Bloomsbury announced that it has bought academic publisher Continuum from Nova/Paul Investments Capital and management shareholders for approximately £20.1 million (or $32 million) in cash. In a statement the company’s board said it “has been looking for a transformational acquisition to act as the cornerstone of its Academic & Professional division.” Continuum marks the sixth academic publisher Bloomsbury has bought over the past five years, and for the first time it provides a New York-based academic publishing office, with its own editorial and marketing team. Continuum forecasts EBITA of £0.6 million for the year ending June 30 on sales of […]
People, Etc.
At NAL, Talia Platz has been promoted to assistant editor. Kristin Lindstrom has closed her agency, Lindstrom Literary Management, after 15 years to open a new business, Flying Pig Media. she will provide a range of publishing services to authors from craft/content editing to creative management of the electronic and print-on-demand books. Effective September 1, Skyhorse Publishing is expanding into the UK with distribution via Constable Robinson, which will also sell their books into the EU. The deal covers both print and ebook editions. On Saturday, the International Thriller Writers presented their Thriller Awards to: Best Hardcover Novel: BAD BLOOD, […]
Briefs: Indigo Changes Product Mix and Plans Speedier Returns; Pan Mac Earnings; and More
Starting this fall Indigo will add more shelf space for giftware, toys and lifestyle products while cutting back on space for books. And at a vendor-relations meeting last week, the chain also reportedly informed suppliers it will evaluate book sales after 45 days and return underperforming titles soon after. The change in plans has Canadian publishers worried about supply chain inefficiencies and the potential expense of having to push back publication dates to take advantage of holiday sales. Quill & Quire Pan Macmillan offers a numbers-free earnings update for the first 24 weeks of the fiscal year, ending July 8. […]
The August 2011 Indie Next List
1. Iron House, by John Hart Unsaid: A Novel, by Neil Abramson The Family Fang: A Novel, by Kevin Wilson The Call: A Novel, by Yannick Murphy Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline Rules of Civility: A Novel, by Amor Towles Plugged: A Novel, by Eoin Colfer The End of Everything: A Novel, by Megan Abbott The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb: A Novel, by Melanie Benjamin Among the Wonderful, by Stacy Carlson The Adjustment, by Scott Phillips Next to Love: A Novel, by Ellen Feldman Domestic Violets: A Novel, by Matthew Norman Girls in White Dresses, by Jennifer Close […]
Bookselling: Malone on BN; BA Objects to Amazon/Book Depository, WHSmith Store Comps Decline
Attending the Allen & Company conference in Sun Valley, Liberty Media ceo John Malone spoke publicly about the potential Barnes & Noble buyout for the first time since the possible merger was announced back in May. “It would be a bit of a flier for us, on whether or not Barnes & Noble can play competitively with the likes of Apple and Amazon in the digital transformation,” he said. “That’s really the bet.” Malone characterized the steep decline in brick-and-mortar bookselling as akin to those who survive a smallpox epidemic: “If you’re still alive, well, maybe you got a chance […]
Assange Memoir Reportedly Near Cancellation
Julian Assange’s memoir, once set for a release last April by Canongate and then delayed further last month, now may not be published at all. The Guardian quotes “publishing sources” as saying the book won’t be released “at least in its original form” after the Wikileaks founder “indicated he no longer wished to write the kind of book that was initially envisaged.” It appears Assange thinks the manuscript as ghostwritten by Andrew O’Hagan “could give ammunition to US prosecutors, whom he fears may seek his extradition on terrorist charges relating to WikiLeaks disclosures.” A spokeswoman for Canongate told the paper […]