Danielle Steel and Tara Isabella Burton publish new fiction this week, while nonfiction includes work by Erika Howsare. In children’s, Gene Luen Yang and Leuyen Pham publish a new graphic novel this month. Also out this week is Ashley Elston’s FIRST LIE WINS, which is excerpted in our Buzz Books 2023: Fall/Winter anthology. 11 works of fiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-fiction-publishing-january-2 5 works of nonfiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-nonfiction-publishing-january-2 28 children’s/YA titles https://bookshop.org/lists/january-2024-children-s-new-releases 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 […]
PRH Wins Partial Victory in Iowa Book Ban Suit; WaPo Analyzes Book Bans
In a preliminary victory for Penguin Random House in their suit claiming that Iowa’s book bans are unconstitutional, the state conceded that books about sexual orientation and gender identity will be allowed in school and classroom libraries. According to a press release, “students will be able to access them freely, read, and do reports on them.” This concession covers half of the publisher’s case against Iowa, which they brought with authors, educators, a student and parent, and the Iowa State Education Association. The other half concerns books that describe or visually depict sex, regardless of context, which are restricted through […]
B&N Union Square Employees Stop Work on Pre-Holiday Afternoon
Unionized workers at the Barnes & Noble in Union Square walked off the job at 2 PM on Friday, December 22 to protest “the company’s failure to return on economic portions of the contract amid their highest sales season.” After joining the RWDSU in June, employees have met with management to negotiate a contract throughout the fall. According to the union, last week, ceo James Daunt came to the bargaining table. In a release, the union stated, “If the company wants to live up to James Daunt’s vision of a well trained, knowledgeable sales team, and a shopping experience for […]
People 12/21
Distribution: Five New Publishers for IPG
The phazelFOZ Company’s print titles are now distributed by Independent Publishers Group in the US and Canada. Momentum Press is now distributed in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania by Independent Publishers Group’s academic and professional division, Eurospan. Starting on January 1, Hummingbird Press will be distributed by IPG worldwide. Also on January 1, Eurospan will distribute Zophorus Books worldwide and Manohar Books worldwide, excluding South Asia.
The Year in Finance
Publishing financial results were a mixed bag in 2023, with some publishers “flying high” (Simon & Schuster, Bloomsbury) and some falling (Hachette, Scholastic), while others saw a bit of both (Harper Collins). According to the AAP, trade book sales faltered slightly in the first three quarters, and while some publishers have reported lower overall book sales and continued supply chain pressures, others are reaping the benefits of increased interest in commercial and genre fiction. Penguin Random House Bertelsmann expects full-year sales to be “moderately” over last year, with a flat operating profit and a slight decline in EBITDA. As yet, […]