Atria Publishing Group has paired with United Talent Agency a launch an imprint “specifically created to publish digital influencers” — and YouTube stars in particular — called Keywords Press. The line aims to publish 6 to 10 titles a year, and it promises “new business, creative development and marketing models designed in recognition and celebration of the unique relationship between digital stars” and their fans. In the last month, we’ve also published deal reports for YouTube comic Toby Turner (with Katherine Tegen Books) and YouTube teen start Paige McKenzie (with Weinstein Books). The NYT points out with caution that “although […]
Archives for May 2014
The Publishers Lunch 2014 BEA Party Planner
In keeping with our tradition, here is an overview of the known BEA after-hours celebrants and events so far. (If your event is not listed, that means you didn’t let us know–send an e-mail and we’ll update as appropriate.) As usual, this is a guide to what’s happening and an acknowledgement of the authors and occasions being celebrated, rather than a crasher’s manual; many of these events require an invitation and RSVP, often in strictly limited numbers, though others are open. Congratulations and best wishes to all for successful gatherings. Also for your BEA plans, you can find our simple, […]
BitLit Angels Include Former Kobo CEO Serbinis
Vancouver-based startup Bitlit, whose app helps publishers bundle ebooks with print books, announced the closing of a round of seed funding. Kobo founder and recently deposed ceo Michael Serbinis’s new venture fund Three Angels Capital is among the funders — along with from BDC Venture Capital, Mike Volker (WUTIF fund) and Jim Fletcher, a Vancouver super angel. The amount of the round was not disclosed. Serbinis says in the release that “Three Angels was founded in 2014 to invest in world class teams looking to disrupt markets and change the world. As books go digital it’s clear that people continue to enjoy […]
People: Einhorn to Leave Putnam, and More
Seven years after setting up an enonymous imprint at Putnam, Amy Einhorn is leaving the company at the end of June for another publisher. Her departure was confirmed for us by both Einhorn and Putnam president Ivan Held, to whom she has reported. Amy Einhorn Books started publishing in February 2009 in the most successful way possible — with publication of Kathryn Stockett’s The Help. The line went on to publish bestsellers including Jenny Lawson’s Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Sarah Blake’s The Postmistress, and Liane Moriarty’s The Husband’s Secret. Moriarty’s next book, Big Little Lies, is set for publication […]
BEA Planning
With Book Expo just a week away, we have updated our comprehensive, all-in-one-spreadsheet master schedule with still more author signings and event details. Use publun.ch/BEAschedPM to view it and simplify your convention planning. A variety of “special events” are marked in bold to help you find some of the more notable sessions. While author Walter Isaacson‘s Friday morning conversation about his forthcoming book THE INNOVATORS with Jacob Weisberg has been on the schedule for some time, earlier this week BEA officials declared him a “keynote speaker.” Breakfast speaker Neil Patrick Harris is covered this morning at E Online for the […]
FT’s Business Book Prize Teams with McKinsey
Known until now as the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award, in its tenth year the newspaper has a new partner for the £30,000 award in McKinsey & Company. McKinsey partner and director of publishing Rik Kirkland will serve as one of the judges, the two are adding a second award, the Bracken Bower Prize, given to “a promising young writer with the best proposal for a book about an emerging business theme.” The winner will receive £15,000 and their proposal will be published on FT.com. Among the four judges for the new prize is Penguin Random House […]