Features

NEW YORK — Her book club is on hold, but the publishing industry has not forgotten Oprah Winfrey. The talk show host is receiving an honorary award from the Association of American Publishers. 

“She’s brought unparalleled excitement and attention to books. All of America should be grateful to her,” Jane Friedman, president and CEO of HarperCollins and vice chair of the publishers association, said in a statement Tuesday. 

The award will be presented next February at the AAP’s annual meeting, in Washington, D.C. Previous winners include Dolly Parton, “for her efforts to improve the lives of children through books,” and to National Public Radio, “for ongoing and outstanding book coverage.” 

Winfrey, who helped make best sellers out of Anita Shreve, Joyce Carol Oates and many other writers, received an honorary National Book Award in 1999. She announced last April she was cutting back on her book club picks, saying she was having a hard time finding worthy selections. 

The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry and has approximately 300 members.