: "As long as you're creating some sort of unique experience with highly curated books, and you have a staff that is there to recommend them--which is always going to be better than an online algorithm... it just doesn't matter whatever it is that Amazon is doing."

Barbara Taylor Bradford (photo: Caroll Taveras/Bradford Enterprises)

Barbara Taylor Bradford, who wrote 40 novels that have sold more than 91 million copies worldwide, died yesterday at age 91.

Her first novel, A Woman of Substance, was published in 1979 and was an immediate hit, staying on the New York Times bestseller list for 43 weeks. The book set the style for Bradford's many blockbusters: it and six successive titles told a multi-generational saga about the intrigues of a wealthy, glamorous family, headed by a woman with a modest background who had built a retail empire. As Bradford said, "I write about mostly ordinary women who go on to achieve the extraordinary."

Bradford began writing fiction at age seven and sold a short story to a magazine when was 10. At age 15, she joined the typing pool at the Yorkshire Evening Post. A year later, she became a reporter on the paper and, aged 18, its first woman's editor. Two years later, she moved to London and worked as a columnist and editor on Fleet Street. 

Her most recent novel, The Wonder of It All, was published in the U.S. by St. Martin's Press in December 2023. Ten of her books were made into TV films or drama series by her husband, Hollywood TV and movie producer Robert Bradford.

Jennifer Enderlin, president and publisher of St. Martin's Press, said: "I have worked with Barbara Taylor Bradford as her U.S. publisher and editor for almost 25 years. She was a legend in so many ways, but chief among them was her utmost professionalism and dedication to her craft. She never missed a deadline and if she said she was going to deliver her book on a Thursday, that's when it would arrive. Before she embarked on a new novel, we would invariably have a delicious lunch at one of her favorite spots: La Grenouille or Doubles in the Sherry Netherland hotel. And there, we would discuss the plot, the 'what ifs' of the book, and the arcs of the various characters. We would always have a glass or two of champagne, as Barbara said it stimulated creativity. She truly loved writing and creating her unforgettable worlds--whether that world was Yorkshire at the turn of the 20th century, or the glamorous watering holes of London in the present day. Barbara's novels would always transport you. She was the definition of A Woman of Substance."

Charlie Redmayne, CEO of HarperCollins, Bradford's U.K. publisher, said: "Barbara Taylor Bradford was a truly exceptional writer whose first book, the international bestseller A Woman of Substance changed the lives of so many who read it--and still does to this day. She was a natural storyteller, deeply proud of her Yorkshire roots--she would regale us of her time working on the Yorkshire Evening Post with fellow reporter Keith Waterhouse and trainee photographer Peter O'Toole, the dawn of the Soho café society, and the many happy years shared with the love of her life, her husband, Bob. For 45 years, she was a huge part of our company and a great, great friend--we will miss her so much--but there is some solace in the knowledge that she is now, once again, alongside her beloved Bob. A life well-lived...."

Lynne Drew, Bradford's long-term publisher and editor at HarperCollins, said: "Working with a storyteller as remarkable as Barbara for over 20 years was a huge privilege but also a huge amount of fun. Perennially curious, interested in everyone and extraordinarily driven, she loved writing and the conversations we had about her characters were unfailingly the best hours of my week. Dominating the bestseller lists, she broke new ground with her sweeping epic novels spanning generations, novels which were resolutely not romances, and she epitomised the woman of substance she created, particularly with her ruthless work ethic. She was an inspiration for millions of readers and countless writers. I'm so proud to have been her publisher for over 20 years--working with her has been one of the great thrills of my career, and I and everyone at HarperCollins will miss her greatly."

In lieu of flowers, Bradford asked that donations to be made to two organizations she was proud to support throughout her career: the National Literacy Trust in the U.K. and Literacy Partners in the U.S.

Congratulations to An Unlikely Story, Plainville, Mass., which was named 2024 Retailer of the Year by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts and is owned by Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney and his wife, Julie.

The award was presented last week at an association Awards of Excellence ceremony featuring a keynote by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, according to the Sun Chronicle. General manager Melissa Lavendier accepted the award, saying, "Our success stems from the heart of our mission: to create a space that connects people, fosters creativity, and celebrates community." Kinney spoke in a video.

Bookends & Beginnings, Evanston, Ill., shared a photo of its new sign, "glowing like a beacon above the snowy sidewalk".

David Taylor

David Taylor, senior v-p of content acquisition international at Ingram Content Group, will  retire in June 2025 after a 40-year career that he started in 1983 as a bookseller at Blackwell's in Oxford, England. He joined Ingram in 2003 and worked to build the business outside North America, expanding Ingram's global network to 25 locations. These include Ingram's market entry into Australia in 2010, establishing joint ventures in France and Sharjah, and growing the Global Connect network, which now reaches from Brazil to India and covers 11 countries.

Ingram Content Group chairman John Ingram said, "David has been an important member of our team for over 20 years and he will certainly be missed. David's leadership and dedication have been a key component in our global efforts and he leaves us in a great position for the future."

Ingram CEO Shawn Morin said, "Ingram's growth and respected industry position we enjoy today in the UK, and globally, would not have been possible without David's thoughtful, patient, and effective leadership."

Taylor added, "I'd like to thank John Ingram for hiring me back in 2003 when the idea of print-on-demand was still in its infancy in the U.K. market and Lightning Source UK was a new arrival. It's been both a privilege and a lot of fun to be able to explain the benefits to publishers and booksellers and to have played a part in Ingram's journey into a global player. I still get a kick out of the thought that there are literally millions of books that have been made available to readers because of the impact that the Ingram model has had on the global supply chain."

Umm Kulthum: The Star of the East by Rhonda Roumani, illustrated by Ahmed Abdelmohsen (Interlink Publishing).

Today:
Good Morning America: Laura Klynstra and Mumtaz Mustafa, authors of Gather and Graze: Globally Inspired Small Bites and Gorgeous Table Scapes for Every Occasion (Skyhorse, $39.99, 9781510777019).

Today: Dr. Michael Breus, author of Sleep Drink Breathe: Simple Daily Habits for Profound Long-Term Health (Little, Brown Spark, $30, 9780316576413).

Fresh Air: Bailey Williams, author of Hollow: A Memoir of My Body in the Marines (Abrams, $27, 9781419771927).

The Talk: Brooke Williamson, author of Sun-Kissed Cooking: Vegetables Front and Center (Harper, $35, 9780063333796).

Tomorrow:
Late Night with Seth Meyers: Percival Everett, author of James: A Novel (Doubleday, $28, 9780385550369), which won the National Book Award for Fiction last week.

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical had its U.K. premiere at the Other Palace in London, beginning November 23, with the run set to continue through February 2, 2025, Playbill reported. Directed and choreographed by Lizzi Gee, the production features a book by Joe Tracz and songs by Rob Rokicki. It is adapted from Rick Riordan's bestselling book series.

The cast includes Max Harwood, Scott Folan, Jessica Lee, Paisley Billings, Greg Barnet, Joe Allen, Samantha Mbolekwa, Joaquin Pedro Valdes, Philip Catchpole, Morgan Gregory, Charlotte O'Rourke, and Alex Waxman.

Playbill noted that the staging is not a remount of previous U.S. productions, which included an Off-Broadway version in 2017, a U.S. tour, and a brief Broadway run in 2019. 

Patrick Chamoiseau will receive the Center for Fiction's 2024 Lifetime of Excellence in Fiction Award on December 10 at the Center's annual awards benefit. The Center said that Chamoiseau, "a luminary of Caribbean literature born in Fort de France, Martinique," is "world-renowned for his novels, poetry, and essays" and was awarded the Prix Goncourt for his novel Texaco. He is co-author of the influential Caribbean cultural manifesto In Praise of Creoleness; other works include the novels Chronicle of the Seven Sorrows, Solibo Magnificent, Slave Old Man, and the memoir Childhood.

Board chair Erroll McDonald said, "Chamoiseau's importance lies not only in the monumentality of his achievements but in his awareness of sclerotic inequalities in the global economy of literary prestige. His celebration of literary sublimity the world over is inspiring."

LibraryReads, the nationwide library staff-picks list, offers the top 10 December titles public library staff across the country love:

Top Pick
Not in My Book: A Novel by Katie Holt (Alcove Press, $19.99, 9781639109753). "If there's such a thing as 'light academia' this book embodies it, with collegiate setting-fueled banter in a cute, enemies-to-lovers romance. As Rosie and her nemesis, the uppity Aiden, are forced to write a book together, opposites attract as they produce each chapter. Readers will love the chemistry between the two writers in this debut novel." --Maddie Paul, Bartholomew County Public Library, Ind.

I Might Be in Trouble by Daniel Aleman (Grand Central, $29, 9781538766347). "When struggling novelist David wakes up next to a dead body after a hookup with a stranger, he realizes inspiration for his next book may have finally struck. But he'll need his agent's help to move the body and avoid the blame first. This mystery thriller is funny, suspenseful, and surprisingly touching." --Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, Ill.

Keep Me by Sara Cate (Sourcebooks Casablanca, $17.99, 9781728282190). "Killian is a brute who let his past dictate his life until he met Sylvie. She's entitled and has a foul mouth according to Killian, but she is the only woman he'd consider entering into a fake marriage with. Sylvie agrees, knowing that 10 million dollars awaits at the finish line. What neither of them expected was to actually fall in love." --Erica Moses, Genesee Area Library, Pa.

Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love: A Novel by Marianne Cronin (‎Harper Perennial, $30, 9780063383500). "Unexpected friendships and second chances come alive in this life-affirming story. 90-year-old Eddie, a volunteer in a resale shop, meets 24-year-old Bella, who brings in the things of her boyfriend who died last year. Through their friendship, Bella discovers Eddie has never been kissed. This read is hope and humanity in a book." --Crystal Faris, Kansas City Public Library, Mo.

The Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap (‎Kensington, $28, 9781496750341). "This gothic novel is a delightfully atmospheric tale of a medical student turned grave robber, set amidst the dark alleyways of 19th-century Edinburgh. The combination of historical fiction and murder mystery with plenty of medical history will make this a crossover hit with several audiences. Readers will be looking for more from this author." --Gregg Winsor, Johnson County Library, Kan.

A Monsoon Rising: A Novel by Thea Guanzon (Harper Voyager, $32, 9780063277304). "Readers who follow this series will be happy to see Talasyn and Alaric work through their tension and angst and come together in order to save the world from being devoured. The slow burn of the enemies-to-lovers romance really sets the pace for the entire book." --Ashley M., Morton Grove Public Library, Ill.

Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson (Minotaur, $28, 9781250909954). "Madelaine has to live in her late aunt's home/bookstore for six months in order to inherit. It's only her first night and she's already putting out fires, getting threatening phone calls, and finding a body. Does she flee? Nope! She sets out to find the villain. Add in some eccentric women and small town characters for a great cozy mystery." --Joan Hipp, Florham Park Public Library, N.J.

The Rivals: A Novel by Jane Pek (‎Vintage, $18, 9780593470152). "Claudia works for a company verifying information for online matchmaking programs. As she digs deeper into a possible A.I. conspiracy, danger rises. With the uncomfortable feeling that the people she's investigating are being eliminated, Claudia races to solve the case and to manage her complicated personal life. Readers will enjoy the banter, multifaceted characters, and interesting storyline." --Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library (Austin), Tex.

North Is the Night by Emily Rath (Erewhon Books, $30, 9781645662204). "Finnish gods meet mortals in this journey to the underworld featuring two strong heroines, one captured by the Witch Queen of Death and the other determined to rescue her. Aina and Siiri's bond intensifies even when they are separated. Rath's world is peppered with gods, shamans, and assorted witches, pushing the story into new territory and making this a unique and original tale." --Douglas Beatty, Baltimore County Public Library, Md.

Rental House: A Novel by Weike Wang (Riverhead, $28, 9780593545546). "Keru and Nate decide to rent a summer house, inviting their parents on different weekends of their vacation. She is the child of Chinese immigrants, and he is the son of working class Appalachians. The novel's dry humor focuses on how each family views Keru and Nate's marriage compared with their more traditional ideas, making this an interesting study of contemporary marriage." --Michelle Morris, Fort Worth Public Library, Tex.

In Annabel Campbell's engaging debut, The Outcast Mage, a young woman named Naila is identified as having magical powers and is sent to Amoria's Academia to learn how to control them. All she wants is to return to her life and the people she knew before, but she's never been able to make her magic work. Meanwhile, the tension between mages and the hollows--those without any magical abilities--is growing in Amoria, and the already fragile balance maintained in the glass city on the edge of the desert is crumbling quickly, giving way to violence.

Naila intends to keep a low profile, but when she crosses paths several times with Haelius Akana, the most powerful living mage, she learns more about the power within her than she ever bargained for. Naila ends up in the midst of a power struggle between the elite mages who run Amoria, and tangled in wider political games that might change the world--and possibly mean the end of the home she grew up in. 

Campbell's fast-paced fantasy plunges readers into a new world, filling out the shape of it by bouncing between character viewpoints. This often leads to more questions than answers but in a compelling way that effectively draws readers along. The magic system is vast, and readers learn about its extent and unknown factors alongside student-mage Naila, as well as other characters who are furnished with more knowledge and more certainty in both the magical and political structures that build Amoria.

Campbell's characters are not stereotypical heroes and villains, but rather complex and flawed figures. Their actions are understandable, and the emotional and internal depth adds to the stakes of the narrative. The Outcast Mage is a contemporary take on classic high fantasy, an update on the genre's hallmarks of magic wielders and political struggles playing out in new worlds. The epic storytelling is full of familiar ideas emerging in fresh ways; just when readers might think they know where they are, the story transforms once again. The cliffhanger ending is sure to keep readers eagerly awaiting what might happen next in Amoria--to Haelius and Naila, as well as the other people who cross in and out of their lives. --Michelle Anya Anjirbag, freelance reviewer

Shelf Talker: Annabel Campbell's debut is a fascinating, evocative fantasy with engaging characters that will leave readers eager for the next installment.