Behrman House Acquired By Stordahl
Publishing executive Derek Stordahl will acquire Jewish educational press Behrman House. Owners David Behrman and Vicki Weber will retire in early 2026. The terms of the deal were not announced. “After three generations as our family’s business, this is a poignant moment,” Behrman said in a release. “We’re so very pleased that Behrman House will continue as an independent press, and that Derek will keep the team together so they can continue to serve the readers and educators who have come to trust our work.” Behrman House publishes educational titles and adult trade books, as well as award-winning children’s titles […]
Obituary: Toni Burbank
Former editor Toni Burbank, 85, died on January 9. She started in publishing at Columbia University Press and then moved to Bantam Books. Burbank worked at Bantam for more than 40 years, becoming a vice president and executive editor. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Bantam editor, Toni Burbank,” the team at Bantam said. “Toni was a legend who championed books that inspired readers to better understand themselves and the world around them. Her editorial vision, care for authors, and commitment to meaningful storytelling left a lasting mark on our company and her contributions remain an important […]
November Shows Big Gains in Adult Audio, Children’s Hardcovers
The Association of American Publishers (AAP) released StatShot data from participating publishers for November, reporting overall trade sales up 2.6 percent to $865 million. Adult books sold $604 million, up 1.8 percent, including $295 million in fiction and $309 million in nonfiction. Hardcovers grew 2.5 percent to $243 million and paperbacks fell 2.4 percent to $176 million. Ebooks sold $74.4 million, up 2.1 percent, and digital audio rose 18.7 percent to $95.9 million. Children’s books grew 4.6 percent to $261 million, with $218 million in fiction and $43 million in nonfiction. Hardcovers sold $104 million, a 12.9 percent increase, and […]
Employee Dies in Hachette UK Warehouse Accident
A Hachette UK distribution center is closed after an accident that resulted in the death of a 23-year-old employee, the Bookseller reports. According to police, there was an “industrial accident” at the Oxfordshire warehouse on Tuesday morning. A 21-year-old man was arrested “on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter” and is now out on bail. “[On Tuesday], there was a tragic incident at Hachette UK Distribution’s warehouse that heartbreakingly led to the loss of a much-loved colleague,” a Hachette UK spokesperson said. “Our deepest condolences are with their family and friends, who are in our thoughts at this devastating time. The […]