A New Chapter bookstore has opened at 209 Elm St. in West Springfield, Mass. The Republican reported that when owner Scott Szaban "hung up his badge after a 20-year career with the Connecticut Department of Correction, the 52-year-old veteran officer began writing the next chapters of his life."

"I started working as an administrative assistant for an orthodontist," he said, but left dentistry to become his own boss as a bookseller.

Szaban recalled that he was an avid reader as a child: "I would read a book a day as a kid and still played outside. But in my downtime, I had my nose in a book."  The habit continued into adulthood, when he began purchasing up to 15 books a week. "It can be an addiction," he said. "On my days off and in my spare time, I was going to bookstores and I finally said, 'I can do this. I can open my own store.' "

A New Chapter offers more than 3,000 books, including new releases. Although Szaban doesn't sell books online, he plans eventually to add a website. For now, he said he can special order titles from his suppliers in two days, adding: "What customers love is the individualized attention they're getting from me that they can't get in big box stores. They love the fact I'm a smaller store."

Szaban plans to host after-hours events like Bingo Night, which he began this month, with attendees getting a discount on purchases when the games end. So far, the response has been great. "I had to cut it off at 53 people. There were so many people that were interested, we're doing a second night on Feb. 11," he said.

He noted that business has been brisk thus far: "I see people on their phones trying to find out if a book is cheaper somewhere else. But in the end, they want to support local versus Amazon, even if they know they're paying a few dollars more."

Bobby and Angel Dobrow are selling Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, Minn., to store manager Sarah Brown.

Bobby and Angel Dobrow flank new owner Sarah Brown

The bookstore will change hands officially on February 11. Brown has served as store manager for more than four years and has worked at indie bookstores around the country for more than 20 years. The Dobrows said they will remain invested in the store's success in the months ahead and will do everything they can to assist Brown and her team.

"In passing the baton, we could not be happier that the store will be in the capable hands of someone with this background, and who is so devoted to the Duluth, and West Duluth, community," wrote the Dobrows in an announcement.

At the same time, they noted "some personal sadness for us because Zenith Bookstore has been our heart and soul for almost 10 years. When we bought the Central Avenue building and began construction in the summer of 2016, we never expected that we would literally 'strike gold'--not financially, but in the amazing community we found in West Duluth. The community, the customers, the readers, the local authors, the business partners, the neighbors, and our amazing staff--you have enriched our lives; and not a day has gone by that we have not appreciated and been grateful for this."

The Dobrows explained that they chose to sell the store due to changes in their personal lives. They wish to "spend more time with family, and experience what a 'real' retirement is supposed to be. We have no plans to leave Duluth--which we love!--but do intend to spend more time in the Cities with our children and grandchildren. The recent news that we have a granddaughter on the way was the 'final straw.' "

They said it was an honor to play such a large part in the West Duluth community, and wished to send "all our love, appreciation, and profound gratitude to our customers and community for supporting us throughout this remarkable journey."

Ravensburger Verlag, which offers German-language children's and YA books as well as games, puzzles. and arts & crafts and includes wooden toy company BRIO and toy and board game company ThinkFun, has bought a majority stake in NordSüd Verlag and NorthSouth Books.

NordSüd is Switzerland's largest publisher of children's books and founded NorthSouth in 1989 as its English-language imprint. NorthSouth is known for picture book classics such as The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, Little Polar Bear by Hans de Beer, and The Mouse Adventures series by Torben Kuhlmann, along with recent titles, including The Three-Year Tumble by Dayeon Auh and A Chest Full of Words by Rebecca Gugger and Simon Röthlisberger. NorthSouth also has a Spanish-language imprint, Ediciones NorteSur, and is distributed by Simon & Schuster.

Dr. Anuschka Albertz, group managing director books+ at Ravensburger, said, "NordSüd stands for extraordinary picture book art and stories that inspire generations. We look forward to setting new trends together and further strengthening the fascination with picture books worldwide. A cooperative and trusting partnership on equal footing is particularly important to us."

Herwig Bitsche and Nina Grünberger, co-CEOs of NordSüd, said, "We are united by a strong brand awareness and an international orientation. For NordSüd and its creative minds, this partnership brings many new opportunities. We are also looking forward to a lively and trusting exchange."

Thames & Hudson is selling its college division to W.W. Norton & Co., the Bookseller reported. Norton, which distributes Thames & Hudson trade and college titles in the U.S. and Canada, will take over worldwide publishing of the Thames & Hudson college division with the Spring 2026 academic season. Norton will continue to distribute Thames & Hudson's trade list in North America.

Thames & Hudson CEO Sophy Thompson said: "W.W. Norton is the perfect home for our college publishing list and provides valuable continuity for our authors and for the instructors and students who have adopted our textbooks. This evolution in our relationship with W.W. Norton is occurring at an exciting moment for our North American trade programme. Our trade business in the U.S. and Canada, with the distribution support of W.W. Norton, has doubled over the past decade, and we have a talented team in New York, led by Will Balliett, ready to take that growth to the next level."

W.W. Norton chairman and president Julia A. Reidhead said, "When Thames & Hudson first approached us about taking on their college business, we could not have been more enthusiastic. The opportunity to publish Thames & Hudson's distinguished college list marks an exciting new chapter in a 50-year relationship between our companies. Because of our collaborative work together, we have seen many of T&H's college books develop, come to fruition, enter the marketplace, and become market leaders in their fields. We are thrilled to pick up the process and to build and strengthen an already outstanding publishing program."

In answer to increased demand from libraries following the closing of Baker & Taylor last year, Ingram Library Services has increased hiring, including new and expanded roles in operations, sales, and account on-boarding and the appointment of a director of sales. As a result, ILS now has a team of 35 librarians and 50 library services personnel. The company also said it has increased inventory levels in support of libraries.

Zuanarda "Z" Causey is the new director of sales. He has more than 20 years of experience in the library industry, most recently as sales director at SirsiDynix.

Carolyn Morris, v-p of library services at Ingram Content Group, said of Causey: "His deep understanding of libraries and proven leadership in solutions-focused sales make him a perfect fit for our mission to support libraries in building vibrant collections that engage their communities."

ILS has also added new positions, including distribution center associates in Roseburg, Ore., Ft. Wayne, Ind., Chambersburg, Pa. and La Vergne, Tenn., sales associates, and library integrations specialists.

Among the new hires are business development managers Michael Erving and Margaret Hansen; inside sales specialist Harley Beckmann; systems integration specialists Teresa Eldred and Austin Wolfe; and technical service specialists Amy Guerrero and Amanda Bimson.

Morris added: "We know how critical reliable service is for libraries, especially during times of transition. By expanding roles in our operations locations, we're ensuring that libraries can depend on us for timely delivery, efficient logistics, and the personalized support they deserve. Our commitment has always been--and will continue to be--to stand beside libraries as they serve their communities."

Aya Elamroussi

Aya Elamroussi has joined Hachette Book Group as director of communications. She most recently headed communications at the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Before that, as a journalist at CNN, she covered major news in the U.S. and internationally. Prior to CNN, she reported, wrote news stories, and served as supervising editor for the Associated Press in Chicago. Elamroussi began her journalism career covering local news for  the Jersey Journal, focusing on politics, elections, and breaking news in Hudson County, New Jersey.

Gabrielle Gambrell, chief communications officer at Hachette, said, "Aya is an accomplished communications professional with experience spanning news reporting, writing, editing, and strategic communications. Her career as a reporter, writer, and strategist reflects a deep commitment to storytelling and excellence."

Author James Sallis, "who had the detectives and sheriffs of his stories investigate not merely crime but also the nature of memory and the possibility of self-knowledge," died January 27, the New York Times reported. He was 81. In addition to his 18 novels, he translated a novel from the French; wrote a biography; helped run a British sci-fi magazine; edited an anthology on jazz guitar; wrote criticism, poetry and short stories; and played banjo in a three-piece band.

James Sallis

Sallis's best known novel was Drive (2005), about a Hollywood stunt driver who is also a wheelman for armed robberies. It was adapted into a 2011 movie, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, and Bryan Cranston.

Sallis also wrote a six-novel series on New Orleans P.I. Lew Griffin, beginning with The Long-Legged Fly (1992) and ending with Ghost of a Flea (2001). "As time went on, Mr. Sallis's books grew more compact and more improvisational," the Times noted. "He allowed himself to be guided by random visions of his imagination, like a person standing by a cabin, woodland behind him, with the sound of a Jeep engine bouncing off a nearby body of water."

"You ask yourself: 'Who is this person?' " Sallis told Craig McDonald for his book of interviews, Rogue Males: Conversations & Confrontations About the Writing Life (2009). "Who is this person in the vehicle coming up around the water? Why is that person coming up there? Have they met before?' As you start asking yourself questions, the story starts forming."

McDonald posted on Facebook that Sallis "was a cherished acquaintance, and profound literary inspiration. His Lew Griffin series was the inspiration for my Hector Lassiter series.... Scholar, literary translator, teacher, novelist, nonfiction writer, singer-songwriter, and musician, I once described James Sallis, the novelist, as embodying his own genre, entirely unto himself. He was also a one-of-a-kind outstanding human being."

The Poisoned Pen Bookstore, Scottsdale, Ariz., which published some of Sallis's early novels through its Poisoned Pen Press, noted that Sallis "was a close friend and mentor to me (Patrick) for nearly 30 years. It's heartbreaking."

Sallis's other books include the John Turner series; Renderings (1995); Death Will Have Your Eyes (1997); The Killer Is Dying (2011); Others of My Kind (2013); Willnot (2016); and Sarah Jane (2019). His most recent book, World's Edge: A Mosaic Novel, is scheduled to be released on February 10 by Soho Press.

In a tribute, Soho Press wrote: "In many ways Jim was the platonic ideal of what a writer can be, though he probably would not like it put thus. As an artist the work was everything to Jim, and he worked without boundaries or careerism. Perhaps best known for his existentialist crime fiction and neo-noirs like Drive... Jim was also a poet, musicologist, literary historian, critic, editor, and teacher....

"As a reader and appreciator of culture, Jim was as curious and uninhibited as he was as a writer. It was a joy to talk about art in all forms with him, but his grand view of literature matched his personal approach to craft. To Jim it didn't matter where or how good work came into existence, or how it was shelved.... We mourn his passing deeply but find joy in the notion that his work will be read for as long as there are books."

"Congratulations Sandy & Tom on your big day!!!" Cupboard Maker Books in Enola, Pa., posted on Instagram. "We had our 1st wedding of 2026 in the bookstore this weekend and our first wedding under the new Romance book arch. Cupboard Maker Books played a small part in Sandy & Tom's story. We were tickled to be a part of their big day."

"Since we opened in 2024, the heart in our window has been a beacon of love," Montgomery & Taggert bookstore in Chester, Conn., posted on Instagram. "This symbol is uniquely fitting for our romance-themed bookstore, and it also represents our commitment to the community: An inclusive collection of books featuring diverse authors and characters. Gifts made by small businesses, local artists, and brands that give back. Routine fundraisers to amplify and support local causes that we believe in.... Look for the warm glowing heart on Water Street... to find your way."

"Including and especially the people of Minnesota," Excelsior Bay Books in Excelsior, Minn., noted in channeling a well-known Vincent van Gogh quotation ("So often, a visit to a bookshop has cheered me, and reminded me that there are good things in the world.") for its sidewalk chalkboard sign.

Scatman John: The Remarkable Story of the World's Unlikeliest Popstar by Gina Waggott (Bloomsbury Academic).

Today:
Fresh Air: Gabriel Sherman, author of Bonfire of the Murdochs: How the Epic Fight to Control the Last Great Media Dynasty Broke a Family--and the World (Simon & Schuster, $29, 9781982167417).

Tomorrow:
CBS Mornings: Susan Lucci, author of La Lucci (Blackstone, $29.99, 9798874868284).

Helena Bonham Carter, Caitríona Balfe, Emma Laird, and Anthony Hopkins will star in The Housekeeper, directed by Richard Eyre (The Children Act) from a screenplay by Rose Tremain that is based on her short story and forthcoming novel, Deadline reported. Shooting will begin this month.

"Rose Tremain has written a brilliant screenplay which is dark and surprising and mysterious, and we look forward to making a film which lives up to its promise," Eyre said. 

Producer Julia Taylor-Stanley of Artemis Films added: "Assembling a cast of such caliber speaks to the power of Rose's storytelling, and to Richard's standing amongst the great British directors. We are excited to be working with our talent on bringing this compelling story to the screen."

The film's synopsis: "Set against the wild, brooding landscape of Cornwall, Danni (Balfe) is the housekeeper at Manderville Hall, a grand historic house owned by the wealthy and widowed Lord Grenville-Whithers (Hopkins). When the young writer Daphne du Maurier (Laird) arrives, Danni is drawn into a clandestine and intoxicating affair. For one, it is an all-consuming love; for the other, an awakening of long-suppressed desires. Their fragile secret threatens to unravel under the watchful gaze of Adelaide (Bonham Carter), Lord Grenville-Whithers' calculating niece."

The PEN/Faulkner Foundation released the longlist for the 2026 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. Finalists will be unveiled in early March, with the winner named in April. The longlisted titles are:

Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby (Flatiron Books)
Brother Brontë by Fernando A. Flores (MCD)
The Devil Is a Southpaw by Brandon Hobson (Ecco)
The White Hot by Quiara Alegría Hudes (One World)
The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Heart the Lover by Lily King (Grove Press)
Make Your Way Home by Carrie R. Moore (Tin House)
An Oral History of Atlantis by Ed Park (Random House)
Small Scale Sinners by Mahreen Sohail (A Public Space Books)

Awards committee chair Lauren Francis-Sharma said: "The complexities and richness of this year's list reflect the serious concerns of many American readers--legacy, familial connection, corruption, and the plight of men and our youth—all while offering an abundance of hope, a bounty of beauty, and heaps of tenderness." 

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

Top Pick
Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman (‎Ace, $32, 9780593820308). "The colonists of New Sonora have spent decades settling the land when the gate to Earth finally opens. Looking forward to a greater connection to the rest of the universe, they instead get an eviction action where bored Earthers use AI soldiers from the comfort of their homes. Oliver and his friends fight to protect the land they colonized with farm equipment and ingenuity." --Jessi Leister, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Md.

Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams (Morrow, $30, 9780063394131). "Two friends get far more than they bargained for when they decide to explore a cave together in this fast-paced page turner. This unrelentingly tense read combines the heart-pounding, claustrophobic terror of navigating tight tunnels and turns with the added horrors of being stalked by a killer. Thriller fans, take note!" --Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, Ill.

Cleopatra: A Novel by Saara El-Arifi (Ballantine, $30, 9780593875643). "This absolutely stunning novel weaves historic facts into a love story. Readers will see Cleopatra's life through her eyes as she ascends the throne of Egypt. They will watch the young Pharoah battle with siblings and see her fall for a love parallel to her love of country. This moving story set across time and a landscape of destruction will cut readers deep." --Andrea Galvin, Mt. Pulaski Public Library, Ill.

This Is Not About Us: Fiction by Allegra Goodman (The Dial Press, $29, 9780593447840). "In a series of linked stories, we follow three branches of one family as they maneuver their way around the pitfalls of living. This is a portrait of a group of people that come together, drift apart, and try to find a way back, as many families attempt to do." --Donna Ballard, LibraryReads Ambassador, N.Y.

Keeper of Lost Children: A Novel by Sadeqa Johnson (37 Ink, $30, 9781668069912). "Inspired by true events, this story explores the reverberating impact of the actions of an Army wife who facilitated the adoption of mixed-race babies fathered by servicemen in Germany during World War II, finding them loving homes with Black families in the United States. Perfect for book clubs or readers who enjoy uncovering lesser-known historical events." --Lori Hench, Baltimore County Public Library, Md.

Kin: A Novel by Tayari Jones (‎Knopf, $32, 9780525659181). "It's amazing the different roads two lives can take, even when growing up in very similar circumstances. While the story is set long ago, the situations seem as if they could happen today. The feelings, reactions, and things the characters long for--belonging, acceptance, and love--are all timeless. Readers will be thinking about these characters for a long time." --Robin B., Pierce County Library, Wash.

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page (Berkley, $30, 9798217186990). "After Tilly's husband dies, she discovers he had purchased a dozen books for her to pick up each month from a beloved bookshop owned by Alfie. Each book brings gradual healing, new friends, and a feeling of wholeness. The books (and Alfie!) make for a truly wonderful reader experience. Your to-read pile will surely grow from the recommendations!" --Crystal Faris, Kansas City Public Library, Mo.

Trad Wife: A Novel by Saratoga Schaefer (‎Crooked Lane, $29.99, 9798892424714). "Influencer Camille has it all: a loving husband and a dream house, as long as she obeys his word. If only she had a baby, her husband wouldn't be pulling away. But nothing happens, until she makes a wish at a demonic well. Funny yet sad, this horror novel is a commentary on social media, conservative families, and the power men try to wield over women." --Judy G. Sebastian, Eastham Public Library, Mass.

The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan (Tor, $29.99, 9781250362766). "A (nearly) immortal, his demon, and a succubus walk into a werewolf story. The right mix of humor, heat, history, religion, and mythology combine to make this a unique and compelling queer historical fantasy debut. (The footnotes!) Here's hoping that there are more adventures of Professor Sebastian Grave in our future." --Ann Finstad, Glencoe Public Library, Ill.

The Halifax Hellions by Alexandra Vasti (St. Martin's Griffin, $18.99, 9781250360151). "These twin sisters are women of some infamy, purely because they shirk the rules and conventions of the day. Margo, a whirlwind of chaos and joy, and Matilda, the more staid and artistic of the two, are witty and wonderfully drawn. Readers who like spicy Regency romance will be delighted." --Nicole Guerra-Coon, Morrill Memorial Library, Mass.

A precocious young machine finds her humanity in the deceptively cozy dystopian novel The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon (Bootleg Stardust).

In the not-so-far future, a group of smart appliances dutifully serve their aging humans Harold, a retired teacher, and his terminally ill wife, Edie, a piano instructor. The story unfolds mainly through the sensors of Scout, an automated vacuum who names herself for the main character of To Kill a Mockingbird after she hears Harold read it aloud. She and her friends Watch, the smartwatch who manages the home, Clock, Fridge, and Auto, the self-driving car, don't fully understand the vagaries of human emotion. "Any of the appliances would shut down immediately if... what they were doing could cause pain. And yet none of them--metaphor or not--could quite grasp what pain might mean."

However, they know Edie's death from cancer means not only grief for Harold but disaster for their household. Their world is ruled by a technological force known as the Grid, and it will not let a lone elderly man remain in a house as large as Harold's. His grown daughter Kate, banished from their home by the Grid for hacking into it as a teenager, is allowed to visit for a brief period to help him downsize, but Harold doesn't want to go. Neither do the appliances. Scout, for one, has struck up a friendship with a boy who took piano lessons from Edie. The humans and household gadgets form an alliance to protect Harold's autonomy, but the Grid has eyes and ears everywhere and isn't about to let a couple of humans and a smart vacuum interfere in its plans.

The story's almost fairytale-like simplicity gives it the feel of The Brave Little Toaster, which Dixon references in the back matter, by way of dystopian classic Fahrenheit 451. "Futuristic Roomba" must rank high on the list of most unlikely protagonists, but Dixon's characters are calculated to delight without ever tipping the narrative into feeling cynical. Rather than a brutal cinematic-style extermination, the conflict seems horrifyingly plausible, with a shadowy AI consciousness insidiously managing humanity out of existence. The conclusion requires a healthy amount of willing credulity, but readers already charmed by the mechanical cast will likely not mind. This heartfelt fable for the digitally automated age is smart in more than one sense of the word. --Jaclyn Fulwood, blogger at Infinite Reads

Shelf Talker: This heartfelt fable for the digitally automated age follows a sentient vacuum and her endangered owners.

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

1. Just Breaking the Rules by Lauren Blakely
2. Under The Orange Blossoms by Cindy Benezra
3. Sap & Secrets by Daphne Elliot
4. Taste of the Dark by Nicole Fox
5. The Exception by Vi Keeland
6. Chaotic by Shantel Tessier
7. No Matter the Cost by Anna Hackett
8. The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman
9. Swipe Right on Fate by Roxie Ray
10. A Bond of Trust by Jaymin Eve

[Many thanks to IndieReader.com!]