Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today’s stories.
Sixteen books have been longlisted for this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction, which is open to novels published in the U.K. written by women writers. Torrey Peters, who is longlisted for her debut novel, Detransition, Baby, is the first trans woman to be named a semifinalist. The shortlist will be announced on April 28. (Guardian)
The Simpson Literary Project has announced the shortlist for the 2021 Joyce Carol Oates Prize, which honors “a distinguished midcareer author of fiction.” The finalists are Danielle Evans, Jenny Offill, Darin Strauss, and Lysley Tenorio. The winner of the $50,000 prize will be announced in late April.
Employees at Moe’s Books in Berkeley, California, have unionized under the Industrial Workers of the World. The membership stated, “The most immediate goal of the Moe’s Books union will be to get fair and equal input on the formation and enforcement of safety protocols, without fear of dismissal or retaliation.” Owner Doris Moskowitz has recognized the union. (Publishers Weekly)
Crown has paused promotion of American Crisis: Leadership Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic by Andrew Cuomo and does not plan to issue a paperback edition. The publisher noted the ongoing investigation into nursing home COVID-19 deaths in New York State. Several women have also recently accused Cuomo of sexual harassment. (New York Times)
“She was a well-respected poet and writer across many styles, a fervent activist, a dedicated teacher, and a generous and kind member of the poetry community, often welcoming and bringing together unlikely members.” Dorothea Lasky writes in praise of the late poet Diane di Prima. (Harriet)
“The poem sort of stands as a little archive, like a tiny little monument of this time that I was a little bit brave in a very roundabout way.” Donika Kelly discusses writing about trauma in her latest collection, The Renunciations. (Creative Independent)
BuzzFeed News recommends twenty-seven new and forthcoming books, including Hummingbird Salamander by Jeff VanderMeer and Gone Missing in Harlem by Karla FC Holloway.
“Because I love my students, I frequently have them read Lynda Barry and David Sedaris.” Jo Ann Beard features in the New York Times By the Book series.