Our set of free reference resources continues to grow and change as the effects of the pandemic and shelter-in-place orders continue. New April 14 book releases See some of the notable new fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books released this week that need attention and support. And check our shops at Bookshop and Aerbook for more new releases from the past few weeks. Track major pub date changes We are tracking (and organizing by original release date) the continuing wave of changes in publication dates for hundreds of notable titles as well at publun.ch/pubdatechanges. Help for booksellers — and authors, illustrators and other […]
Archives for April 2020
People, Etc.
Robb Pearlman has joined Smart Pop Books as editor-in-chief. He was previously associate publisher at Rizzoli. Chilean author Luis Sepulveda, who lived in Spain after being exiled by Augusto Pinochet in the 1980s, died on Thursday from Covid-19. He first contracted the disease at the Correntes d’Escritas festival in February. Awards Christy Lefteri’s The Beekeeper of Aleppo won the Aspen Words Literary Prize. Cancelled Bouchercon 2020, planned for October 15-18 in Sacramento has been cancelled “out of an abundance of caution and concern for the health and safety of our community.” The organizers write in a statement, “We have no […]
Bookselling: Easter Book Sales Fall Short; More on the Prospects for Independent Booksellers
NPD Bookscan reported print book sales for the week ending April 11 of 12.47 million units. While that is nicely higher than the previous week, the proper comparison is to the week just before Easter a year ago, since book sales always spike measurably right before the holiday. The comparable week a year ago — ending April 20 — saw sales of 13.97 million units, making this year’s holiday week down over 10.7 percent in comparison. Per the trend during the pandemic, juvenile books continue to account for most of the week-over-week gains, registering sales of 6.385 million units (compared […]
Book Expo Will Provide Partial Refunds Upon Request
In response to our query, Book Expo and Book Con show director Jenny Martin indicated they will provide refunds to exhibitors on request. The organizers’ preference is to roll amounts paid towards the 2021 show, but Martin says their contract provides for a refund of 80 percent and they stand ready to do so. “Exhibitors will receive a letter detailing this process via email,” we were told. Martin says in her reply to us, “100% of amounts paid for exhibit space or media to date for BookExpo, UnBound and BookCon will be rolled over towards participation in our 2021 edition…. […]
Briefs
At Canongate, Andrea Joyce has stepped down as rights director after 13 years with the company. Jessica Neale succeeds her as rights and contracts director. Forthcoming Penguin Random House will publish a digital cookbook on May 5 to benefit restaurants and their workers, priced at $5.99, FAMILY MEAL: Recipes from Our Community. It features over 40 recipes by chefs and home cooks who publish with PRH imprint, covering what they are cooking and drinking at home right now, and all proceeds will benefit the RWCF COVID 19 Crisis Relief Fund. It includes a foreword from Restaurant Workers’ Community Fund co-founder […]
People: Nichols to Join Little, Brown As Publisher
Longtime svp and publisher of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Bruce Nichols will join Little, Brown as svp and publisher on May 4. He will report to ceo Michael Pietsch and join HBG’s executive management board. Nichols, who started his publishing career at Little, Brown in the company’s former College Publishing division, says in the announcement, “I have long admired the range and strengths of the publishing program at Little, Brown, its enormously talented staff, and the spectacular writers they have brought into the world. Continuing their remarkable programs, and finding new opportunities for growth and innovation, is the challenge of a […]