Sony unveiled its first-ever wireless e-reading device at a press conference held at the New York Public Library Tuesday morning. The seven-inch touchscreen Sony Daily Edition will be priced at $399, work on AT&T’s 3G network, and will be available by Christmas. In addition to the devices (they also officially confirmed the $199 and $299 next-generation e-readers), Sony also announced several other initiatives, including a partnership with libraries that will let readers rent digitized books from their local library for free by downloading available e-books for 21 days, an update of the Sony Reader Ebook Library Software 3.0 for both […]
Archives for August 2009
Ted Kennedy Dies at 77
Senator Ted Kennedy died at his home in Hyannis Port last night after a battle with brain cancer. He was 77 years old. “We’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever,” his family said in a statement. Kennedy’s memoir True Compass, co-written with Ron Powers, will be published by Twelve on September 14, with a limited, leather-bound edition to come later in the month. “We are deeply saddened by today’s news,” Twelve publisher Jonathan Karp said in a […]
Speakers Bureaus Beef Up Publishers' Profit
Just five years ago it was almost unheard of for a publisher to have an in-house speakers bureau. Now all of the Big Six houses – Hachette was the last holdout, but they partnered with the Greater Talent Network to form a speakers bureau in May. And Publishing Perspectives discovers they are “turning out to be surprisingly recession-resilient” what with publishers and authors splitting speaking fees between $5000 and $20,000. “representing a welcome source of found money,” even in the midst of an economic downturn. Ellis Trevor, who runs Macmillan Speakers, looks beyond the fees and points to bureaus acting […]
Book Proposals: McGinniss on Palin; Usain Bolt Biography
Now a client of Dave Larabell of the David Black Agency (after leaving behind David Vigliano, Sterling Lord, Dennis Holahan and Mort Janklow), Joe McGinniss hopes to turn his cover story on Sarah Palin for the now-defunct Portfolio magazine into a book.NYO Representatives for Usain Bolt, world-record holder and Olympic Champion in the 100m and 200m sprints, are in talks with unnamed publishers about a possible biography.AP
People and Announcements
Rowland White has joined Orion to set up a new imprint, as yet untitled, which will publish 12 books per year beginning in 2011. Previously he was at Penguin/Michael Joseph, where he was the publishing director for non-fiction. Kate Gunning has been named key accounts manager for independents for Random House, effective September 7. Previously she was head buyer at Foyles. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick has won the Book of the Year award from the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association. The SoCal Independent Booksellers Association has announced the shortlists for its annual awards in several categories, including fiction, […]
Lunch Weekly for Monday, August 24
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 Michael Salvatore’s BETWEEN BOYFRIENDS, pitched as a gay Sex and The […]