On Thursday, Audible announced to employees that it would eliminate 5 percent of its workforce. The company employs an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 staffers worldwide, so this move will likely impact approximately 100 people. The company declined to confirm which departments are affected. In a memo to staff, provided to PL by an Audible spokesperson, CEO Bob Carrigan noted that the company had a “strong year” in 2023 and “business is in good shape.” “However, to position us for continued success in the coming year and into the future, given the increasingly challenging landscape we face, we have to take […]
Pen America and PRH’s Suit Against FL Schools Will Continue
Pen America and Penguin Random House’s lawsuit against the Escambia County, FL school board will move forward, U.S. District Judge Kent Wetherell ruled on Wednesday. The plaintiffs, which include a group of authors and parents, argue that the school system’s removal of more than 1,600 titles–including dictionaries and encyclopedias–is a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. “Today, we urged the court to vindicate the Constitutional rights of students, parents, authors and publishers,” Pen America, Florida director Katie Blankenship said in a statement. “We are heartened that Judge Wetherell agreed and that our case can proceed. These books need to […]
Obituaries: Marc Jaffe, Michelle Somers
Former Bantam Books editorial director Marc Jaffe, 102, died on December 31. Early in his career, Jaffe was western & mystery editor at New American Library, publishing Gore Vidal and Mickey Spillane. Jaffe became editorial director at Bantam in 1961 and stayed for 19 years as the imprint became a force in paperback publishing, including William Peter Blatty’s THE EXORCIST. He later became vp at Random House and editorial director at Ballantine, and founded Villard Books, then founded an eponymous imprint at Houghton Mifflin. Later, Jaffe started Editorial Direction with his wife, Vivienne, and worked as a freelance editor and consultant until his […]
Trade Sales Flat in October
The AAP released StatShot data for October, reporting trade sales of $889 million, compared to $886 in the same month last year. Adult books sold $595.4 million, up slightly from $586.5 million. Hardcovers sold $264.8 million (down 2.2 percent) and paperbacks were flat at $164.6 million. Digital audio gained 9.5 percent to $63.9 million and ebooks were up 4.2 percent to $70.9 million. In children’s and YA books, total sales were $293.7 million, down 1.9 percent from $299.4 million. Hardcovers fell 5.8 percent to $121.3 million, while paperbacks gained 11 percent to $121.2 million. Digital audio rose 1.4 percent to […]
People 1/9
Circana has announced organizational adjustments, as a result of which Jonathan Stolper will depart after 13 years heading the Bookscan business.
New Books Publishing January 9
Olivie Blake’s sequel to THE ATLAS SIX, Katherine Min’s posthumous novel, and Bonnie Jo Campbell’s Read with Jenna pick all publish this week, while nonfiction includes work by Elizabeth Flock, Matt Dixon, and Jami Attenberg. Also out this week are new books by Shubnum Khan, Claire Oshetsky, and Inci Atrek, all of which are excerpted in our Buzz Books anthologies. 26 works of fiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-fiction-publishing-january-9 5 works of nonfiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-nonfiction-publishing-january-9 From Buzz Books https://buzz.publishersmarketplace.com/ We consult a number of sources in compiling our weekly lists and PM members can see our lists for […]