Ken Follett is changing English-language publishers, moving to Hachette Book Group and Hachette UK — after publishing with Penguin for 45 years, and with Pan Macmillan for 35 years. Follett’s next novel, due out on an unspecified date in 2025, will be published by Grand Central in the US and Quercus in the UK. The Follett Office sold rights to Ben Sevier at Grand Central (NA) and Jon Butler at Quercus (UK/Commonwealth), in a one-book deal. Follett said in the announcement, “This is the beginning of an exciting new phase for me: new publisher, new editors, new sales force. I’m […]
AAP Has Been Winning Some Battles, But the War with AI Is Harder
The AAP has been so busy and visible the past year in fighting for core values—including pushing back on the unauthorized massive copying and lending of books by the Internet Archive; blocking “misguided and unconstitutional” state legislation aiming to regulate library ebook and audio pricing; and fighting book bans and an attempt to criminalize book sales and borrowing—that their virtual annual meeting, streamed on Thursday afternoon, did not need to dwell for too long on the state of play. Many remarks were focused instead of the battle ahead—or perhaps the fight already lost before we knew it was underway—to protect […]
The Next Buzz Books Editors and Authors Panel Is A Week Away
One of the industry’s favorite events—five great editors, in conversation with five breakout authors—is just a week away. Watch Helen Atsma, Deb Futter, George Gibson, Olivia Taylor Smith and Emily Wunderlich discuss five worthy fall “buzz” titles with the authors, hosted by the book expert Leigh Haber and co-presented by the American Booksellers Association. We’re using a new platform that we hope makes everything even smoother for attendees, but it will help if you register to hold your place now. As usual, the first 25 booksellers who enroll will get a package of galleys for the featured titles. Earlier in […]
Obituary: Al Araneo
EVP and director of Business Affairs at Writers House Al Araneo, 53, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday from natural causes. “A treasured and invaluable colleague, Al’s absolute professionalism, deep kindness, and generous and insightful counsel helped make Writers House a joy to work at,” said agency president Simon Lipskar. “He was a dear friend to everyone who worked with him, and we are all grief-struck by this terrible loss.” Araneo started the contracts department at Writers House in 2006 after working for 13 years at Penguin, Doubleday, and Bookspan, and oversaw the department’s growth. In 2020, he became director […]
KDP Virtual Voice Beta Has Produced Over 40,000 Audible Titles
A recent report from Bloomberg noted that Amazon’s beta program allowing invited KDP authors to produce audiobooks using synthetic machine narration has resulted in over 40,000 “virtual voice” audiobooks available through Audible so far. All of the titles are clearly labelled and introduced as having been created by “computer-generated narration for audiobooks.” At least some customers have asked Audible to provide a search filter that would omit the virtual voice titles. An Audible spokesperson writes to Bloomberg, “During the beta we are learning more about what our customers want as we continue to innovate on their behalf.” That person reports that […]