After receiving unsolicited interest from a US internet company last fall, Wattpad is reported to have invited bids for the company. The company is “now in active talks with multiple interested parties and could sign a deal as early as this month,” the Globe and Mail reports. By their account they are “in talks with multiple parties to potentially sell the enterprise for upward of $500 million.” The company told the paper, “We don’t have any news to share.” While the platform has lots of users — 90 million a month — after more than 14 years it still does […]
Archives for January 2021
People, Etc.
Wendy McClure has joined Sourcebooks as senior editor for Jabberwocky, Young Readers, and Fire. She most recently was editorial manager at Albert Whitman & Company. Liza Cassity has been promoted to director, marketing strategy and operations for Penguin Publishing Group. Eric Jerome Dickey, 59, author of 29 novels, died on January 3 in Los Angeles after a long illness. His longtime publisher, Dutton, said, “Eric Jerome Dickey loved being a writer and all that it encompassed. He loved challenging himself with each book; he adored his readers and beloved fans and was always grateful for his success. We are proud […]
Foundry Authors and Former Employees Warn On Payment Problems
Both authors and former employees of Foundry Literary + Media have indicated problems recently in receiving payments due from the agency. In September, Foundry’s co-founders Yfat Reiss Gendell and Peter McGuigan went separate ways to create YRG Partners and Ultra Literary respectively. Authors represented by Foundry report having received royalty checks that bounced, starting some time in late November. Two authors contacted the Authors Guild for assistance, and the organization has heard from some former Foundry agents as well. A demand letter sent to Gendell and McGuigan did result in a wire payment. (Knowingly issuing a bad check is a […]
Instituting A Winter Editors Buzz Panel: Seven Great Editors and Authors, and More
After a great inaugural virtual Buzz Panel last May (and a Romance Buzz Panel over the summer), we are excited to add a Winter Editors Buzz Panel to our schedule, ahead of the now-virtual Winter Institute. We are proud to be joined by the American Booksellers Association as co-presenter of the event, with ABA board member and co-owner of Solid State Books in Washington, DC Jake Cumsky-Whitlock serving as moderator. The panel convenes Wednesday, January 27 at 7 PM EST. You can register starting now — and the first 50 booksellers who register will get a package of printed galleys […]
People, Etc.
Liz Stein has been promoted to executive editor for William Morrow. At Dutton/Plume, Natalie Church has been promoted to marketing manager and Caroline Payne to assistant marketing manager. Stephanie Kelly becomes senior editor for Dutton, and Cassidy Sachs associate editor. At Catapult, Megha Majumdar has been promoted to senior editor, and Kendall Storey has been promoted to editor & foreign rights manager. Hana Park has been promoted to assistant editor at Simon & Schuster. Tricja Okuniewska has been promoted to assistant editor at Putnam. Tom Marquet has been promoted to managing editor, digital, at Random House Children’s, and Bess Schelper […]
Acquisitions: A Big Buy for Wiley, and More Titles for Chicago Review Press
Wiley announced the acquisition of open-access publisher Hindawi Limited, “one of the world’s fastest growing scientific research publishers,” for a total purchase price of $298 million. “The acquisition of Hindawi enables Wiley to move farther and faster toward our goal of meeting the world’s urgent and escalating need for new knowledge,” said Wiley ceo Brian Napack. London-based Hindawi expects to record $40 million in sales for 2020, with year over year growth of 50 percent. Chicago Review Press has acquired half of Fulcrum Publishing‘s list, comprising 126 new and backlist titles across graphic novel, gardening, natural history, and travel. The acquisition expands […]