Total net book sales in May in the U.S. were $846.8 million, down $300,000, compared to May 2022, representing sales of 1,238 publishers and distributed clients as reported to the Association of American Publishers. For the first five months of the year, total net book sales are up barely, 0.7%, to $4.74 billion.

In May, trade sales were down 1.6%, to $661.3 million. E-books in a variety of categories, except adult, had a strong showing, and adult hardcover and paperback sales rebounded from April, while children's/YA hardcover, paperback, and special bindings sales slumped. As a whole, hardcover sales slipped 0.3%, to $233.5 million, and paperbacks were down 3.6%, to $239.5 million.

Sales by category in May 2023 compared to May 2022:

Another publisher is cutting back. Harlequin Trade Publishing announced yesterday that it is closing the Inkyard Press imprint and moving its titles to HarperCollins Children's Books, which it called "a difficult, strategic decision."

Harlequin cited "current market conditions" that have posed "a variety of challenges for the business, which has been acutely felt in the YA/Middle grade space with a shifting retail landscape, reduced distribution, and higher production costs in a price-sensitive segment. Inkyard titles will benefit from the synergies and streamlined processes as part of a larger children's division." The Inkyard Press publishing team will leave the company, effective August 1.

Inkyard Press, the Harlequin YA imprint that focused on commercial fiction, launched a middle-grade publishing program last year.

The Authors Guild has submitted an open letter to the CEOs of prominent AI companies, including OpenAI, Alphabet, Meta, Stability AI, IBM, and Microsoft, calling their attention "to the inherent injustice in exploiting our works as part of your AI systems without our consent, credit, or compensation."

More than 8,000 writers and their supporters signed the letter, including Dan Brown, James Patterson, Jennifer Egan, David Baldacci, Michael Chabon, Nora Roberts, Jesmyn Ward, Jodi Picoult, Ron Chernow, Michael Pollan, Suzanne Collins, Margaret Atwood, Jonathan Franzen, Roxane Gay, Celeste Ng, Louise Erdrich, Viet Nguyen, George Saunders, Min Jin Lee, Andrew Solomon, Rebecca Makkai, and Tobias Wolff.

The letter requests that the AI leaders "mitigate the damage to our profession by taking the following steps:

1. Obtain permission for use of our copyrighted material in your generative AI programs.
2. Compensate writers fairly for the past and ongoing use of our works in your generative AI programs.
3. Compensate writers fairly for the use of our works in AI output, whether or not the outputs are infringing under current law."

Maya Shanbhag Lang, president of the Authors Guild, said, "The output of AI will always be derivative in nature. AI regurgitates what it takes in, which is the work of human writers. It's only fair that authors be compensated for having 'fed' AI and continuing to inform its evolution. Our work cannot be used without consent, credit, and compensation. All three are a must."

Nora Roberts commented: "If creators aren't compensated fairly, they can't afford to create. If writers aren't paid to write, they can't afford to write. Human beings create and write stories human beings read. We're not robots to be programmed, and AI can't create human stories without taking from human stories already written."

Jonathan Franzen added: "The Authors Guild is taking an important step to advance the rights of all Americans whose data and words and images are being exploited, for immense profit, without their consent--in other words, pretty much all Americans over the age of six."

Barnes & Noble has opened a new bookstore in the Shoppes of Kildaire at 1311 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary, N.C. The store, which is 27,000 square feet and features a B&N Café, relocated just two miles from the Cary Commons space it had operated for 28 years before officially closing in late June.

B&N expects to open more than 30 new bookstores in 2023; the new Cary location is the first in the area to open since 2021. 

Sheryl Stebbins

Sheryl Stebbins, longtime bookselling and publishing executive, died on Tuesday.

For 16 years, she worked at Waldenbooks, eventually becoming director of buying, and overseeing a group of 50 buyers, assistant buyers, and merchandise managers. She left in 1993, after Walden was merged into Borders by parent company Kmart. Stebbins then worked in sales, marketing, and reference publishing at Random House for 11 years, ending as v-p, publisher, Random House Reference Group.

After that, she worked at Kaplan and Author Solutions as a freelance writer, editor, and project manager for many authors and academics. Most recently, she was editorial program manager, PracticeUpdate, at Elsevier.

Sheryl was hardworking and a great friend to many in the industry. She will be missed.

Earlier this week, Providence, R.I.'s Books on the Square hosted author Paul Tremblay (right) for his new story collection, The Beast You Are (Morrow). Tremblay was supposed to be interviewed by fellow horror writer Eric LaRocca. When LaRocca was unable to make it, Tremblay instead had conversations with several of his friends who were in attendance, including Christoph Paul, co-publisher of Clash Books, and director, writer, and producer Philip Gelatt (pictured, left). (photo: Siân Gaetano)

Hopkins Fulfillment Services will distribute Wayne State University Press, effective October 1. Wayne State University Press is also adopting Hopkins Press's proprietary title management system, Allbooks.

Wayne State University Press director Stephanie Williams said, "This move will update the press's systems and provide enhanced, accessible data about our business. HFS updates our ability to provide seamless first-class customer service informed by global best practices. We are deeply excited about the ways working with HFS will expand what our small staff can do in supporting our thousands of authors and books."

Johns Hopkins University Press executive director Barbara Kline Pope said, "We have long admired [Wayne State University Press's] lists in a wide range of areas including African American studies and Judaica and their commitment to the study of the Great Lakes region."

"See this giant smile? I am one happy bookstore dog after Big Hill Book's successful grand opening weekend," bookseller dog Rocky "posted" on Facebook after the new Minneapolis bookshop's recent debut. "Thanks to everyone who visited the Twin Cities' newest indie shop! We can't wait to see you all again soon! ~ Rocky."

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong (Gallery/Saga Press), Book 1 of Flesh & False Gods.

Tomorrow:
Good Morning America: Aundi Kolber, author of Strong Like Water: Finding the Freedom, Safety, and Compassion to Move through Hard Things--and Experience True Flourishing (Tyndale Refresh, $17.99, 9781496454713).

Tamron Hall repeat: Kim Gravel, author of Collecting Confidence: Start Where You Are to Become the Person You Were Meant to Be (Thomas Nelson, $28.99, 9781400238453).

Book TV airs on C-Span 2 this weekend from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Monday and focuses on political and historical books as well as the book industry. The following are highlights for this coming weekend. For more information, go to Book TV's website.

Saturday, July 22
9:30 a.m. Rebecca Boggs Roberts, author of Untold Power: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson (‎Viking, $30, 9780593489994). (Re-airs Saturday at 9:30 p.m.)

2:55 p.m. Mark Lee Gardner, author of The Earth Is All That Lasts: Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, and the Last Stand of the Great Sioux Nation (‎Mariner, $32.50, 9780062669896).

4:55 p.m. Robert A. Gross, author of The Transcendentalists and Their World (Picador, $25, 9781250859075).

Sunday, July 23
8 a.m. Abraham Riesman, author of Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America (Atria, $29.99, 9781982169442). (Re-airs Sunday at 8 p.m.)

10 a.m. Wesley Lowery, author of American Whitelash: A Changing Nation and the Cost of Progress (Mariner, $29.99, 9780358393269). (Re-airs Sunday at 10 p.m.)

2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Coverage of the 2023 Gaithersburg Book Festival in Gaithersburg, Md. Highlights include:

• 2 p.m. Gabriel Debenedetti, author of The Long Alliance: The Imperfect Union of Joe Biden and Barack Obama (Holt, $29.99, 9781250829979).
• 2:45 p.m. Ari Shapiro, author of The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening (‎HarperOne, $28.99, 9780063221345).
• 3:28 p.m. Michael Mehta Webster, author of The Rescue Effect: The Key to Saving Life on Earth (Timber Press, $28, 9781643261492).
• 4:15 p.m. Andrea Elliott, author of Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City (Random House, $20, 9780812986952).
• 5:03 p.m. Jonathan Eig, author of King: A Life (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $35, 9780374279295).

6:30 p.m. Jim Popkin, author of Code Name Blue Wren: The True Story of America's Most Dangerous Female Spy--and the Sister She Betrayed (Hanover Square Press, $27.99, ‎ 9781335449887).

The State Library of New South Wales in Australia has released a shortlist for the A$25,000 (about US$16,950) National Biography Award, which celebrates excellence in biography, autobiography, and memoir writing. In addition, the A$5,000 (about US$3,390) Michael Crouch AC Award will be presented for the best debut biography or memoir. This year's National Biography Award finalists, who receive A$2,000 (about US$1,470), are: 

Unknown: A Refugee's Story by Akuch Kuol Anyieth
The Ghost Tattoo: Discovering the Hidden Truth of my Father's Holocaust by Tony Bernard 
How to End a Story: Diaries 1995–1998 by Helen Garner
Bedtime Story by Chloe Hooper 
Missing by Tom Patterson 
My Tongue Is My Own: A Life of Gwen Harwood by Ann-Marie Priest 

Selected new titles appearing next Tuesday, July 25:

Somebody's Fool by Richard Russo (Knopf, $29, 9780593317891) concludes the North Bath trilogy.

Dead Fall by Brad Thor (Atria/Emily Bestler, $29.99, 9781982182199) is the 22nd Scot Harvath thriller.

Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Defiance by Brian Freeman (Putnam, $29, 9780593419885) posthumously continues Ludlum's thriller series.

Light Bringer by Pierce Brown (Del Rey, $30, 9780425285978) is book six in the Red Rising sci-fi series.

Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena (Pamela Dorman, $29, 9780593489932) is a domestic thriller about a kidnapping.

The World Behind the World: Consciousness, Free Will, and the Limits of Science by Erik Hoel (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, $30, 9781982159382) explores the science of consciousness.

Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album That Defined the '70s by Alan Paul (St. Martin's Press, $32, 9781250282699) coincides with the album's 50th anniversary.

Baking Yesteryear: The Best Recipes from the 1900s to the 1980s by B. Dylan Hollis (DK, $32, 9780744080049) is a cookbook survey of 20th century baking recipes.

Abeni's Song by P. Djèlí Clark (Starscape, $17.99, 9781250825827) is the author's first title for children.

One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus (Delacorte, $19.99, 9780593485019) is the third book in the popular One of Us Is Lying YA series.

Paperbacks:
Weather the Storm by Nora Roberts (Silhouette, $9.99, 9781335452801).

Murder in the Book Lover's Loft: A Book Retreat Mystery by Ellery Adams (Kensington, $8.99, 9781496729507).

The Night Is Normal: A Guide through Spiritual Pain by Alicia Britt Chole (Tyndale, $17.99, 9781496465153).

Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant: A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery by Darci Hannah (Kensington, $8.99, 9781496741721).

A Life of Meaning: Relocating Your Center of Spiritual Gravity by James Hollis (Sounds True, $18.99, 9781649630728).

From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:

Hardcover
Psyche and Eros: A Novel by Luna McNamara (Morrow, $30, 9780063295070). "A lovely tale of different forms of love. Female heroine Psyche is strong, sure of herself, and brave. Eros makes us question what makes life worth living and how love affects us. Together, it's a love story that will wrap you in its arms." --Baylee Miller, Schuler Books, Grand Rapids, Mich.

The Apartment: A Novel by Ana Menéndez (Counterpoint, $27, 9781640095830). "This is a story about a building in South Miami Beach--actually, about apartment 2B, and the tenants who have lived there over a 70-year period. Their stories infuse the apartment with energy and history. Ana Menéndez shared so much!" --Linda Bond, Auntie's Bookstore, Spokane, Wash.

Paperback
Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective: A Novel by Katie Siegel (Kensington, $16.95, 9781496740984). "Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective takes all the nostalgia of our favorite kid detectives and wonders: what happens when they grow up? This lighthearted read blends the elements of a great mystery with a hilarious coming-of-age story." --John McDougall, Murder by the Book, Houston, Tex.

For Ages 4 to 8
The Masjid Kamal Loves by Ashley Franklin, illus. by Aaliya Jaleel (Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $18.99, 9781534499836). "A lovingly written introduction to the masjid (commonly called a mosque in English). Perfect for anyone interested in teaching or learning the traditions of Muslim houses of prayer." --Matthew May, Skylark Bookshop, Columbia, Mo.

For Ages 10+
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng (Dial Books, $17.99, 9780525553823). "Andy Zhou and best friend Cindy start middle school together, but circumstances change their understanding of each other and their friendship. A wonderful emotional journey of finding yourself, both as an individual and in a community." --Jessica Palacios, Once Upon a Time, Montrose, Calif.

For Teen Readers
Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler (Wednesday Books, $20, 9781250871640). "Completely, utterly, absolutely obsessed with this book. I was worried the two different story lines would be jarring as they switched, but Dahlia Adler is masterful at intertwining both stories. Bisexual Jewish rep for the win!" --Honor Ford, The Doylestown & Lahaska Bookshops, Doylestown, Pa.

[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]

Cousins Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki (This One Summer)--Jillian is a Caldecott Honor recipient and Mariko is a Printz Honor and Eisner Award recipient--capture all the confusion, disappointment, and delight of new adulthood in their moody, set-driven graphic novel, Roaming. It's 2009, and Asian Canadian friends Zoe and Dani meet up in New York City for spring break. Queer freshmen Zoe and Dani were best friends in secondary school, and Roaming opens with a cinematic, joyous airport scene as they reunite. Then Dani introduces Zoe to her dorm neighbor and friend, Fiona.

Fiona is white, femme, and a self-appointed judge of what's cool in New York. She presents herself as the world-wise friend: she smokes, she only wants the authentic New York experience, she's into art, and museums are boring. The trio is excited as they navigate the city and check into their hostel, but after a couple days of sightseeing and greasy pizza, the tone has changed.

The Tamakis' characters defy easy categorization. Fiona is most noticeably self-interested, but New York and the messy freedom of adulthood seems to expose something unpleasant in all three characters. Zoe's building infatuation with Fiona leads her to tolerate things she normally wouldn't, including Fiona's occasional casual racism and belittling of Dani. It's not until the inevitable blowup that she realizes how far astray she's gone on her quest for approval. It would be easy to cast Dani as the victim but for her passive-aggressive behavior and the fact that she's fallen for Fiona's dubious charm, enough to bring her on this trip in the first place.

Jillian Tamaki's illustration is characterized by bold lines and expressive faces. Spare settings and a muted palette of tan and gray keep the focus on dynamic characters and the bustle of people around them. Jillian captures humanity in all its diversity, with panels that demand that readers take a second look to follow people at the airport, in the streets, in the American Museum of Natural History.

Roaming takes place in 2009, a liminal time when most people didn't have smart phones, and cell data was prohibitively expensive. In this context, roaming isn't just a setting on a cell phone. It also represents exploring a new city, new relationships, and new expressions of self. With a modern, queer sensibility, the Tamakis skillfully portray the intensity of fleeting relationships and the whirlwind feeling of exploring a new city. This thoughtful, sometimes frustrating, and gorgeous graphic novel will appeal to readers of Tillie Walden, Jul Maroh, and Laura Gao. --Suzanne Krohn, librarian and freelance reviewer

Shelf Talker: In this beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully plotted graphic novel, a new friend complicates an existing friendship when three queer college freshmen go sightseeing in New York City.