Andrews McMeel Universal is buying all titles of Quirk Books, which will become an imprint of Andrews McMeel Publishing. Quirk founder and publisher Dave Borgenicht will become publisher of the Quirk Books imprint of Andrews McMeel Publishing, reporting to AMU president and CEO Kirsty Melville. Sales and distribution of the Quirk titles will remain with Penguin Random House Publisher Services. (Simon & Schuster distributes Andrews McMeel Publishing.) Borgenicht will work with staff at Quirk headquarters in Philadelphia, Pa., to wind down Quirk and transition the imprint. Andrews McMeel began publication of Quirk's frontlist and backlist titles, including all titles being released in late 2025, as of October 1.

Melville said, "I have known and admired Dave since he first launched Quirk Books and am excited to work with him. Quirk's witty, entertaining, and irreverent books seamlessly align with Andrews McMeel. We similarly tap into the zeitgeist, creating bestselling books that delight, inspire, inform, and entertain readers immensely."

Hugh Andrews, chairman of Andrews McMeel, said, "We are delighted to add the Quirk Books imprint to our exceptional offering of titles. They provide an ideal complement to our list, and will continue to do so in the future with their imaginative and engaging books."

David Borgenicht

Borgenicht said, "I've been a fan of Andrews McMeel since I was in high school and I opened my first The Far Side calendar. And I've admired their creativity and entrepreneurship for as long as I've worked in this industry--which is about as long as I've known Kirsty. I'm thrilled to be placing Quirk in their hands, and I'm really looking forward to doing some creative (and independent) publishing together."

Quirk Books was founded in 2002 and quickly became a part of popular culture. The Worst Case Scenario series has sold more than 10 million copies and has evolved into books, games, calendars, and two television series. Quirk's "irreference" titles have included The Action Hero's Handbook, The Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, and The Baby Owner's Manual. Over the years, Quirk expanded into multiple genres, including fiction, YA, and children's books.

Other bestselling, notable titles include Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Grady Hendrix's Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, pop classics such as Elf and Back to the Future, William Shakespeare's Star Wars series, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and many more. Collectively, these titles alone have sold more than 15 million copies.

Andrews McMeel and Quirk said that "Quirk will retain its mission: to live up to its name, and to publish playful, bold, and unconventional books that make life a little bit better."

Spineless Reads has opened in Settler's Market at 4640 Casey Blvd, Suite 130, in Williamsburg, Va. The bookstore "aims to bring together stories and community, with a goal to be as much a community hub as it is a shop," the Williamsburg Yorktown Daily reported.

"I've been writing and publishing for a few years now, but about two years ago I had this itch to open a bookstore," said Lucas Marino, the shop's owner and author of the Haunting of the Whispering House series. "I really enjoy selling books, not just writing and publishing books. If I can make my whole life about books, I'm a happy person."

He added: "Launching the store doesn't scare me. What's more daunting is manning the store every day once it opens. I love creating something from nothing, and this gives me the chance to do that in a whole new way."

Noting that his background includes running a training company and serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, Marino sees the venture as both a creative outlet and a gift to the community. The Daily wrote that the "goal is to make Spineless Reads more than just shelves of books. That vision extends to creating a welcoming space for teens in the area. With few options for younger residents, the store aims to be a gathering place for readers of all ages and interests."

"I want people to feel welcome, like they're walking into a place where they can laugh, talk and have fun, not a library where you have to stay quiet," Marino said. "There will be music, lighting and decorations. I want it to feel like a destination." The bookshop's name is drawn from its origin online as an e-book marketplace.

He also hopes to tap into Williamsburg's rich history and local storytelling traditions: "We'd love to host local authors who write about Williamsburg's hauntings and make those stories accessible to younger audiences.... We want to be part of the artistic culture of Williamsburg. If you love romance, horror, or literary fiction, I want you to feel like there's a place here for you."

Black Pot Bookshop and Gifts will close its bricks-and-mortar store in downtown Opelousas, La., at the end of 2025 but will continue to make pop-up appearances at conventions and vendor shows.

In a message to customers announcing the closure, the Black Pot team wrote that Opelousas "has faced significant economic challenges for decades. The rise of strip malls and businesses opening along the interstate has drawn commerce away from the historic downtown area, leaving many storefronts vacant. This has led to a population decline, with the city's population dropping by over 6% between the 2010 and 2020 censuses."

While organizations continue to work toward a revitalization of downtown Opelousas, "a widespread economic turnaround remains a long and difficult process. The exodus of businesses has created a cycle of low traffic and a lack of critical mass to attract new ventures, making it incredibly challenging for small, independent shops like ours to thrive."

Store owner Jennifer Woodson added that the "overwhelming support" the store has received at conventions and vendor shows in the area "proves that the community for unique, curated books is vibrant and strong. We'll be focusing our efforts on these events, where we see a direct and enthusiastic response from our customers. We hope to see you there!"

In fall 2023, Woodson moved Black Pot Bookshop from a space inside the Spotted Cat Antique to a storefront in the historic Shute's Building in downtown Opelousas. The bookstore focuses on Acadiana culture and Louisiana art and history.

The Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association Fall Conference kicked off this week in Denver, Colo., following a rainy opening reception on Sunday evening. At a Monday morning Conversations with Colleagues session, moderated by Echo Gooch of The Floating Bookshop, Oklahoma City, Okla., attendees included representatives from stores around the region operating on a wide array of models.

(from l.) Monica Kapala and Gina Harris of XOXO Book Boutique, Las Vegas; Amelia Gale, Kelsey Stech, Emily McClung, and Kaeleigh Stewart of The Book Lounge, Boise/Meridian, Idaho

Books on Main, Fort Morgan, Colo., is a bricks-and-mortar store interested in starting a mobile bookshop to bring inventory to rural areas, while XOXO Book Boutique in Las Vegas, Nev., is a romance bricks-and-mortar shop that offers occasional pop-ups when they won't compete with others in the area. The Book Lounge of Boise/Meridian, Idaho, is a fiction-only pop-up that appeals to book clubs and serves beer and wine. Others operate from mobile units like trailers and buses, such as Roadrunner Bookshop in Colorado Springs, Colo.; The Teeny Tiny Bookshop and The Wandering Book Co., both in Denver's metro area; and The Page Society Bookshop of Duncan, Okla., which has enlisted a friend's boutique as a drop-off location for online orders.

Gooch led into the conversation by asking for strategies to navigate the colder, wetter weather of winter. The responses addressed ways to protect inventory, such as securing books in suitcases and blankets for transport, and using foam or pool noodles to hold stock on shelves in mobile units, but also reminders to keep pages away from windows that might build condensation, and to run an air-conditioning or dehumidifier unit.

In the midst of the discussion on inclement weather, Judey Kalchik of Binc spoke on the charitable organization's interest in re-evaluating which store types are eligible for their financial assistance, noting that the qualifying definition was last updated in 2017, and "the book industry and how people continue to sell books has changed" since then.

The conversation then drifted to concerns about cost tracking, such as mileage, vehicle maintenance, insurance, vendor fees, and the devices and programs needed for point of sale, with those in attendance comparing experiences with Shopify, Basil, and Square, and their integration with bookkeeping programs like Excel and Quickbooks.

Each store had varying metrics for what made their availability as a vendor worthwhile. However, for the initial start-up phases, it was generally recommended to reach out months in advance in order to form relationships with potential partner locations (coffeeshops, breweries, wineries, festivals, and even HOAs). In many cases, this can lead to more opportunities as the public becomes more aware of a shop's identity and existence. Many agreed, too, that building relationships with local libraries can be mutually advantageous. But the main consensus was that a space to set up for free is far more desirable than those that require a fee. --Dave Wheeler, senior editor, Shelf Awareness

Dan Cullen, former senior strategy officer and a 35-year veteran of the American Booksellers Association, died on October 6 after a long illness.

Dan Cullen

Cullen retired at the end of 2021. He joined the ABA in 1986 as editor of ABA Newswire, the predecessor of Bookselling This Week. During his career at the ABA, he was information department director, senior director of editorial content, and content officer, and oversaw, among other things, the old American Bookseller magazine and the Indie Next Lists. During his last seven years at the ABA, he was senior strategy officer, responsible for helping direct ABA strategy, the association's advocacy efforts, the annual ABACUS report, and media and press relations.

ABA CEO Allison Hill said: "All of us at ABA are heartbroken by the news of Dan Cullen's passing. It is a loss for all who knew and loved him--there are so many of us from Dan's time in the book industry. He began his career as an indie bookseller and ended it with his retirement from ABA after 35 years, but his support of our team and indie bookstores never ended. In recent years, Dan regularly texted us to applaud our efforts or the accomplishments of an indie. Dan was always a light in the industry for me, and I considered myself to be fortunate that my time at ABA overlapped with his, even more so to have called him a friend. He was a great champion of independent bookstores, small business, and a better world. He was terrible with deadlines and wonderful with words. I forgave him his love of the Knicks and was inspired by his Buddhist practice. Most of all, I loved watching him light up whenever he talked about his wife, children, and grandchild. He laughed readily--his snort was the best--and he was intellectually curious, always kind, 'rich in family and friends' as he liked to say, and above all, a good friend. May he rest in peace, and may his family and friends find comfort in our memories of him."

ABA COO Joy Dallanegra-Sanger said, "Dan was a fierce defender of free expression and indie bookstores. Dan and I traveled together for years to spring forums, board meetings, fall shows, book expos, and institutes. He found the best coffee shops and I ordered the wine. He was my ABA partner in crime for 15 years and I feel fortunate to have been his good friend and colleague. He is gone from us too soon but the world is a better place for the work he did and loved to do."

ABA chief communications officer Ray Daniels said, "Dan was my predecessor and he left large shoes to fill. He set me up for success and welcomed me to the world of bookselling. He shared his vast knowledge and was always ready to offer support and guidance. He was a stalwart cheerleader and would often send words of encouragement after something exciting would appear in Bookselling This Week. He will be missed by all who had the opportunity to know and love him."

ABA director of ABFE, advocacy, and public policy Dave Grogan said, "Dan was the one who hired me back in 2002, but we met and became friends before then, in 1997, when I was working part-time for the company next door to ABA. Dan was not only a great boss and a great mentor, he was a great friend. We bonded over our shared love of sports, politics and free expression. As I think of Dan, I fondly remember the very late nights and conversations at BookExpo conventions as we hustled to e-mail Bookselling This Week each night (one time resorting to playing baseball with a rolled up paper ball as we waited for final edits before sending). Overall, I will remember him as one of the smartest and kindest people I've ever known, and I am grateful we kept in touch after he retired. I will miss Dan tremendously but I am grateful that we were friends and colleagues for so many years."

Former ABA CEO Oren Teicher said, "Dan Cullen was a trusted colleague and good friend who made many, many extraordinary contributions to ABA and to indie bookselling. No one worked harder or more effectively than Dan. He and I spent countless hours together for more than 30 years and I always relied on his good advice and smart counsel. He was one very special person."

When he retired, Cullen said that working at the ABA, with independent booksellers, and in the book industry was "the greatest professional gift anyone could hope for. There hasn't been a day that I haven't met someone, learned something, or been able to work with a colleague that I'm not grateful for. I've been very lucky to have been at ABA through really remarkable volunteer and staff leadership, and I'm leaving with especial gratitude to both Allison and Joy, who have been sustained--and sustaining--profiles of what extraordinary leadership looks like. I can't wait to see what great things lie ahead for indie bookselling."

And in April, as part of BTW's "125 Years of ABA" series, Cullen answered questions about how the industry and the ABA has changed. In his answer to a question about the future, he said, "I'm not in a particularly happy place right now politically.

"So to see what independent bookstores are doing--sometimes in the face of vile threats, the ugliest insinuations, smashed windows, graffiti, and in-store aggression--is beyond heartening. It's a commitment to the Constitution, to human rights, to the written word, and to language.

"My hope is that booksellers will not just continue this fight politically, but do what they've always done, which is continually reinvent themselves. That's really one of the superpowers of bookselling.

"If a chain wants to make a big change, it's got to start at the headquarters. It's got to go through a bunch of meetings. It's got to go into a budget and the budget's got to be approved. Then it's got to get rolled out.

"In contrast to that, if an indie wants to expand the romance section, they could do it tomorrow. If it's only 10 a.m., they can do it today.

"Booksellers not only have the smarts and the first-hand experience to reinvent themselves, they have the means to do it as well. I have no doubt that they'll continue to do that.

"And now more than ever, can they just keep shining a light of diversity in their communities? 

"We're in dark times, and the light is shining out of the windows of bookstores, and that gives hope."

For those of us at Shelf Awareness, Dan was for so many years a friend, fellow journalist, and most helpful connection at the ABA and for bookselling and the book world in general. We will miss his thoughtfulness, grace, humor--and light.

There will be a memorial and celebration of life for Cullen in the upcoming weeks.

Last Thursday, Victoria Redel spoke at Porter Square Books, Cambridge, Mass., with author Claire Messud about her new novel, I Am You (SJP Lit), which Sarah Jessica Parker said "masterfully evokes the rich period of Golden Age Amsterdam and the centrality of its artists. Against this vivid and brilliantly detailed backdrop, the story of a female painter and her assistant comes to life, captivating us with its insights on time, art, sexual politics, class, women's rights, and how we tell and retell our histories. It is spellbinding, wonderfully atmospheric, and impossible to forget."

Wonderland Books, Bethesda, Md., showcased a surprise cameo appearance by actress, comedian, and children's book author Kate McKinnon, who showed off her new tote bag: "You never know who might show at Wonderland! What a fun afternoon when #katemckinnon stopped by to say hi, sign her Millicent Quibb books (the second one is now out!), chat with customers and support us indie bookstore people."

Sang Duffy, formerly publishing manager at Sibylline Press, has joined Bloomsbury Academic as global marketing associate.

My Sister's Doljabi by Ginger Park and Frances Park, illustrated by Violet Kim (Albert Whitman & Company).

Today:
Here & Now: Paul Hollywood, author of Celebrate: Joyful Baking All Year Round (Bloomsbury, $40, 9781639735037).

All Things Considered: Mayci Neeley, author of Told You So (Simon & Schuster, $29, 9781668099926).

Fresh Air: Beth Macy, author of Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America (Penguin Press, $30, 9780593656730).

Tomorrow:
Today: Aubrey Plaza, co-author of Luna and the Witch Throw a Halloween Party (Viking Books for Young Readers, $19.99, 9780593693018). She will also appear on the View.

Also on Today: Ivy Odom, author of My Southern Kitchen: From Suppers to Celebrations, Recipes for Every Occasion (Abrams Books, $35, 9781419778551).

Jason Bateman (Ozark, Black Rabbit) will be directing Universal's adaptation of John Grisham's 1997 bestselling novel, The Partner. He is also executive producer on the project under his Aggregate Films, with partner Michael Costigan producing. Tom Holland stars in the film as Patrick Lanigan, "a young partner in a white shoe Biloxi law firm who fakes his own death in a burning car," Deadline reported. 

Rideback secured rights to the novel "and put Imitation Game Oscar-winning scribe Graham Moore on it and set the project up at Universal," Deadline added. Jonathan Eirich will produce and Nick Reynolds exec produce for Rideback, with Holland producing for Billy 17 alongside Harry Holland and Will South. Grisham and David Gernert are also exec producers on the project.

The shortlist has been released for the 2025 T.S. Eliot Prize, which honors "the best new poetry collection written in English and published in the U.K. or Ireland. Each shortlisted poet receives £1,500 (about $2,020) and the winner, who will named at the award ceremony on January 19, 2026, gets £25,000 (about $33,685). This year's shortlisted titles are: 

Lode by Gillian Allnutt
Chaotic Good by Isabelle Baafi
Heirloom by Catherine-Esther Cowie
When It Rained for a Million Years by Paul Farley
Infinity Pool by Vona Groarke
Foretokens by Sarah Howe
The New Carthaginians by Nick Makoha
Namanlagh by Tom Paulin
Stay Dead by Natalie Shapero
Wellwater by Karen Solie 

Sarah Mughal Rana's first adult fantasy in a projected trilogy, Dawn of the Firebird, is a striking and evocative epic about power, revenge, and the price of freedom, both for individuals and those caught up in the games of empires. Khamilla Zahr-zad has wanted nothing more than to be claimed and named by her father, a distant emperor who has never visited her where she lives with her mother's nomadic tribe, despite the portents of fortune at her birth. Instead, she becomes the apprentice to the tribe's folkteller, set apart from the rest of her people. But when tragedy strikes in the form of a raid and the vast majority of her kin are slaughtered, a heavenly magic awakens in her--the nūr, the power to wield light.

Khamilla and her mother return to the emperor's court, where her status as one of the rare Eajīz, or magic users, to be born in her father's empire makes her useful to him. Thrown into the viper pit of court affairs, Khamilla has to learn to navigate politics and what it means to be strong as she fights for the emperor's attention and approval. But just as she feels like she might have earned her place and found her purpose, it is ripped away from her again.

In the aftermath, Khamilla finds herself behind the enemy empire's lines, a spy infiltrating their training city for Eajīz. As she remakes herself into a different kind of weapon yet again for another force, she nurses her desire for vengeance. The more she learns to fight, the more Khamilla learns the cost of conflict, and her perceptions of the world rub against each other until they fracture. As myths and magic remake her and the world around her, and she learns more and more about her potentials as an Eajīz, she discovers a power and destiny far beyond what she could have imagined. Along with that, she uncovers darker truths than she expected about her past and what she was born to do.

With dynamic worldbuilding and a cast of complex characters, Rana (Hope Ablaze) has created a remarkable saga that will not just capture the imagination but expand it as Rana draws from Islamic culture in both her world's texture and its magic systems. Dawn of the Firebird is a provocative epic that asks questions about the cost of war and power struggles on the people swept up in their machinations. --Michelle Anya Anjirbag, freelance reviewer

Shelf Talker: Sarah Mughal Rana returns with the first installment of a projected fantasy trilogy that probes power, loss, grief, and what we will do to find out who we are in the face of brutality.

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

1. Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver
2. Faithonomics by Jerry Lopez
3. The Primal of Blood and Bone by Jennifer L. Armentrout
4. Alignment: A Montessori Approach to Reimagining Work-Life Balance by Katie Keller Wood
5. Lights Out by Navessa Allen
6. Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
7. Bad for Business by Kat Singleton
8. Caught Up by Navessa Allen
9. Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Lefanu
10. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 

[Many thanks to IndieReader.com!]