Anne McCaffrey, the science fiction and fantasy author best known for her “Dragonriders of Pern” novels, died Monday in Wicklow County, Ireland after suffering a stroke. She was 85. The author of nearly 100 novels (including 30 in collaboration with other authors, such as her son Todd) McCaffrey was the first woman to win the Hugo and Nebula awards, while her 1978 novel THE WHITE DRAGON was the first science fiction title by a woman to appear on the New York Times bestseller list. Suvudu obit Greg Galloway has joined the American Booksellers Association as marketing manager and designer. He […]
Books-A-Million Sales and Profits Slide On Closing Underperforming Stores and Overall Expansion
Books-A-Million posted its third quarter earnings for the period ending October 29, with net sales dropping 8.1 percent to $94.4 million (from $102.7 million a year ago) and store comps falling 7.7 percent from the same time last year. The company suffered an operating loss of $8.1 million, compared to a loss of $2.9 million a year ago, and a net loss of $4 million, or 25 cents per diluted share. The losses included a one-time charge related to the closing of 21 underperforming stores and scheduled opening of 41 new locations throughout the month of November. The company now […]
Bookselling: Former Davis-Kidd Store Revived Under New Name; Atlantic Books Shuts Down; and More
Booksellers at Laurelwood opened in Memphis, TN over the weekend in a location formerly occupied by Davis-Kidd, a subsidiary of the now-bankrupt Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Neil van Uum, Joseph-Beth’s owner when the company went into bankruptcy, bought the Davis-Kidd store (but not the name) during a liquidation auction with the help of Laurelwood Shopping Center landlord Tom Prewitt, and invested an additional $500,000 in renovating and reorganizing the space, according to the Memphis Commercial-Appeal. The children’s section is now 50 percent larger, and the store employs 45 staffers. Bartleby’s Books in Wilmington, VT, which had been severely damaged by flooding during […]
People, Etc.
John Hawkins, who owned and operated the literary agency John Hawkins & Associates, died November 13 at the age of 72. The cause of death was not immediately available. Hawkins joined Paul R. Reynolds Inc., established by his wife’s grandfather, in 1966, became president of the agency in 1980 and changed its name to John Hawkins & Associates in 1985. Among his current and former clients are James Clavell, Alex Haley, Gail Godwin, E. Lynn Harris, Thomas McGuane, Harry Crews and Joyce Carol Oates, who said in a statement that Hawkins “was a beloved friend to his writers, warmly sympathetic, […]
Hastings Losses Widen As It Ventures Into Digital Territory
Hastings Entertainment reported results for its third quarter early Monday morning and the losses continue to mount. The company reported a net loss of $5.5 million (or 65 cents a share), considerably larger than the $3.1 million loss reported a year ago. Overall book comps decreased 4.5 percent for the quarter, affected by “a weaker slate of titles released during the current quarter and the increasing popularity of e-readers” as well as increased promotional pricing. Unlike previous years, Hastings did not break out specific comps for new versus used book sales for the quarter. During the third quarter Hastings also […]
Bookselling: New Joseph-Beth Store in Cincinnati; Tattered Cover Adds Self-Publishing Services; and More
A new 20,000-square foot Joseph-Beth store has opened in a former Borders location just outside of Cincinnati, OH, with its grand opening celebration slated for November 19. General manager Craig Sherman told Cincinnati.com the new store will have a “friendlier atmosphere” than its predecessor. “If customers are looking for an engaging, memorable experience, they’re going to find it when they walk in here,” he said. “This is a community bookstore.” The Tattered Cover will use its newly installed Espresso Book Machine for self-publishing services within the Denver, CO community. “We are hoping to use the machine to provide better customer […]