J.K. Rowling’s second crime novel written as Robert Galbraith, THE SILKWORM, will be published on June 24 by Little, Brown in the US and the UK. The book again features private detective Cormoran Strike and assistant Robin Ellacott as they investigate the murder of a novelist who has “just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows.” Rowling will also appear at the Harrogate Crime Festival on July 18 in conversation with Val McDermid (also published by Little, Brown UK) in her only scheduled appearance to promote THE SILKWORM. Separately, Little, Brown announced that it will publish […]
Authors
Controversy Widens After Penguin India Pulls Doniger’s THE HINDUS
Penguin India’s recent decision to withdraw Wendy Doniger‘s HINDUS: An Alternative History nearly five years after its 2009 publication has naturally attracted attention and controversy. The publisher agreed to immediately withdraw and pulp Doniger’s book, ensuring it is fully removed from the market in India over the next six months, after reaching a legal settlement with an organization called Shiksha Bachao Andolan. The group found the book insulting to Hindus and had waged a three-year court battle in India with the publisher, bringing both civil and criminal actions. The settlement does not affect editions published outside of India, so the […]
Rakuten Installs Japanese CEO At Kobo, and More People News
Kobo’s parent company Rakuten has installed Takahito “Taka” Aiki as the new ceo of Kobo, effective immediately, with founder and ceo Michael Serbinis stepping aside into the role of vice chairman. Aiki was ceo of another Rakuten subsidiary, the Japanese telecom unit Fusion Communications. In a statement reported on by the Financial Post, Rakuten said, “Taka brings to the role a wealth of experience in building and growing successful projects and companies, and has built his career on achieving ambitious goals and forging strong teams.” It is said that he will relocate to Kobo’s headquarters in Toronto. According to his […]
People, Etc.
Today’s Penguin Random House announcement presents a unified cross-company executive team in the US finance group (and associated services), under cfo Coram Williams. Random House’s Milena Alberti takes the new position of svp, head of global corporate finance for Penguin Random House. A number of others now formally have responsibilities across Penguin Random House, including: SVP, corporate director, business affairs, John Schline (responsible for contracts and permissions) SVP, worldwide reporting and planning, James Johnston Group controller, Tom Stefanik SVP, royalty operation, Pauline James SVP, credit, payroll & disbursements, William Sinnott SVP, corporate services, Mariella Molloy Meanwhile, executive director, publishing contracts […]
People, Etc.
Mary Beth Roche has been promoted to vp, president and publisher at Macmillan Audio, and will continue to oversee the Quick and Dirty Tips website and podcast business as well as the Macmillan Speakers Bureau. JK Rowling is suing the Daily Mail for libel over an article from last fall that “misrepresented her comments” about single motherhood and caused her “great distress and embarrassment.” According to the Guardian, Rowling believes the Mail story, headlined “How JK Rowling’s sob story about her past as a single mother has left the churchgoers who cared for her upset and bewildered”, was “premised on […]
People, Etc.: LMQ to Manage Skolnick Back Office, William Lynch Gets A Job
Lippincott Massie McQuilkin announced that they will manage all back-office operations of the Irene Skolnick Literary Agency. LMQ has been selling and managing foreign rights for Skolnick’s authors since 2010. Skolnick says in the announcement, “I am delighted to be moving the agency to the offices of my friends at LMQ, where I will be able to focus my energies on the parts of the job I love most — finding and nurturing literary talent.” Rob McQuilkin notes they “feel honored that Irene is entrusting us with an agency she has so carefully and lovingly built over the past twenty years.” […]