Germany’s S. Fischer has hired Siv Bublitz as publishing director, effective September 18, taking over from Peter Sillem, who is leaving S. Fischer on June 30. Bublitz was previously chief executive at Ullstein. Reporting to S. Fischer president and publisher Jörg Bong, she will join the board of Holtzbrinck Publishers Germany. As managing director for program and strategy, Bublitz will be responsible for publishing divisions S. Fischer, Fischer Scherz, Fischer Krüger, Fischer FJB, Fischer Tor and Fischer Taschenbuch. Dr. Bong says in the announcement, “Siv Bublitz has the highest reputation on the international book market as well as many years of […]
Awards
Yes, Mbue’s Behold the Dreamers Is New Oprah Pick
As suggested here earlier in the month by booksellers, a just-published paperback edition of Imbolo Mbue’s debut novel Behold the Dreamers is the latest “summer” pick for Oprah’s Book Club. Winfrey declares — in another videotaped announcement first posted at Amazon, which continues its undeclared/undefined but clearly official and close relationship with Winfrey — “It’s about race and class, the economy, culture, immigration and the danger of the us versus them mentality. And underneath it all pumps the heart and soul of family love, the pursuit of happiness and what home really means.” The official press release touts Amazon alone […]
Roy’s Novel Tops Amazon’s 20 Best Books of the Year So Far
Amazon issued their list of the 20 best books of 2017 so far on Wednesday afternoon, along with a package of selections across 12 categories. (Our preview advice was correct on Roy, Saunders, Hamid, Gay, and Grann, and though Tinti did not make Amazon’s top picks). Their top 20 (including 3 asterisked titles, featured in our Buzz Books samplers) are: The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, by Arundhati Roy Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann Beartown, by Fredrik Backman Exit West, by Mohsin Hamid Priestdaddy, by Patricia Lockwood You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, by Sherman Alexie […]
People, Awards, Etc.
Keith Wallman has joined Diversion Books as senior editor. He was most recently senior editor at Lyons Press. At Crown Publishing Group, Liz Wetzel has been promoted to publicity manager for Crown, Hogarth, Tim Duggan Books, and Broadway Books. Maya Lane moves up to associate publicist for Crown Archetype, Three Rivers Press, and Harmony. Director of English PEN Jo Glanville will step down as in July, moving on to an honorary visiting fellowship at the Giessen University in Germany. Author Alix Ohlin will become chair of the University of British Columbia’s creative writing program as of January 1, 2018. She has been […]
iBooks Best Books of 2017 So Far
Every year we see more “best books of the year so far” lists landing in June, and this year iBooks beats the bellwether announcement from Amazon with their own picks. (Because of the weighting of the publishing schedule towards the fall, many of the “so far” picks get bumped in final “best of the year” competition. Last year, for example, 6 of Amazon’s half-year picks made it onto the final, consensus Very Best Books of the Year lists.) iBooks presents four lists: Favorite Bestsellers, Surprise Hits We Loved, Books We Couldn’t Put Down, and Stories We Can’t Shake. A number of […]
People, Etc.
Former publishing executive Dick McCullough, 67, died last week following a battle with brain tumors. Mike Shatzkin has posted a testimonial to “the best leader I ever met in the corporate world.” He notes: “Dick was not an unconventional person, but he loved eccentricity in other people. He wasn’t a brilliant thinker, but he gravitated to people who were. He learned from everybody. He respected everybody. He was relentlessly fair….He inspired us all to be better people. He inspired us all to have a generous spirit. He valued hard work, but he also valued a good time. I have never […]