Terry Pratchett, 66, author of more than 70 books including the Discworld series, died Thursday morning from complications of Alzheimer’s disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2007. Transworld managing director Larry Finlay said in a statement: “I was deeply saddened to learn that Sir Terry Pratchett has died. The world has lost one of its brightest, sharpest minds. In over 70 books, Terry enriched the planet like few before him. As all who read him know, Discworld was his vehicle to satirize this world: he did so brilliantly, with great skill, enormous humour and constant invention. Terry faced his […]
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The NYT reports that Alabama’s Human Resources Department has been investigating a complaint of possible elder abuse in connection with the planned publication of Harper Lee‘s Go Set A Watchman. They are doing so with the assistance of the Alabama Securities Commission. Investigators are said to have interviewed Lee, along with a number of her friends and employees at the assisted living facility where she lives. Sara Weiss will join Ballantine Bantam Dell as senior editor, reporting to Jennifer Tung. Previously she was an editor at Grand Central. Former California congressman George Miller will join Cengage Learning as senior education advisor, providing […]
Scholastic and Universal in 3-Year First Look Deal; Forte To Produce
Scholastic has entered a three-year first-look deal to develop live-action feature films with Universal Pictures — which was already developing adaptations of Clifford, The Big Red Dog and The 39 Clues. Deborah Forte is leaving her role as president of Scholastic Media to develop and produce these properties through her new production company Silvertongue Films, which will operate out of offices in Los Angeles and New York. In a statement, Forte said she was “excited about the new venture” which would allow her to “focus on producing movies based on a selection of Scholastic’s treasured book series alongside some of the most talented […]
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Karen Fink will join Grand Central as deputy director of publicity on March 23. She spent the past 11 years at Random House, most recently as associate director of publicity handling titles across the Random House, Spiegel & Grau and The Dial Press lists. Barry Harbaugh joins the Little A imprint at Amazon Publishing in New York as a senior editor focusing primarily on nonfiction, reporting to editor-in-chief David Blum. Harbaugh spent the last five years as an editor at Harper. Lucy Silag has been promoted to director of Book Country, where she will oversee brand partnerships, manuscript scouting, community […]
Wiley Grows in Q3, But Book Sales Still Decline
Wiley reported adjusted third quarter sales of $466 million, up 2 percent including foreign exchange, while adjusted operating income of $78 million was flat (with net income rising $3.5 million). The company took charges of $24 million in the quarter related to their ongoing restructuring program, of which half was due to prior restructurings of facilities and the other half due to severance costs. The company’s reduced trade book lines remain part of the “professional development” segment, where adjusted revenue 17 percent to $108.6 million, largely attributed to the recent acquisitions of CrossKnowledge (which contributed $16.2 million in revenue) and Profiles International […]
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Curtis Brown UK has acquired the entirety of Conville & Walsh a full year before the agreed deadline of final acquisition (after purchasing a 50 percent share in the agency two years ago). Conville & Walsh will retain its name and identity and continue to operate within Curtis Brown’s Haymarket offices, but its back office functions will be integrated into Curtis Brown. Jonny Geller, joint CEO of Curtis Brown, said in the announcement: “From the first day of working with Clare and Patrick and their fantastic team of agents and assistants, we knew it was going to work. Their flair, sense […]