As Murdoch Books owner Matt Handbury moves into the role of ceo, the company has restructured to grow its UK-based business, while reducing title count to “on doing the best job possible on fewer books.” Sales and marketing director Christine Jones will become managing director of Murdoch Books UK; a new marketing department under ex-Warner Music executive Mark Ashbridge which will focus on “innovative product and marketing strategies”; former art director of Penguin Australia Deborah Brash joins Murdoch Books Australia as creative director; Lynn Lewis has been appointed publisher – lifestyle; and Melanie Ostell has been appointed publisher for the […]
Archives for June 2011
Bookselling: Six Stores Saved From Borders Chopping Block, For Now; New Foyles Location; and More
In court papers filed Friday, Borders said that it had come an agreement with landlords of six stores to get more time to accept or reject leases. The stores in question are at Boston’s Logan International Airport, Raleigh-Durham Airport, two locations in Detroit Metro Airport and stores in Westland, Michigan, and Mansfield, Connecticut. Borders is also awaiting court approval of an agreed-upon extension for its Mt. Kisco, New York store. Reuters Foyles will open its newest (and seventh) store at the Westfield Stratford City shopping center, close to the site of the 2012 London Olympics. Independent Crain’s Detroit published a […]
Lunch Weekly for Monday, June 13
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 Elizabeth Black’s THE DROWNING HOUSE, the story of a young woman born […]
eNews: Google Doodles, Harper Promotes Enhanced eBooks
Google eBooks has added a “doodle mode” to a select collection of children’s activities books (from the “Everything Kids” series) that lets readers use a computer mouse as an electronic “crayon” to write in enabled ebooks. The feature works in all “modern browsers,” a category that apparently does not include Internet Explorer. Also, HarperCollins is highlighting their enhanced ebooks with a giveaway of enhanced versions of Jane Leavy’s THE LAST BOY and Bernard Cornwell’s THE FORT through select etailers, through June 22 (e.g. not on Kindle). Publisher of Harper Media Ana Maria Allessi says the titles “are a demonstration of […]
A Boston Borders Is Closing-And the 50 Others that Might
Manager of Borders Downtown Crossing store in Boston store manager Don Durica told the Boston Herald that his store is definitely closing after being unable to renegotiate their lease. That store is one of the 51 on a list Borders provided to the bankruptcy court as locations they might liquidate to remain in compliance with their DIP financing. At the same time, Borders has emphasized in their filing and public statements that they hope they will need to close only some of those locations. In a supplementary motion on Thursday, the AlixPartners managing director who serves as Borders svp, restrucuting […]
People: Loehnis Joins Canongate; Agency Moves
Founder and longtime managing director of Janklow & Nesbit UK Tif Loehnis will join Canongate as senior editor on September 5. In her decade at the agency, Loehnis represented authors including Tilly Bagshawe, Charles Cumming, Jasper Fforde, Julie Kavanagh, and Henry Porter, before leaving in 2010 and taking a short break from the industry. Canongate publishing director Nick Davies said in a statement: “Tif is a perfect fit for Canongate. She has great taste in books, a genuine and straightforward connection with her writers, and a restless curiosity about the future of the industry. I have no doubt Tif will […]