Sourcebooks has appointed Moxie & Company as their brand licensing agency.
More changes to UK-based website Pottermore have resulted in some layoffs. BuzzFeed had suggested there were “significant” reductions, citing only a “well-placed source.” A company spokesperson told the site, “As a result of a reorganization at Pottermore, there have been a small number of job losses. These reflect the evolution of the business and are being handled as sensitively as possible.” Pottermore tells the Bookseller the job cuts are related to an “exciting new strategy” they will unveil soon. According to their annual filings with Companies House, the workforce had grown from 35 people in fiscal 2016 to 47 in fiscal 2017.
Correcting Thursday’s item, Rough Guides was previously distributed by Skyhorse, not Penguin Random House Publisher Services (announced erroneously in their press release).
Awards
Angie Thomas won Waterstones’ children’s book of the year award for THE HATE U GIVE. Managing director James Daunt said, “Ours is a children’s prize, but there is no upper age limit to being stunned by beautiful writing of this visceral power. It is an extraordinary achievement, and it triumphs in a year of wonderful quality and creativity in children’s publishing.”
Bookselling
From My Shelf Books & Gifts in Wellsboro, PA will remain open “on a smaller scale” after an essay contest launched last month by its owners to find a new store owner failed to garner enough entries. “It was a little disappointing,” co-owner Kevin Coolidge told PennLive.com Wednesday. “It just didn’t take off like I thought it would.” Instead Coolidge and his wife, Kasey will downsize the store and concentrate almost exclusively on selling children’s books. Liquidation of stock other than children’s books is underway.
Morgan Hill, CA-based bookstore Booksmart will close after more than 22 years in business. The bookstore had launched an Indiegogo campaign in 2016 to remain open and had moved locations, but as co-owners Brad Jones and Cinda Meister explained in a note to customers, “The move to our Dunne location was very costly–financed with high interest and short term loans. Our effort to refinance this debt has been unsuccessful and, therefore we are unable to pay our bills.”
Nanny Goat Books in Louisville, KY, co-owned by Sarah Gardiner and Josiah Davis, will have its grand opening this weekend. The 750-square foot store takes its name from the alley next door, Nanny Goat Strut.