BTW News Briefs

WNBA Wants to Know Your Favorite Children's Bookseller

The Women's National Book Association (WNBA) wants to know about bookstores in the U.S. that excel at creatively bringing books and children together and inspiring children's interest in books and reading. WNBA will present the Lucile Micheels Pannell Award to two bookstores -- one general and one children's bookstore -- at BookExpo America. Each recipient will receive a check for $1,000 plus a framed piece of original art by a children's book illustrator.

To nominate a bookstore that inspires children to read, provide the name of the store, address and phone number, a contact person at the store, and e-mail address, along with a brief reason why the store is worthy of the Award. Nominations should be sent to eidh@yahoo.com or to Pannell Award Nomination, 5200 South 6th Place, Arlington, Virginia 22204.

Boston Newspaper Reports WordsWorth Closing May Be Imminent

The Boston Herald reported this week that WordsWorth Books in Cambridge, Massachusetts, would shut down in a few weeks unless the store finds an investor. "We are still looking for an angel," Wordsworth's owner, Hillel Stavis, told the Herald. "Barring that, we will probably close our operations in a few weeks." The Herald also reported that, though Stavis has not given up hope, "WordsWorth's shelves are being picked clean, with books being sold at 30 percent off and not being replaced."

As reported earlier in BTW, the company that owns WordsWorth Books and Curious George Goes to WordsWorth filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 12. (Watch for more on this story in an upcoming edition of BTW.)

2004 Man Booker Prize Winner Announced

On Tuesday, October 19, Alan Hollinghurst was named as the winner of the 2004 Man Booker Prize for Fiction for his fourth novel, The Line of Beauty (Bloomsbury USA). The British-born writer was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1994 for his novel, The Folding Star. The Line of Beauty is the story of Nicholas Guest, who gets caught up in the "opulent world of the '80s as lived by Gerald Fedden, the Tory MP with whom he lodges, and his circle." Chris Smith, the chair of the judges for the Man Booker, made the announcement at an awards dinner at the Royal Horticultural Halls.

National Book Festival Draws Thousands

On Saturday, October 9, approximately 85,000 people from around the U.S. attended the fourth annual National Book Festival to celebrate America's creative spirit. Over 70 award-winning writers, illustrators, and poets were joined by basketball stars, children's storybook characters, reading advocates, librarians, and book lovers of all ages at the free event organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted by First Lady Laura Bush. "We are delighted that so many readers of all ages came to this annual celebration of creativity and imagination," said James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress. "The day has been filled with a wonderful spirit of appreciation for books, reading, and writing."

Among the popular pavilions this year were "Science Fiction and Fantasy," a first-time addition to the festival and the "Children" pavilion where WNBA and NBA celebrities, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, were present to support the "read to Achieve" program.

Ingram Periodicals Names Robert Kerekes President

This week, Ingram Periodicals Inc. announced that Robert Kerekes, a veteran of the magazine industry, had been named its president. "Bob Kerekes is a recognized leader within the magazine industry whose combination of experience and creativity gives him a unique capability to propel our company forward," said Peter F. Clifton, Ingram Periodical's CEO. Kerekes will assume responsibility for the day-to-day operation of Ingram Periodicals.

Donald Revell Receives 2004 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize

On October 19, the Academy of American Poets and The Nation magazine announced that Donald Revell's My Mojave (Alice James Books) had been selected for the 2004 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize. The prize is an annual award of $25,000 for the most outstanding book of poetry published in the U.S. in the previous year. Revell's book was chosen from more than 160 submissions.