Kirkus has bought AudioFile magazine, which publishes more than 2,500 audiobook reviews a year and was founded in 1992 by Robin Whitten. A new audiobook section known as Kirkus Audiobook Reviews, which will be edited by AudioFile managing editor Jennifer Dowell, is part of Kirkus Reviews' January 1 issue. AudioFile publisher Michele Cobb will continue with Kirkus as its enterprise advertising director. 

Meg Kuehn

Whitten said, "With Kirkus's acquisition of AudioFile's review program, the future is bright for audiobook reviews. It's been my honor to bring a spotlight to audiobooks and narrators for 34 years, and to know that will continue with Kirkus."

At the same time, Meg LaBorde Kuehn, who stepped down last July as Kirkus CEO and publisher, is returning to Kirkus with the same title and an expanded ownership position. In her new role, Kuehn will add a focus on strategic long-term growth through acquisitions and technology initiatives. The AudioFile purchase is the first example of this.

Kuehn commented, "In these times of American media companies scaling back coverage of books and literary culture, Kirkus is investing in the future. Audiobook coverage is the perfect next step in our expansion, and there is no company in the world more tuned in to the audience and its needs than AudioFile."

Herb Simon, chairman of Kirkus, said, "We are committed to growing Kirkus and enriching the book industry. Meg Kuehn is our trusted leader and agent of growth, and I'm thrilled to have her back as a partner."

Jeffrey Mathews has been named president of Scholastic Education and continues as Scholastic Corp.'s executive v-p and chief growth officer. He has served as interim head of the Scholastic Education division since June 2025.

Jeffrey Mathews

Peter Warwick, Scholastic president and CEO, said, "Scholastic Education is a core part of Scholastic's mission and a meaningful long-term opportunity for earnings growth. Over the past seven months, Jeff has brought clarity, urgency, and strong market perspective to this business during an important period of transition. We've made significant progress under his leadership and appointing him to this role builds on that momentum--strengthening near-term execution while defining a clear strategy to fully realize the division's long-term potential."

Mathews said, "In my expanded role, I'll be focused on deepening our impact in schools, communities and homes by sharpening our strategy and delivering high-impact learning experiences that unlock students' potential and support educators. We have a strong foundation, a talented team, and clear opportunities ahead. I'm excited to build on the progress we've made, strengthen our partnerships with educators and literacy leaders, and drive sustainable growth aligned with Scholastic's mission."

Mathews, who joined Scholastic in 2022, has more than 30 years of experience in strategy, mergers & acquisitions, and investor relations. He was a co-founder of two tech startups, and during an earlier stint at Scholastic, he was v-p, corporate strategy, business development & investor relations.

Adam Zacharius

Kensington Publishing has named Adam Zacharius to the role of president, making him the third generation of the family to helm the company since it was founded by his late grandfather, Walter Zacharius, in 1974. Previously serving as v-p and general manager, the new president will continue to work closely alongside his father, Steven Zacharius, who remains chairman and CEO.

Adam Zacharius officially began working at the company in 2007, three years after graduating from NYU's Stern Business School. He initially managed Kensington's former filmmaking arm, Kensington Media, from the West Coast, but relocated to New York in 2011, shortly after Walter Zacharius's death, to become more deeply involved in the company's day-to-day operations. 

"I'm incredibly excited to step into the role of president," said Adam Zacharius. "From starting in the mailroom as a small child to working closely with my father as an adult, the journey has been deeply meaningful. I'm proud to help lead this company alongside the best team in publishing."

Steven Zacharius emphasized that the appointment reflects continuity, not transition, saying, "Adam has been integral to the company's growth and evolution over the past 15 years, and I am confident that he will do great things in his role as president. Of course, this doesn't mean I have plans to go anywhere. I will continue to be as actively involved in the business as always, enjoying the incredibly special privilege of working alongside my son just as I was able to work with my own father. I believe we are the only third-generation publishing company in the business, and I am fortunate to have four grandchildren, so hopefully the trend will continue."

The Globe Pequot Publishing Group has acquired Lake Isle Press, an independent book publisher founded in 1990 by Hiroko Kiiffner and Jane Ross that publishes "trailblazing books for adventurous cooks." Lake Isle titles will be sold and distributed by Simon & Schuster, Globe Pequot's distribution partner. 

Among its early titles, Lake Isle partnered with James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Jim Fobel to publish the paperback edition of Jim Fobel's Old-Fashioned Baking Book. Following Jane Ross's departure in the late 1990s, Hiroko Kiiffner published the first of nine Lake Isle Press books by Rachael Ray, including the bestselling 30-Minute Meals in 1998 and Comfort Foods in 2000.

As international chefs like Pierre Thiam, Jose Garces, and Vikas Khanna joined the Lake Isle roster, the publisher noted that it "honed its focus on exploring ethnic cuisines with authentic recipes from culinary experts. Today our catalogue incorporates a range of cookbooks that celebrate the art of cooking from varying global perspectives."

"Lake Isle's acclaimed cookbooks--known for showcasing diverse culinary traditions--are a natural complement to the strong food and cooking list we've built at Lyons Press and Globe Pequot," said Globe Pequot president Bob Marsh. "The acquisition reflects our continued commitment to expanding in these key categories."

Lake Isle president Hiroko Kiiffner commented: "I'm delighted that Lake Isle has found a home with Globe Pequot. I've known Globe Pequot owner Jed Lyons for more 30 years, ever since we became a client of NBN. Our long-standing partnership through distribution and back-office collaboration makes this a natural fit."

The Independent Publishers Caucus will hold the third annual Indie Press Month in March. More than 60 IPC member presses will participate and more than a dozen partners have been confirmed, making it the largest Indie Press Month. Partners include Shelf Awareness, the American Booksellers Association, the regional booksellers associations, Bookshop.org, Ingram, Libro.fm, and others.

IPC executive director Daniel O'Brien commented: "We believe these expanding partnerships will help our thriving Indie Press Month campaign reach a broader audience--both digitally and in-person at bookstores and libraries across the country. At the same time, this remains a deeply indie-to-indie effort. Our focus continues to be on in-person engagement--celebrating the creativity of independent bookstores and libraries, the power of physical displays, and the relationships that sustain our communities."

Independent bookstores nationwide are invited to participate in an in-store display contest and a social media campaign to take place throughout the month of March. Through the Indie-to-Indie program, IPC will award $2,000 in cash prizes, including $500 to the bookstore with the winning display and $100 to runners-up. In addition, IPC has expanded its co-op marketing program this year from five to 25 stores, each of which will receive $50 for posting their display to social media. The display contest is supported by IPC and Bookshop.org.

All participating publishers, bookstores, and partners will receive downloadable social media graphics and in-store marketing materials. Bookstores attending Winter Institute in February in Pittsburgh, Pa., will also receive a bundle of Indie Press Month bookmarks. Sign-ups will be accepted through February 27, the final day of Winter Institute. Full contest guidelines are available on the sign-up page. Winners and runners-up of the display contest will be announced in Shelf Awareness.

This past week, Shelf Awareness sent our monthly pre-order e-blast to more than 921,000 of the country's best book readers. The e-blast went to 921,923 customers of 276 participating independent bookstores.

The mailing features 11 upcoming titles selected by Shelf Awareness editors and a sponsored title. Customers can buy these books via "pre-order" buttons that lead directly to the purchase page for the title on each sending store's website. A key feature is that bookstore partners can easily change title selections to best reflect the tastes of their customers and can customize the mailing with links, images and promotional copy of their own.

The pre-order e-blasts are sent the last Wednesday of each month; the next will go out on Wednesday, January 28. Stores interested in learning more can visit our program registration page or contact our partner program team via e-mail.

For a sample of the December pre-order e-blast, see this one from Next Chapter Café and Book Shop, Hagerstown, Md.

The titles highlighted in the pre-order e-blast were:

Brawler by Lauren Groff (Riverhead)
Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman (Ace)
A World Appears by Michael Pollan (Penguin Press)
The Astral Library by Kate Quinn (Morrow)
Wolf Hour by Jo Nesbø (Knopf)
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page (Berkley)
Leaving Home: A Memoir in Full Colour by Mark Haddon (Doubleday)
Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson (37Ink/S&S)
Throne of Nightmares by Kerri Maniscalco (Little, Brown)
Oxford Blood by Rachael Davis-Featherstone (Wednesday Books)
Sibylline by Melissa de la Cruz (Putnam BFYR)

Inventory season continues for indie bookstores, including:

Skylark Bookshop, Columbia, Mo.: "It is almost time for us to count ALL OF THE THINGS!"

Werner Books & Coffee, Erie, Pa.: "We're closed today 1/6 and tomorrow 1/7 as we keep working through scanning every book for inventory! Comment below how many books you think we have! We'll announce the final total later this week!"

Norwich Bookstore, Norwich, Vt.: "It's time for our We Don't Want to Count It Sale!... Help us clear our shelves so we have fewer books to count on Inventory Day (where we count every single item in the bookstore)! What better way to spend the first day of the year than re-stocking your TBR? Please note this sale is in-store only as our goal is to get the books *out* of the building."

lala books, Lowell, Mass.: "Hailey & Laura are trying to get a jump start on inventory which means we are finding more great titles to discount for you. Our 'Save Us from Inventory' Sale runs through Sunday and we are here our normal hours until we close on Jan 5 & 6 for the big count. See you soon!"

Under the Umbrella Bookstore, Salt Lake City, Utah: "Thank you so much for spending another year with us. We've loved getting to be your queer little bookstore and can't wait for another year of queer joy. And thanks for being patient with us while we do some inventory and then take a break. See y'all on the 13th!"

At Silver Unicorn

The Silver Unicorn Bookstore, Acton, Mass.: "These are the happy faces of booksellers who just completed inventory in record time, thanks to our amazing partners and friends at Bookmanager, who are constantly innovating ways to make our job easier."

Town House Books, Saint Charles, Ill.: "We're closed today for inventory but reopen at 9 am tomorrow. We look forward to seeing you in the new year!... Thank you for supporting your local independent bookstore!"

The Bookstore of Gloucester, Gloucester, Mass.: "We've been working away during the quiet moments the last couple days & inventory is nearly complete!"

Thistle Bookshop and Cafe, St. Catharines, Ont., Canada: "Inventory Day. Every book. Every shelf. Counted. Huge thanks to our incredible team for powering through today."

"Don't you just love our windows--the perfect little sunny corner for discovering your next read!" Shared Stories in Caldwell, Idaho, posted on Instagram. 

Posted on Instagram by the Lynx bookstore, Gainesville, Fla.: "On Saturday, we handed out banned books from our nonprofit, the Lynx Watch, at Gainesville's annual @flyingpigparade! Learn more about our efforts to fight book banning--and get involved--at the link in our bio."

At Zando:

Natalie Ullman has been promoted to director of social media.

Zoey Cole has been promoted to associate director of marketing.

Khalil Commissiong has been promoted to manager, inventory and sales analytics.

Today:
Fresh Air: Eric Lichtblau, author of American Reich: A Murder in Orange County, Neo-Nazis, and a New Age of Hate (Little, Brown, $30, 9780316564717).

Apple TV released a first look at Imperfect Women, a new limited series based on Araminta Hall's novel. Created for TV by Annie Weisman (Physical, Based on a True Story), the project stars and is exec produced by Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale, Shining Girls, Mad Men) and Kerry Washington (Scandal, Little Fires Everywhere, UnPrisoned). It premieres with two episodes on March 18, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through April 29.

The cast for the eight-episode thriller also includes Kate Mara, Joel Kinnaman, Corey Stoll, Leslie Odom Jr., Audrey Zahn, Jill Wagner, Rome Flynn, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Violette Linnz, Indiana Elle, Jackson Kelly, Keith Carradine, Ana Ortiz, and Wilson Bethel. The series is a co-production of 20th Television and Apple Studios.

Apple TV noted that Imperfect Women "examines a crime that shatters the lives of three women in a decades-long friendship. The unconventional thriller explores guilt and retribution, love and betrayal, and the compromises we make that irrevocably alter our lives. As the investigation unravels, so does the truth about how even the closest friendships may not be what they seem."

Authors and Canada Reads winners Michelle Good and Ziya Tong were among the 80 new appointees to the Order of Canada, which were announced on December 31, CBC News reported. Gov. General Mary Simon's office named six new companions, the highest level of the Order of Canada; 15 officers; and 59 members, the introductory level in the order. Good and Tong were both appointed as members.

Good is a Cree writer and retired lawyer, as well as a member of Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. She was appointed for her work towards "reconciliation, truth and respect" through her writing, activism and practice as a lawyer. Her debut novel, Five Little Indians, won Canada Reads 2022, as well as the 2020 Governor General's Literary Award for fiction. She is also the author of Truth Telling: Seven Conversations about Indigenous Life in Canada.

Tong, an author, broadcaster, filmmaker and science journalist, was appointed for her commitment to improving animal rights through media and education. She won Canada Reads in 2019, defending Max Eisen's memoir By Chance Alone, and published her first book, The Reality Bubble: Blind Spots, Hidden Truths, and the Dangerous Illusions that Shape Our World, in that same year. The book was on the 2020 RBC Taylor Prize shortlist and won the 2019-2020 Lane Anderson Award for science writing in Canada.

Also appointed members of the Order of Canada were Toronto children's author Elizabeth MacLeod, who has written more than 70 nonfiction titles, including the Scholastic Canada Biography series about influential Canadians, and Quebec writer and professor Hans-Jürgen Greif, who writes in French, for his contributions to literature, teaching, and cultural exchanges.  

photo: Mae Haines

Katie Bernet is a creative director, a longstanding member of the DFW Writer's Workshop, and the director of the 2025 DFW Writer's Conference. The oldest of three sisters, she's a diehard fan of Little Women. Beth Is Dead is Bernet's debut novel and one of the titles on the inaugural list of Simon & Schuster's Sarah Barley Books imprint.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

Little Women but make it a modern YA mystery/thriller. Beth is found dead in chapter one, and her sisters must track down her killer.

On your nightstand now:

I just finished Kill Creatures by Rory Power, and it hasn't left my nightstand, because my jaw is still on the floor. This book is written from the perspective of the killer, and that's not a spoiler--it's in the jacket copy. I thought it was so fascinating to read a mystery where you dive into the mind of the murderer herself on page one. I'm starting Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson, because I love love love her other books, and I'm rereading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, because it might serve as inspiration for a new book that's been percolating in my mind.

Favorite book when you were a child:

I remember loving the Magic Tree House series, but I called my mom to get an accurate answer. When she said The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews, the most wonderful, whimsical memories came flooding back.

Your top five authors:

First, I love Margaret Atwood (all hail!). Her characters are unflinching and unforgettable, and she designs speculative worlds that feel all too real. I'm beyond excited to start reading her memoir. Second, Gabrielle Zevin. She won my heart with Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, a novel that perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being an artist. Third, Celeste Ng, who's a master of tension and complex characters. Fourth, Barbara Kingsolver, whose writing is lush and fearless. I'll never forget reading The Poisonwood Bible for the first time. It gave me a deep respect for multi-POV novels. Last, I'm obsessed with Liz Moore, whose mysteries are page-turning and literary, heart-pounding and thoughtful.

Book you've faked reading:

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. It's on my TBR. I will probably read it someday, but in the meantime, I pretend I've already read it to avoid getting kicked out of happy hours.

Book you're an evangelist for:

I'll never stop talking about The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, which is a novel written in verse. When I read it the first time, I had to stop highlighting lines that I loved, because there were too many. It's a gorgeous, powerful story about finding your voice.

Book you've bought for the cover:

Other People's Clothes by Calla Henkel. This also turned out to be a great book, but I initially picked it up because it's pink and yellow and super chic.

Book you hid from your parents:

I never really hid a book from my parents, but I remember feeling way too adult while I read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Book that changed your life:

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott changed my life a few times. First, when I read it in high school. As the oldest of three sisters, I instantly fell in love with Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy--their unconditional love, soul-wounding fights, and sisterly crosstalk. Second, when I watched Greta Gerwig's film. I've been a fan of Gerwig since the days of Francis Ha and Lady Bird, but her version of Little Women is my favorite movie of all time. It reinvigorated my love for the novel and might be the first thing that nudged me toward writing a retelling. Little Women changed my life for a third time when I wrote Beth Is Dead. Reimagining the classic gave me a completely new appreciation for the source material and made me a published author.

Favorite line from a book:

"Survival is insufficient." This quote from Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel packs an incredible punch in three words. It means that simply surviving this world is not enough. If we want to experience life to its fullest, we must create. I'm not a tattoo person, but if I could brave the needle, I'd probably get these words inked onto my skin. They're like a mantra for me.

Five books you'll never part with:

On Writing by Stephen King has been one of the most helpful and entertaining craft books I've ever read. I'll never give up Mosquitoland by David Arnold, a master class on voice and heart. Switch by A.S. King is layered in metaphor. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson is about two topics that are near and dear to my heart: art and siblings. Going Bovine by Libba Bray which is a wild exploration of life and death and everything in between. And Far from the Tree by Robin Benway, an unapologetic novel about the unbreakable bond of siblings. Are we noticing a pattern here?

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

I'd love to read And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie for the very first time all over again. I remember being completely shaken by the ending, and I'd love to access that feeling again. It's a good reminder of what I'm trying to achieve when I'm writing mysteries. I want my readers to feel the stomach-dropping, spine-tingling aha that I felt when I first read And Then There Were None.

Favorite book title:

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. Vuong is an incredible poet, and this title is a poem itself. Close second? Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake, which is a satire about a sorority of cannibals. I mean, come on. That title with that premise? Gold.

Best book recommendation you have received?

Years ago, a friend recommended We Are Okay by Nina Lacour. The story made a huge difference in my life, first and foremost because it's a profound exploration of loneliness and grief, but also because it introduced me to Nina Lacour and her writing workshops. I ended up taking one of her online classes called the Slow Novel Lab and it shifted my relationship with writing, making the process feel more enjoyable and magical.

In Red River Rose, an engrossing and harrowing work of historical fiction, Carole Lindstrom offers a First Nations response to the romanticization of the pioneer spirit celebrated in tales of 19th-century western expansion. It features 12-year-old Rose, a courageous girl trying to help save her Métis community from extirpation by the Canadian government.

Rose loves her way of life in Batoche, "a small Métis community in the Northwest Territories" of Canada, which boasts "seven stores, and a small schoolhouse, a church, and a rectory" as well as a handful of white settlers. Rose spends her time trapping, hunting, playing, and gathering medicinal herbs on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. When rumors start circulating about the Canadian government planning to divide and distribute their land to more settlers coming from the east, it becomes clear the Métis are going to resist. Rose wants to fight with her community, but as a girl she is expected to help her ma with childcare and herb gathering in their safe house (a "cave camp") away from the fighting. Her heroic cleverness, bravery, and willingness to stretch the limits of what's allowed contribute to her community holding their own--at least for a little while--against the North West Mounted Police soldiers during what became known as the North-West Resistance.

In an author's note, Lindstrom tells readers that the protagonist of her stirring middle-grade novel is the very same child from her picture book The Gift of the Great Buffalo. Lindstrom writes from the viewpoint of her own Métis and First Nation ancestors who fought in the Saskatchewan North-West Resistance of 1885, calling this fictionalized account "my Little House on the Prairie." Here, Lindstrom writes "from a Native perspective of a young girl, much like Laura Ingalls." The two protagonists share a keen sense of justice, and both their families work hard to make a happy life for themselves, but there is a hole in the Little House books that is filled in Red River Rose: the perspective of all the people the settlers often violently displaced from their homes. The book ends on a hopeful but poignant note: "I'm like you, Pa," Rose says. "Always fighting for what's right, even if it doesn't stop the thing you want to stop." Like Linda Sue Park's Prairie Lotus and the Show Me a Sign series by Ann Clare LeZotte, Red River Rose thrills, provokes, and disquiets. --Emilie Coulter, freelance writer and editor

Shelf Talker: In this moving middle-grade First Nations take on the romanticization of 19th-century pioneer stories, a Métis girl joins her community as they resist subjugation by the government.

The bestselling Libro.fm audiobooks at independent bookstores during December:

Fiction
1. Good Spirits by B.K. Borison (Avon)
2. Katabasis by R.F. Kuang (Harper Voyager)
3. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Penguin Random House Audio)
4. Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid (Tantor Media)
5. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury)
6. Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove (Dreamscape Lore)
7. The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig (Hachette Audio)
8. Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (Simon Maverick)
9. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Penguin Random House Audio)
10. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (Macmillan Audio)

Nonfiction
1. Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green (Penguin Random House Audio)
2. Enshittification by Cory Doctorow (Macmillan Audio)
3. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad (Penguin Random House Audio)
4. A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst (Penguin Random House Audio)
5. 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin (Penguin Random House Audio)
6. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Tantor Media)
7. Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre (Penguin Random House Audio)
8. 107 Days by Kamala Harris (Simon & Schuster Audio)
9. Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn (Macmillan Audio)
10. Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (Macmillan Audio)