February 15, 2026

Labors of Love

Last week, the AAP’s final report for 2025 showed a slight boost in total publishing sales, with the children’s/YA and religion categories making up for some slippage in adult fiction and nonfiction. HarperCollins named Liate Stehlik, a 20-year veteran of the company who formerly helmed Morrow Group and Harper Children’s, to head up its U.S. trade division. Harlequin nixed its long-running historical romance line as part of its ongoing efforts to adapt its series business to evolving reader interests. Kent Carroll, most recently publisher-at-large at Europa Editions, retired after more than five decades in the book business. And Folio literary agent and former Random House editor Will Murphy died at 57.

Matt Dinniman (r.) discussed his new book Operation Bounce House (Ace) at Life, The Universe, and Everything—Utah’s largest and longest-running science fiction & fantasy symposium—where he was joined by Josh Mayne (l.), co-chair of the event. Their conversation, held at the Provo Marriott on February 11, was hosted by Poppy Books & Gifts. (Courtesy PRH)

Trade Sales Were Mixed in 2025, While Religion Sales Rose

The final AAP StatShot report for the year found small increases in the children’s/YA and religion books segments compared to 2024, as well as a slight decline for adult books. more

Liate Stehlik Promoted to CEO of HarperCollins U.S. Trade

Stehlik, who has been with HarperCollins for 20 years, was previously president and publisher of its Morrow Group and children’s division. In her new role, she will oversee the company’s adult and children’s trade publishing divisions and sales in the United States. more

Harlequin to Discontinue Historical Romance Line

In the romance publisher’s latest move to adapt its series business to the digital age, Harlequin Historical will cease publication in fall 2027 after nearly 40 years. more

Editor and Agent Will Murphy Dies at 57

Most recently an agent with Folio, Murphy spent much of his career as an editor at Random House, working with such authors as David Brooks, Pope Francis, and Salman Rushdie. He died of a heart attack on February 1. 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.