Here’s one way Barnes & Noble plans to invest some of the cash flow freed up by suspending its dividend: AdAge reports the company has hired Interpublic’s Mullen to “refresh its brand with an effort that includes an estimated $40 million investment in marketing and a new look for stores.” That amount is expected to double BN’s previous marketing spend. Mullen replaces Omnicom Group’s Merkley & Partners.AdAge Following yesterday’s pre-market announcements, Barnes & Noble’s shares fell more than 14 percent in full-day trading, declining 2.67 to finish at $15.94. The stock is falling further today, down another 4.5 percent so […]
Briefs: Author Sues Former Agent Over Bacon Cookbook; Spring Design Phasing Out Alex E-Reader And More
Brooklyn author Lisa Skye is suing her former agent, Jayne Rockmill, for puportedly stealing the idea that became the cookbook “I Love Bacon”, published by Andrews McMeel in 2009. According to the lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court, Skye said she and Rockmill jointly put together a proposal for the book after meeting at a launch party in 2007 for an earlier, self-published cookbook. Skye claims she fired Rockmill in early 2009 after she “became disenchanted with Rockmill’s aggressive style”, and was “stunned” to find a copy of the book with Rockmill’s name on it in a San Francisco bookstore […]
People, Etc.
In Italy, former publisher of Mondadori Massimo Turchetta will take over as publisher of the trade book division at RCS Libri (comprising the imprints Rizzoli, BUR, Bompiani, Fabbri, and Etas) on March 1, reporting directly to ceo Alessandro Bompieri. Iris Blasi has joined Hilsinger-Mendelson East as coordinator of digital media. Previously she was an associate editor at Union Square Press. David Kass has been promoted to associate director of publicity. Caroline Sun will join Harper Children’s as publicity manager on February 28. She was a senior publicist at Penguin Children’s. The AAP Annual Meeting convenes March 9 in New York, […]
Author of Historical Novel Featuring JRR Tolkien Files Pre-Emptive Complaint To Counter Estate Objections
The JRR Tolkien Estate’s perennial objections to the use and licensing of the author’s work and characters were back inn the spotlight last week after Stephen Hilliard, the Texas-based author of “Mirkwood, A Novel About J.R.R. Tolkien”, an historical novel featuring Tolkien as a character, filed a lawsuit in Texas District Court in an attempt to release the book, published through BookSurge. Hilliard told the Hollywood Reporter that on the eve of the novel’s release, the Tolkien Estate filed a cease-and-desist letter alleging “it had a property right to commercially exploit the name and likeness of J.R.R. Tolkien” and that […]
Bookselling: Albuquerque’s Page One Files for Chapter 11
Page One in Albuquerque, N.M. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on February 11 after 30 years in business, citing assets of $799,183 and liabilities of $1,371,258, of which $474,885 are unsecured claims. In addition, “amounts unknown” are due to more than 50 creditors. Court documents filed by owner Steven Morado Stout indicate that “after any exempt property is excluded, and administrative expenses paid, there will be no funds available for distribution to unsecured creditors.” Several publishers are among those unsecured creditors, including the University of Mexico Press, reportedly owed $12,000. In a subsequent email to customers, Stout added “in […]
Google One Pass Takes Direct Hit at Apple By Giving Publishers A Way To Control The Price of Digital Content
As publishers grow increasingly concerned about Apple’s recent restrictions on how digital content that is accessible through iOS apps can be sold, Google conveniently announced its own payment system, One Pass, in which “publishers can maintain direct relationships with their customers and give readers access to digital content across websites and mobile apps.” Readers who purchase content from a One Pass publisher through almost any device they choose can use a single sign-on with an email and password. For publishers, Google touts the ability to customize how and when they charge for content while experimenting with different models to see […]