The auction for the assets of bankrupt LSC Communications has been postponed to August 25, from August 5, as book publishers recently lost a court battle to give them more time if the buyers elect not to assume their existing contracts. Because bankruptcy abrogates many existing obligations, the ultimate buyers of LSC’s assets would have the right to reject publishers’ contracts — perhaps wanting to renegotiate terms. If such buyers do reject any of the current publisher contracts, the recent judge’s order establishes a three-month “wind-down” period, during which any publishers whose contracts would be rejected would need to move […]
Archives for July 2020
Barnes & Noble Education Agrees to Two New Directors Chosen by Shareholder Outerbridge
Barnes & Noble Education has negotiated a “cooperation agreement” with shareholder Outerbridge Capital Management, which holds a 13.4 percent stake in the company and had been looking to place four directors on the company’s board. As part of the agreement, Lowell W. Robinson joins the board now as an independent director, and Zachary Levenick will be nominated for election to the board at the next annual meeting. Outerbridge has agreed to support all of the company’s nominees for the board at that election, and “has also agreed to abide by certain customary standstill provisions.” That standstill agreement includes keeping Outerbridge […]
Title Mix Helps Bloomsbury to Sales Gain
Bloomsbury reported earnings for the four month period ending June 30, with trade sales of £31.5 million, up from £24.6 million — an unexpected increase of 28 percent over the prior year period, despite the disruption caused by COVID. Print revenues were 9 percent above last year’s sales, and digital revenues grew by 63 percent year-on-year, with ebook revenue up 53 percent. Performance was strongest in the US, where sales grew by 38 percent, led by Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas, Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge, […]
People, Etc.
Jenna Quatraro has been promoted to senior graphic design manager at Sourcebooks. Stephen S. Power has joined ghostwriting and publishing services firm Kevin Anderson & Associates as an executive editor. Previously he was executive editor at Thomas Dunne. Angus Cargill has been promoted to publishing director at Faber & Faber. Katharine Nelson has joined Canbury Press in the new position of director of sales, marketing and publicity. She was previously director of trade marketing and publicity at Lonely Planet. Obituaries Josephine Cox, 82, author of 60 books including Her Father’s Sins and The Beachcomber, died on July 17. Accomplished cover […]
New Books Publishing July 21
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: 19 new works of fiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-fiction-publishing-july-21 13 new nonfiction titles https://bookshop.org/lists/new-nonfiction-publishing-july-21 More new children’s and YA titles https://bookshop.org/lists/new-children-s-titles-publishing-in-july We consult a number of sources in compiling our weekly lists and PM members can see our lists for the coming three months through this reference page. But if you want to make sure your key titles are on our radar, now you can use this form to submit brief details as well: publun.ch/submitNotable
Our Buzz Books Romance Panel
Join us Wednesday, July 22 at 6pm EDT to hear romance writers chat about some of the buzziest books of the upcoming season. Four Buzz Books 2020: Romance authors will answer questions from their editors about what inspires them, what it’s like to write romance from a diverse perspective and more. Romance author Kwana Jackson (Real Men Knit) will host the event. A Q&A will follow, as well as a lottery for prizes (summer books bundles, tote bags, and other surprises!) for five lucky registrants. The authors and editors are: Melissa Ferguson, THE CUL-DE-SAC WAR (Thomas Nelson). Editor: Jocelyn Bailey Brenda Jackson, FOLLOW YOUR […]