A "reimagined" Tome Books & Novelteas will reopen this spring at 6089 Salem Road in Cincinnati, Ohio, "after its Northern Kentucky bookstore/vintage boutique location closed last July," CityBeat reported, noting that Tome Books first opened in Cincinnati's Mt. Washington neighborhood in 2022 but closed the following year and rebranded as Scarlet Rose Books & Vintage Boutique in Ludlow, Ky., before also closing. 

"The decision to close was not due to a lack of support or any wrongdoing by anyone," owner Jeremy Spencer said at the time. "The reality of competing with larger booksellers and their ability to offer substantial discounts made it challenging to sustain our small business in a way that benefited our family. Nonetheless, the support and love we've received from all of you have been overwhelming and deeply appreciated."

In February, Spencer posted on social media: "We're Back, Cincinnati! We've missed you all SO much, and we are beyond excited to finally share the news.... Tome is reopening! Now known as Tome Books & Novelteas, we're bringing back everything you've loved about us--plus even more to enjoy!" 

Spencer added that Tome Books & Novelteas will be "offering not just books, community events, and cozy vibes, but also a variety of teas, packaged snacks, and goodies to sip and snack while you browse. And that's not all--we'll also have clothing and jewelry options for those who love to add a little literary flair to their style! Looking for a place to read, work, or meet up with friends? We've got you covered! Tome Books & Novelteas has plenty of seating and comfortable spaces designed for groups, book clubs, writers, and anyone who just wants to relax with a good book and a cup of tea."

The bookstore, which is expected to open in May, has set up a $20,000 Indiegogo campaign.

Workers at Greenlight Bookstore and Yours Truly, Brooklyn stationery store in Brooklyn, N.Y., have ratified a new three-year contract, according to Local 1102 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (via FingerLakes1.com). The contract was unanimously approved in a vote held on March 13.

RWDSU members at Greenlight Bookstore and Yours Truly unanimously ratified their first union contract. (photo courtesy RWDSU)

The agreement includes an 11% wage increase over three years, with a 5% raise in 2025, followed by 3% increases in both 2026 and 2027. Among other provisions are an increase in the minimum hiring rate, additional paid holidays, and a policy allowing workers to roll over unused PTO until March 31 of the following year.

Workers will also get stronger healthcare benefits, with the company increasing its contributions by 5% annually throughout the contract while employees' contributions remain unchanged. In addition, the contract establishes "safe scheduling" rules, requiring a minimum of three employees for all opening and closing shifts.

Bonne Vie Macarons bakery, Lafayette, La., is moving to new space this spring and adding Book Club & Co., a dedicated romance bookstore. What Now New Orleans reported that "the twin-purpose space will have reading nooks, dedicated event spaces, and a refined menu that complements the bookstore setting. Along with the macarons, baked goods, and classic café offerings, there will also be themed cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks."

"We built a reputation not just on our high-quality macarons and desserts but on creating a space where people felt connected and made friends, whether that was through our cozy café vibes, themed events, free library features or club meetings," said owner Heather DeGeyter. "The romance bookstore complements Bonne Vie Macarons perfectly because both businesses share the same DNA: comfort, escapism, and joy. Whether it's through a macaron or a new read, we want people to find a moment of happiness. Ideally, they're fully blown away by all our offerings!"

Construction of the new space, at 105 St. Landry St., is scheduled to finish in late March or April. A soft opening is being planned, followed by private book club nights and a grand opening celebration leading into Easter and Mother's Day.

DeGeyter added: "We're building the space we always wished existed, a place where you can escape into your next great read, sip something glittering, have a dessert that's worth every penny, and stay a while."

TarcherPerigee has rebranded itself Tarcher and introduced a new logo and tagline that reflects the Penguin Random House imprint's refreshed focus on publishing self-help for a new generation. The new logo will appear on Tarcher titles and reprints starting May 1. The new tagline is "keep growing." Tarcher publishes titles on a range of nonfiction topics, including mental health, relationships, communication, neurodiversity, creativity, and the spiritual search for meaning.

"We are proud to carry the late Jeremy Tarcher's name on our books," said Tarcher president and publisher Tracy Behar. "He was a true visionary, someone who identified not just trends but entire movements long before they took hold."

Jeremy Tarcher, who died in 2015, founded Tarcher Books in 1973 and headed it until 1996. Putnam (now part of PRH) bought Tarcher Books in 1991. In 2015, when longtime Perigee publisher John Duff retired, Perigee and Tarcher were combined.

V-p and editor-in-chief Marian Lizzi added, "Our list has always been about publishing what's next. From paradigm-shifting classics like The Artist's Way and Attached to newer bestsellers like Nedra Glover Tawwab's Set Boundaries, Find Peace and Jefferson Fisher's The Next Conversation, we're passionate about discovering and elevating fresh voices that speak to curious, growth-minded readers where they are."

Forthcoming titles include Rise Above by psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman, The Company We Keep by writer and teacher Alexandra Elle, The Highly Vigilant Person by therapist Dr. Kim Sage, Don't Call It Art by creativity expert Austin Kleon, and We Are Made of Us by chaplain and commentator J.S. Park, along with new illustrated books by Odd 1s Out creator James Rallison and artist-authors Dani DiPirro, Vexx, and Mr. Doodle.

John Feinstein, "an indefatigable sportswriter" for the Washington Post and the author of more than 40 books, died March 13, the New York Times reported. He was 69. Feinstein's last column, about Michigan State men's college basketball coach Tom Izzo, appeared in the Post on the day of his death. 

John Feinstein

"He called me the other night," Izzo told the Athletic last Thursday. "To be honest, I thought we were just bulls**ting. I didn't even know he was writing a column. I just answered his call because I wanted to hear what he had to say."

Feinstein's first book, A Season on the Brink: A Year with Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers (1986), was a bestseller, but Knight didn't speak to him for eight years after its publication. In his column, Feinstein later wrote that the access Knight had given him helped make the book a success, "which has allowed me to pick and choose book topics for the past 38 years." The book was adapted into a TV movie in 2002, starring Brian Dennehy as Knight.

Feinstein wrote books on basketball, baseball, tennis, football, golf, the Olympics, and more. His most recent titles include two published last year: Five Banners: Inside the Duke Dynasty; and The Ancient Eight: College Football's Ivy League and the Game They Play Today. He also wrote novels for young readers, including Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery, which won an Edgar Award for best YA book in 2006.

His other works include A Season Inside: One Year in College Basketball (1988); Hard Courts: Real Life on the Professional Tennis Tour (1991); Living on the Black: Two Pitchers, Two Teams, One Season to Remember (2008); Let Me Tell You a Story: A Lifetime in the Game (2004); The First Major: The Inside Story of the Ryder Cup (2016); and A Good Walk Spoiled: Days And Nights on the PGA Tour (1995).

After graduating from Duke University with a bachelor's degree in history in 1977, Feinstein joined the Post as a summer intern in the sports department, and during his first two years at the paper worked as a night police reporter, then covered the police and the courts before returning to the sports desk.

In a guest column for the Washington Post, George Solomon, the longtime sports editor there, recalled Feinstein's drive: "One way or another, he was going to get what he was after, and if his bosses didn't always appreciate it, his readers usually did. To call him a managerial challenge would be an understatement. Often, Feinstein knew the right thing to do. Always, Feinstein believed he knew the right thing to do."

Legendary former Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski told the Athletic: "We were really close friends because he never treated me like somebody he was writing about. I always thought he was brilliant. One of the great writers. Really smart. His ability to recall facts and events was incredible. It was easy to recognize early that he was just exceptional."

"A very happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!!" Edmonds Bookshop, Edmonds, Wash., posted on Facebook yesterday. "We had a lucky visit from Jamil Zaidi, HarperCollins rep, all decked out in his Celtics attire!"

"Important notice: Bookstore employees not responsible for customer loss of shelf-control." That was the recent sidewalk chalkboard message in front of Quill & Quest Bookstore, Farmington, N.Mex., which noted: "Yes! We are open. Come on in and stay warm next to the fireplace with a good book."

In the Harmony Rodale Convergent publicity and marketing teams:

Rachel Tockstein has been promoted to assistant director of marketing.

Elizabeth Groening has been promoted to associate marketing manager.

Lulu Martinez has been named senior director, brand marketing.

Danielle Kolodkin has been named senior marketing manager.

Julia Diaz-Young has been named marketing associate.

Hannah Dirgins has been named publicist.

Claire Hendrix has been named publicity assistant.

---

Agustina Casal is joining Hachette Book Group as v-p of online and digital sales, effective March 24, and will oversee print and digital sales for Hachette's largest online accounts, including Amazon and Audible. Casal has more than 18 years of experience in content and digital strategy, much of it at Ingram.

Spectrum of Independence: How to Teach Your Neurodiverse Child Daily Life Skills by Kristin Lombardi and Christine Drew (Guilford Press).

Tomorrow:
Today: Martha Stewart, author of Martha Stewart's Gardening Handbook: The Essential Guide to Designing, Planting, and Growing (Harvest, $40, 9780063323285).

Tamron Hall Show: Hilton Carter, author of Wild Creations: Inspiring Projects to Create Plus Plant Care Tips & Styling Ideas for Your Own Wild Interior (CICO Books, $24.99, 9781800650251).

Kate Rorick will serve as showrunner of a series adaptation of Raven Kennedy's Plated Prisoner fantasy novel series, which includes the books Gild, Glint, Gleam, Glow, Gold, and Goldfinch, Deadline reported. Peter Guber's Mandalay Television is developing the new take on the story of King Midas.

Rorick has previously served as showrunner of Leverage: Redemption, the Freevee revival of the TNT action crime series. She has also written on series including TNT's The Librarians and Freeform's Marvel series Cloak & Dagger.

Finalists have been chosen for the 37th annual Publishing Triangle Awards, honoring the best LGBTQ+ books published in 2024. See the 41 finalists here. Winners in the 10 categories will be announced on Thursday, April 17, at a ceremony at the New School in New York City. This year's awards include the new Amber Hollibaugh Award for LGBTQ+ Social Justice Writing.

In addition, Rabih Alameddine will receive the $3,000 Bill Whitehead Award for Lifetime Achievement, which celebrates the recipient's lifetime of work and commitment to fostering queer culture. Alameddine, self-described "grumpy cat lady," is the author of the novels The Wrong End of the Telescope; The Angel of History; An Unnecessary Woman; The Hakawati; I, the Divine; and Koolaids, as well as the story collection The Perv and a volume of criticism titled Comforting Myths. His most recent awards include the 2019 Dos Passos Prize, the 2021 Lannan Prize for Fiction, and the 2022 PEN/Faulkner award. His novel The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) will be released in September.

Poet and writer Julie Enszer, one of the judges, said, "What is extraordinary about Alameddine's work are his powerful imagination on the page and his attention to every single word and sentence. Rabih Alameddine is a master prose stylist channeling his gift into telling riveting stories about LGBTQ people for an international readership."

Brittany Rogers has won the $1,500 Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award, for an LGBTQ writer who has published at least one book but not more than two. Her debut poetry collection, Good Dress (Tin House), is a non-traditional coming of age that explores the audacity of Black Detroit, Black womanhood, class, materialism, and matrilineage. She is also the author of numerous poems, essays, reviews, and anthologized pieces.

Novelist Lauren Melissa Ellzey, a member of the panel of judges, said, "Brittany Rogers' work centers around a litany of poetry and essays, culminating in her debut manuscript--all of which showcases the prose of lived experience that resonates resolutely and necessarily with queer folks of all ages."

The Torchbearer Award will be presented to Trans formative Schools. The award, now in its third year, is given to organizations or individuals who strive to awaken, encourage, and support a love of reading, or to stimulate an interest in and an appreciation of LGBTQ literature.

Carol Rosenfeld, chair of the Publishing Triangle, said, "Trans formative Schools offers innovative, positive, and life-affirming programming for middle schoolers. At a time when many national leaders are scapegoating trans youth, and others are willing to throw them under the bus to distance themselves from controversy, Trans formative Schools is more important than ever. The Publishing Triangle is proud to stand up for the trans community, trans youth, and Trans formative Schools."

The Michele Karlsberg Leadership Award will be given to David Groff, poet, editor, educator, and one of the founders of the Publishing Triangle. Michele Karlsberg said, "I have known David since 1990 and have had the privilege of witnessing his unwavering dedication to the LGBTQ literary community. He has always looked out for others, fostering an inclusive and supportive space for writers, readers, and industry professionals. David is not only a talented poet but also a steadfast advocate for community-building, bringing people together with his level-headed leadership and deep commitment to equity and visibility.

"His heart and soul have been invested in the Publishing Triangle since its inception--when we first gathered around a card table at the LGBTQ Community Center in New York City--surrounded by many literary greats we loved and lost. An award-winning literary figure, David has spent decades ensuring that LGBTQ voices are heard, celebrated, and uplifted. His contributions have shaped a more inclusive and vibrant literary world, making him profoundly deserving of this leadership award."

Australian artist/writer Rachel Ang's compelling I Ate the Whole World to Find You gathers five loosely interrelated stories exploring a young woman's evolving relationships--romantic, platonic, familial. Ang draws black-and-white panels of assorted sizes, including full-pages, boxed inserts, symmetrical divisions of two, four, six, as if repeatedly imposing order on emotional experiences and difficult confrontations. Where Ang places their text bubbles--often outside the panels--seems to underscore the inevitable unpredictability of real-life conversations.

"Hunger" opens the collection, introducing Jenny, who works in a warehouse stocking inventory. Sharing failed relationship anecdotes with co-worker Jack eventually leads to his revealing his preferred "type," exposing a sexual fetish that Jenny initially accepts without outward judgment. When the pair become involved, Jack, who loves to cook, (over)feeds Jenny, who starts to feel suffocated. In "The Passenger," Jenny travels on a train with a couple with whom she is having trouble communicating; she turns "into some silent interior part of myself," berating herself for being "revolting... wholly unlovable." But as their failure to communicate devolves into a dreamscape, her rebuffed attempts to talk to her angry ex-partner make her realize, "I can't stay here. I gotta go."

A phone call from her cousin sends Jenny into memories of a shared past in "Your Shadow in the Dark," with utterly shattering revelations. A date at the pool with an old friend in "Swimsuit" turns tragic: "I don't know what we just saw... and we didn't do anything! We just let it happen." In the closing "Purity," pregnancy offers Jenny a chance to "start anew, pure" with another soul: "A connection far deeper, wider, purer, than the limited frame of language." Communication beyond the womb, however, "is easily jammed by external frequencies"--a condition Ang cleverly manifests with unexpected spatial scrambling within the conversation bubbles: "Th s n ottalk ng no sen e i sn't nor mal a d i s n t ok," Jenny's partner insists; "Te n centi metre sd ilat ed now," maternity staff announce. Despite being afraid, Jenny creates life.

Ang's narrative is textually minimal. Their expressive art builds layers of meaning not reliant on extensive words. "This is how I build a way out," for example, is an otherwise wordless, two-page how-to that Jenny must devise to create her own escape. "It's like no one knows what to do with women's bodies," a character comments. Step-by-step, panel-by-panel, amid complications and challenges, Ang enables Jenny to painfully, tenaciously, figure out her own self. --Terry Hong

Shelf Talker: Australian comics creator Rachel Ang poignantly, hauntingly explores a young woman's journey toward self-realization through her relationships with lovers, friends, and family.

The bestselling self-published books last week as compiled by IndieReader.com:

1. Lululemon and the Future of Technical Apparel by Chip Wilson
2. Wild Side by Elsie Silver
3. Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
4. Kiss of the Basilisk by Lindsay Straube
5. Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
6. On the Hippie Trail by Rick Steves
7. Hunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
8. God of Fury by Rina Kent
9. On Being Jewish Now by Zibby Owens
10. Leave Me Behind by K.M. Moronova

[Many thanks to IndieReader.com!]