President of the second-largest independent book distributor Independent Publishers Group (IPG) Mark Suchomel said in an e-mail alert yesterday, “I am disappointed to report that Amazon.com has failed to renew its agreement with IPG to sell Kindle titles.” As of yesterday, Suchomel says, Amazon has taken down all IPG ebooks from its site, though they continue to sell print books from the distributor’s clients. (Our own check confirms that Kindle editions are missing for IPG titles, complete with the standard box to “tell the publisher!” you would like to read this book on Kindle. Individual Kindle hyperlinks now result in […]
Archives for February 2012
On Barney Rosset
Vintage and Anchor art director John Gall reported informally online that legendary publisher Barney Rosset, 90, died. Bradford Morrow says on Twitter that Rosset passed away “last night after complications from heart surgery.” Morrow was working with Rosset on his autobiography for Algonquin Books, according to Algonquin’s Michael Taeckens. Charles McGrath wrote this profile of “the publisher who fought Puritanism and won” in 2008 when he received the National Book Foundation’s lifetime achievement award. Algonquin Books indicates on Twitter that they have a biography of Rosset under contract.
Shipley to Sell That Bookstore in Blytheville
Owner of Arkansas’s That Bookstore In Blytheville and former ABA board member Mary Gay Shipley, 67, said in an e-mail that she is ready to sell the store after 36 years. “It is now time for change…. It is my sincere hope that someone or some group will come forward and continue TBIB in some fashion. I am not going anywhere and would be happy to help a new owner transform TBIB into their own vision.” Shipley adds, “I believe the next few years will be exciting for independent booksellers who embrace the multiple reading formats and who are located […]
Paramount Sues to Block Forthcoming Godfather Prequel
Paramount has filed suit in Manhattan Federal Court against the Mario Puzo estate, seeking an injunction blocking publication of the Godfather prequel THE FAMILY CORLEONE, scheduled for a May 8 release (and currently circulating in galley form). The studio alleges “infringement of copyright and trademark interests,” while acknowledging a standing disagreement with the estate over the right to publish additional Godfather books. The new book, by Ed Falco, is promoted as “based on pages extracted from Mario Puzo’s Godfather screenplays.” Sophie Cottrell at Hachette Book Groug declined to comment on the suit, and said that “Ed Falco’s The Family Corleone […]
People, Etc.
Kent D. Wolf joins Lippincott Massie McQuilkin as an agent, moving from Global Literary Management. He will continue to represent literary and commercial fiction, select young adult, narrative nonfiction, memoir, pop culture, and lifestyle books. Jen Linnan has opened her own agency, Linnan Literary Management, specializing in graphic works and illustration, in addition to select adult and children’s prose authors. Previously, Linnan was an associate agent at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, where she started in 2007 and handled international rights for several major agency clients. Perseus has added another new executive, hiring Patrick Kirk for the new role of vp, program office, “responsible […]
Hachette Wins Back Disney and Hyperion Distribution Business
Hachette has won back distribution for the Disney Book Group and Hyperion, which had moved to HarperCollins in 2007. Under the preliminary agreement between the parties, “the move to Hachette is contemplated to take place in Spring 2013.” Hachette already distributes Disney’s Marvel unit and that relationship has been extended as well. HBG took over Canadian sales and distribution for Disney in spring 2011 after the bankruptcy of HB Fenn.