Bowker released their annual statistics for 2017 charting the release of self-published books that carry ISBNs issued by the company (and as we know, a large number of self-published titles, particularly ebooks, do not carry ISBNs at all). The report has essentially become a chronicle of Amazon’s steady march to dominate print self-publishing in the same way that their KDP has long dominated ebook self-publishing. For 2017, there were 879,587 self-published print titles that carried ISBNs — and 751,924 of them came from CreateSpace (which is now being merged with KDP), comprising over 85 percent of the total. CreateSpace’s output grew by […]
Authors
Live Nation Announces Michelle Obama Tour Dates
Live Nation and Crown announced a 10-city big-venue tour for Michelle Obama that coincides with the release of her memoir BECOMING. The tour begins in Chicago on publication day, November 13, and finishes in Dallas on December 17. Tickets go on sale September 21, and there will be “a limited number of VIP meet and greet packages” offered. In answering our query, Crown says that “our plan is to have locally-based booksellers selling books at each event venue.”
People, Etc.
Natasha Simons has been promoted to senior editor for the “revitalized” Free Press imprint, while continuing to acquire and edit for Simon & Schuster’s general list. Jonathan Karp said in the announcement: “In the search for a new Free Press editor, I met with numerous outside candidates, but after reading Natasha’s ideas for the imprint, I was quickly convinced that she would infuse Free Press with new vision. As she put it, ‘I look forward, as a conservative millennial woman, to bringing a unique perspective to building a fresh, modern, forward-thinking imprint.'” He also notes, “Natasha is committed to helping […]
Author News
Opening Sales Omarosa Manigault Newman‘s UNHINGED sold over 33,000 hardcovers in its first week on sale through outlets tracked by Bookscan — making it the No. 2 hardcover nonfiction book for the week, well behind Rachel Hollis’s still strong GIRL,WASH YOUR FACE, published in February and ahead of Gregg Jarrett’s The Russia Hoax (which sold more than twice as many hardcovers in its opening week at the end of July). Gallery Books comments, “We’re delighted that readers have responded enthusiastically to UNHINGED. It is selling well in all formats — print, ebook and audio. Omarosa continues to promote the book and […]
People, Etc.
Hotchkiss and Associates is changing its name to Hotchkiss Daily & Associates, as Sean Daily is promoted. Founder Jody Hotchkiss comments: “I like to say that agenting is about ‘chopping the wood and hauling the water each day’—doing the work. Sean has certainly done the work since the day he started here, and he has also brought great insights while at the same time developing into an effective and respected agent.” Matthew Barblan will join the Association of American Publishers as vice president, public policy on August 27. He was most recently the executive director of the Center for the Protection […]
Treasury Department Proposals Could Give High-Earning Authors, Agents Benefit of New Tax Cut for Businesses
The Treasury Department released proposed regulations to clarify and codify how the big tax cut (aka the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) applies to owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, trusts, and S corporations. By early interpretations, high-earning authors would qualify for the new 20 percent deduction of qualified business income, and it appears as if literary agents would be eligible as well. (Two important caveats: These rules are still proposals, they are not final yet; and everyone will need to examine their own situation with their own tax professional.) As the NYT notes, it “probably means a windfall for authors […]