The changes in spring pub dates have tapered down — at least for now [publun.ch/pubdatechanges] — and we’re ready to shine a light again on some of this week’s notable new releases. As in previous weeks, our sample Bookshop and Aerbook store carousels provide easy displays of books publishing today in need of attention and support, featuring: 13 new works of fiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-fiction-publishing-may-12 https://aerbook.com/store/publishers_lunch/New_Fiction_Publishing_May_12/216026 8 new nonfiction titles https://bookshop.org/lists/new-nonfiction-publishing-on-may-12 https://aerbook.com/store/publishers_lunch/New_Nonfiction_Publishing_May_12/216027 More new children’s/YA books https://bookshop.org/lists/new-children-s-titles-publishing-in-may https://aerbook.com/store/publishers_lunch/New_Childrens_Titles_Publishing_May/215942
Archives for May 2020
People, Etc.
Grace Rambo has been promoted to digital operations manager at The Experiment. At Talcott Notch Literary Services, Saba Sulaiman has been promoted to agent. Paula Munier becomes agent and storytelling and content director. Tia Mele has added a new role as audio rights director. Jackie Ashton has joined Lucinda Literary as agent, with a focus on popular science, business, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction. Anchor has moved up the paperback publication date for Colson Whitehead‘s Pulitzer-winning THE NICKEL BOYS to June 30. Briefs For the first time, 37 literary agents and agencies in Italy have come together to form […]
McGraw-Hill Shifts Fiscal Year
On the heels of its cancelled merger with Cengage, McGraw-Hill today issued a limited “preliminary Q4 and full-year report”– or otherwise put, announced that it is delaying full financial reporting for the quarter until mid-June, and changing their fiscal year. The company already reported a fourth quarter, ending December 31, back in early March — but the new report reflects a shift to a fiscal year ending March 31, which they say will better align with seasonal industry cycles. The preliminary report, which lacks full financials, touts their digital growth and provides minor updates on how COVID-19 has affected the […]
Two Longtime Barnes & Noble Warehouse Employees Have Died of Covid-19
Longtime employees at Barnes & Noble’s New Jersey distribution center Felix Ramirez and Alberto Joyasaca have died from complications related to Covid-19. Ramirez died April 13, according to co-workers, and Joyasaca died on May 4. BN spokesperson Alex Ortolani confirmed Ramirez’s death to NJ.com, saying the company was “deeply saddened by his passing.” Ortolani reports that the facility was closed for five days, through April 22 and he indicates there have been no positive cases in employees since then. He says they have closed four times already for a “deep cleaning,” with another one planned for May 9. In late […]
People, Etc.
Karen Murgolo will join Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as editorial director, lifestyle on May 26. She was most recently an agent at Aevitas Creative Management, after serving as editorial director of Grand Central Life & Style since its inception. Murgolo will oversee the HMH lifestyle and culinary editorial team. At Macmillan Children’s, Hayley Jozwiak has been promoted to senior managing editor; Ilana Worrell to senior production editor; Cassie Gonzalez to designer; and Debbie Cobb to senior coordinator. Marian Wood, former vice president and publisher of Marian Wood Books and Sue Grafton’s longtime editor, died last weekend. She began her career at […]
Harper Sees Sales Slide, Earnings Gain
Sales at HarperCollins fell modestly in their fiscal third quarter, at $412 million, their fourth straight quarterly decline, $9 million lower than a year ago. The company said the drop was “primarily due to the difficult comparisons to the prior year, which had higher sales of Rachel Hollis’ titles,” along with a $3 million negative effect from foreign exchange. But EBITDA actually gained, at $55 million up $2 milllion, “primarily due to the different mix of titles.” Digital sales rose 3 percent compared to a year ago, “primarily due to growth in downloadable audiobooks,” and comprised 23 percent of consumer […]