Quarto reported half-year results, with sales showing some improvement, as revenues rose $6 million to $56.2 million. Some of that gain reflects a shift in the “seasonal split of co-edition revenues, with a higher percentage than normal of expected full-year revenues achieved in the first half.” Their operating loss of ($7 million) was slightly improved from last year’s ($7.6 million), though the after tax loss of ($6.7 million) was higher than last year’s ($5.2 million), and is a poor result by any objective measure. The company’s lightly-traded stock is headed towards a new all-time low following the news. Though not […]
Archives for September 2018
Buzz Books Nominations
Please note that our seasonal email invitations have gone out to nominate titles for inclusion in the forthcoming Buzz Books 2019: Spring/Summer and Buzz Books 2019: Young Adult Spring/Summer samplers. If you haven’t received yours for any reason, or for more information, please contact Robin Dellabough, robin@publishersmarketplace.com. The deadline for nominations is October 12. (Meanwhile, you can continue to enjoy the packed Fall/Winter 2018 editions.)
People, Etc.
Russell Busse has joined Abrams Children’s as senior editor, entertainment and licensed publishing. He was previously with Little, Brown Children’s. Masha Gunic has joined Azantian Literary Agency as junior literary agent. She was previously editorial assistant at Abrams. The Frankfurt Book Fair named their new group of 16 Fellows (including Olivia Taylor Smith at Unnamed Press in the US). Acquisitions Hachette Book Group has closed their deal to acquire Christian publisher Worthy Publishing Group. Worthy’s founding publisher and CEO Byron Williamson becomes vp, publishing development for Hachette Nashville, joining HBG’s senior management group. Worthy sales and distribution will move to HBG […]
Meredith to Stop Operating Oxmoor House
Meredith has changed strategy for Oxmoor House, the 40-year-old cooking and crafts trade book publisher acquired as part of their purchase of Time Inc. (which in turn had acquired Oxmoor when it bought Southern Progress in 1985). Going forward they intend to license the Oxmoor list to another trade publisher — as the company has done with Meredith trade books since 2008, first through John Wiley and currently through Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Chief communications officer Art Slusark notes that, “As of this time, we have not selected a licensing partner.” Meredith laid off approximately 200 employees in a new round […]
The NBA Fiction Longlist
The National Book Foundation announced the last of their longlists, for fiction, focused on newcomers. Lauren Groff, a nominee in 2015, is a candidate, but no other authors named on the longlist have previously been recognized by the National Book Awards. Of the ten titles, five are published by Penguin Random House, while four are from small presses. The full list: Jamel Brinkley, A Lucky Man (Graywolf Press) Jennifer Clement, Gun Love (Hogarth) Lauren Groff, Florida (Riverhead) Daniel Gumbiner, The Boatbuilder (McSweeney’s) Brandon Hobson, Where the Dead Sit Talking (Soho Press) Tayari Jones, An American Marriage (Algonquin) Rebecca Makkai, The Great […]
People, Etc.
Harper Christian svp and group publisher David Moberg will retire at the end of the company’s fiscal year, in June 2019. SVP and publisher of Nelson Books Brian Hampton will be promoted to fill the role. Hampton will oversee all book publishing operations for both Thomas Nelson and Zondervan and the associated imprints effective immediately (except for Zondervan’s Church, Academic, Reference and Reflective publishing, and Bible publishing), reporting to president and ceo Mark Schoenwald. Moberg will “hold a leadership role within Harper Christian until his date of retirement, ensuring a seamless transition of responsibilities.” Hampton has been with the company for 27 years. […]