AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins sold another 36,000 hardcovers in its second week on sale, as tracked by NPD Bookscan. That left it as the clear No. 1 title in adult fiction — though A VERY STABLE GENIUS by Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker remained the No. 1 title overall, growing in its second week with sales of 59,000 hardcovers, followed by PROFILES IN CORRUPTION by Peter Schweizer as the No. 2 title, ahead of American Dirt. For the same sales week, Bookstat.com estimated additional sales of 21,400 ebooks for American Dirt, and 16,700 digital audios. In those formats, it […]
The Strand to Take Over Former Book Culture Space on Columbus Avenue
The Strand Bookstore announced that it will open a new location in March, occupying the space on the Upper West Side’s Columbus Avenue that was seized by the landlord for back rent owed by the previous tenant. Book Culture. The store said on Twitter, “We’re thrilled to bring all of our Strand goodness to such a vibrant community.” Landlord Tim Quinlan had said in January, “Our intention is to keep that space as a bookstore and we’re working hard to do that. It just won’t be Chris [Doeblin] at the helm.” In a press release, the Strand said the new […]
Alice Mayhew Dies at 87
Simon & Schuster announced “with great sadness” that renowned vp and editorial director Alice Mayhew, 87, died peacefully at home earlier today. Plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later date. She joined Simon & Schuster in 1971 (following editorial positions and Harper & Row and Random House). CEO Carolyn Reidy writes that, “In her nearly fifty years here she established herself as a true mainstay of our publishing efforts, editing a distinguished list of writers in history, biography, journalism, politics, contemporary affairs and popular culture. Four authors published by her were awarded the Pulitzer Prize—Taylor Branch, […]
Phaidon Acquires The Monacelli Press
Phaidon announced that it has acquired publisher of illustrated books on architecture, design, and the arts The Monacelli Press. The company was founded in 1994 by Gianfranco Monacelli and has a list of over 400 titles. The Monacelli Press will continue as a separate imprint, and the staff will relocate to Phaidon’s New York office. Previously, The Monacelli Press had been sold to Random House in 2008, and then bought back by Monacelli in 2011. Phaidon ceo Keith Fox said in the release, “The Monacelli Press’s portfolio is an exciting opportunity to accelerate our growth and expand into new categories […]
Business: Quarto Completes Capital Raise, More Dirt, and Australia’s Co-op Stores to Close
As expected, Quarto completed its secondary share offer, raising $16.7 million in net proceeds. They say existing shareholders took 57 percent of the new shares, with the Giunti family taking a significant stake and CK Lau filling the rest of the offer. The Giuntis did acquire 6.2 million shares as planned. (Update: It was confirmed later in a filing at the end of February that Lau acquired approximately 9.4 million of the new shares, boosting the stake he controls to 16.27 million shares, or 39.8 percent of the company.) Separately, Australian online bookseller Booktopia has bought the assets of the […]
Mary Higgins Clark Dies at 92
NYT bestselling suspense novelist Mary Higgins Clark died Friday of natural causes at 92 in Naples, FL. Simon & Schuster ceo Carolyn Reidy wrote: “It is impossible to overestimate the importance of Mary’s contribution to our success, and her role in the modern history of Simon & Schuster. Beginning in 1975 with the publication of WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN, each of her 56 books has been a bestseller. There are more than 100 million copies of her books in print in the United States; they are international bestsellers and have been translated into every major and many less well-known languages. […]