At a bankruptcy court hearing on Wednesday, Nicholas Callaway continued to blame other people for his business failure, especially the one entity that was willing to loan him money. Bloomberg reports, “Getting loans from banks or other traditional lenders after the pandemic was difficult, Callaway said. The publisher borrowed $2 million from a foundation, but the loan included onerous terms that contributed to the bankruptcy filing, including a $1 million premium and penalties, he said.” The most recent court filings show a secured lien from the Hoffen Family Foundation, for $1.034 million. Callaway’s current attorney (multiple former attorneys are creditors) […]
People 4/17
Bloomsbury Streamlines Divisions for Growth, Will Eliminate 55 Positions
Bloomsbury announced a plan to “streamline its structure for further growth,” which includes streamlining approximately 55 employees out the door. After doubling sales from 2020/21 through 2024/25 through a string of acquisitions, and growing headcount from 738 to a current figure of 1,238, the company will restructure into three vertical business units as of June 1, with each business unit operating with its own editorial, sales, marketing and publicity, rights and audio functions. Those three divisions comprise Bloomsbury USA, Bloomsbury Consumer UK, and Bloomsbury Global Academic & Professional. The plan “is designed to streamline operations, strengthen international reach and accelerate […]
In First Quarter Deals, Fiction Remains Strong As Children’s Sales Drop Significantly
After a string of record dealmaking years, the market is looking more fractured after the first quarter, highly dependent upon which market segment you are measuring. Adult fiction continues to drive the marketplace. Once again, our deal reports show a record number of major deals at the high end, and total six-figure deals were up slightly. Total fiction deals look up as well, but the comparisons are a little hard to make this year, since as of the beginning of 2026, deals by mature digital publishers are now categorized in our general pool rather than in the digital publisher category. […]
Small Digital Delights
Last November, Kobo launched a $30 remote control for their ereader that “quickly sold out and remained out of stock for several months.” The Verge offers appreciation for the tiny innovation: “I’m not ashamed to admit the Kobo Remote is the best gadget I’ve bought this year.” Spanish author Ausiàs Tsel “spent four months trying to answer a simple question: Has this book been translated into my language? Turns out no one tracks this. Not ISBN registries. Not Amazon. Not Google. Not libraries.” As a result, he built Zenòdot, a “multilingual platform for discovering a book’s translations worldwide” by “cross[ing] […]
Forthcoming: Jill Biden’s Memoir
Former First Lady Jill Biden‘s memoir VIEW FROM THE EAST WING will be published by Gallery on June 2, 2026. The publisher says, “For the first time, she reveals her experiences before, during, and after the unexpected ending to her husband’s bid for re-election. Throughout it all, she saw herself as an ordinary woman, living an extraordinary life.” Aimee Bell acquired world rights, sold by Deneen Howell at Williams & Connolly. Biden will narrate the audio book.