Now John Freeman picks his 5 favorite debuts for NPR. LAT critic David Ulin names his 10 favorites reads of the year. Critic and reporter Sarah Weinman tallies her favorites crime novels of the year, along with other favorite reads. The UK’s Telegraph posts their top 10 list.
Archives for December 2010
People, Etc.
Bruce Tracy will join Workman as a senior editor. With over twenty years experience in adult trade publishing, he was executive editor and editorial director at Villard and most recently has been freelancing as a writer and editor. At HarperCollins, Ben Bruton has been promoted to senior director of publicity for the Morrow/Avon division, and Brianne Halverson has been promoted to director of publicity. At Harper Children’s, Amy Ryan has been promoted to art director. She has been with the company since 2000. Jonathan Franzen will deliver the address at Kenyon College’s commencement next May. BEA has officially anounced Italy […]
Curtis Brown UK Responds to School Controversy
Managing director of the books department at Curtis Brown UK Jonny Geller has a piece in the Bookseller that tries to respond to criticism of the agency’s recently-announced Creative Writing School. He claims the program isn’t “paying for access” to having unsolicited manuscripts read–but if that’s the case, they should make that clear on the “school’s” solicitation page, instead of offering such review as a benefit of the program. On the fee for participating, he rightly indicates that “it will cover our tutorial costs” and “this is not a money making venture.” Though Geller acknowledges critics have raised the issue […]
Sales Up Slightly As Scholastic Underdelivers
Sales at Scholastic rose 2 percent in their second quarter, at $675.7 million, up 2% from $660.1 million a year ago. Earnings from continuing operations before taxes were $124.3 million, up 22 percent–except that the company took a large writedown this time last year. Trade publishing sales of $53.4 million rose 8 percent compared to a year ago. Overall, “results were below our plan, reflecting lower spending by school districts and lower than expected revenue in clubs.” The company said they had “lower sales of educational technology relative to a year ago, as well as higher promotion spending in School […]
Apple Gains Approval for iBookstore In Canada–In Exchange for Multiple “Commitments”
Canada’s Heritage Minister announced approval for Apple to launch a Canadian iBookstore, which “represents new opportunities for Canadian authors and publishers.” To win that consent, Apple has promised to promote Canadian-authored books; to increase “opportunities for Canadian publishers and authors” and access to titles from Aboriginal authors and publishers; and to provide “assistance to Canadian publishers in streamlining processes of e-book creation and enhancement.”Release
People, Etc.
St. Martin has hired Paul Hochman for the new position of director of social media, overseeing social media marketing and community building. Hochman had been at B&N.com since 2002 in various positions, most recently as manager of acquisition marketing, content and social media. He will report to publishers Sally Richardson and Matthew Shear. Katie Shea has joined Johnson Lit Agency, focusing on literary fiction, commercial fiction, with a strong and sassy voice, heartfelt memoirs, narrative nonfiction, diet, and health & wellness. She was a reader at FinePrint Literary Management and an assistant at Folio Literary Management and Langtons International Agency. […]