The AAP’s May StatShot report shows a deepening of the same trends observed in April: revenues from shipments of trade books to accounts were down substantially, due to store closures and postponed releases, as lower returns due to the same factors mitigated some of the “net” sales tabulations for the month. Shipments of trade books comprised $668 million for the month, down 16 percent from a year ago, or $127 million lower. (In contrast, net sales of $577 million were 9.3 percent lower than a year ago.) The declines were deeper than in April, as adult grosses fell 17.5 percent, […]
Archives for July 2020
People, Etc.
Jessica Felleman has joined Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency. She was previously an agent at Foundry Literary + Media. Jolene Haley has joined Marsal Lyon Literary Agency as a literary agent. She was previously at Corvisiero Literary Agency. Allison Huggins has been promoted to senior manager of foreign rights and co-editions for Workman Publishing, Algonquin Books, Algonquin Young Readers, Artisan, duopress, and Erewhon, effective immediately. In her new role, she will focus on selling rights and publishing co-editions, as well as managing rights business in several territories, processing all foreign rights income, and writing translation rights contracts. Rakesh Satyal announced Friday, […]
NBCC Sets Special Meeting to “Repopulate” Board, As Romano Objects
The National Book Critics Circle will hold a special board meeting on July 14, focusing on, among other things, repopulating the board which saw 15 resignations in June. Acting president Jane Ciabattari wrote in what was supposed to be a confidential email to the board on July 6 that they also aim to “[approve] amended and restated bylaws prepared for us by our attorneys” and formally call a Special Membership Meeting as “requested in writing…to vote on removal of Carlin” Romano from the board. Romano, whose email responding to the drafting of an anti-racism statement by the NBCC started the […]
Briefs
Donald Trump remains remarkably effective at boosting the sales of books he tries to block. As of June 30 Simon & Schuster told the court they had printed and started shipping approximately 75,000 copies of Mary Trump‘s TOO MUCH AND NEVER ENOUGH — and yesterday in a new afffadavit the publisher said they have printed and shipped over 600,000 hardcovers. Bookselling During lockdown Barnes & Noble refreshed about 350 of its stores, but as the NYT reports, the adjustments were relatively minor, “using small teams to move furniture around, paint walls and bring in new books.” Ceo James Daunt reports […]
Events: Virtual National Book Awards, and A Grant for Frankfurt
The National Book Awards ceremony on November 18 and all of the associated events will be held virtually this year. As a result, the organization will spread its events out, starting with the 5 Under 35 list on October 20. The NBA finalist reading is set for November 10 and Teen Press Conference held in partnership with the Miami Book Fair will be on November 16. Separately, the Frankfurt Book Fair has received a 4 million euro grant from the German government’s cultural stimulus package. As a result, stands up to 48 square meters at this year’s show will have […]
Celebrating Carolyn Reidy
On Wednesday afternoon there was a virtual memorial celebration of the late Carolyn Reidy, with remarks from her husband Stephen as well as Adam Rothberg, Jonathan Karp, Michael Selleck and Susan Moldow from Simon & Schuster, plus Lisa Lucas, Joe Kanon, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Stephen Rubin, and Hillary Clinton. The recorded service can be viewed on YouTube. In a timely reminder, Clinton noted: “Books were her passion, her career, and the great love of her life, second only to her devoted husband Stephen. She knew that the right book in the right hands can be and often was life changing. […]