Potter Paperback Set for July Bloomsbury will release the UK paperback editions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on July 5, priced at 8.99 pounds (printed on 100 percent “ancient-forest friendly” paper). No word yet from Scholastic on their paperback release. Personnel News After seven years as vp, editorial director at Pocket, Maggie Crawford will take a “purely editorial role” to focus on acquiring and editing for Pocket, Threshold Editions and Downtown Press as of next January. Pocket publisher Louise Burke says it “stems from her desire to spend more of her time doing what she loves to do […]
Lunch for Monday, December 10
New Bertelsmann Chief May Sell Parts of Direct Group The Financial Times has an article that originated with the German version of the paper looking at incoming Bertelsmann chief Hartmut Ostrowski as he prepares to address a companywide gathering of executives in Berlin this Thursday. The first big rumor is that Ostrowski is considering selling the struggling Direct Group’s book, music and video clubs outside of Germany. A prime target is the US-based unit, recently renamed Direct Group North America and put under the leadership of Random House head Peter Olson. With sales of 1 billion euros it comprises over […]
Lunch Weekly for Monday, December 10
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 First time novelist Patrick DeWitt’s ABLUTIONS, a dark, literary novel about […]
Lunch for Friday, December 7
Personnel News Alibris founder Marty Manley is stepping down after ten years, to start a new company — details of which will be announced next year. Alibris President and coo Brian Elliott will take over as ceo of the online book, music, and movie exchange as of the new year. Manley says in the announcement, “The end of a decade is the right time for me to make a transition that we have been considering for some time. Brian is the right person to lead this company through the next stage of its growth, and I am proud to turn […]
Lunch for Thursday, December 6
Ross Leaving Cody’s Cody’s Books president Andy Ross resigned on Monday. Hiroshi Kagawa, the former ceo of Japanese distributor Yohan, is now acting president. A company spokesperson tells PW that further reorganization is underway but that it will be business as usual at the bookseller’s store on Fourth Street in Berkeley — their only remaining location after the closing of their San Francisco store earlier this year. PW French Publishers Drop Rights Claims to Calder Backlist The dispute between Oneworld Classics, the buyer of UK publisher John Calder, and French publishers Minuit and Gallimard over rights to many of the […]
Lunch for Wednesday, December 5
Starbucks Has February Pick As we noted yesterday at the site, Starbucks has selected David Sheff’s BEAUTIFUL BOY: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction as their fourth in-store book selection, going on sale in Starbucks stores on February 26. Starbucks Entertainment president Ken Lombard says, “We seek titles that will inspire conversation both in our stores and with our customers. David’s story embraces a depth of emotion, support and human resilience that brings readers face-to-face with an epidemic that is sweeping the nation.” Sheff will visit 10 Starbucks stores as part of his larger book tour. He will also […]