Christina Ward is the new owner of Feral House and its imprint Process Media, succeeding Jessica Parfrey, who will step back from day-to-day operations and take on the role of emerita editor-at-large. Parfrey is the sister of Adam Parfrey, who founded Feral House in 1989 and who died in 2018.

Christina Ward

Over many years, Ward has worked in every part of the house: editorial, production, marketing, rights, and operations. She has shaped the current list and sustained the press through industry contraction and cultural churn.

Ward said, "Jessica protected the house when it mattered most. Her care for Adam's work and for the authors kept Feral House intact through a difficult passage. I'm grateful for the trust she's placed in me and committed to pushing the press forward while remaining true to our roots of challenging and provocative ideas."

Feral House and Process Media publish investigative, confrontational, and culturally dissonant nonfiction. The program remains rooted in the same editorial instincts that defined the press from its beginning: "document what others ignore, examine what others flatten, and print work that refuses to obey."

Ward observed, "I look forward to incorporating new tools and strategies into every aspect of Feral and Process to get our writers' books into readers' hands, while working to strengthen our partnerships with authors and independent retailers. Our seminal titles, like Apocalypse Culture, Lords of Chaos, American Grotesque, Glamour Ghoul, and Hit Girls, prove the point that readers want unique viewpoints and challenging material. We will continue to be a home for writers and readers seeking safe harbor from conformity and stupidity."

The Grim Reader Bookshop, a horror-focused mobile bookstore built out of a converted hearse, will open a bricks-and-mortar store this spring, Secret Atlanta reported.

Store owner Olivia Doyle has found a space at 1082 Huff Rd., Suite C, in Atlanta's Blandtown neighborhood. The bricks-and-mortar store will be a "moody third space" featuring a plethora of horror fiction as well as nonbook items made by local artists and creators. The Grim Reader will also host a variety of community events.

"We delightfully learned that Atlanta really loves spooky books and strange spaces," Doyle told Secret Atlanta. "So we decided to put roots down and build a place where people could come hang out, browse eerie books, and feel extremely normal about loving weird things."

The bricks-and-mortar store will open, fittingly, on Friday the 13th (March 13). Doyle plans to continue doing pop-up events around Atlanta afterward.

The Lines Den has opened at 120 Goldsboro St. S in Wilson, N.C., where the Novel Nest previously was located.  Although the new bookstore features "a treasure trove of gently used books," owner Lisa Malone "plans to explore new releases in the future. She said she wants to focus on adding sci-fi fantasy novels and LGBTQ books soon," the Wilson Times reported.

Malone took over the shop from former Novel Nest owner Zoe Taylor after overhearing a conversation. "I have been looking for a bookstore for almost a year," Malone said. "I stopped in one day, there were two or three customers and I overheard her (Taylor) speaking with a customer who was asking to work for her. When Zoe said, 'I don't know, honey. I just don't know if I'm going to be here much longer,' like a little dog, my ears just perked up."

Noting that Taylor "didn't really think I was serious," Malone added; "She said you should come back and let's talk around five o'clock.... I came back and spoke with her, and she told me that she's loved it here for three years, but she travels very far for work."

Part of the agreement to acquire the business was that it would remain a bookstore. "She said, 'I have lots of customers who love the bookstore, and this is the only bookstore other than the Christian bookstore up the street,' " Malone recalled. "That was at the end of September. Things got moving very, very fast. I just feel like everything is serendipity."

Malone cited the established customer base as the best thing she inherited from Taylor: "If somebody twirled me up in the air and said, 'Where do you want to land for a bookstore?' I would've never thought right up the road. There are so many people that have reached out and been so helpful to me. Everybody's just been the sweetest. I don't know these people, but everybody has been very welcoming and down to earth. This town is the way the world should be.... 

"I'm still kind of in shock, really, because it's something I've always dreamed about. I couldn't have imagined a better place to be. I just never really every thought I could do it. Some people want to be the rich CEO of a company. I just wanted to own a bookstore."

The Flora Shelves, a bookstore and floral studio in Appleton, Wis., held its grand opening on Saturday, February 7, NBC 26 reported.

Located at 425 W. Water St., the bookstore carries mainly fantasy and romance titles with an emphasis on diverse authors and stories. The bookstore includes space for seating and events, and owner Heather Vale plans to host book club meetings, author talks, and floral workshops.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that showed up and supported us today on our first day," Vale wrote on Facebook following the store's opening. "I was able to chat with so many of you, talk books, and share in this new dream together so thank you for all your kind words, following along, your feedback and taking the time to see our space even in the cold and standing in line!"

Vale is also the owner of the floral business Wed & Willow, which she has run for roughly eight years. She announced her plans to open the Flora Shelves last fall.

Tom Booth, Oregon State University Press director, will retire at the end of February after 33 years with the publisher. Booth joined the OSU Press as its first marketing manager. He was named associate director in 2007 and then director in 2019. A search for his successor is underway.

"Tom has steered the OSU Press with a steady hand through some turbulent and uncertain waters in his tenure as director," said Anne-Marie Deitering, the Delpha and Donald Campbell Dean of Libraries at OSU Libraries and Press. "I am very grateful for the years I got to work with him, and I deeply admire his commitment to telling the diverse stories of our region with compassion and rigor."

Booth commented: "It has been an honor to work alongside the exceptional Press staff and I'm grateful for our dedicated community of publishing partners--authors, faculty editorial board members, booksellers, librarians, donors, and readers. The work of publishing peer-reviewed scholarship from diverse voices and viewpoints is extremely vital right now, so I'm eager to see where an energetic new director takes the press."

Two Pulitzer-winning authors dropped by Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts in Berkeley, Calif., last week. T.J. Stiles (l., The First Tycoon and Custer's Trials) and Jonathan Eig (r., King: A Life) signed copies of their books and posed for photos.

"Drop it like it's... properly alphabetized." Books of Wonder in New York City shared an Instagram reel highlighting "what booksellers never talk about... the daily knee workout." 

"Too cold? We have heat! And books! (and free hot tea and cocoa)." That was a depths of winter invitation from Friendly Alien Books in Scranton, Pa., on its sidewalk chalkboard. The bookstore noted: "It's another cold one out there, but it's warm in here! And we've got plenty of cozy reads to help you hunker down this weekend. And with temps this cold, the free hot cocoa and tea are out, so come warm your hands while browsing the stacks."

The Book & Bottle Shop, a bookstore and wine bar in Hopkinsville, Ky., has launched a literary magazine called By the Glass, Christian County Now reported.

Rachel Sanders, owner of the Book & Bottle Shop and editor in chief of By the Glass, said the magazine grew out of the store's Draft & Drink Writers Group and will focus on writers in western Kentucky. 

"When we began meeting regularly with our writers' group at the shop, one of the main goals voiced was to increase access to publishing avenues and opportunities for group members to share their work," Sanders explained. "We quickly came to the concept of creating our own literary magazine to act as a bridge for local writers and authors to access publication. The vision naturally grew to encompass a wider regional need." 

The magazine's first issue will be released in the spring in both print and digital formats. There is no theme for the first issue, and fiction, nonfiction, and poetry are all accepted. Submissions are open and will remain so until April 1. One of the few requirements is that the person submitting work be connected to the region.

Noting that there are numerous literary journals and magazines in Kentucky already, Sanders told Christian County Now she does not want "to duplicate or encroach on the existing publications, but instead to create a supplementation and expansion specific to our region of the state."

America's Founding Myths... and What REALLY Happened! by Christy Mihaly, illus. by Marta Sevilla (Barefoot Books).

Today:
Fresh Air: Dorothy Roberts, author of The Mixed Marriage Project: A Memoir of Love, Race, and Family (Atria/One Signal, $29, 9781668068380).

Tomorrow:
Late Show with Stephen Colbert repeat: Jacob Soboroff, author of Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America's New Age of Disaster (Mariner, $30, 9780063467965).

Colin Firth has been cast opposite Jack Lowden in Apple TV's untitled project based on Metropolis from Philip Kerr's bestselling Berlin Noir book series, Deadline reported. Peter Straughan wrote the adaptation, which is directed by Tom Shankland. Produced by Bad Wolf and Tom Hanks & Gary Goetzman's PlayTone, the untitled series is currently filming in Berlin. 

The 14-book series features detective Bernie Gunther. Apple TV's adaptation "begins with Metropolis and his origin story in 1928," Deadline wrote. "Bernie (Lowden) is a police officer, newly promoted to the intimidating and elite Berlin Murder Squad, and must investigate what seems to be a serial killer targeting victims on the fringes of society. Bernie's Berlin is a city of unprecedented freedom and dizzying turbulence, the Nazis just a distant nightmare waiting in the wings. With the political and social world shifting to a new norm, we see Bernie fighting for truth, whatever the cost." Firth will play Paul Lohser, a detective with the Berlin Police.

Kerr's widow, novelist Jane Thynne, who owns the copyright in the Bernie Gunther novels through their company Thynker Ltd c/o United agents, serves as consulting producer.

A longlist has been released for the inaugural James Patterson and Bookshop.org Prize, which is "dedicated to celebrating debut authors, hand-selected by independent booksellers." The award honors full-length debut books published in the U.S. within the past 12 months. All nominations and selections were made by booksellers working in qualifying independent bookstores. 

"I've been a longtime supporter of Indie bookstores–and emerging authors," said Patterson. "Creating this award that recognizes both the booksellers that are getting books into the hands of readers and of course, the books themselves, was a no-brainer to me. I'm excited to see which titles are nominated by those who in my opinion are the real experts!"

A five-book shortlist will be unveiled on March 16, with the grand prize winner being named on April 6. The winner receives $15,000 and the runners-up $10,000. The longlisted titles, along with bookseller pitches for each are:

The Hollow Half by Sarah Aziza
"The Hollow Half covers exile and how the trauma of a lost homeland can hurt a body as well as a mind, especially as a Palestinian-American. What a loving tribute to her family, as well as the place that her ancestors called home." --Sarah Canon, Third Place Books, Seattle, Wash.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
"The Correspondent is a powerful novel about connection; Sybil's journey through trauma and grief is both poignant and compelling, making this an unforgettable read. From the beginning of her book journey, Virginia Evans has been a champion of independent bookstores, and as her local indie, we've loved watching her journey and connection with readers. The trajectory of The Correspondent from a debut novel to a NYT bestseller (4 months after release) to a #1 NYT bestseller (8 months after release) illustrates the power of readers connecting and sharing books. I'd love to see her recognized with this inaugural honor!" --Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, N.C.

When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
"This was both a beautifully written and physically drawn story by the author. Such a nice rarity to have, not only the cover, but certain pages with art done by the author herself. The narration and overall story, got this book ranked by our book club members and customers to rank it as their favorite read of 2025." --Alexia Krajewski, Cheshire's Books, Riverview, Fla.

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle
"This book was completely and utterly amazing. Exploring our connection to food, the people we love, and how we deal with grief. It caught me and the readers I recommended it to completely by surprised. It's a bittersweet story about life, love, and food." --Terri M. LeBlanc, Swamp Fox Bookstore, Marion, Iowa

It's Different This Time by Joss Richard
"It's been a couple of weeks since I finished this book and it had sat with me this whole time. I absolutely loved this book in the way that when I think about it my heart just bursts at the seams. This was one of the best friends to lovers I've ever read. The yearning was unmatched. One of the best books of 2025, one of the best debuts, infinity stars. I can't wait to see what Joss writes for us next!" --Kristina Muffoletto, Afterglow Books, Buffalo, N.Y.

My Oceans by Christina Rivera
"Great writing, super unique and thoughtful structure, incredibly moving. I can't wait to read what Christina does next!" --Alix Teague, the Bookworm of Edwards, Edwards, Colo.

The Slip by Lucas Schaefer
"It is an extremely well done social novel that meticulously examines the ways that we envision and represent ourselves in the world. An enviable debut!" --Sarah Almond, Wild Hare Books, Oxford, N.C.

My Mother's Boyfriends by Samantha Schoech
"I inhaled these stories! They have a feral Gen-X vibe that particularly resonated for me, but the keen observation and humor have universal appeal. Plus: I'd love to see a small press win." --Christie Olson Day, Gallery Bookshop, Mendocino, Calif.

The Nature of Pain by Mandi Fugate Sheffel
"A daring debut that reckons with the lived reality of growing up in Eastern Kentucky. It's more than an opioid recovery memoir, it's a meditation on grief from the landscapes we find ourselves in and the willpower to keep your head up and accept healing from without and within." --Davis Shoulders, Atlas Books, Johnson City, Tenn.

The Lilac People by Milo Todd
"The Lilac People tells the story of a trans man and his family in the days after the Allies liberated concentration camps. It's such a well written book and a very important, semi-lost part of trans-history. I think this was one of the most important books of 2025 and is well deserving of an award." --Jean Bartz, Books on Main, Friendship, Wis.

In Emma Straub's buoyant seventh book, American Fantasy, a reunion cruise assembles several people dissatisfied with their lives and hoping to reclaim a sense of possibility.

The Boy Talk 2023 cruise is a five-day route aboard the American Fantasy from Miami to the Bahamas. Thirty-year-old Sarah, head of the JackRabbit production team in charge of the talent, is nursing a broken heart after her girlfriend left. The other two point-of-view characters are Annie, a passenger, and Keith Fiore, one of the five boy band members. Keith's older brother, Shawn, is the de facto band leader, eager to prolong the group's success through a world tour. Keith, however, is reluctant. A recovering alcoholic, he'd prefer privacy to live as a normal person and work on his marriage.

This vacation was meant for Annie's sister Katherine's 45th birthday, but when Katherine broke her leg, Annie decided to go alone. The 50-year-old divorcée has just been demoted at Opera Weekly, placed beneath a young TikTok whiz. Annie isn't a Boy Talk superfan like the cruise's other "Talkers." With her slight detachment, she can recognize the absurdity of middle-aged women wearing the singers' faces on custom-made garments and queuing for hours to hug them. At her own meet-and-greet, Annie asks Keith if he's okay. Taken aback by a genuine question rather than the usual fawning, he finds himself interested in Annie, and over the next few days they form a connection.

Micro-chapters replicate the highly scheduled fun of a cruise. Each night there's another themed party: 1980s, pajamas, prom. Thanks to the $50/day alcohol package, Talkers drink bottomless "Sexy Sunrise" cocktails. The hedonistic atmosphere fosters resentments--and even fistfights--among the band and the passengers.

Compared to the other two protagonists, Sarah gets short shrift, and the round of performances and photo ops can get as repetitive for readers as for the band. Still, this is a potent picture of the downsides of fame and the struggles of midlife. Straub (This Time Tomorrow; All Adults Here) discusses her own New Kids on the Block obsession on her Substack, but this is no simple nostalgia trip. Annie's predicament involves genuine pain but also encourages openness to the future. "That was where she was in life. She'd checked all the boxes--the marriage, the child, the career. What happened now was anyone's guess." The novel's title is true to the wish-fulfillment nature of the plot, making it a perfect follow-up for fans of Curtis Sittenfeld's Romantic Comedy. --Rebecca Foster, freelance reviewer, proofreader, and blogger at Bookish Beck

Shelf Talker: Emma Straub's seventh book blends joviality and disappointment, nostalgia and realism, via the stories of three people on board a boy band reunion cruise.

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

1. Surrender to Lead by Joe Terry
2. The Epic IEP by Karen Mayer Cunningham
3. Just Breaking the Rules by Lauren Blakely
4. Penalty Play by Julia Connors
5. Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe
6. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
7. Sap & Secrets by Daphne Elliot
8. The Marriage Bet by Olivia Hayle
9. Taste of the Dark by Nicole Fox
10. Beast Business by Ilona Andrews

[Many thanks to IndieReader.com!]