You can be forgiven for finding a measure of comedy in each hurry and up wait stage of Borders’ bankruptcy proceedings. Just a few weeks ago Borders was lamenting that their inability to negotiate deadline extensions from landlords was going to force the early closure of some of their “profitable” stores. Now we’ve gone full circle, with multiple landlords complaining about Borders’ rush to finalize an auction of the company, starting with the stalking horse bid from Najafi, or liquidate almost as quickly. The new slow of motions was not unexpected–yesterday was the stipulated deadline for landlords to object, and […]
Archives for July 2011
Krakauer’s Attention-Getting eBook Now In Print
Most major publishers continue to say that as a matter of policy they will not buy books for print-only publication, but as a practical matter, licensing paperback rights to a successful ebook remains in play. In the latest instance, Knopf Doubleday’s Anchor line has licensed trade paperback rights to longtime house author John Krakauer’s 96-page THREE CUPS OF DECEIT following ebook-only publication by Byliner.com in April as a Kindle Singles ebook. Vintage Anchor editorial director LuAnn Walther–who has been Krakauer’s longtime paperback editor at the house, alongside his hardcover editor Bill Thomas–made the deal directly with the author, according to […]
Bloomsbury Buys Continuum for $32 Million, Cites “Soft Market” in Interim Statement
Bloomsbury announced that it has bought academic publisher Continuum from Nova/Paul Investments Capital and management shareholders for approximately £20.1 million (or $32 million) in cash. In a statement the company’s board said it “has been looking for a transformational acquisition to act as the cornerstone of its Academic & Professional division.” Continuum marks the sixth academic publisher Bloomsbury has bought over the past five years, and for the first time it provides a New York-based academic publishing office, with its own editorial and marketing team. Continuum forecasts EBITA of £0.6 million for the year ending June 30 on sales of […]
IDC Says Nook Outpaced Kindle In First Quarter Shipments
IDC has released the latest teaser data from their quarterly analysis of the ereader and tablet supply chain, which estimates devices shipped from manufacturers to accounts. (So they are not looking at point-of-sale data to consumers; these are devices made rather than devices sold.) Also, it would be irresponsible not to underscore that we–like every other report out there that you will see–are “covering” only their press release, and not their full paid report. Furthermore, as you can see from our recap below, what IDC “reports” in their quarterly press releases is inconsistent, so each one may reveal different statistics. […]
People, Etc.
At NAL, Talia Platz has been promoted to assistant editor. Kristin Lindstrom has closed her agency, Lindstrom Literary Management, after 15 years to open a new business, Flying Pig Media. she will provide a range of publishing services to authors from craft/content editing to creative management of the electronic and print-on-demand books. Effective September 1, Skyhorse Publishing is expanding into the UK with distribution via Constable Robinson, which will also sell their books into the EU. The deal covers both print and ebook editions. On Saturday, the International Thriller Writers presented their Thriller Awards to: Best Hardcover Novel: BAD BLOOD, […]
Briefs: Indigo Changes Product Mix and Plans Speedier Returns; Pan Mac Earnings; and More
Starting this fall Indigo will add more shelf space for giftware, toys and lifestyle products while cutting back on space for books. And at a vendor-relations meeting last week, the chain also reportedly informed suppliers it will evaluate book sales after 45 days and return underperforming titles soon after. The change in plans has Canadian publishers worried about supply chain inefficiencies and the potential expense of having to push back publication dates to take advantage of holiday sales. Quill & Quire Pan Macmillan offers a numbers-free earnings update for the first 24 weeks of the fiscal year, ending July 8. […]