Diamond Comic Distributors has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it undergoes restructuring and pursues buyers for its business divisions and distribution lines.

Canadian company Universal Distribution has put in a $39 million bid to buy Alliance Game Distributors, which distributes board games, card games, tabletop roleplaying games, and related items. Universal has also signed a letter of intent with Diamond to purchase Diamond UK.

Diamond has secured $41 million in debtor-in-possession financing, which will be put toward post-petition operating expenses and meeting financial obligations. The company is also soliciting offers for Diamond Book Distributors, Collectible Grading Authority, and Diamond Select Toys, along with its main distribution lines.

"Diamond has been a linchpin of the comic book industry for over four decades," said president Chuck Park. "Our priority has always been to provide quality service to publishers, retailers, and, ultimately, comic fans, and we remain committed to finding additional buyers for our businesses."

Per Bleeding Cool, the bankruptcy filing comes after major comic book publishers like Marvel, DC, Image, IDW, Dark Horse, and Boom! Studios have left Diamond.

Judging by the Cover--A Bookstore in Fresno, Calif., has launched a $20,000 Indiegogo campaign to expand its footprint. Co-founded by Ashley and Carlos Mireles-Guerrero, the bookstore opened last fall in a 500-square-foot location inside the Chinatown Pop-Up Place, a project of the city's Chinatown Foundation designed to help small businesses establish physical storefronts.

Now, Judging by the Cover has the opportunity to expand into a neighboring 1,000-square-foot space and is reaching out to the community for support to make this dream a reality.

"Every book we stock and every event we host is designed to reflect the diverse stories and experiences of our community," said Ashley Mireles-Guerrero. "With this expansion, we'll be able to showcase even more voices and create a stronger connection with the people we serve."

The money raised from the crowdfunder will be used to renovate the new space with fresh paint, flooring, and fixtures; triple their inventory, offering a 200% increase in diverse books; provide more opportunities for local consignment vendors; and host community events, including children's storytime, book clubs, and author readings.

"Fresno needs more independent bookstores, especially those that reflect the vibrant, multicultural voices of our community," Carlos Mireles-Guerrero noted. "This is about more than books; it's about creating a space that is truly for Fresno."

Petals & Pages will open this spring in Custer, S.Dak. The Rapid City Journal reported that Carrie Moore is in the process of moving, renaming, and expanding Jenny's Floral, which has been in business for nearly 38 years, into a flower shop/bookstore combination called Petals & Pages. An April 1 opening at its new location, 21 N. Fourth St., is anticipated.

"I am really excited for this next chapter!" Moore said. "Jenny's Floral started on March 17, 1987, so we're hoping March 17 will be our last day we're fully open (before the move). If there's a funeral or a certain occasion, we want to make sure we can help our customers with that."

Moore purchased Jenny's Floral in 2022, after working there for six years. "I never really thought I would own a flower shop, but looking back, my godmother's a florist and one of her friends owned a shop, so sometimes we'd go in and help them. I always liked picking out flowers when I was younger, so it kind of had a funny way of happening," she recalled. 

With the help of a local realtor friend, she found a location that would give her more space. "I'm really excited to give my community a bookstore and something a little different," Moore said. "I've been on the city council and I'm very involved in the community, so it truly is for Custer. It's something I think we need. I'm excited to see how it goes and all the fun books we're going to have.... It will be a warm space. I want it to be very open and friendly and to feel like a safe space for people to come, whether they want to shop for flowers or books or gift items. It's also going to be bright and fun and funky disco balls and a little bit of quirky stuff."

The new location is about double the size of her current store, with at least half dedicated to the bookshop and room for book clubs and book-related events. The Journal noted that the additional space will allow Moore to continue and possibly expand the classes for making wreaths, centerpieces, and floral arrangements that were popular during the holiday season.

The number of independent bookshops in the U.K. declined by 1%, from 1,063 to 1,052, in 2024, according to the Booksellers Association, which reported that 45 new indies opened in 2024, down from 51 in 2023, the Bookseller wrote. The BA's Christmas Trading Survey of more than 150 indies showed that 56% of respondents had a sales increase year-on-year in 2024, up from 50% in 2023, while 31% saw a decrease, compared to 30% in 2023.

In a separate sales survey by the Bookseller, 38% of respondents said that Christmas foot traffic increased year-on-year in 2024, compared to 35% in 2023, with 30.5% seeing a decrease, compared to 35% in 2023. In addition, 43% saw per-customer spending increase year-on-year, down from 49% in 2023, with 23.5% showing a decrease, up from 22% in 2023. 

The Bookseller's survey also revealed that the top five concerns indie booksellers have for 2025 are the impact of cost of living on consumer confidence (76.6%), the U.K. economy (66.9%), staff costs (60.7%), energy and utility bills (53.1%), and increasing recommended retail prices and wholesale prices (53%).

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Börsenverein chairwoman Karin Schmidt-Friderichs

Sales in the German book market in 2024 increased 0.8% across central sales channels (retail bookstores, e-commerce incl. Amazon, railway station bookstores, department stores, electrical goods stores and drugstores), with local bookstores on their own closing with a slight increase in turnover of 0.9% and a drop in sales of 2.2% compared to 2023, according to an initial assessment published by the trade association Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers & Booksellers Association) in conjunction with Media Control. 

A cautionary note was sounded, however, because the number of books sold decreased by 1.7% in the past 12 months. Retail prices rose by an average of 2.6%, ensuring the positive turnover result for the year.

In a statement, Börsenverein's chairwoman Karin Schmidt-Friderichs said, "As we see in the economy as a whole, the situation in the book market remains extremely tense. In these difficult times, the book industry has been able to maintain the previous year's level of turnover. This is a positive signal, as facts, knowledge and inspiring stories are essential tools for understanding and coping with a complex and crisis-ridden reality. Books are still a particularly popular medium among young people. For many publishing houses, bookstores and book logistics companies, 2024 was a challenging year: the industry continues to feel the effects of the general uncertainty of consumers and their reluctance to spend, while cost pressure and increasing bureaucracy continue unabated."

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The Australian book market was down by 3% in value and 1.2% in volume in 2024, according to Nielsen BookData's BookScan service. Books+Publishing reported that Nielsen's 2024 snapshot showed the Australian market for the period was worth A$1.29 billion (about US$794 million) in value, down from A$1.33 billion (about US$819 million) in 2023. Sales by volume for 2024 totaled 69 million, down from 69.8 million the prior year. Compared to 2021, book sales were up both by value and volume. --Robert Gray

Nathalie Dupree, "the grand dame of Southern cooking whose infectious personality and vast knowledge of how to blend tastes into memorable concoctions," died January 13, Charleston City Paper reported. She was 85. Dupree won four James Beard Awards, wrote 15 cookbooks, and appeared in more than 300 TV shows during her career.  

Nathalie Dupree

Her cookbooks include Nathalie Dupree Cooks for Family and Friends; Nathalie Dupree's Matters of Taste; Nathalie Dupree Cooks Everyday Meals from a Well-Stocked Pantry; New Southern Cooking; Nathalie Dupree's Southern Memories Recipes and Reminiscences; Mastering the Art of Southern Vegetables; Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking; Nathalie Dupree's Comfortable Entertaining at Home with Ease and Grace; and Nathalie Dupree's Shrimp and Grits (with co-author Marion Sullivan).

Dupree's culinary career began in a co-op house in college. She went on to earn a certificate at Le Cordon Bleu and operated the kitchen of a restaurant in Spain. She later opened Nathalie's restaurant in the back of a Social Circle, Ga., antique shop. By the late 1970s, she was directing the South's first participation cooking school at Rich's department store in Atlanta, where she taught more than 10,000 students. This led to the start of a popular TV career that included PBS, the Food Network, and the Learning Channel.

"Her quips and messy foibles in the kitchen endeared her to legions of fans," Dupree's obituary noted. "Applying French techniques she learned in culinary school to the bounty of the Southern garden, market, rivers and ocean, she lifted the profile of Southern food to a national audience. Her 15 cookbooks stand as reliable guides for the home cook filled with what she called 'do-able' recipes."

Dupree co-founded the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) along with chefs Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, and Martin Yan. She also was the founding chair of the Charleston Wine & Food Festival, as well as a founder and board member of the Southern Foodways Alliance. Dupree organized several chapters of Les Dames d'Escoffier, an international association for women dedicated to advancing women in the culinary industry. In 2011, the organization presented Dupree with its highest honor, Grande Dame. 

"Nathalie schooled me endlessly in the arts of storytelling and television," said chef Lauren Furey, who interned with Dupree in 2019 and has a cooking show on SCETV. "Her eyes lit up when she opened the door every morning. Or, if I opened the door, she usually was sitting in her comfy chair, surrounded by piles of cookbooks that she was reading and reviewing. She made everybody feel like they belonged."

McNally Jackson in New York City hosted New York Times books and publishing reporter Elizabeth Harris (r.) in conversation with fellow Times reporter Katherine Rosman (l.) for the launch of Harris's debut novel, How to Sleep at Night (Morrow). (photo: Sarah K. Peck)

"There's nothing prettier than a bookshop in the snow," Comma, a Bookshop, Minneapolis, Minn., posted on Instagram.

Ingram's Two Rivers is distributing TDM Publishing in the U.S., beginning with the 36 titles of the Your First 18 Years series in October.

With headquarters in the Netherlands, TDM has published the series in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, France, and the U.K. In 2025, the series is being published in Germany and Italy in addition to the U.S. The series is an annual compilation of facts, photos, events, stars, and more, all "that made our years of youth so special." Running from 1950 to 1985, the U.S. editions are written for U.S. audiences and run for the 18 years of each annual edition, i.e., Born in 1950 includes information from 1950 through 1968. The books include QR codes that link to 180 songs (10 for each of the 18 years of each book).

Thars Duijnstee, CEO of TDM Publishing, commented. "We are excited to partner with the Ingram team to enter the U.S. market. My First 18 Years is a proven bestselling series generating profit for retail partners around the world. It is a distinctive concept that celebrates our memories of youth. The books highlight stars and events and often triggers forgotten memories. The U.S. series has been written, edited, and illustrated by a U.S. team to make sure we hit all the right notes for American readers."

Nick Parker, v-p of Ingram Content Group, commented, "To be able to bring TDM's titles in the U.S. is such an honor. The My First 18 Years series is bursting with nostalgia and iconic images for multiple generations."

Ann Dye has been promoted to v-p, sales operations, at HarperCollins. She joined the company in 2016 and moved to the sales department last year from the children's marketing team. President of sales Ed Spade said that Dye "has been instrumental in streamlining our operations, including reviewing our seasonal meetings, galley process, and POD programs." In her expanded role, she will "lead our efforts to optimize operational efficiency across our customer partnerships."

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Jacq Cohen has joined Abrams as marketing & publicity director, Abrams ComicArts.

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Rachel Watkins has joined the University of Georgia Press as marketing and sales director. She worked for 13 years at Avid Bookshop, managing marketing strategies, coordinating more than 600 literary and author events, and expanding community engagement through initiatives like the Avid Book Subscriptions Program.

She follows marketing and sales director Steven Wallace, who joined the Press in 2018 and retired on January 3. Wallace worked for 18 years in field sales at Random House and was also director of sales for Unbridled Books. He began his book career handselling to Harper Lee at Capitol Book and News in Montgomery, Ala.

A Cat Like That by Lester L. Laminack, illus. by Nicole Wong (Margaret Quinlin Books/Peachtree).

Today:
Fresh Air: Pico Iyer, author of Aflame: Learning from Silence (Riverhead, $30, 9780593420287).

Tomorrow:
Drew Barrymore Show: Graham Norton, author of Frankie: A Novel (HarperVia, $18.99, 9780063436473).

Kelly Clarkson Show: Josh Gad, author of In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some (Gallery Books, $28.99, 9781668050521).

Sherri Shepherd Show: Trisha Tobias, author of Honeysuckle and Bone (Zando/Sweet July Books, $19.99, 9781638931027).

Late Night with Seth Meyers: Keke Palmer, author of Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative (Flatiron, $27.99, 9781250372512).

Apple TV+ has released a trailer for the second season of the animated kids and family series Eva the Owlet, based on the bestselling book series Owl Diaries by Rebecca Elliott. Season 2 will premiere globally on January 24.

Produced by Scholastic Entertainment with production services and 4K animation by studio Brown Bag Films, Eva the Owlet also features original songs by musician and singer-songwriter Fitz of Fitz and the Tantrums. The voice cast includes Vivienne Rutherford, Jessica DiCicco, Dino Andrade, Romy Fay, Sascha Yurchak, Jon Olson, Evie Hsu, Sarah Vattano, Pressly James Crosby, and Kenna Ramsey.

Eva the Owlet is executive produced by Scholastic Entertainment's Iole Lucchese, Caitlin Friedman, and Jef Kaminsky. Cathal Gaffney and Darragh O'Connell of Brown Bag Films also serve as exec producers. Annabeth Bondor-Stone and Connor White, who both developed the series for TV, are co-executive producers, and Damien O'Connor is the supervising director. 

Winners have been unveiled in four categories for the Nero Book Awards, celebrating outstanding books and writers from the U.K. and Ireland. Sponsored by Caffè Nero, the prizes are run in partnership with the Booksellers Association and Brunel University London. This year's Nero Book Awards category winners are: 

Fiction: Lost in the Garden by Adam S. Leslie 
Nonfiction: Maurice and Maralyn: An Extraordinary True Story of Shipwreck, Survival and Love by Sophie Elmhirst 
Debut fiction: Wild Houses by Colin Barrett 
Children's fiction: The Twelve by Liz Hyder, illustrated by Tom De Freston

From these four category winners, one book will be selected as the overall winner and recipient of the Nero Gold Prize for Book of the Year, to be named March 5 in London. Each category winner receives £5,000 (about $6,095), with the overall winner getting an additional £30,000 (about $36,580).

photo: Adrianne Mathiowetz

Award-winning author Pagan Kennedy is a long-time contributor to the New York Times, and has also published journalism in the New Yorker, the Atlantic Monthly, and many other outlets. She has received fellowships from the MIT Knight Science Journalism center, the Smithsonian, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Arts Council. Her 12th book, The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story (Vintage, January 14), is an investigation into the story of Marty Goddard, who kicked off a feminist revolution in forensics and then vanished into obscurity.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

The Secret History of the Rape Kit tells the story of an unsung hero of forensics who championed sexual-assault survivors.

On your nightstand now:

Tunnel 29 by Helena Merriman tells the true story of the students who dug an escape route out of East Germany in 1962. The book offers a chilling glimpse of how fascist leaders can rob people of their rights in the space of a few hours--the wall went up in Berlin in one night, a mousetrap operation that prevented almost everyone from fleeing.

Favorite book when you were a child:

Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll fueled an obsession with mirrors and the backwards reality hidden inside them. I spent hours searching for my own doorway into looking-glass land as a little kid... and I think that I've never really stopped searching for that doorway.  

Your top five authors:

Robert Caro
James Baldwin
R.F. Kuang
Margaret Atwood
Angela Carter 

Book you've faked reading:

All the German ones! Das Kapital by Karl Marx, Logical Investigations by Edmund Husserl, and--obviously--everything by Hegel.

Book you've bought for the cover:

How to Blow Up a Pipeline by Andreas Malm. (Also bought it for the title!)

Book you hid from your parents:

The Other Side of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon.

Book that changed your life:

So many! But the one that pops into my mind is The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, which I read (for the first time) when it debuted in the late 1980s. There was so much in that book that seemed plausible. I was particularly freaked out by one small scene: the main character feeds her bank card into an ATM machine and discovers that she no longer can get access to her own money. This is how she learns that the leaders of Gilead have, in one swoop, stolen the bank accounts of all citizens with female names.

Favorite line from a book:

"My very photogenic mother died in a freak accident (picnic, lightning) when I was three and, save for a pocket of warmth in the darkest past, nothing of her subsists within the hollows and dells of memory, over which, if you can still stand my style (I am writing under observation), the sun of my infancy had set: surely, you all know those redolent remnants of day suspended, with the midges, about some hedge in bloom or suddenly entered and traversed by the rambler, at the bottom of a hill, in the summer dusk; a furry warmth, golden midges." --Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita. 

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

What I'd really like to recapture is the vividness of my reading experience when I was eight years old. That was the first year I plowed through all the Narnia books, and my imagination was so powerful--and visual--back then that reading felt like a waking dream or a deep enchantment. I remember "coming to" after hours of being immersed in a novel; my own real life seemed dim and unreal compared to the spectacle inside the book.

National Book Award finalist and Coretta Scott King Award winner Ibi Zoboi (American Street; Nigeria Jones) enters the world of young adult fantasy with the groundbreaking (S)Kin, a novel-in-verse inspired by Caribbean folklore that focuses on two struggling teens in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Fifteen-year-old Marisol and her mother, Lourdes, have just arrived from the Caribbean and have settled into a small apartment in Brooklyn. Marisol and Lourdes are soucouyants: every (metaphorical) new moon they shed their skins, shapeshift into "vapor and vengeance/ ...ghost and deadly smoke," and sip from unsuspecting souls to sustain themselves. Lourdes knows that in this new place they will be called "Newcomers. Refugees. Migrants./ Undocumented. Illegal" but has hope "they will never call us monsters." Marisol, though, already feels like a monster. The teen is torn between honoring the legacy of her supernatural abilities and trying to make a new home in the U.S.

Seventeen-year-old Genevieve is the biracial daughter of a white anthropologist and an absent Black mother. Genevieve struggles to fit in with her white family while trying to learn about her mother through her father's collected stories from the Caribbean. The young woman yearns to make sense of herself, her history, and the "Itching. Burning" skin condition which is relieved only by the (metaphorical) full moon. Genevieve and Marisol meet when Lourdes is hired by Genevieve's white stepmother, Kate, as a nanny to her twin baby siblings. Lourdes and Marisol move into Genevieve's family home and the girls discover a connection between them that is significantly more than skin deep.

Zoboi displays her immense talent in a new genre by creating a first-class, haunting urban fantasy. The author's passionate verse is relayed in alternating first-person points of view, with Genevieve's lines on the left-hand side of the page and Marisol's on the right. Caribbean folklore blends with the urban environment, showcasing both characters' aching experiences as they struggle with loneliness and feeling like misfits in their own homes. In this elegant work, Zoboi covers topics of identity, family history, mother-daughter relationships, beauty ideals, colorism, and the complexities of immigration. (S)Kin is an outstanding, dark, and fast paced fantastical YA novel that will likely be loved by fans of Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi and Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye. --Natasha Harris, freelance reviewer

Shelf Talker: Two teenage girls living in Brooklyn, N.Y., struggle to find their identities in this raw and original urban fantasy novel-in-verse inspired by Afro-Caribbean folklore.