Jonathan Cape Children‘s, which has been publishing new picture books and backlist titles by Roald Dahl and Joan Aiken, will now publish new fiction, led Random House Children’s UK publisher Annie Eaton. In a statement she said she would acquire “some very special future children’s classics.” RHCP m.d. Philippa Dickinson added: “Annie has an enviable track record for publishing established literary greats as well as debut fiction. She has a knack for seeking out new names, and nurturing them to become commercial and award winning successes, as can be seen with Wonder by R J Palacio and Itch by Simon […]
Corporate: Lonely Planet Sale to NC2 Confirmed; eMusic Merges with Blio
After a vague and weak denial last month when travel site Skift first reported the deal in progress, the BBC has now confirmed its sale of Lonely Planet to little-known billionaire Brad Kelley’s NC2 media. Selling for £51.5 million ($77.3 million), the sale is now raising the expected criticism in the UK as the British public confronts the full fiasco of the broadcaster’s diversion into travel publishing. The BBC already took £50 million in writedowns on the total £130 million purchase price for Lonely Planet, and the sale is an admission that even those writedowns were not sufficient to account […]
Amazon Publishing Will Speed up Author Royalty Payments
In letters to authors and agents sent Monday afternoon Amazon Publishing said it will quicken the pace at which it pays out author royalties, moving from quarterly remittance to monthly payments, issued 60 days after the close of each month. The news was first reported by the WSJ and we’ve also seen a copy of the letter. In it, vp, Amazon Publishing Jeff Belle explains “in this digital age, we don’t see why authors should have to wait six months to be paid.” The new payment procedure will begin with January 2013 royalties, to be paid through on March 31. […]
People, Etc.
Andrew Duncan will join Grand Central on March 25 as associate director, online marketing, reporting to Emi Battaglia. Duncan was most recently senior marketing manager at Viking. Megan Perritt joins Crown as senior publicist. She was previously a publicist at F&W Media. In addition, Rebecca Marsh has been named publicist, moving from Simon & Schuster. In the wake of Mark Suchomel’s abrupt departure earlier this month after more than 15 years as company president, IPG has made a number of changes to its senior management. Jeff Tegge has been promoted to executive vice president, where he will continue to coordinate […]
eNews: Sony Ends 20p eBook Promotion in UK; DA VINCI CODE eBook Free for a Week; And More
Sony’s 20p discounted price on select ebooks, a promotion that lasted for more than eight months, has ended after the company redesigned its ebookstore. In a statement to the Bookseller Sony said “Discounted 20p pricing is not currently offered on the newly relaunched UK Reader Store. However, pricing is always subject to revision. The duration of our 20p pricing is indicative of our commitment to provide great e-books at exceptionally accessible prices, which is a philosophy we continue to hold.” Now that the steep discount on books such as Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI and John Lanchester’s CAPITAL (and earlier, […]
People, Etc.
Craig Herman has joined Peanuts Worldwide as executive director for publishing, where he will work on expanding the global publishing program for the Peanuts brand as well as transition the business to the optimal blend of physical books, e-books, and hybrid digibooks and apps. Previously he was vp, associate publisher at Running Press. Little, Brown announced that the trade paperback edition of JK Rowling‘s THE CASUAL VACANCY will be published with a new cover on July 18, 2013. In separate Dan Brown news, Doubleday announced he will make his only US appearance for INFERNO at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall […]