Amazon’s website book editors, led by Sara Nelson (whose title is Editorial Director of Books and Kindle, Amazon.com), posted their Fall Books Preview, include their picks for “fall’s ten most intriguing releases” along with a variety of recommendations across multiple categories. Their top ten, in alphabetical order: Telegraph Avenue, by Michael Chabon America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren’t, by Stephen Colbert The Twelve (Book Two of The Passage Trilogy), by Justin Cronin Winter of the World: Book Two of the Century Trilogy, by Ken Follett Flight Behavior, by Barbara Kingsolve The Casual Vacancy, by J.K. Rowling Joseph Anton: […]
Archives for July 2012
People: Wright to Take Over from Hayes at Viking Children’s; Naples, Ballenger Join Zola Books
Longtime president and publisher of Viking Children’s Books Regina Hayes will relinquish that position and serve as editor-at-large, just as she celebrates her thirtieth anniversary at Penguin. Writers House agent Ken Wright will take over as vp and publisher of Viking Children’s on August 27, reporting to Penguin Children’s president Don Weisberg. Weisberg says in the announcement, “Ken Wright is respected among the industry for his literary and commercial sensibility. His fantastic nose for new talent and respect for the classics make him the perfect candidate to helm and grow Viking’s celebrated list.” Wright notes, “Let’s face it, it’s one […]
Harlequin Says Authors Have Been Treated Fairly
In a brief statement responding to class-action lawsuit filed in the New York by three authors, Harlequin said it “wishes to make clear that this is the first it has heard of the proceedings and that a complaint has not yet been served.” In the brief statement, ceo Donna Hayes says: “Our authors have been recompensed fairly and properly for their work, and we will be defending ourselves vigorously.”
Three Authors File Class Action Suit Against Harlequin On Deprivation of Digital Royalties
Three romance writers filed suit in New York’s southern district court Thursday morning against Harlequin alleging the publisher deprived them of ebook royalties rightfully owed to them for works published between 1990 and 2004 by funneling contracts through a Switzerland-based subsidiary, from which the ebooks needed to be “licensed.” Agents and authors have long whispered–or even posted on blogs–about Harlequin’s historical practice of ebook accounting, and now this suit seeks class-action status with the potential to become a blockbuster action by authors against the leading romance publisher. The plaintiffs are reaching out to any authors who signed contracts with Harlequin for […]
Sales Rise at OUP As Profits Diminish
Also reporting results, Oxford University Press issued their annual report, saying sales of £695 million for the year ending March 31 2012, up by 7 percent over the previous year’s £648.6 million, boosted by a 16 percent gain in emerging markets. But pre-tax profit of £115 million for the year was down £7.5 million from a year ago, and the company transferred £53 million to the University of Oxford to fund its operations. Chief Executive Nigel Portwood says in the announcement: “We faced difficult market conditions last year, but nevertheless developed some truly innovative publishing which will help support the […]
The Hunger Games Boosted Scholastic Q4 And Full Year Earnings, Though They Temper Expectations For Next Year
The three words repeated often in Scholastic’s earnings report for the successful fourth quarter and fiscal 2012 year — The Hunger Games — should come as no surprise. The trilogy of books by Suzanne Collins now has more than 50 million copies to date in print and digital formats, the company also announced Thursday morning (23 million copies for The Hunger Games, 14 million for Catching Fire, and 13 million for Mockingjay.) That means they added over 13.5 million units since the end of March (after shipping and/or selling 12.5 million units in the first quarter of the year). So much […]