Day After Night: A Novel, by Anita DiamantA Duty to the Dead: A Bess Crawford Mystery, by Charles ToddBaking Cakes in Kigali: A Novel, by Gaile ParkinWaiting for Columbus, by Thomas TrofimukSpooner, by Pete DexterStrength in What Remains, by Tracy KidderAwait Your Reply: A Novel, by Dan ChaonBenny and Shrimp, by Katarina MazettiFear the Worst: A Novel, by Linwood BarclayThe Lieutenant, by Kate GrenvilleThe Day the Falls Stood Still: A Novel, by Cathy Marie BuchananRed to Black, by Alex DrydenThe Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder: A Novel, by Rebecca WellsShakedown, by Andie RyanThe Meaning of Matthew: My Son’s Murder […]
Harper In the Red for Q4 As Sales Fall Over 20 Percent
HarperCollins swung from profit of $28 million a year ago to an operating loss of $4 million for their fiscal fourth quarter, including a $3 million impairment/operating charge, finishing the year with an operating loss of $16 million (including $33 million in impairment/operating charges), compared to $160 million in operating income a year ago. (They still show “adjusted operating income” of $17 million for the year.) News Corp. says the deterioration is “largely due to the weak retail market.” Sales for the fourth quarter fell $72 million at Harper, down 20.5 percent, at $278 million. Full-year sales for the publisher […]
Kindle Krunching: Week 3
Once again, we’ve made a comparison of the Kindle Top 10 versus the new USA Today chart, now incorporating Kindle sales data. As in previous weeks, even with the help of top 10 Kindle sales most of these titles fell in their rankings this week. What’s notable this week is that the Kindle chart was topped by a digital-only title, and also includes Thorn Queen, a new mass market release that only ranks in the 800s among Amazon’s print titles. Here’s our chart, ranking the books according to their position on the Kindle bestseller list, with their USAT ranking and […]
Bookselling: New Orleans' Maple Street to Close Children's Book Shop
The dedicated Maple Street Children’s Bookshop will turn into a section within an expanded Maple Street Book Shop. The children’s store has been in business since the 1970s. As Nola.com recalls, “A stop by Maple Street Children’s Book Shop was often a cherished part of the weekend family routine, whether it was for the storytimes held every Saturday morning or an afternoon browse.” The building next door “will become a used book store and space for periodicals and gifts,” Nola.com reports.
Sony's Newest Reader Offers Low Price–with No Wireless
Following the widespread leak of manuals and pictures of its two new readers, Sony moved up the official announcement. The main news is that, still with no wireless, they are hoping price will move the needle for them. Their Sony Reader Pocket, with a 5-inch screen, will sell for $199, while the Sony Reader Touch will have a 6-inch touchscreen and sell for $299. It has both a virtual keyboard and a separate stylus. Their other big idea is to match Amazon and Barnes & Noble on the price of selected books, also offering “new releases and NYT bestsellers” at […]
People and Announcements
Julie Bennett is rejoining Ten Speed Press as editorial director, reporting to publisher Aaron Wehner. She previously worked for the publisher for nine, most recently as senior acquiring editor. Dawn Yanagihara also joins the company as senior editor. She worked in a number of roles at Cook’s Illustrated and then was at Weldon Owen as senior editor. At Holt, Helen Atsma has been promoted to senior editor after two years at the publisher. Adriana Dominguez has joined Full Circle Literary as an agent, based in New York and serving as the agency’s East coast representativ. Most recently she was executive […]