In May, the Wall Street Journal reported that “the overall number of meetings remains up nearly 70% versus February 2020.” People are spending 7.3 more hours per week in meetings than they did before the pandemic—an increase from 14 to 21.5 hours. That means that more than half of the work week is being spent in meetings, and workers have lost 17.5 percent of their time for other work. In a webinar hosted by the Book Industry Study Group, A Pandemic of Meetings: Reduce Reconsider and Refine Your Meetings, industry veteran Linda Secondari discussed how to focus meetings for success, […]
Astra Acquires DAW
Astra Publishing House has acquired sci-fi/fantasy publisher DAW Books from owners and co-publishers Betsy Wollheim and Sheila Gilbert. According to a release, Astra will take on the entire staff of DAW. The publisher has issued over 2,000 titles since its founding more than 50 years ago in 1971. “We’re so excited to have DAW join our group here at APH. We have long been impressed with their amazing authors and unparalleled place in the pantheon of science fiction and fantasy publishing,” Astra coo Ben Schrank said. “We can’t wait to help them build on their legacy so they can continue […]
Forthcoming: A Billion Years by Mike Rinder
On September 27, Gallery will publish A BILLION YEARS: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology by Mike Rinder. Editorial director Aimee Bell acquired North American rights from Steve Fisher at APA. “While other members have revealed some of Scientology’s inner workings, Mike Rinder’s A BILLION YEARS is the first account told from the perspective of a high-ranking, long-standing member who worked at the very top of Scientology’s hierarchy, in both L. Ron Hubbard’s and David Miscavige’s inner circle,” the publisher said in a statement.
Obituary: Bobby Byrd
Co-founder of Cinco Punto Press Bobby Byrd, 80, died on July 11 in El Paso, TX. Byrd was a poet and started Cinco Puntos with his wife, Lee Merrill Byrd, in 1985, and sold the independent publisher to Lee & Low last year.
New Books Publishing July 12
Becky Chambers, Blake Crouch and Monique Roffey lead this week’s fiction releases, while nonfiction includes new work from Erika L. Sánchez, Ken Auletta, Mark Leibovich and The Carbon Almanac Network. Also out today are titles from Casey Sherman and Zain Khalid, all excerpted and available in our Buzz Books 2022: Spring/Summer sampler. 23 works of fiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-fiction-publishing-july-12 https://shop.aer.io/publishers_lunch/cl/New_Fiction_Publishing_July_/223342 14 nonfiction titles https://bookshop.org/lists/new-nonfiction-publishing-july-12 https://shop.aer.io/publishers_lunch/cl/New_Nonfiction_Publishing_July_/223343 We consult a number of sources in compiling our weekly lists and PM members can see our lists for the coming three months through this reference page. But if you want to make sure your key titles are on […]
April Trade Sales Down 8.5 Percent
The Association of American Publishers announced StatShot data from participating publishers. After particularly robust results last year, trade sales were $637 million in April 2022, down 8.5 percent from $696 million in April 2021. Adult books were down (10.9) percent to $443 million. Hardcovers declined (21.6) percent to $141 million, paperbacks declined (3.9) percent to $151 million, and mass market sales were down (22.4) percent to $14 million. Overall children’s sales were $194 million, down (2.6) percent from 2021. Hardcover sales were $66 million, down (5) percent, and paperbacks stayed flat at $94 million. Ebook sales were $79 million, down […]