Brave John Bolton is determined to have his book THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED published on June 23, most likely without receiving clearance and approval from the government. The Washington Post first reported on Bolton’s plans, which include media appearances for the week before the release, and a source confirmed to CNN that Bolton has “already scheduled network interviews to promote the book.” Washington-based national security attorney Mark Zaid, who likes to weigh in on cases like this when he doesn’t represent the author, wrote on Twitter: “If Govt deems even one word classified, #Bolton can be prosecuted. Regardless, failure […]
Archives for June 2020
People, Etc.
At Bloomsbury UK, Alexis Kirschbaum has been promoted to associate publisher. Alison Hennessey becomes publishing director. Rowan Yapp has been promoted to publishing director of the illustration list, while Emma Herdman becomes publishing director with a focus on literary and commercial. Ileene Smith, previously vice president and executive editor at Farrar, Straus, is now serving as an editor at large for the house. She will continue to acquire and work with selected authors. Andrea Joyce is now handling rights for Edinburgh-based agency Jenny Brown Associates. She was most recently rights director at Canongate for 12 years. Felicity Bryan is stepping […]
Penguin Random House Will Not Attend Frankfurt
Penguin Random House has joined Lagardere Publishing, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Macmillan and others in announcing it will not attend Frankfurt Book Fair this year. They said in a statement, “As a long-time annual participant in the Frankfurt Book Fair, who believes in its enduring value and importance, Penguin Random House greatly regrets it will neither exhibit at this year’s Fair, nor attend in person, to protect the health and well-being of our employees, authors, and partners. Our companies will strive to support the Fair’s virtual activities this October.”
Deal Volume Holds, As Investment Declines
A month ago we showed that April dealmaking volume in the US was relatively strong, following a big dropoff in the second half of March. The total number of reported six-figure deals was relatively strong as well looking at March and April combined, running only 4 deals (or 4.6 percent) below the average from the previous four years. The biggest change was a sharp decline in the biggest, or major, deals. May statistics tell a similar story, though with more erosion across all six-figure or better deals. Total US deal volume was stable, down 2 percent compared to May 2019, […]
Apple Books’ June Picks
Apple Books announced its top picks for June, including Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half and Julie Clark’s The Last Flight, both excerpted and available for download now in our Buzz Books 2020 Spring/Sumer sampler. The rest of the list: The Guest List, by Lucy Foley A Burning, by Magha Majumdar 28 Summers, by Elin Hilderbrand Dance Away with Me, by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Devolution, by Max Brooks Conventionally Yours, by Annabeth Albert Heroes, by Stephen Fry The Next Great Migration, by Sonia Shah The Biggest Bluff, by Maria Konnikove Seven Lies, by Elizabeth Kay The Voyage of the Morning Light, by […]
Corvisiero Literary Lets Entire Staff Go After Online Controversy
Corvisiero Literary founder and ceo Marisa Corvisiero has fired her entire staff following a Twitter controversy about recent Black Lives Matter protests. On Wednesday, Corvisiero wrote in a post that has since been deleted, “This is how you do it. Make your point, take a stand and don’t hurt other people or damage property in the process. No violence is acceptable ever. The whole point is to be heard and seen to make things better.” Following the post, agents Amy Giuffrida and Saritza Hernandez resigned from the agency. Giufffrida tweeted on Thursday, “Yesterday I made the difficult decision to leave […]