Former Atria Publishing Group president and publisher Judith Curr‘s new job has finally been announced: she will join HarperCollins on April 2 as president and publisher for Harper One, Amistad, and Rayo, reporting to ceo Brian Murray. In her new role, Curr plans to increase Harper One’s annual publishing output from 50 titles to 120 titles per year, while also growing the Amistad and Rayo trade lists. “I have always greatly admired Judith’s creative and entrepreneurial approach to publishing, evidenced by The Secret exploding into a cultural phenomenon, and Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove climbing bestseller lists around the world,” Murray […]
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Marie-Claire Wastiaux will retire as secretary general and chief financial officer of Hachette Livre on July 1. She will be succeeded by Fabrice Bakhouche, who has been promoted to deputy secretary general and deputy chief financial officer. Hachette Livre ceo Arnaud Nourry said in the announcement: “Marie-Claire Wastiaux’s exactness, skill and enthusiasm have contributed to the growth of our company since 2003. I have hugely appreciated her expertise, work output and dedication and will miss her sorely.” Diana Calice will retire as IPG’s managing director, Spanish distribution program after more than 10 years. Spanish sales manager Kelsey Wayne will succeed […]
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Sourcebooks has appointed Moxie & Company as their brand licensing agency. More changes to UK-based website Pottermore have resulted in some layoffs. BuzzFeed had suggested there were “significant” reductions, citing only a “well-placed source.” A company spokesperson told the site, “As a result of a reorganization at Pottermore, there have been a small number of job losses. These reflect the evolution of the business and are being handled as sensitively as possible.” Pottermore tells the Bookseller the job cuts are related to an “exciting new strategy” they will unveil soon. According to their annual filings with Companies House, the workforce […]
Harper Lee Estate Sues Broadway Producers Over Aaron Sorkin’s Mockingbird Adapation
The forthcoming stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, scripted by Aaron Sorkin and produced by Scott Rudin, is slated to open on Broadway this fall. The production’s opening is now in question after Harper Lee’s estate — represented by Tonja B. Carter — sued Rudin’s production company Rudinplay in an Alabama Federal court, claiming that Sorkin’s script violates an agreement that “the play shall not derogate or depart in any manner from the spirit of the novel nor alter its characters.” Harper Lee licensed Rudin an option to produce a new stage adaptation of MOCKINGBIRD on June […]
Barnes Education Sees Sales Gains, Takes Huge Writedown
Barnes & Noble Education reported its third quarter results for the 13-week period ending January 27. While sales of $603 million increased $82 million, or 15.7%, as compared to a year ago, BNED incurred a net loss of $283 million, compared to net income of $3.8 million the prior year. The recent acquisitions of MBS and Student Brands once again accounted for the sales gains, as they did in the company’s second quarter. After conducting its annual goodwill impairment test, the company was forced to admit that goodwill vastly exceeded their estimated fair value, due to the reduction in BNED’s […]
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At Princeton University Press, Alison Kalett has been promoted to editorial director for the sciences; Eric Crahan moves up to editorial director for the humanities; and Sarah Caro has been promoted to editorial director for the social sciences, with all three reporting to Al Bertrand. In addition, Amanda Peery has been promoted to associate editor, history, and Jessica Yao moves up to associate editor. Sports book publicity firm Press Box Publicity will become a division of Smith Publicity starting March 1. Smith Publicity ceo Dan Smith said, “This represents what I see as the perfect marriage of a top, genre-specific […]