May 17, 2026

Highs and Lows

Last week, Hachette Book Group launched an internal information campaign discouraging unionization, after declining to voluntarily recognize the Hachette Workers Coalition. Penguin Random House parent company Bertelsmann said the publisher’s sales were “strong” in Q1, thanks to a handful of international bestsellers. The Book Industry Study Group tapped Duke University Press’s Allison Belan to succeed Brian O’Leary as executive director. Meanwhile, Erica Eatmon joined Simon & Schuster in the newly created role of SVP of data and decision intelligence. And, in a surprise victory, a federal judge ordered the National Endowment for the Humanities to reinstate more than $100 million in grants.

On May 12, Douglas Stuart (c.) celebrated the launch of his new novel, John of John (Grove), at the Book Stall in Winnetka, Ill. Joining Stuart were bookstore staffers (from l.) Caitlin Marz, Stephanie Hochschild, Susan Davis, and Mike Wysock.
(Photo: Natalie Church)

Hachette Pushes Back on Employee Union Effort

As employees prepare to vote on whether to join the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Hachette Book Group has begun distributing flyers detailing the potential drawbacks of unionization. In a statement, the company said it wants employees to “consider all the facts to make an informed decision,” while organizers see the efforts as part of “an old, tired playbook” of union busting. more

PRH Has ‘Strong’ First Quarter

Penguin Random House performed well in Q1, parent company Bertelsmann reported, thanks to a number of international bestsellers, including Angela Song’s KPop Demon Hunters and Virginia Evans’s The Correspondent. more

Allison Belan Named New BISG Executive Director

The director of strategic innovation and services at Duke University Press will succeed Brian O’Leary as executive director of the Book Industry Study Group. O’Leary is retiring June 30 after heading BISG for 10 years, with Belan set to join the organization June 22. more

Erica Eatmon Joins S&S as SVP of Data and Decision Intelligence

The newly created role “reflects our commitment to strengthening how we use data and analytics across our company,” said Simon & Schuster CEO Greg Greeley. Most recently, Eatmon served as chief data officer at e-commerce company Thrasio. more

More News

JobZone

SEND US TIPS

SUBMIT A PHOTO

SUBMIT JOB MOVES

Send editorial questions about this e-newsletter to Sophia Stewart.
Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to Joe Murray.

For additional assistance, contact us by email or at the address below.

Publishers Weekly,
49 West 23rd Street
Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10010
Phone 212-377-5500

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Get your own FREE newsletter subscriptions.

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

You are receiving this email because npkvdejmf6@nie.podam.pl subscribed to one of Publishers Weekly's newsletters. If you are not npkvdejmf6@nie.podam.pl, then please disregard this message. Update your newsletter preferences here.

PW takes spam very seriously. This email message meets all the requirements of the United States CAN-SPAM Act and Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). To remove yourself from the Must Reads email list, unsubscribe.