Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—from publishing reports to academic announcements to literary dispatches—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today's stories:
The Academy of American Poets named Jennifer Benka its new Executive Director [2]. Next month, she'll end her current position as national director of development and marketing for 826 National. Before working for 826 National, she was managing director of Poets & Writers, Inc. Benka's published two books of poetry. (Shelf Awareness)
With the Department of Justice's active e-book pricing lawsuit, paidContent wonders why the State Department signed a multimillion dollar no-bid contract with Amazon [3] to purchase Kindle e-readers?
The Public Library Association received a fifty thousand dollar grant [4] from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to develop a national digital summer reading (NDSR) program website application.
Meanwhile, a debate is raging over the future of the main branch of New York City's [5]public library. (NPR)
Flavorwire rounded up thirty books all should read before their thirtieth birthday [6], including Donna Tartt's The Secret History, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
On her blog, New Republic book critic Ruth Franklin posted her acceptance speech for the 2012 Roger Shattuck Prize in literary criticism from the Center for Fiction. She writes, "It’s puzzling that the increase in books published has been met not with an increase in book reviewers, but rather with a decrease. I hate to blame the victims, but it does seem to me that we critics bear some responsibility. Because we haven’t gone down fighting. [7]"
American Psycho author Bret Easton Ellis wants to adapt Fifty Shades of Grey for the silver screen [8]. (Hollywood Reporter)
In case you need help with summer book choices, here's a handy flow chart [9]. (Teach)