Hive Mind Books in Brooklyn, N.Y., has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help buy the Bureau of General Services--Queer Division and prevent its closure, Gothamist reported. BGSQD is the last queer bookstore in Manhattan.

Hive Mind Books

Jules Wernersbach, owner of Hive Mind Books, launched the crowdfunding campaign last week; it has already brought in more than $34,000 out of a $50,000 goal. Money raised will go toward purchasing BGSQD, increasing payroll, hiring an events manager, and reopening a cafe in the Bureau's building on West 13th St. that has been closed for more than a year.

Wernersbach told Gothamist that they reached out to BGSQD owners Donnie Jochum and Greg Newton almost as soon as they learned Newton and Jochum intended to move and would close the bookstore if they could not find a buyer. After confirming BGSQD was a healthy business, Wernersbach knew buying it was the right choice.

"Understanding that the business is healthy and people just want it and love it so much--of course they do, they're such a community here," Wernersbach said. "People want this here, they need it and they’re relying on this store for gathering, events, for cultures or just coming in for chit chat."

"This will help to draw more attention to the bookstore, which is tucked away on the second floor, not to mention much-needed revenue," Newton told Gothamist. “The joining of the Bureau to the cafe and to Hive Mind Books will create a mutually supporting network of queer cultural spaces in NYC that can do so much more than the Bureau could ever have done on its own."

Wernersbach has no plans to significantly change BGSQD's identity or offerings, though there are plans to update its software systems and add e-commerce functionality. They pointed out that though both Hive Mind and the Bureau are queer bookstores, they have different audiences and communities. 

"The Bureau is so well known and so well loved for what it does," Wernersbach said. "We like it, we like what they've done and we want to keep their identity as it is."

Poor Richard's, the "beloved book and gift store, toy store, restaurant, and wine bar" that opened in 1975 in Colorado Springs, Colo., has been sold. The Gazette reported that owners Richard Skorman and Patricia Seator had received several offers to sell Poor Richard's after 51 years in operation, and sold it to Joe Cole and Sarah Gibeau-Cole because of their shared values and commitment to preserving the business. A public celebration of the sale will be held on May 3, featuring all four owners.

Cole, a longtime anchor and news director at the city's Fox21 channel, and Gibeau-Cole, a senior territory manager for a medical equipment manufacturer, "sealed their connection to Skorman and Seator when they were 'deeply moved' by Poor Richard's providing hundreds of free meals to federal workers impacted by the government shutdown in the fall," the Gazette noted, adding that the sale was made possible in part by the contributions of John Weiss, who is the new owner of the Manitou Springs Penny Arcade and the Catalyst Fund founder.

Skorman launched a bookstore that would become Poor Richard's Feed & Read in 1975, while he was a senior at Colorado College, the Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest reported. That business grew to include Poor Richard's Restaurant, Poor Richard's Books & Gifts, Rico's Café & Wine Bar, and Little Richard's Toy Store, all in the 300 block of North Tejon Street, where the complex of businesses has become a downtown gathering place.

"We didn't want someone who would change the heart of this place," Skorman said. "Joe and Sarah understand that Poor Richard's is more than a business, it's a community living room. They both plan on working full-time in the businesses and they each bring complementary skills to this transition."

Final Draft, a bookstore, bar, and coffee shop, will open in Wichita, Kan., this summer, the Wichita Eagle reported.

Owners and married couple Natalie and John Macy have found a 2,000-square-foot space at 1029 W. Douglas Ave. The opening inventory will consist of around 4,500 books across an assortment of genres, and the design will evoke a cozy library. 

The store will feature an 18-foot bar and seating for 38 customers. During the day, it will serve coffee, matcha, and other non-alcoholic beverages, along with pastries and snacks. In the evening, Final Draft will be serving beer, wine, and cocktails. In addition to the bar, there will be a space called the Editors Room that customers will be able to rent out for book clubs and meetings. 

"My dream in life for a decade has been to open a bookstore, but we knew that we needed something to kind of pull people in that was more than just books," Natalie Macy told the Eagle. "I wanted a space where people could come and read or study and being kind of that moody atmosphere."

Both Natalie and Josh Macy are from Wichita, but the pair moved away in 2014. Though Natalie Macy was "thrilled" to return to Wichita in 2025, she felt the area lacked "a bookstore that people could just go to and drink a cocktail or a coffee."

The Macys are aiming for a June or July opening.

A Celebration of Life for Linda Exman, who died November 17 at the age of 90 from cancer, will be held on Tuesday, April 21, at 4:30 p.m. at the Upper West Side Barnes & Noble, 2289 Broadway (at 82nd St), in New York City.

Exman was the founder and president of New York Is Book Country for 25 years; a long-time supporter of My Own Books.org; and former marketing executive at Doubleday, Lippincott, and M. Evans. For more information contact Esther Margolis at 917-865-9876 or Arlynn Greenbaum at 917-855-5290.

To see a C-Span interview with Exman about the founding of New York Is Book Country, click here.

Bob Chapman, chairman of the board at Barry-Wehmiller Companies and co-author of Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family (Portfolio/Penguin Publishing Group), died March 19. 

Bob Chapman

"The Portfolio team is immensely sad to note the passing of our friend Bob Chapman," the publisher said. "Bob was introduced to us by Simon Sinek, who described him as one of the most enlightened leaders that he had ever met. Bob's legacy of kindness and compassion will be felt by the thousands whose lives were touched by his leadership, and by the many thousands of readers of his seminal book, Everybody Matters, which we were tremendously proud to publish."

In a statement expressing "profound sadness," Barry-Wehmiller wrote: "Chapman was more than a business leader, author and speaker, he was a relentless optimist who dedicated his life to building a better world. He worked to redefine what it meant to be a leader in business, to further the understanding that it was an awesome responsibility because the way we lead impacts the way people live. He worked tirelessly to bring more caring to business and built the foundation for Barry-Wehmiller to champion new definitions for success in business: by demonstrating that economic growth and human vibrancy can exist in harmony."

Chapman became CEO of the struggling company, which at the time was a supplier of equipment for the brewing industry, in 1975 after the death of his father, William Chapman. As of 2025, when Bob Chapman handed the reins of the business to his son Kyle Chapman, the current president and CEO, Barry-Wehmiller had become a $3.6 billion-plus global business with 12,000 employees with operations in industrial and packaging automation, professional services, and life sciences technology.

In the late 1990s into the 2000s, Chapman underwent a personal transformation that changed his thinking from traditional "management" to "truly human leadership." The experiences and the principles he championed were the inspiration behind his bestselling book, Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family (2015), written with his friend, Raj Sisodia, founder of Conscious Capitalism Inc. Since its release, the book has been translated into eight languages and, in 2025, was re-released in a revised and expanded edition.

In 2013, Chapman and his wife, Cynthia, launched a nonprofit, Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities, to bring Barry-Wehmiller's communication training to communities. And in 2015, he founded Chapman & Co. Leadership Institute to bring the principles of truly human leadership to for-profit organizations through culture transformation and leadership training.

Chapman once answered a question about what he would want his eulogy to be by saying: "He genuinely cared for the people whose lives he had the privilege of touching." 

Congratulations to Barrington Books in Barrington, R.I., which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. In a Facebook post, the bookseller wrote: "Forty years ago, Barrington Books opened its doors with a simple idea: that a bookstore could be more than a place to shop--it could be a place to belong.

"Since 1986, you've made that true in ways we could never have imagined. Through every season, every story, every new chapter--you've shown up, supported us, and allowed this little independent bookstore to grow into something full of heart. We are so deeply grateful to this community--for your loyalty, your curiosity, and your love of books, toys, gifts… and yes, a whole lot of soul.

"To celebrate 40 years, we'll be hosting a series of special events, gatherings, and surprises over the coming months. We can't wait to celebrate with you--because this milestone truly belongs to all of us. Here's to 40 years... and the next chapter together."

"Please don't tap on the glass. It scares the books! Thank you.--Annie Bloom's Book Zoo Mgmt." That was the message on a sign in the storefront window at Annie Bloom's Books in Portland, Ore., which noted on Instagram: "Check out our zoo of books in the window all month!"

"This is just a reminder that an indie bookstore is a lovely place to be rain or shine (and sometimes in Michigan we experience both in one day). Happy Monday everyone!" Serendipity Books, Chelsea, Mich., posted on Instagram.

Start at the End by Emma Grey (Zibby Publishing).

Today:
All Things Considered: Emma Straub, author of American Fantasy (Riverhead, $30, 9798217046850).

Tomorrow:
Today: Ella Quittner, author of Obsessed with the Best: 100+ Methodically Perfected Recipes Based on 20+ Head-to-Head Tests (Morrow Cookbooks, $40, 9780063357686).

Also on Today: Danielle Kartes, author of My Very First Baking Book (Sourcebooks Explore, $17.99, 9781464233098).

Jennifer Hudson Show repeat: Blair Underwood, author of A Soldier's Wife: My Mother, the Marvelous Mrs. Marilyn A. Underwood (Amistad, $28, 9780063211872).

Late Night with Seth Meyers repeat: Tayari Jones, author of Kin: A Novel (Knopf, $32, 9780525659181).

Angel Studios has released a trailer for Andy Serkis's animated movie Animal Farm: A Cautionary Tail, adapted by Nicholas Stoller from George Orwell's classic novel, Deadline reported, adding that it will be released in theaters on May 1.

The voice cast for the project, which had its world premiere last June at the Annecy Animation Film Festival, includes Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Steve Buscemi, Glenn Close, Laverne Cox, Kieran Culkin, Woody Harrelson, Jim Parsons, Kathleen Turner, Iman Vellani, and Serkis.

Serkis "has created a fresh take on the book, which Orwell wrote in the mid-1940s as Stalinism had taken firm hold in post-revolution Soviet Union," Deadline noted. "The book told the tale of a group of farm animals who rebel against their owner with a plan to create a utopian, free and happy life for themselves. But one group--the pigs--end up taking over and the society becomes as shackled as it was before."

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Crown) won 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. Evans receives $15,000 as winner, and first runner-up Milo Todd gets $10,000 for The Lilac People (Counterpoint). 

"I've been a longtime supporter of Indie bookstores–and emerging authors," Patterson said. "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!"

Beth Seufer Buss of Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, N.C., praised The Correspondent as 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." 

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Mahreen Sohail's Small Scale Sinners (A Public Space) has won the 2026 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. Sohail receives $15,000. The authors of the other finalists--Addie E. Citchens, for Dominion; Quiara Alegría Hudes, for The White Hot; Jonas Hassen Khemiri, for The Sisters; and Lily King, for Heart the Lover--each receive $5,000.

Judges said, "In Small Scale Sinners, the magnitude of the small is roundly confirmed. This brief volume reveals the vast universes within the realm of the domestic. Sentences collect the infinite, and single lives contain multitudes. Sohail's small scale presents our largest subjects: family, love, humor, and horror. We celebrate these beautiful stories. Their complexity and compassion challenge ideas of power by proclaiming the humane wisdom of fiction."

Mahreen Sohail was born in Islamabad, Pakistan. She has an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College, where she studied as a Fulbright Scholar, and was a Writing Fellow at A Public Space and a Charles Pick Fellow at the University of East Anglia. Her work has appeared in Granta, the Kenyon Review, Pushcart Prize XLII, and elsewhere. She lives in Washington, D.C.

Sohail said, "I wrote the stories in Small Scale Sinners over the course of a decade. With the book I was trying to map out possible ways of being an independent woman in the world. I am moved to see this book slowly find its readers, very grateful that it resonated with the judges of the PEN/Faulkner Award, and immensely honored to see it share space with such excellent writing."

Sofi Stambo won the 2024 Kellman Prize for Immigrant Literature with People Who Live Alone Talk Too Much, a collection of 34 short stories that highlight warm, humorous, poignant details of quotidian lives lived between Bulgaria and Brooklyn. Her daughter, Yana Mihaylova, enhances every story with black-and-white drawings, sometimes just a few lines that capture crossed legs, others that present architecturally intricate cityscapes.

Born in Bulgaria and relocated to New York, Stambo mines her own experiences into vulnerable fiction. Feeling that she's no longer quite Bulgarian, not quite fully American, Stambo transforms that liminality into an outsider's insight. In the opening "Spying in Manhattan Diners," the narrator and her boyfriend share lunch, all the while sharply observing both staff and customers--"fragile" owner George, the $4.75/hour grumpy and arthritic waiters, out-of-towners who ask for pics but won't leave a tip, the Guy Who Waits who gets an earful before his takeout order is finally ready. In the title story, the narrator is one of three "paper pushers" who dream of someday boarding the Caribbean Princess that glides by every Friday at 5:05 p.m. In "Ponchiki for the Fine Ladies of Queens," travel agents who don't travel share vicariously in the far-flung adventures relayed by a travel show's dreamily handsome cameraman.

Glimpses of childhood in Sofia in "Devil's Heart" intertwine both innocence and danger--amid youthful games and play is the looming awareness that "if someone reported you, you could just disappear." Threats of loss and separation keep siblings tightly bound together in "Lucky People Are Marked." The narrator in "On Manliness" learns "how to be a real man," not from his missing father but from his beloved granddad. In "Go Get 'Em," the narrator prepares to receive her potential in-laws, attempting "to match their lavish dinners and four-course crystal-and-china extravaganza" despite not having even "at least two plates or glasses or forks of the same kind." Community proves far more important--and lasting--than the shoddy new building's crumbling construction in "Hope Number Six."

Stambo's direct and unadorned writing, her pithy, sometimes stinging observations, make her a particularly convincing storyteller. Impressive, too, is her comedic timing, often lightening--without dismissing--heavier realities: geese droppings on cemetery gravestones, for example, as proof that "at least someone came to visit." Relationships among family, friends, strangers--despite the everyday maelstrom of movement and chaos--compose the core of Stambo's diverse collection. The goal, as a character comments, is to "feel peaceful and connected to this world." --Terry Hong

Shelf Talker: Sofi Stambo's prize-winning debut story collection insightfully examines the quotidian lives of Bulgarians and Brooklynites.

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

1. Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe
2. Becoming the Warrior by Jenn Donahue
3. Choose You: For the People Who Refuse to Disappear by Candice Mitchell
4. The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson
5. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
6. Vicious Obsession by Rozanov Bratva
7. Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
8. Crooked by Vi Keeland
9. The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook by Matt Dinneman
10. Across the Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles

[Many thanks to IndieReader.com!]