Talk about burying the lead. Hyperion had announced the release of Jane Green’s enhanced ebook, A Modern Fairy Tale: William, Kate, and Three Generations of Royal Love but didn’t underscore what looks to be the interesting business news. Their corporate television partner is participating in a line of ABC Video Books, and has launched their own video bookstore app for the iOS to sell those ebooks directly, using Apple’s in-app purchasing program. The ebook line, which also includes THE AMANDA KNOX STORY: A Murder in Perugia, is available through other major etailers as well. ABC says the ebooks “will draw […]
People: Shannon Takes New Digital Role at RH, and More
Ballantine Bantam Dell mass market publisher Scott Shannon is changing roles in a clear sign of where the market is headed. He is taking on the new position of svp, publisher, Digital Content for the Random House Publishing Group, though on the print side he will remain as publisher of Del Rey/Spectra. Shannon will report directly to Gina Centrello in his new role, and director of digital marketing strategy and product development Matt Schwartz will now report to Shannon. Publisher of Ballantine Bantam Dell Libby McGuire will take over leadership of the mass-market list, and associate publisher for mass market, […]
eBook Sales Set Another Record, But Can’t Outpace the Decline in Print
eBooks indisputably comprise a significant portion of trade revenues following the Christmas boom in ereading-capable devices, confirmed by another record ebook sales tally from among the 14 publishers who report. The AAP data also shows what publishers’ net shipments look like in a world in which no one is sending books to Borders. February ebook sales totaled $90.3 million, significantly ahead of the record $69.9 million reported the previous month. In January ebooks were the second-largest trade segment, behind trade paperbacks, but in February they moved ahead as the single largest-selling format (with trade paperbacks at $81.2 million). Just as […]
LBF Wrapup: A “Busy” Fair Belies Unpredictable Mood
In the unscientific lexicon of trade show reporting you will tend to find a limited set of standard vernacular for describing fair activity. Regardless of numbers, there’s either “busy” or “not busy.” This year’s London Book Fair has clearly been voted “busy,” allaying any speculation that last year’s volcanically-challenged show had somehow broken the habit of attendance. As usual, though, the packed first two days have given way to a much quieter third and final day. The weather was unseasonably lovely up until today, which always helps the collective mood, even if you never actually see the sun shine once […]
People, Etc.
Philip Patrick has joined Amazon as senior leader, rights and licensing. He was most recently with Crown as publisher of Three Rivers Press and publisher of ebooks and digital content. Severn House, Canongate Books and Granta Publications will now be digitally distributed by Ingram‘s Coresource. The shortlist for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction has been announced, with the winner to be named in late May: SERIOUS MEN by Manu Joseph (John Murray) COMFORT AND JOY by India Knight (Fig Tree) THE COINCIDENCE ENGINE by Sam Leith (Bloomsbury) THE NEWS WHERE YOU ARE by Catherine O’Flynn (Penguin) SUPER […]
You Say There’s Been a Revolution
While executives debated questions of evolution and revolution at the London Book Fair, one of the rare aspiring authors in attendance was describing his participation in an actual revolution to prospective publishers from around the world. Google executive Wael Ghonim, who was one of the people behind the anonymous Facebook page and related efforts that helped galvanize and organize the uprising in Egypt, held half-hour sessions describing his experiences and his plans for REVOLUTION 2.0. Intended for release next January 25, rights are being represented here by Michael Carlisle of Inkwell Management (along with his partner Richard Pine, who stayed […]