News Corp. reported its first fiscal quarter in its new incarnation as spin-off public company. At HarperCollins, sales of $328 million were down $24 million (7 percent) from a year ago, but EBITDA rose $3 million (or 7.5 percent) to $43 million, on “the higher contribution to profits from e-books and ongoing operational efficiencies.” eBooks comprised 22 percent of sales, up 30 percent from the same quarter a year ago. The company said “improved e-book sales were more than offset by the divestiture of [Thomas Nelson’s] Women of Faith live events business, the decision to exit the third party distribution business […]
Archives for November 2013
Coming Soon
Two non-standard publication announcements of note today: – Simon & Schuster Children’s has announced a December 10 publication — with an announced first printing of 250,000 copies — of WHAT DOES THE FOX SAY?, a picture book by the Norwegian comedy due Ylvis, based on their viral novelty music video hit The Fox. (They say in the announcement, “We actually started the process with the illustrator before we even uploaded the video to YouTube.”) – Author of our four novels including TIME OF MY LIFE, Allison Winn Scotch is self-publishing her novel THE THEORY OF OPPOSITES. “After a terribly discouraging experience […]
Malcolm X Heirs Sue to Block Publication of A Diary One Daughter Authorized
Several of Malcolm X’s family members are reported to have filed a lawsuit last Friday to block publication by Chicago-based Third World Press of a diary the civil rights leader wrote in the last year of his life. The reproduction of a private diary kept as he travelled to the Middle East and Africa immediately before his assassination was scheduled for publication this week and lists daughter Ilyasah Shabazz as one of the book’s co-editors. The lawsuit, obtained by the NY Post and other publications and apparently filed in “Manhattan federal court” (but not yet listed on any federal docket) […]
Intel Buys Kno; Kindle Said to Eye Sweden; Ransom’s Free Resources
Big companies, and big investment, continue to flow towards “ed-tech,” as Intel announced on Friday that it acquired education software company Kno. Intel had previously made a$20 million investment in the company, as part of a $37.5 million round of financing in 2011. Kno started as a hardware company, aiming to make tablets for educational markets, and then shifted to a strategy of helping to digitize, enhance and sell electronic textbooks. Intel says in the announcement: “The acquisition of Kno boosts Intel’s global digital content library to more than 225,000 higher education and K-12 titles through existing partnerships with 75 […]
Hachette Hopes for Resolution with Cramer Estate “Without Further Need for Litigation”
Late Friday Hachette spokesperson Sophie Cottrell clarified their position in the ongoing litigation with the estate of Richard Ben Cramer that we reported on. Hachette re-filed their claim, Cottrell explained, “with the cooperation of and prior discussion with the attorney for Cramer’s estate” and, moreover, is “attempting to work with the estate to resolve this matter without further need for litigation.” Cottrell reiterated that the initial lawsuit “was a means of last recourse by Hachette for repayment” of Cramer’s outstanding advance. (Lawyers for Cramer’s estate had still not responded to our request for comment.)
People, Etc.
Flatiron Books has hired Liz Keenan as associate publisher, starting January 6. She is currently executive director of publicity for Hudson Street Press and Plume. She will be responsible for planning and executing all marketing and publicity for new nonfiction line, which plans to begin publishing in January 2015. On the Sunday, the NYT’s public editor revealed that in 2005 the newspaper was compelled to publish the “blockbuster story by James Risen and Eric Lichtblau about a secret Bush administration program to eavesdrop on Americans without warrants” after a 13-month delay in large part because of the pressure of a forthcoming book by […]