"Being a part of the Indies Introduce list has just been so wonderful. I always love frequenting my local bookstores or going to local bookstores wherever I'm traveling. I really think that indie booksellers are the backbone of the book industry right now."

Chapters Books and Gifts, Seward, Neb., has reopened in its original location after storm damage last August forced the bookseller to move to a temporary space until repairs could be made, KOLN reported. While the storefront is fully open, work continues on the back area.

The storm had "initially appeared to make the building structurally unsound, with the western-facing wall seeming to separate from the structure," KOLN wrote. "However, a structural engineer determined only the roof sustained damage from bricks being blown off during the storm. The store relocated while masonry work was completed to ensure customer safety."

Owner Kelley Limback used the closure as an opportunity to make improvements, and the bookstore now features new hard flooring and freshly painted walls and shelves. She has plans for a back area dedicated to events and reading space.

"It looked like this huge problem. And it was a huge problem," Limback noted. "And it's been a long process. But to take that problem and find an opportunity in it. So that at the end of the day, we feel like we are at a better place than we began. That was what we felt like we should do."

Noting that the process required tireless effort from Limback, her husband and staff members, she said seeing customers return made it worthwhile: "I think that's what the business is all about, is a place for community. And so for a community to find us the first morning we're back here feels so good. I've got a huge cookie cake over there and some flowers have come in and just people saying, welcome, good job, we're glad you're back."

Pilsen Community Books, a worker-owned bookstore in Chicago, Ill., reopened Friday in its new home, Block Club Chicago reported.

The bookstore, which sells new, used, and rare titles, is now located at 1531 W. 18th St., only a few blocks away from its former home. The additional square footage will allow the bookstore to expand its inventory, particularly its selection of Spanish-language titles, and there is now an event space with room for 80-100 people. Customers will be able to rent that space for hosting their own events. 

"It is the same PCB that everyone knows and loves," worker-owner Mandy Medley told Block Club Chicago. Medley was one of the worker-owners who bought the store in 2020, when it became worker-owned.

To help with moving costs, which proved a bit higher than expected, Pilsen Community Books has been accepting community donations.

Kent Carroll, publisher-at-large at Europa Editions, is retiring after a 50-year career that has included working at Grove Press and founding Carroll & Graf with Herman Graf.

Kent Carroll

During his tenure at Grove Press in the 1970s, where he was editorial director from 1975 to 1981, the house published Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter, edited Norman Mailer, and fought bans on so-called "obscene literature," defending the right to publish and distribute such books as D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover and Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer.

In 1982, Carroll co-founded Carroll & Graf, where he was publisher and editor-in-chief until 2001. By 1995, Carroll & Graf was publishing 125 titles a year, including books by Beryl Bainbridge, Penelope Fitzgerald, and Anthony Burgess.

In 2004, Carroll helped Sandro Ferri and Sandra Ozzola Ferri found Europa Editions, the English-language branch of Italian publisher Edizioni E/O. Carroll was especially valued for his experience publishing European literature in translation.

Europa Editions executive publisher Michael Reynolds said, "Kent brought experience, knowledge, contacts, grace, and aplomb to what was scrappy start-up independent press in 2004. He also brought a bevy of brilliant authors to our list. Jane Gardam, Beryl Bainbridge, Booker Prize-winner Damon Galgut, Fay Weldon, Andrew Miller, and Steve Erickson all published with Europa thanks to Kent, and many more amazing authors with them. Quite simply, Europa would not be the company it is today without Kent's contribution. On a personal level, I have met few people in my professional career who have shown so much dedication to their authors and to the strange endeavor that is book publishing. Talented, passionate people abound in this industry, but there are few who have the job in their blood the way that Kent does. It has been an honor, a pleasure, and an amazing stroke of luck to have worked with one of them."

Europa Editions wrote that Carroll is admired by many of the authors he worked with, who have often called him "a breed of gentleman slowly fading from the current age."

For one, Damon Galgut, Booker-winning author of The Promise, said, "From the moment I met Kent, I knew I was dealing with the best sort of publisher from publishing's best time. From his style of dress to his editorial approach, he was elegant, sophisticated, knowledgeable and refined. Kent and I had an easy and immediate rapport, and that never wavered over the years I worked with him. It's a personal sadness to me that he will be retiring, but it's a sadness to the publishing world in general too, whether that world realizes it or not."

Andrew Miller, whose most recent novel from Europa Editions, The Land in Winter, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize last year, said, "To me, Kent always seemed to come from the classier end of publishing, part of a tradition marked by learning and civility. He is also just great company. A man with stories to tell!"

And Audrey Schulman, author of Theory of Bastards, said, "Kent recognizes true writing, long before others do. He sticks with these writers over decades, taking economic and reputational risks, developing them. He is an artist with vision and courage."

In the U.K. and Ireland, 2025 Christmas sales were mixed, according to survey data released by the Booksellers Association. The Bookseller reported that there are growing worries about rising costs, and even though "a healthy number of indie bookshops have opened their doors over the past year, closures remain a concern." The number of indie bookshops increased to 1,069 during 2025, with 77 new openings and 41 closures.

The survey data showed that 53% of U.K. booksellers said Christmas sales were up compared to 2024, with 26% reporting sales down and 21% broadly the same. In addition, 41% of bookshops saw an increase in footfall compared with the same period in 2024, while 29% noted a decline, and 30% saw no significant change. Regarding average transactions, 42% of booksellers reported an increase, 33% no change, and 26% a decrease.

Confidence in 2026 "is being undermined by the expectation of higher operating costs," the Bookseller noted, citing survey data that showed 57% of booksellers identified business taxes as a key concern and 82% of English bookshops said changes to business taxes have made them more reluctant to invest in their businesses. Additionally, 81% of respondents cited the impact of cost-of-living on consumer spending, and 61% of respondents flagged staffing costs and recruitment pressures. 

In Ireland, the survey revealed that only 32% of booksellers reported Christmas sales were up over the previous year, with 50% saying sales were down and the remainder reporting broadly stable sales. While average transactions were comparable, increases in footfall were more sluggish, with 26% of booksellers noting increases. There were four indie bookshop openings in 2025 and no closures, bringing the total to 124 outlets, the Bookseller noted. 

"It's genuinely encouraging to see more independent bookshops opening than closing; that doesn't happen by accident," said BA managing director Meryl Halls. "It reflects the entrepreneurialism, ingenuity and sheer hard work of booksellers across the U.K. and Ireland. But 41 closures in a single year are still 41 too many, and they are a reminder of just how fine the financial margins in the sector remain.... If bookshops are to continue playing their vital cultural and community role during the National Year of Reading and beyond, they need meaningful and tangible support from government, the wider book trade and from consumers."

--- 

Ruth Alltimes

Hachette Children's Group has restructured the Hachette UK children's division with the launch of three new imprints under the new leadership of managing director Ruth Alltimes, the Bookseller reported. The new imprints are Starboard (middle-grade fiction), Tempest (YA and crossover), and Blyton Books, which becomes the Enid Blyton publishing arm of HCG, alongside Enid Blyton Entertainment, the estate of Enid Blyton, also owned by HCG.

HCG retains Orchard Books, Wren & Rook, Franklin Watts and Wayland, and Laurence King Publishing, while Welbeck Children's Books will become the company's B2B custom children's publishing imprint. Being phased out are Hodder Children's Books, Orion Children's Books, Quercus Children's Books, Pat-a-Cake, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 

"In this National Year of Reading, I am excited to be making this announcement and revealing how we will be showcasing HCG's brilliantly broad list in this vibrant, clearer, more accessible way," Alltimes said. "We are so proud to have grown from the coming together of several incredible children's imprints over the years. We are committed to raising readers and hooking them into reading for fun, whatever their age, stage or interest, and these revised imprints allow us to create meaningful homes for every type of book we publish, every author, illustrator and brand."

Editor and literary agent Will Murphy died of a heart attack on February 1 at his home in New York. He was 57.

Will Murphy

Murphy was a longtime editor at Random House. His authors included President Joe Biden, former U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, David Brooks, Salman Rushdie, Nassim Taleb, Reza Aslan, Julia Angwin, Edmund Morris, Bing West, Michael Oren, and Pope Francis. He also worked with former U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, John Meacham, Bernard-Henri Levy, and Benjamin Netanyahu. While at Random House, he published 31 New York Times bestsellers, including seven that reached #1. Most recently, he was an agent at Folio Literary Management.

Folio said, "Will was a valued member of our team, and his presence, brilliance, and contributions will be greatly missed by all who worked with him."

A funeral service for Murphy will be held this Wednesday, February 11, at 3 p.m. at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, Park Avenue and 84th Street, in New York City, followed by a reception from 4 to 6 p.m. in Wallace Hall. All are welcome.

The service will be live streamed here.

More than 100 people came out to Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, N.C., to hear local author Jason Zengerle discuss his new book about Tucker Carlson, Hated by All the Right People (Zando), with David A. Graham of the Atlantic.

Rumor has it that the NFL Super Bowl (or Bad Bunny Bowl, depending on your perspective) was played yesterday between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. (Spoiler alert: Seattle won 29-13.) Sports commentary on #SuperBowlSunday included indie booksellers' perspective:

At Trident Booksellers

Trident Booksellers & Cafe, Boston, Mass.: "Running Drills through the stacks. Was that a first down? No, a first edition! Stop by for brunch before kickoff, and let's go, Pats!"

Elliott Bay Book Co., Seattle, Wash.: "Let's go Seahawks!"

Book Ends, Winchester, Mass.: "Studying up for the Super Bowl.... We all we got! We all we need! Warriors, come by and grab your essential trivia before kickoff! Impress fellow Super Bowl partygoers with Patriots dynasty lore or fun facts about this year's halftime performer, Bad Bunny!"

Time Enough Books, Ilwaco, Wash.: "We are open until 4 per usual today, which is just in time to see the Bad Bunny concert. And we've heard there might be some bird watching? #GoHawks."

University Book Store, Seattle: "Let’s go Hawks!!"

Book Larder: A Community Cookbook Store, Seattle: "Happy Super Bowl to the @seahawks (and @badbunnypr)!⁠"

Newtown Bookshop, Newtown, Pa.: "When you're reading a book instead of watching the game.... Remember to bring your book to your Super Bowl party! And as always you can order books online at newtownbookshop.com."

Magic City Books, Tulsa, Okla.: "Magic City Books has officially been designated as a SAFE SPACE FOR BOOK NERDS on #superbowlsunday." 

At BookPeople

BookPeople, Austin, Tex.: "Who do you have winning tonight?"

BayShore Books, Oconto, Wis.: "Who else is bringing a book to read to a Super Bowl party...?"

Bliss Books & Bindery, Stillwater, Okla.: "While we can't predict who'll win the Super Bowl for you, we CAN give you a bit of insight into its history and place in culture! Check out these books and more all about football at Bliss Books!"

Reads & Company, Phoenixville, Pa.: "Closing at 5 p.m. for the Benito Bowl! Stay safe and warm!"

Copperfield's Books, Spring, Tex.: "Keep calm. I'm reading!! I've got two more pages until kickoff."

The Author Shoppe, Hattiesburg, Miss.: "Still need a place to watch the Superbowl? Wanna play with a cute cat? We have both!"

Congratulations to Dragonfly Books, Decorah, Iowa, which celebrated its 15th anniversary last week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, 15% discounts through Saturday--and a toast to founder Kate Rattenborg Scott's 50th birthday, her retirement, and the passing of ownership to daughters Sarah Krammen and Rachel Rattenborg.

The store noted that "Sarah has been a familiar face at Dragonfly Books for most of the past 15 years and currently manages inventory, marketing, and events. Rachel has lived all over the country, always looking for a place to call home before realizing that northeastern Iowa was it. She has a strong history of customer service and retail experience in almost every kind of business, and manages accounting, staffing, and customer experience at Dragonfly Books."

Kate Rattenborg Scott said "It has been an honor to carry on my family's legacy in Decorah through Dragonfly Books. I have felt grounded and anchored through the small business community throughout the past 15 years. I am excited and proud to be passing the torch to the next generation. A big thank you to our customers and community for making my dream a reality!"

She was president of the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association from 2019-2022, as well as the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce, Oneota Valley Community Orchestra, and the Vesterheim Museum. She plans to remain an active board president of the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation, and will retain ownership of the Silver Birch, a Christian book and gift shop located four doors down from Dragonfly Books, which she purchased in 2019. She said she is most excited to spend more time with her husband, Paul, and travel, attend community events, build LEGO, work on jigsaw puzzles, and finally read a book for fun.

Dragonfly Books carries 15,000 individual books as well as gifts and educational items for customers of all ages and backgrounds, specializing in Scandinavian fiction in translation and regional nonfiction. The store also highlights authors from Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, many of whom have visited Decorah for book readings and signings.

In 2022, the store helped created the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation which supports Dragonfly Books' event series which included more than 80 author and community events last year. By partnering with regional schools, museums, public libraries, and other nonprofits, the foundation has given more than 9,500 books to the community since its inception.

At HarperCollins Children's Books:

Lisa DiSarro has been promoted to executive marketing director. She was previously senior director, marketing.

Sari Murray has been promoted to senior marketing director. She was previously director, marketing.

Michael D'Angelo has been promoted to associate marketing director. He was previously senior manager, marketing.

Samantha Ruth Brown has been promoted to publicity manager. She was previously senior publicist.

So, I Met This Guy by Alexandra Potter (Zibby Publishing).

Today:
Good Morning America: Omid Scobie and Robin Benway, authors of Royal Spin: A Novel (Morrow, $30, 9780063424807).

Watch What Happens Live: Susan Lucci, author of La Lucci (Blackstone, $29.99, 9798874868284). 

Here & Now: Margaret Atwood, author of Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts (Doubleday, $35, 9780385547512).

Fresh Air: Chris Jennings, author of End of Days: Ruby Ridge, the Apocalypse, and the Unmaking of America (Little, Brown, $30, 9780316381949).

Tomorrow:
Good Morning America: Mia Castro, author of Cocina Puerto Rico: Recipes from My Abuela's Kitchen to Yours (Union Square & Co., $40, 9781454958116).

CBS Mornings: Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, author of Lovely One (Adapted for Young Adults) (Bright Matter Books, $20.99, 9798217117772). She will also appear on the View.

Watch What Happens Live: Carl Radke, author of Cake Eater (Rising Action, $29.99, 9781998076765).

Late Show with Stephen Colbert repeat: Gov. Josh Shapiro, author of Where We Keep the Light: Stories from a Life of Service (Harper, $30, 9780063463905).

Warner Bros. is moving the M. Night Shyamalan-directed Remain, adapted from the 2025 novel he co-wrote with Nicholas Sparks, to February 5, 2027, Deadline reported. The film was originally scheduled to hit theaters on October 23, 2026.

Deadline speculated on possible reasons for the date change: "Given what Warner Bros. is seeing on presales for its Valentine's Day event pic Wuthering Heights (expected to do $40 million), the studio wants to capitalize on the lovers holiday corridor as a launchpad next year with Remain. Reportedly, the movie has the highest test scores of Shyamalan's career."

The movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Phoebe Dynevor, Ashley Walters, Julie Hagerty, Jay O. Sanders, Tracy Ifeachor, Hannah James, Caleb Ruminer, Kieran Mulcare, and Maria Dizzia.

PEN America has announced the finalists in 10 categories for the 2026 PEN America Literary Awards, which confer a total prize purse of nearly $350,000 to writers and translators. Winners will be announced on March 31 in New York City. The finalists can be seen here.

Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe (Rogues; Say Nothing) transforms family tragedy into a meticulously researched propulsive thriller in London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth. His prologue captures the metamorphosis of London, where in 1860 the River Thames was once the world's busiest port, with a violent crime-ridden waterfront; and where revitalization along the same riverbanks in the 1980s transformed the city into "a preferred destination for money and people who had it."

Born in 2000, Zac Brettler, the younger son of Rachelle and Matthew Brettler, attended high school with the children of these international elite; although his parents were well-to-do, "Zac appeared to savor 'the adrenaline of a fast life,' " brandishing wads of cash, accessing exclusive venues, driving someone else's Maserati. On November 29, 2019, at 2:23 a.m., an MI6 camera caught a young man jumping into the Thames from the fifth-floor balcony of Riverwalk, one of London's poshest addresses. The corpse discovered a few days later was Zac.

The police claimed suicide. But death shockingly exposed Zac's utterly fabricated identity as Zac Ismailov, son of a Russian oligarch estranged from his family and awaiting a £200 million inheritance. Zac spent his final night with "gangster" Verinder Sharma and bankrupt "charlatan" Akbar Shamji, who both managed to exude extreme wealth and high-power connections, and with whom Zac seemed to have had entrepreneurial aspirations. Both Sharma and Shamji spun fabulous stories of a son Rachelle and Matthew couldn't recognize at all. Desperate to understand, they sought to "decode the mystery of what had happened to him." They invested tireless years fighting "the bizarre passivity of Scotland Yard," eventually hiring a private investigator and conducting their own inquiries. In 2023, a "chance encounter" (a family friend had officiated Zac's bar mitzvah) led the Brettlers to Keefe and ignited this intense collaboration.

In a feat of remarkable reportage, Keefe layers expansively diverse narratives--Holocaust survivors, "London's new identity as a twenty-four-hour laundromat for dirty money," the Cipriani Five, Idi Amin, Margaret Thatcher, Muhammad Ali, even Zac's rabbi grandfather's own secret life--to create an irresistible web of mystery. Keefe's unerringly razor-sharp attention links these disparate elements of heedless ambition, uninhibited risks, and otherworldly privilege that created a powerful vacuum of want in a tenacious teen desperate for access. With empathetic insight, Keefe deftly sifts through facts and fictions to distill Zac's young life, enthrallingly seeking the unknowable truth of his tragic death. --Terry Hong

Shelf Talker: Patrick Radden Keefe creates an utterly propulsive thriller from a family's tragic reality.