About a year ago Penguin Random House first announced the leasing of a 1 million-square-foot distribution center in Hampstead, MD, about 11 miles east of their 1.5 million-square-foot facility in Westminster. Now the Maryland state government has celebrated the opening of that facility, which “over time” will create 150 new jobs. To “assist with project costs,” the state is providing a $325,000 conditional loan, along with a $25,000 workforce training grant. Separately, starting September 1, Artbook | D.A.P. will be distributed by Ingram Publisher Services International in Asia, India, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Behind the Deal: Gaetz’s Belated Disclosure
The media helpfully pointed that out Congressman Matt Gaetz’s original financial disclosure form for 2020 was deficient, omitting his book for Bombardier Press, FIREBRAND. The amended disclosure is odd in a number of respects. For starters, Gaetz indicates he has lost money on the book so far: Paying his previously unacknowledged ghostwriter Todd Seavey $35,000, while declaring receipt of $25,000 from the publisher. Gaetz writes that he has a “profit participation agreement” providing him 60 percent “of all profits received by publisher” on a quarterly basis. The savvy congressman indicates his “agent” was Republican operative Sergio Gor, who helped himself […]
Memorial: Lynn Franklin
A memorial for the late Lynn C. Franklin, who passed away on July 19, will be held on Wednesday, September 29 at 6:00 pm at The Cosmopolitan Club, 122 East 66 Street, in New York City.
AAP Sales Confirm Softer June, But Strong First Half
The AAP released their monthly StatShot data for June, along with sub-totals for the first half of 2021, confirming other industry statistics that showed moderating but still robust sales in June after a very strong start to the year. For June, AAP adult trade sales of $411 million were $43 million below June 2020, or 10.8 percent lower — but well ahead of $379 million from June 2019, and ahead of the three-year average of $399 million from 2016 through 2018. Similarly, children’s and YA sales of $183.5 million were $8 million lower than June 2020, off 9 percent — […]
Beijing Book Fair Is Postponed
The world is not ready for big indoor gatherings yet. The Beijing Book Fair is the latest event to reckon with reality. Scheduled to begin tomorrow, August 25, the organizers posted a cancellation notice: “Due to strict pandemic prevention and control measures adopted currently, the organizing committee of the Beijing International Book Fair announces that the 28th BIBF originally scheduled on 25th to 29th August will be postponed to a later date. The organizing committee will closely follow the progress of pandemic prevention and control in Beijing and release the latest information regarding the 28th BIBF as soon as possible.”
Forthcoming
Ryan Hampton’s UNSETTLED: How the Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Failed the Victims of the American Overdose Crisis will be published by St. Martin’s on October 5. A national addiction recovery advocate and author of American Fix: Inside the Opioid Addiction Crisis – and How to End It, Hampton’s book promises “the inside account of Purdue’s excruciating Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, the company’s eventual restructuring, and the Sackler family’s evasion of any true accountability.”