"As a kid, I loved nothing more than my mum running errands on a Saturday, because she would drop me off at the local bookshop while she did so. It was a glorious moment, to enter that bookshop: the door jangled, the smell of the books hit, the bookseller called a greeting from behind shelves, and I went off to find them for recommendations for my next adventure. And then, for two to three hours, I was gone, deeply absorbed in some new series (I had an intense The Famous Five phase, a hardcore Tintin phase, a Redwall era).

"I was always late being picked up afterwards. Mum had to toot the horn to bring me back to earth. I never understood--and still don't understand--quite what happens to time, when plunged in a book's pages. (Are they books or are they spells?)"

Outside of a Dog Books & Games in Vermillion, S.Dak., will close this summer or be sold due to an anti-transgender law set to take effect July 1, SiouxlandProud reported.

Owners Mike and Jennifer Phelan, who opened Outside of a Dog four years ago, said they plan to leave South Dakota for the sake of their children, one of whom is transgender. They would prefer to find a buyer for the bookstore but will sell the remaining inventory and close the bookstore if they cannot. In a goodbye message posted to Facebook, they said they plan to keep the store open at least through the end of July. 

The law, which was signed by South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden in March, prohibits transgender people from using changing rooms and restrooms that do not align with their gender assigned at birth. Per the Associated Press, it also "allows people who encounter transgender people in these facilities to seek declaratory and injunctive relief against the school or state if officials did not take reasonable steps to prevent the transgender person from using that facility."

Mike Phelan noted that previously, Vermillion had been the "only community in South Dakota that had a transgender affirming bathroom policy," but the new law has put an end to that.

Jennifer Phelan told SiouxlandProud that the family would not be able to live with the fear and uncertainty the law would cause, and they plan to move to a state "where there are laws in place where we know local policies can then flourish from that."

"It's closing businesses," Mike Phelan added. "It's driving people out. It's telling people that their lives aren't valuable... there's not a crime wave of transgender people in this state. There's people trying to live their lives."

Recluse Books, an all-ages bookstore with new and used titles, has opened in Fort Worth, Tex., CultureMap Fort Worth reported.

Co-owners Josie Smith-Webster and James Webster, who met while working at a bookstore in New York City, carry a wide-ranging and eclectic inventory, with small presses and translated literature represented. They plan to grow the selection based on customer and community interest. 

The store is roughly 1,000 sq. ft. and resides at 465 S. Main St. #110, in Fort Worth's Near Southside neighborhood. Alongside books, customers can find zines, greeting cards, and other merchandise. Recluse's event plans include open-mic nights and themed book clubs.

"Josie and I are both big believers in the idea of a bookstore as a 'space'--somewhere that puts a human touch back, in an age where so much is automated, a space for people to come and interact with other people," James Webster told CultureMap. "We realized that Fort Worth did not have as many of those as we wanted and decided to go out and do it ourselves."

Bad B's Books, a romance-focused mobile bookstore, debuted earlier this month in Wilmington, N.C., StarNewsOnline reported. 

Owner Lisa Filipe sells a variety of romance titles from both independent and traditionally published authors along with an assortment of book-related merchandise like stickers, tote bags, and bookmarks. 

Filipe helps authors create virtual book tours and has created two romance review blogs. She told StarNews that "some of my favorites are on here. I sell a lot that I have seen, like bestsellers, and I sent out a form to indie authors who would want to be on my truck too."

She has wanted to open a bookstore of her own for a long time and finally found the right opportunity. Filipe noted that she had considered purchasing an existing bookstore that was up for sale, but decided instead on having a mobile bookstore.

"I can do that in Wilmington because there is nothing like it around," she explained. "I could travel and go to places where there are no bookshops."

The mobile bookstore's first appearance was at Biggers Market on June 12. Upcoming appearances include stops at a summer solstice party, a farmers market, a flower festival, and a "dirty bingo" night.

Lori Benton has been named senior v-p, children's publishing at Abrams, where she will oversee all aspects of Abrams' children's publishing, including strategic planning, content development, digital publishing initiatives, and cross-functional collaboration across the company's various channels. She will be responsible for expanding the division's market presence while maintaining Abrams' reputation for high-quality, beautifully illustrated children's books.

Lori Benton (photo: Rachel Coun)

She was most recently v-p, publisher, at Scholastic, where she oversaw Orchard Books, Scholastic Press Picture Books, Cartwheel, Scholastic Audio, and Weston Woods. Before joining to Scholastic in 2011, she held executive roles at Harcourt, including v-p, publisher of the children's books division, and at William Morrow.

She has also served as chairman of the Research Committee of the Audio Publishers Association, chair and treasurer at the Children's Book Council, and chairman of the board of Every Child a Reader Literacy Foundation.

"We are thrilled to welcome Lori to the Abrams family," said Mary McAveney, Abrams president and CEO. "Her exceptional track record in driving publishing innovation, building strategic partnerships, and developing successful children's content makes her the ideal leader to guide our children's division into its next chapter of growth."

Benton said, "With its rich history of publishing groundbreaking and visually stunning books--from iconic series like Diary of a Wimpy Kid to award-winning picture books and acclaimed graphic novels--Abrams has been a creative force in children's publishing. I'm honored to help carry that legacy forward and excited to work with the incredibly talented team to bring new talents, unforgettable storytelling, and inspiring characters to young readers everywhere."

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators has promoted Kim Turrisi to the position of vice-president. "A foundational figure of SCBWI for more than two decades, Kim brings a legacy of dedication, innovation, and unwavering support for members to her new leadership role," the organization noted.

Kim Turrisi

Turrisi joined SCBWI in 2002. As director of programming and content, she led the development and growth of many SCBWI events, including the annual New York and Virtual Conferences. She also revitalized SCBWI's international presence, redesigning SCBWI's Bologna Children's Book Fair events.

"Her compassion and commitment to equity are reflected in her work with the Amber Brown Grant, connecting children's book creators with students in hundreds of schools that would not otherwise have the opportunity for such visits," SCBWI said. She also created SCBWI University, and for many years organized and administered SCBWI's manuscript and portfolio reviews, connecting members with agents, editors, and industry experts. 

"Kim has shaped the experience of SCBWI members for more than 20 years," said SCBWI executive director Sarah Baker. "Her creativity, passion, and deep care for this community have helped make SCBWI what it is today. We are so proud to see her step into the role of vice-president."

"We have A/C," Octopus Bookshop in Kennebunk, Maine, posted on Facebook during the heat wave earlier this week, offering up some cool book recommendations: "Come by and cool down with titles like Wally Lamb's THE RIVER IS WAITING; Ariel Lawhon's FROZEN RIVER; or get Fredrik Backman's inviting cover of swimmers on his newest book MY FRIENDS. Or, keep it hot with Kara Swisher's BURN BOOK, Ray Bradbury's FAHRENHEIT 451, or Tennessee Williams' CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF!"

Zaynah Ahmed has been promoted to marketing associate for Harper, Broadside Books, and Harper Influence.

Overcoming Shame-Based Social Anxiety and Shyness: A CBT Workbook to Move Past Feelings of Self-Consciousness or Defectiveness and Live with Confidence by Larry Cohen (New Harbinger).

Today:
Fresh Air: Robin Givhan, author of Make It Ours: Crashing the Gates of Culture with Virgil Abloh (Crown, $35, 9780593444122).

Tomorrow:
Today: Hilton Carter, author of The Propagation Handbook: A Guide to Propagating Houseplants (CICO Books, $30, 9781800653108).

The View: Molly Jong-Fast, author of How to Lose Your Mother: A Daughter's Memoir (Viking, $28, 9780593656471).

Late Night with Seth Meyers repeat: Meredith Hayden, author of The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook: Seasonal Recipes for Everyday Luxury and Elevated Entertaining (Ten Speed Press, $35, 9780593835951).

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, June 28
2 p.m. Hilary N. Green, author of Unforgettable Sacrifice: How Black Communities Remembered the Civil War (Fordham University Press, $34.65, 9781531508524).

5 p.m. Marc Leepson, author of The Unlikely War Hero: A Vietnam War POW's Story of Courage and Resilience in the Hanoi Hilton (Stackpole Books, $32.95, 9780811772921).

6 p.m. Jonthan Horn, author of The Fate of the Generals: MacArthur, Wainwright, and the Epic Battle for the Philippines (Scribner, $30.99, 9781668010075), at Politics & Prose in Washington, D.C.

Sunday, June 29
8 a.m. Stanley McChrystal, author of On Character: Choices That Define a Life (Portfolio, $30, 9780593852958). (Re-airs Sunday at 8 p.m.)

2 p.m. Paul Hawken, author of Carbon: The Book of Life (‎Viking, $28, 9780525427445).

3:15 p.m. Thor Hanson, author of Close to Home: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door (Basic Books, $30, 9781541601246).

4:20 p.m. Rich Benjamin, author of Talk to Me: Lessons from a Family Forged by History (Pantheon, $29, 9780593317396), at City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, Calif.

4:55 p.m. Martin Reeves, author of Like: The Button That Changed the World (‎Harvard Business Review Press, $32, 9798892790451).

6:10 p.m. Scott Bok, author of Surviving Wall Street: A Tale of Triumph, Tragedy, and Timing (Wiley, $29.95, 9781394326693).

The shortlist has been selected for the 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award, which honors "the novel of the highest literary merit which presents Australian life in any of its phases." The shortlisted authors receive A$5,000 (about US$3,245) each, and the winner, to be named July 24, receives A$60,000 (about US$38,945). This year's shortlisted titles are:

Chinese Postman by Brian Castro 
Theory & Practice by Michelle de Kretser (winner of the Stella Prize a month ago)
Dirt Poor Islanders by Winnie Dunn 
Compassion by Julie Janson 
Ghost Cities by Siang Lu 
Highway 13 by Fiona McFarlane

The judges commented: "The shortlist for the 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award celebrates writing that refuses to compromise. Each of these works vitalizes the form of the novel and invents new languages for the Australian experience."

Selected new titles appearing next Tuesday, July 1:

Edge of Honor by Brad Thor (Atria/Emily Bestler, $29.99, 9781982182274) is the 24th Scot Harvath thriller.

An Enemy in the Village by Martin Walker (Knopf, $28, 9780593536643) is the 18th Bruno, Chief of Police mystery.

Typewriter Beach: A Novel by Meg Waite Clayton (Harper, $30, 9780063422148) follows two women in Hollywood generations apart.

The Red Queen by Martha Grimes (Atlantic Monthly Press, $28, 9780802164940) is the 26th mystery with English police officer Richard Jury.

The Letter Carrier: A Novel by Francesca Giannone, trans. by Elettra Pauletto (Crown, $28, 9780593800898) takes place in a village in southern Italy prior to World War II.

We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate by Michael Grunwald (Simon & Schuster, $29.99, 9781982160074) explores human agriculture through the lens of climate change.

The Beast in the Clouds: The Roosevelt Brothers' Deadly Quest to Find the Mythical Giant Panda by Nathalia Holt (Atria/One Signal, $29.99, 9781668027745) tracks a 1929 expedition by Theodore Roosevelt's sons to introduce the panda to the West.

The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature by Charlie English (Random House, $34.99, 9780593447901) uncovers a CIA program to undermine Soviet censorship.

Death by Astonishment: Confronting the Mystery of the World's Strangest Drug by Andrew R. Gallimore (St. Martin's Press, $30, 9781250357755) looks at the history and science of DMT.

Paperbacks:
Tips to Help You Do Your Best by Mike Carlson (Tupelo Press, $19.95, 9781961209343).

How Freaking Romantic: A Novel by Emily Harding (Gallery Books, $18.99, 9781668082744).

Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran (Berkley, $19, 9780593820193).

Something Big: The True Story of the Brown's Chicken Massacre, A Decade-Long Manhunt, and the Trials That Followed by Patrick Wohl (Post Hill Press, $18.99, 9798888459003).

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

Hardcover
Notes on Infinity: A Novel by Austin Taylor (Celadon, $29.99, 9781250376107). "Zoe and Jack have found a way to genetically engineer genes related to aging. Their incredible work and parallel love story are almost too good to be true. Fans of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow will race through this." --Beth Mynhier, Lake Forest Book Store, Lake Forest, Ill.

A Family Matter: A Novel by Claire Lynch (Scribner, $25.99, 9781668078891). "This is a beautiful, quiet book about being unmoored. There is so much love, and much pain--laws in 1982 England classified lesbian relationships as inappropriate. A strong reminder that our past was not so long ago and we have a responsibility to speak up." --Kira Wizner, Merritt Bookstore, Millbrook, N.Y.

Paperback
Behooved by M. Stevenson (Bramble, $19.99, 9781250375087). "Come for the horse puns, stay for the very sweet enemies-to-lovers romance! This is a slow burn, low spice, but it was so charming and comforting. A read I can see myself coming back to!" --Bonnie Ingersoll, Spoke + Word Books, Milwaukie, Ore.

Ages 3-6
When You Go to Dragon School by Chelsea M. Campbell, illus. by Charlene Chua (Feiwel & Friends, $18.99, 9781250293015.) "I LOVE IT! The colors are bright and happy, the dragons come in all shapes and sizes and colors, and the children are super diverse. Do not miss this book. It's bound to be a new favorite." --Andrea Iriarte, Molly's Bookstore, Melrose, Mass.

Ages 10-14
The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez by Jasminne Paulino (Putnam, $18.99, 9780593859315). "What a gem of a story. Alex undergoes multiple setbacks as he fights for his spot in a science classroom and club. The verse is powerful and addresses important topics including friendship, bullying, family support, and self-reliance." --Sierra Hollabaugh, The Bookery Cincy, Cincinnati, Ohio

Ages 14+
That Devil, Ambition by Linsey Miller (Storytide, $19.99, 9780063388611). "That Devil, Ambition is a dark and twisted story following three characters fighting for their lives as they race to outsmart their professor, the devil. A gripping story with unpredictable characters that will leave you questioning loyalties." --Kaitlyn Mahoney, Under the Umbrella Bookstore, Salt Lake City, Utah

[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]

In 1980, noted British writer Penelope Fitzgerald wrote an essay entitled "Following the Plot," alluding to a trip she and her five-year-old son, Valpy, took to northern Mexico in 1952, at the invitation of two wealthy, elderly women in search of an heir to the fortune from their family's former silver mine. Taking Fitzgerald's barebones description of that strange journey as her starting point, Jessica Francis Kane (Rules for Visiting) has vividly imagined that experience in Fonseca, creating a story that's steeped in atmosphere as it explores themes of class and creativity, seasoning that mix with a touch of romance and even a bit of a ghost story.

At its heart, Fitzgerald's odd journey was something of an act of desperation. Fitzgerald produced the literary journal World Review with her husband, Desmond, a failed barrister self-medicating with alcohol against the trauma he experienced from his service in World War II. The journal's paltry revenue failed to match its lofty reputation, leaving the family nearly destitute and at risk of losing their London home.

But when she arrives in Fonseca (Fitzgerald's fictional name for the real-life town of Saltillo), home to spinster Doña Elena Delaney and her sister-in-law Doña Anita, she finds she's only one of a collection of "Pretenders" (her term) to the expected inheritance. That group gathers nightly to jostle for the favor of the eccentric women at the family residence where Penelope and Valpy live during their three-month stay, and whose chilly (and perhaps haunted) northeast corner, where Doña Anita's husband died, they've been warned to avoid.

For Penelope, who's three months pregnant with her third child when she leaves England, the pressure of a competition she finds distasteful is leavened slightly by the presence of the famed painter Edward Hopper and his wife, Jo, whose artistic rivalry provides an intriguing subplot. But her sojourn becomes even more complicated when another Delaney--Ernest from New Jersey--arrives and sparks a mutual attraction that adds an unsought, but hardly unpleasant, dimension to her already fraught emotional life.

Kane paints a revealing, multidimensional psychological portrait of Penelope Fitzgerald, one that's enriched by information she gained from e-mail exchanges with the adult Valpy and his younger sister Tina, excerpts of which appear periodically in the text. It's an unusual, but effective, technique that doesn't detract from the novel's appeal as a work of fiction. Twenty-four years before she published her first novel, the Fitzgerald who appears in Fonseca is a deeply sympathetic character: a loving mother, anguished wife, and writer in whom the fires of literary ambition are smoldering, waiting to burst into flames. --Harvey Freedenberg, freelance reviewer

Shelf Talker: Jessica Francis Kane skillfully imagines British novelist Penelope Fitzgerald's unusual journey to Mexico in 1952.

BookPeople, the association of Australian bookshops, hosted its annual conference and trade exhibition in Brisbane, June 14-16. Books+Publishing reported that there were more than 187 attendees for the program and/or the trade exhibition, including seven delegates from Aotearoa New Zealand, with 44 attendees participating in the conference for the first time. 

Noting that attendance matched last year's numbers, BookPeople called it "a very reassuring result for the team." This year's gala dinner hosted 290 guests, who watched as the 2025 books of the year award winners were announced, including Dusk by Robbie Arnott (adult fiction), The Season by Helen Garner (adult nonfiction), and The Midwatch by Judith Rossell (children's). 

Two lifetime member awards were also presented: to Jay Lansdown, owner of Constant Reader in Crows Nest, New South Wales (NSW), and a former BookPeople president; and to BookPeople's outgoing CEO Robbie Egan.

After the conference, Egan wrote in the organization's newsletter: "We're back in the wintery south from sunny Brisbane where we packed an enormous amount of content and conversation into three days of the BookPeople Conference. Thanks to all of you who attended! It's the energy of delegates which propels a conference, and you made this year in Brisbane an absolute pleasure to be a part of. Thank you to all of our sponsors, the booksellers, authors, publishers and others who contributed to the panels. I came away energized and excited about the future of the industry despite the many challenges we face."

Naturally, my favorite honors from the conference went to booksellers: Sally Tabner of Bookoccino in Avalon Beach, NSW (bookseller of the year), Sophie Wigan of Harry Hartog in Carindale, Queensland (young bookseller of the year), and Allyx Lathrope of Kinokuniya Sydney (children's bookseller of the year).

Describing Tabner as "a bookseller's bookseller, the heart and soul of Bookoccino," BookPeople said, "In just a few years, under Sally's guidance, hard work, and passion for books, Bookoccino has grown exponentially, and become a vibrant community gathering space. Bookoccino's curation elicits rave reviews from customers and publishers alike. And it is all Sally. She is a voracious reader.... Bookoccino owes its success to an extraordinary staff, to their dedication to Bookoccino, and to their commitment to books and the community. Again, credit goes to Sally. She has strikingly good judgment in hiring, and a remarkable talent for training and supervising.... Every morning, Bookoccino is abuzz, friends over flat white and chai talking about their children, grandchildren, books, ideas, the weather, politics. Students and businessmen and women work on their laptops. Sally knows them all."

The proof of Sophie Wigan's "excellence in day-to-day bookshop life, is that in just a few years Sophie has been promoted from bookseller to assistant manager and then again, just this year, to acting store manager. Sophie is exactly what you what in a bookseller," BookPeople noted. "She is passionate, enthusiastic, caring and clearly loves what she does. When Sophie is talking to customers she doesn't pretend. It's her honesty and excitement about books that is what makes customers buy them from her.... Throughout all her different roles there, Sophie has led by example. She radiates joy and is actually excited to start working each day. This joy is infectious and it can be felt by anyone who walks into that store.... The entire team are motivated by Sophie--everyone wants to be embraced by the shining light that surrounds her." 

As the English Books Department manager, Allyx Lathrope "oversees the daily running of the shop floor and is in charge of hiring new members for Kinokuniya's excellent, book-loving customer service team. Allyx is also the children's and young adult books buyer and organizes campaigns, events and school holiday activities to celebrate and promote the category and its books to our dedicated customer base," BookPeople said, adding: "Allyx has been the most passionate defender of books in-store--her ongoing commitment to ensuring that there are as many titles as possible available for young people to access even when scary, oppressive, censorship rears its head is to be lauded."

Among the New Zealand attendees at BookPeople's conference was Renee Rowland, association manager of Booksellers Aotearoa NZ, which will be hosting its own annual conference in Auckland July 18-19. 

In a blog post titled "Dispatches from Brisbane," Rowland shared some of her experiences, noting: "On Friday I left the cold wet wilds of South Canterbury for Brisbane, heading across the ditch for the Annual BookPeople Conference. The purpose of this 'live' feed is to share my experience with you, sharing highlights and hot tips, forsaking any style for benefit of speed and simple iteration of my experience. Above all, I want to show booksellers the value of a bookselling conference, encourage you to come to the BookPeople conference and to our own conference, to invest in your own professional and business development."

When it was over, she observed: "I boarded the plane home very conscious that I'd just been part of a world class experience and keen to get back to work on our own conference, to bring the same level of quality and inspiration to our delegates and to provide an incredible return on investment for our delegates."

The summing up: A post on Bookoccino's Facebook page featured wise words from co-owner and bookseller of the year Sally Tabner: "It is such an honor to be among this phenomenal community of true book lovers! I'm looking forward to the next 20 years of book selling, building community and nurturing creativity, imagination, and ideas."