As previously reported last month, the April Indie Next list features a tie for the #1 choice for the first time, and both happen to be novels titled LIFE AFTER LIFE, by Kate Atkinson and Jill McCorkle, respectively. The full list: #1 Life After Life: A Novel, by Jill McCorkle #1 Life After Life: A Novel, by Kate Atkinson The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards: A Novel, by Kristopher Jansma The Burgess Boys: A Novel, by Elizabeth Strout The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat: A Novel, by Edward Kelsey Moore Ordinary Grace: A Novel, by William Kent Krueger Woke Up Lonely: A […]
WSJ Reports Hyperion To Put Backlist on Market, Focus Entirely on TV/Film Properties
With each season Hyperion has been cutting back on publishing frontlist adult fiction and nonfiction titles that aren’t connected in some way to sister companies ABC and Disney, and a report in the WSJ Wednesday night indicates how far Hyperion is willing to go with this mandate — to the point of selling off its backlist. Citing a single “person familiar with the situation,” the paper says Hyperion is “putting its backlist of older titles on the market” and “will look for books either linked to ABC television properties or that it believes can be extended to television or other […]
People, Etc.
Mary Albi is returning to Phaidon as vice president, leading their US operation as of April 1, reporting to ceo David Davies. She had run Phaidon in the US previously until leaving in 2003. Albi has been sales and marketing director at Egmont USA since 2009. Amanda D’Acierno has been promoted to svp, publisher at Random House Audio, Fodor’s, and Living Language. At Crown/Hogarth, Zack Wagman has been promoted to senior editor, and Christine Kopprasch moves up to associate editor. Brandon Proia has joined the University of North Carolina Press as acquisitions editor. Previously he was an editor at Public Affairs. […]
Awards: PEN/Faulkner Finalists; BN Discover Winners
The finalists for the 2013 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction were announced Wednesday. The winner will be announced on March 19, and the 33rd Annual PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction Ceremony & Dinner will be held on Saturday, May 4 at the Folger Shakespeare Library. The finalists are: Amelia Gray, Threats (Farrar, Straus) Laird Hunt, Kind One (Coffee House Press) T. Geronimo Johnson, Hold it ‘Til It Hurts (Coffee House Press) Thomas Mallon, Watergate (Pantheon) Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Everything Begins & Ends at the Kentucky Club (Cinco Puntos Press) Barnes & Noble also announced the winners of their annual Discover Awards: Fiction: […]
Harlequin Finishes Year with Weak Quarter
Harlequin’s parent company Torstar reported fourth quarter and full year results Wednesday. For the quarter, the book publishing unit had sales of $105 million (CA), down by $13 million, while EBITDA dropped $4.5 million to $16.8 million, which Torstar attributed to a decrease in North American and overseas revenues where digital growth could not compensate. Digital sales comprised for 21.4 percent of worldwide revenue in the fourth quarter, and 20.7 percent of revenues for the full year (compared to 15.5 percent of sales in 2011). Total sales for year were $426.5 million, down 7 percent from $459 million a year […]
People, Awards, Etc.: Thoma, DiMona Join Writers House
Writers House announced that Geri Thoma and Lisa DiMona have joined the agency. Thoma, who joins on March 18, was previously partner at Markson Thoma, while DiMona, who will start on April 8, was founder and sole proprietor of Lark Productions, a literary agency and book development company established in 1998. “We are delighted that Geri and Lisa are joining our growing team of agents. Their expertise in nonfiction will complement our list and enlarge the scope of the agency,” said Writers House chairman Amy Berkower in a statement. In addition, Stephen Barr was recently promoted to senior agent, while […]