Archives for March 2007

B&T Closes AMS Purchase Baker & Taylor officially announced their acquisition of certain assets of the bankrupt AMS and will operate the business as Baker & Taylor Marketing Services. They “intend to resume full shipping operations to the warehouse clubs” as of yesterday according to the release. The final purchase price will be determined by a variety of conditional factors, though it is still estimated as approximately $76 million. The initial cash payment is just $20 million, though. An attorney for the creditors says AMS has been losing as much as $2 million a week. B&T says they will keep […]

Personnel News and Other Announcements Lisa Sharkey joins Harper today in the new position of svp/director of creative development, reporting to Michael Morrison. She will acquire “current event and personality driven books” for all general books group imprints and “will work with all publishers to position authors for maximum television exposure.” She has spent 27 years in television journalism, most recently as president of Al Roker Entertainment. Last week’s resignation of Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops chief operating officer Mary McCarthy is covered by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Company president and Schwartz’s widow Carol Grossmeyer will take over McCarthy’s responsibilities. Milwaukee J-S […]

Deal Reports Just e-mail to deals@PublishersMarketplace if you aren’t using the online form linked below. Report a deal using the online form The Key As usual, the handy key to our Lunch deal categories. While all reports are always welcome, those that include a category will generally receive a higher listing when it comes time to put them all together. “nice deal” $1 – $49,000 “very nice deal” $50,000 – $99,000 “good deal” $100,000 – $250,000 “significant deal” $251,000 – $499,000 “major deal” $500,000 and up FICTION Debut Ron Leshem’s BEAUFORT, written as the diary of Erez Liberti, the head […]

Borders Hires One from BN Borders has recruited Jessica Harley as their vp, acquisition and retention marketing, which includes responsibility for the Borders Rewards program. She was at Barnes & Noble for the past three years, as director of promotions. Chief marketing officer Michael Tam says, “With Jessica’s leadership, we intend to maximize the customer data available within the Borders Rewards program through segmented and highly targeted marketing aligned with our customers’ interests. Ultimately, we will become even more valuable to our customers and be more effective as a retailer.” Release Separately, New Zealand prepares for the opening of their […]

On Second Thought, Don’t Tell Crown has pulled back on another high-profile acquisition, deciding not to go forward with Melissa Dumas’ LIVE TO TELL: My Life as Madonna’s Nanny, which had been pre-empted in a major deal. The house simply says “it will not be publishing the memoir to be authored by Madonna’s former nanny, Melissa Dumas. The rights to the book have been released to the author, who is represented by Martin Literary Management.” Sharlene Martin says, “I deeply regret that Crown decided not to move forward in publishing Melissa Dumas’ book. I had a wonderful experience with them […]

12 Million That’s how many copies Scholastic plans to print of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. The promotional campaign will begin April 17. Release Pinter’s New Home Former Crown editor Jason Pinter will join St. Martin’s as an editor on March 26. He will continue to acquire commercial fiction — thrillers and mysteries — as well as nonfiction in pop culture and other categories. Time Stays Hachette Book Group USA has renewed their sales and distribution contract with their former corporate brethren at Time Inc Home Entertainment. The line “ships close to 1.8 million books annually.” Tenet Due Date […]