We finally have a major author trying the equivalent of a subscription model to enroll and regularly reach core readers. Direct Brands’ Book-of-the-Month Club is launching a James Patterson Library continuity program along with Little, Brown. Members “will automatically receive all new thrillers by James Patterson for $12.95 plus shipping and handling,” sent once a month. Patterson says in the release, “I’m delighted about my books being made available through Direct Brands, since I know that they are dedicated to giving readers direct access to their favorite authors and titles.”ReleaseJP Library A long Guardian piece on James Frey in connection […]
Authors
60 Minutes Charges Author Greg Mortenson Fabricated Key Stories and Misspent Charitable Funds
60 Minutes aired a report Sunday night on Greg Mortenson, author of the bestselling THREE CUPS OF TEA, questioning “whether some of the most dramatic stories in his books are even true” and raising “serious questions about how millions of dollars have been spent” by the charity he set up and “whether Mortenson is personally benefiting.” The most direct accuser was author Jon Krakauer, who says of the tale in the book about how Mortenson was inspired to build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, “It’s a beautiful story, and it’s a lie.” Mortenson’s central storyline is that he “stumbled into” […]
People, Etc.: Joseph-Beth Auction Looms
The bankruptcy auction of the five remaining Joseph-Beth bookstores and their inventory will be held this Wednesday morning in Cincinnati. So far, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports, co-founder Neil Van Uum is the only known bidder, but one of the lawyers conducting the auction, Ellen Arvin Kennedy, says “we are very optimistic that we will have several bidders who will want to purchase the stores and operate them as they are operating now.” Initial confidential bids, for all or part of the company, are due today. Liquidators are expected to make low bids as well. Van Uum tells the paper, “I’ve […]
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 […]
Orange Prize, IMPAC Shortlists
The Orange Prize shortlist was announced yesterday: Emma Donoghue, RoomAminatta Forna, The Memory of Love Emma Henderson, Grace Williams Says it Loud Nicole Krauss, Great House Téa Obreht, The Tiger’s Wife Kathleen Winter, Annabel Release The IMPAC Dublin Literary Award shortlist of 10 authors includes Colum McCann,z Yiyun Li, William Trevor and Joyce Carol Oates. Full List
People: Freese Leaves NBN; Burtenshaw Moves Up at Reed; and More
National Book Network president Rich Freese has left the company. His last day was Friday, April 8. President of NBN parent company Rowman & Littlefield Jed Lyons told us over the weekend that Freese’s departure was “very amicable” and the result of NBN’s announcement back in January that they would reduce their number of distribution clients. “We’ve been talking about it for weeks,” Lyons explained. “Since Rich’s principal role was in working on new business development, it didn’t make sense for him and the company to continue working together.” Lyons said there will be no additional changes to NBN’s executive […]