The NOOK Media ebooks team announced a number of recent promotions. Ali Kokmen has been promoted to director of sales, ebooks, reporting to Kashif Zafar, responsible for fiction, nonfiction, and kids and teens. Norman Waters has been promoted to senior merchandising associate, continuing to report to Kokmen. Finally, Matt Warner has transitioned his role to be director, ebook channel sales & marketing, also continuing to report to Zafar. In the UK, founder and managing director of Quadrille Alison Cathie will leave the company at the end of August. Cathie, who founded the craft and cookery publisher in 1994, will now […]
Archives for August 2014
Pietsch Responds to Correspondents: “This dispute started because Amazon is seeking a lot more profit”
Hachette Book Group ceo has been writing back to those who emailed him at Amazon’s prompting, and “intends to get to everyone over the next couple days,” according to spokesperson Sophie Cottrell. He writes in part: “I appreciate that you care enough about books to take the time to write. We usually don’t comment publicly while negotiating, but I’ve received a lot of requests for Hachette’s response to the issues raised by Amazon, and want to reply with a few facts. Hachette sets prices for our books entirely on our own, not in collusion with anyone. We set our ebook […]
The “5-Year-Old” Talks Back: Amazon Posts for “Readers United”
Author Douglas Preston told the NY Times last Friday his conversations with Russ Grandinetti have been “like talking to a 5-year-old” — and, as has been widely reported since, the company’s latest response, this time to Preston’s “Authors United” efforts, are posts aimed at “Readers United.” The equivalent of “click here if you like lower prices,” their latest efforts are expanded versions of the most recent Kindle Forum post (complete with the same math). The essence is the same: Amazon is right, and when Hachette, authors or the media say otherwise, they are wrong. Amazon has added the fiery language the company […]
People
Amazon Publishing announced a number of new hires across various editorial lines. Eoin Purcell will join the company to lead its London editorial office as of September 15. Previously he was editorial director of New Island Books in Dublin. Tara Parsons joined the New York office in July as editorial director, fiction, including Little A and the Day One literary journal. Previously she was editorial director at MIRA. Merideth Mulroney has been named art director for the NY-based imprints, including Two Lions picture books. Finally, Adrienne Lombardo will join the company on September 1 as an acquisition editor for 47North. […]
S&S Second Quarter Sales and Profits “Stronger Than Originally Projected”
Simon & Schuster reported sales of $211 million for the second quarter, up 11.6 percent — a significant improvement compared to the same time a year ago and what parent company CBS said was due to “higher print book sales” by titles such as HARD CHOICES by Hillary Clinton, GOOD CALL by “Duck Commander” star Jase Roberston, and CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE by Cassandra Clare. CEO Carolyn Reidy told us the company “had a strong quarter, with terrific books” not only because of the success of key titles, but because of “all around strength” across all imprints. “Every one of […]
Deal to Sell Perseus Is Cancelled
On Thursday afternoon, Perseus Books Group ceo David Steinberger told employees that the deal struck in late June to sell Perseus to HBG, with the Perseus Distribution lines to be immediately sold to Ingram, has fallen apart and been cancelled. “The planned transaction involving our company, Hachette and Ingram is not moving forward,” Steinberger wrote. “Despite much effort from all three parties, we could not reach agreement on everything necessary to close the transaction.” Hachette added in a statement of its own that “the planned transaction involving HBG, Perseus, and Ingram has been terminated. Despite great effort from all three […]