The former owner who built the Martha’s Vineyard bookstore (now run by her son) writes in the MV newspaper about her experiences on July 4th: “John said, I’m going to take you into the building, here is your flashlight. And when I walked into the building wearing that heavy fireman’s suit — so heavy and they wear it all day! — I cannot tell you, the flashbacks of 35 years. And I cannot adequately describe the heat. It was like you were at a barbecue and someone had lit the briquettes right under you. It was so hot, the ceiling […]
Papers Say Direct Group France Sale Planned
Le Figaro and Les Echos have reported that Bertelsmann is working with Morgan Stanley to elicit offers for the Direct Group France division, which comprises both book clubs and the France Loisirs bookstore chain. One paper estimates the group could sell for 300 million euros, and the business newspaper says the sale could begin in September. But a spokesman for Bertelsmann said that no decision has been made yet, adding that “the news over the timing and the price are pure speculation.” Reuters In a broader story, FT Germany says the Bertelsmann has decided to sell off the Direct Group […]
Thomas Disch, Novelist, Said to Take His Own Life
The “author, poet and critic who twisted the inherently twisted genre of science fiction in new, disturbing directions, including writing his last book in the voice of God, died on Friday in his Manhattan apartment. He was 68. “His friend Alice K. Turner said Mr. Disch shot himself. She and other friends told how his apartment had been devastated by a fire; then his partner of more than 30 years died; then his home in Barryville, N.Y., was flooded; and finally, he faced eviction after he returned to the apartment.” His friend, novelist Norman Rush, tells the NYT: “He was […]
Review Cuts at Cleveland Plain Dealer
Book editor Karen Long notes that her Sunday book section has been cut by 25 percent: “The pages are being cut to one and one-half. Nobody following the news biz can pretend to be surprised, but all of us can be sad, just the same. She emphasizes that “a reduction of 25 percent still allows us a passing grade, especially if we spend the real estate we do have more wisely. That means that shorter reviews gain a new currency, especially the brand of substance and succinctness practiced by, for example, Dave Walton and Michele Ross.” NBCC blog
Lunch Weekly for Monday, July 7
Deal Reports Just e-mail to deals@PublishersMarketplace if you aren’t using the online form linked below. Report a deal using the online form The Key As usual, the handy key to our Lunch deal categories. While all reports are always welcome, those that include a category will generally receive a higher listing when it comes time to put them all together. “nice deal” $1 – $49,000 “very nice deal” $50,000 – $99,000 “good deal” $100,000 – $250,000 “significant deal” $251,000 – $499,000 “major deal” $500,000 and up FICTION Debut Richard Martin’s MIXED ANIMAL, a tale of hillbilly magical realism about […]
Lunch for Thursday, July 3
Appeals Court Upholds National Geographic’s Electronic “Revision” Two Federal Appeals Court rulings within the past week have supported National Geographic in their long-running legal battle with freelance photographers over their Complete National Geographic — comprising all of their printed magazines, reproduced exactly in a digital collection. Though sharply divided in a 7-5 vote, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals supported a prior decision in ruling that the digital reproduction is a “collective work” rather than a new one, and NGS can reproduce photographs as part of that work without paying additional royalties. (As opposed to, for example, creating a database […]