Book News from PW

Hachette Makes Layoffs
Amid continued attention (and press coverage) for its ongoing terms dispute with Amazon, Hachette has announced a round of layoffs. The publisher will not confirm any details about the layoffs, but reports have surfaced putting the reductions at 28 positions. PW has also heard that a handful of high-placed editors are among those affected. more »


Hillman, Carson Awarded $65,000 Poetry Prizes
Brenda Hillman's "Seasonal Works with Letters on Fire" (Wesleyan University Press) won the 2014 international prize, while Anne Carson's "Red Doc>" (McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House Canada) won this year’s prize for a Canadian book. more » »

Charlotte Zolotow Remembered
Family, friends, and colleagues of Charlotte Zolotow gathered at the Judson Memorial Church in New York City on May 27 to celebrate the author and editor's lifetime of contributions to the children's literary world. Speakers included Robert Lipsyte, Patricia MacLachlan, and Zolotow's children, Stephen Zolotow and Crescent Dragonwagon. more » »

THE ROUNDUP

Jeff Bezos' Net Worth Rises $1.4B: There’s nothing like rumors about new products to give a floundering technology stock a shot in the arm.

Indie Booksellers Join Hachette's Battle: Shops are launching "I didn't buy it on Amazon" sticker campaigns, rallying customers and authors.

Susan Spencer-Wendel Dies at 47: The former newspaper reporter who wrote a best-selling memoir about living life to the fullest after learning she had an incurable muscle-wasting disease — and wrote most of it on a smartphone with her right thumb — died on Wednesday at her home in West Palm Beach, Fla.

The Official Bookseller of 'Colbert': Nobody at Powell's Books knew Wednesday morning the bookseller was about to get a high-profile plug that would send traffic at its online store into a historic spike.

Appointments at PRH Children's U.K.: Penguin Random House Children’s U.K. - the new PRH children's division incorporating both Penguin Children's and Random House Children's Publishing - has appointed five senior roles.