Archives for October 2004

Marquez’s Final Twist Gabriel Garcia Marquez found another way to foil pirated editions of his new book. Editor Braulio Peralta said: “Check the pirate version that is coming out in Colombia compared to the legal version being launched today. All I’m saying is that Gabriel Garcia Marquez changed the last chapter.” Reuters Maybe the Dog Didn’t Eat It Longtime readers know that for years now, we’ve enjoyed tracking and cataloging the seasonal excuses for why book sales are not better: the election, the economy, 9/11, SARS, Iraq, snowstorms, hurricanes, locusts, The French, and so on. Through one lens these are […]

Booker to Hollinghurst As is now traditional, the bettor’s favorite lost out in the Booker race as Alan Hollinghurst won the award for THE LINE OF BEAUTY, the first gay novel to take the prize in 36 years. By most accounts, the jury was “strongly divided and took more than two hours to decide on a winner,” as the Telegraph put it. Hollinghurst was not the unanimous choice, with support for both David Mitchell and Colm Toibin. Chairman of the jury Chris Smith said, “This was an incredibly difficult and close decision.” Just this past Sunday, Newsday ran a long […]

Hertz to Take Morgan Road Amy Hertz’s long-planned “new imprint” for Broadway now has a name — Morgan Road Books — and a launch schedule, starting in summer 2005 with the previously reported Fast Track One Day Detox Diet and The Portion Teller. An original title from the Dalai Lama, on the convergence of scientific discovery and meditative insight, is among three titles set for fall 2005. The imprint will build to approximately 15 titles a year, spanning health, fitness, spirituality, psychology, literary non-fiction, and memoir. Hertz says in a release, “The wisest and most compassionate person I know, a […]

Saddle, Back In Lunch resumes regularly scheduled service today after a delightful post-Frankfurt week off. Thanks for waiting. As you’ll note, some items below are brand-new, while others catch up in a small way on notable news from last week. Smithsonian to Revamp Book Division The Smithsonian Institution is in the midst of reorganizing their book division. The organization’s more academic titles will be published under the oversight of undersecretary for science David Evans, sustained in large part through a congressional grant of $1.5 million. The commercial trade-oriented titles, rejuvenated under director Don Fehr since he joined the unit last […]

As Noted Yesterday We’ll have a Deal Weekly for you early next week, but otherwise Lunch will rest for the entire. Deals will still be processed through Lunch’s western outpost, as will jobs, reviews, and all of our other site features. Thanks for your indulgence. Over and Out It’s the unofficial last day of the Fair for Lots of People — except for those who are still booked solidly on the half-hour to the bitter end-and the sound of prominent suitcases snapping shut can be heard all over town. (Just as, for a certain group, the show began the day […]

Important Notes It’s been almost a year since we’ve offered any kind of trial period at PublishersMarketplace, but it’s time for a limited opportunity for you to check out the site. From tomorrow, Friday, through Tuesday, you can sign up for a free taste of what we have. (You just have to cancel by Tuesday if you don’t want to stay with us as a member-not that that would happen.) Please note, though, you will not receive Lunch Deluxe as part of the trial. To get Deluxe — which really is longer, better, and more detailed every single day, and […]