Hachette Livre announced that it has increased its stake in Russian publisher Azbooka-Atticus, growing their 25 percent interest to a 49 percent holding in the company.Azbooka-Atticus is Russia’s third largest publisher, publishing 2,000 titles a year, with Hachette reporting annual sales of over $50 million. The company says in the announcement, “The move reflects the successful cooperation between the two companies since Hachette Livre became a shareholder in March 2011, the vibrancy of the Russian book market, and the fine performance of Azbooka-Atticus under its new management.”
Archives for October 2014
People, Etc.
Michelle Aielli has been named executive director of publicity for Hachette Books. She moves over from Little, Brown, where she was most recently publicity director. At Simon & Schuster, Jennifer Grojean has been promoted to director, national accounts for special markets, while Bianca Johnson moves up to manager, adult custom & proprietary sales. In addition, Alex Maurer has joined as manager, children’s custom & proprietary sales. Previously she was senior coordinator, custom & proprietary sales at Penguin. At HarperCollins Children’s, Nellie Kurtzman has joined as director of integrated marketing. Previously she was marketing director at Little, Brown Books for Young […]
Amazon Acquires Audio Content Producer Rooftop Media for Audible
Amazon has acquired Rooftop Media, a ten-person company that records comedians in performance and licenses digital rights to thousands of hours of broadcast and recorded comedy, Reuters reports. (The acquisition was not announced by the company itself.) Rooftop will become part of Audible.com, which Rooftop ceo Will Rogers says “is obsessed with producing incredible programming.” Audible ceo Don Katz said in a statement, “Audible Studios has been conceiving and producing original content in mystery, science fiction and other genres for years…. With Rooftop’s rich comedic offerings and vast pool of comedy talent, we foresee an even more exciting selection of original spoken-word […]
People, Awards, Etc.
Margot Schupf has been promoted to publisher of Time Home Entertainment, effective immediately, succeeding Jim Childs, who left earlier this month. Schupf joined the division as associate publisher in June. She reports to svp, consumer marketing + revenue Jeff Blatt. Reporting to Schupf are TIHE editorial director Steve Koepp and Oxmoor House editorial director Leah McLaughlin, well as executive director, business development Suzanne Albert, executive director, marketing Susan Hettleman, and executive director, production & project management Carol Pittard. Linda Scalissi has joined 3 Seas Literary Agency as an agent, looking to represent women’s fiction, thrillers, young adult, mysteries and romance. We Need […]
Posman Books to Close Grand Central Location, and More
Posman Books will close its Grand Central Station location after “15 wonderful years” by the end of the year, Shelf Awareness reports. The store has to leave its 5,000-square foot space as part of the Terminal’s plan “to upgrade and improve pedestrian circulation” and as part of the larger One Vanderbilt Project, a proposed 65-story office building whose owner has offered to pay for $210 million in Grand Central pedestrian passageway and subway platform improvements. Posman’s Robert Fader explained to the publication: “We have been in discussions with Grand Central for several years, but they have been unable to find […]
Judge Certifies Author Class In Suit Against Harlequin
The author class has been certified by Second Circuit District Court Judge William H. Pauley, III in the suit brought by three authors against Harlequin for underpayment on ebooks licensed to Harlequin subsidiaries. In May, the Appeals Court overturned Judge Judge Harold Baer’s dismissal of the class action suit, allowing one of four original claims to go forward. (Judge Baer passed away in May, which is why a different judge has taken over the case.) The class as approved by Judge Pauley incorporates authors in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand who signed standard Harlequin contracts […]