Lagardere reported third quarter results November 7, with book publishing sales of €663 million, up from €607 million. The gains included €9 million from the strengthening US dollar and €7 million from the recent Gigamic and Short Books acquisitions, but results were driven mostly by a 12.2 percent gain at the big French publishing division, which enjoyed “a sharp uptick in education” on high school curriculum reform and “robust momentum for mobile games.” At HBG USA sales were just below flat, down 0.3 percent, held back by the Nashville division and a weaker comp at Perseus, where sales of Jen […]
Archives for November 2019
People, Etc.
Damon Reiss moves over to become vp and publisher for W Publishing, reporting to Don Jacobson. He has been senior director for Harper Christian’s custom and backlist program as well as Christian bookstore key accounts and distributor channels. Bookseller PK Sindwani joined the American Booksellers Association this week as chief financial officer. He was the owner of Towne Book Center & Cafe in Collegeville, PA for 29 years. Nica Carrillo is leaving her position as marketing and sales manager of Coffee House Press on November 15. She will join Epsilon Agency as a client account executive. Marit Swanson, succeeds her […]
People: Anne Messitte to Leave Vintage/Anchor, and More
Anne Messitte, executive vice president, Knopf Doubleday and publisher, Vintage/Anchor, will leave the company in December, with no indication of what is next for her, “forced out amid a company restructuring” as the AP puts it. Knopf says the change is about bringing “alignment between our group hardcover and paperback publishing programs, as well as more group efficiencies,” after Vintage/Anchor had “essentially been operating as an autonomous arm of our publishing group.” Messitte has led Vintage/Anchor for 20 years, and launched Vintage Español in 1994, among other ventures — notably including her acquisition of the Fifty Shades trilogy. Chairman and […]
A Digression, On Wearing No. 19
In most circles round numbers are the ones of special note, but if you lived in Baltimore in the 1960s, the magic of the number 19 was instantly recognizable, since that was what Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas wore on his jersey. Known as “The Golden Arm,” Unitas was in the vanguard of modern quarterbacks and still ranks as among the greatest ever. To make this publishing related, the Colts used to hold summer pre-season training on the campus of a college in Westminster, MD, three miles away from what’s now better known as the home of Penguin Random House’s largest […]
People, Etc.: Folio Acquires Emma Sweeney Agency, and More
Folio Literary Management has acquired and will continue the business of Emma Sweeney Agency, effective January 2, 2019. Sweeney says in the announcement, “I’ve enjoyed a very rewarding 37 years in book publishing and am grateful for the life it’s given me, as well as the wonderful friendships. The decision to move on has been made easier knowing my clients will have the full support of Folio, an agency I have long admired, and where I’m sure ESA clients will feel at home.” Margaret Sutherland Brown will continue on with Folio working with Sweeney’s clients. Sweeney was an agent at Harold […]
Penguin Children’s Acquires Eric Carle’s Rights
Penguin Children’s announced on Tuesday that as of January 1, 2020 it will acquire Eric Carle LLC, which owns the intellectual property rights to the author and illustrator’s over 70 children’s books, as well as his licensing business. Carle, 90, has sold over 145 million copies of his books worldwide by their report (including more than 50 million copies of The Very Hungry Caterpillar alone). The acquisition was made by Penguin Random House US ceo Madeline McIntosh and Penguin Children’s president Jen Loja, and starting in January business operations for what has previously been the Eric Carle Studio will be […]