Stephenie Meyer‘s MIDNIGHT SUN sold more than 1 million units in its first week on sale, according to publisher Little, Brown Children’s. During a virtual Books-a-Million event, Meyer told fans: “There are two more books I think in the [Twlight] world that I want to write. I have got them outlined and a chapter written I think of the first one, so I know it’s there. I am not ready to do that right now, I want to do something brand-new. For me, a lot of the joy of writing comes from creating and I really want to do a […]
New Books Publishing August 11
It’s more of a normal release schedule this week after the big wave of titles to open the month, as nonfiction books such as former representative Katie Hill’s memoir and the biography of Harry and Meghan launch, alongside LeBron James’s picture book and more. As in previous weeks, our sample Bookshop and Aerbook store carousels provide easy displays of books publishing today in need of attention and support, featuring: 14 new works of fiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-fiction-publishing-august-11 11 new nonfiction titles https://bookshop.org/lists/new-nonfiction-publishing-august-11 More new children’s and YA titles https://bookshop.org/lists/new-children-s-titles-publishing-in-august We consult a number of sources in compiling our weekly lists and PM members can see our lists […]
HBG Starts Limited Re-Opening, But Recommends Remote Work “For the Foreseeable Future”
Hachette Book Group has started limited “Phase 1 openings” of their offices in Boulder, CO and Philadelphia, PA and will start the same next Monday in Boston and New York, but ceo Michael Pietsch emphasized to employees in a letter that it provides “only for people with a strong desire or need to be in the office, and daily attendance in each location is restricted to 10-15 percent of office capacity.” Beyond those first steps, he wrote, “We do not have any specific plans or timeline to move to further reopening phases at any HBG location at this time. Our […]
Harper Sees Profits Rise On Small Sales Decline, But Finishes Behind Previous Year
HarperCollins’ parent company News Corp. reported fiscal fourth quarter earnings on the Thursday. The publisher saw sales decline only 3 percent, down by $12 million to $407 million. As with Simon & Schuster’s report in the morning, Harper increased earnings even as sales fell, with EBITDA of $47 million, compared to $43 million a year ago. The company said the earnings rise was “primarily due to cost savings and the mix of titles.” Sales were supported by “a great performance from our children’s division,” with books for children in high demand during the lockdown. Digital sales rose 26 percent in […]
Simon & Schuster Profits Rose, As Sales Fell 8 Percent
ViacomCBS reported second quarter earnings on Thursday morning, with publisher Simon & Schuster recording sales of $200 million for the period, down 8 percent from $218 million a year ago. But expenses were also lower so profits (OIBDA) rose, to $38 million, up from $35 million a year ago. The company said the 8 percent decline in the topline was “primarily driven by lower print book sales as a result of the impact of COVID-19, partially offset by growth in sales of electronic and digital audiobooks.” (That’s roughly in line with the 10 percent decline in the quarter reported this […]
(Lots of) New Books Publishing August 4
Between rescheduled spring titles and early releases ahead of the presidential election, August is the new September this year. Jeff Kinney’s rescheduled Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure and Stephenie Meyer’s long-awaited Midnight Sun both land today. And so does Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents (her first book since the 2010 Pulitzer-winning The Warmth of Other Suns, just named the latest Oprah’s Book Club pick ) and a wave of notable fiction. As in previous weeks, our sample Bookshop and Aerbook store carousels provide easy displays of books publishing today in need of attention and support, featuring: 42 new works of […]