As long expected and feared, UK wholesaler Bertram’s has gone into bankruptcy administration and is well down the road of liquidating. The “majority” of its 459 employees have been fired effectively immediately “with a small number retained to manage the winding down of operations.” Some sales of the parts are in already in process, including dumping of any of the remaining inventory that they can, further hurting publishers who are owed money: “Sales have been agreed in principle with two unconnected parties for the tangible assets and unencumbered stock of Bertram Trading Limited and for the intangible assets of Education […]
Archives for June 2020
NBCC Updates: Ciabattari Becomes Temporary President, and More
The National Book Critics Circle sent out an update about their plans, after 15 board members resigned earlier this week in a controversy stemming from the drafting of an anti-racism statement. Jane Ciabattari will serve as temporary president until the board can be reestablished, with Richard Santos, vp of membership as the official spokesperson for the board. Gregg Barrios has been elected vp of diversity and inclusion, leading “efforts to make the NBCC a safer, more welcome, and more inclusive space for all.” Carlin Romano remains on the board. They note that “there have been many inquiries about governance structure […]
Hudson’s First Quarter Sales Down 23 Percent as Expected
Confirming preliminary estimates offered in April, the travel retailer and book chain Hudson reported first quarter sales for the period ending March 31 of $341.5 million, down 23.3 percent due to COVID-related store closures in airports worldwide. Sales of “literature and publications,” which includes books, fell even further, at $24.6 million, down 31 percent from $35.7 million a year ago. Same-store sales were down 22.5 percent, to $307.4 million. The company recorded a goodwill impairment of $52.3 million, contributing to an operating loss of $(76.3 million), compared to a profit of $15.1 million last first quarter. Beginning in mid-May, as […]
People, Etc.
Vice president and publisher of Tor Books Devi Pillai has been named publisher of Tor Teen and Starscape, in addition to her current position. Jane Harris will join Welbeck Publishing Group as group publisher, children’s books. She is currently managing director, children’s trade at Bonnier Books UK. She succeeds Alexandra Allan who has relocated back to Australia. Executive director Marcus Leaver said in the release, “Mark and I are excited to add Jane’s considerable experience to our accomplished senior management team.” Awards Lark by Anthony McGowan (Barrington Stoke) won the UK’s Carnegie Medal, while Tales from the Inner City written and illustrated […]
DOJ Asks to Put Bolton’s Ketchup Back in the Bottle with Request for Temporary Restraining Order
Now that major media have published full coverage of John Bolton’s forthcoming book THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED, including reviews and an authorized excerpt, the government has filed an additional motion on top of their Tuesday breach of contract suit asking for a temporary injunction blocking release of the book. They ask for a hearing “at the Court’s earliest convenience on Friday, June 19, 2020.” The government insists that, “Disclosure of the manuscript will damage the national security of the United States.” They claim the book “contains instances of information that, if disclosed, reasonably could be expected to cause serious […]
Showing Futility of DOJ Lawsuit, The Bolton Book Is Everywhere In the Press
There’s nothing like a lawsuit to speed the release of a book’s details. After the Department of Justice’s filed suit late Tuesday against John Bolton for breach of contract in proceeding with his book, on Wednesday the book was showing up everywhere. The NYT “obtained” a copy and posted both a journalistic article as well as a scathing review by Jennifer Szalai. That opened the floodgates, with the WSJ following with an “exclusive excerpt” and briefer story, a review from NPR, coverage and a review from the Washington Post, and still more from CNN. Notably, none of the accounts are […]