Random House UK has created a division, Random House Enterprises, to pursue “multi-platform business opportunities across TV, licensing and merchandising, gaming and live events.” Former vp of international consumer products at Discovery Communications Jo Edwards has been hired as head of licensing. She will report to group commerical director Nigel Waters. Publicity director at Jonathan Cape and Bodley Head Chloe Johnson-Hill moves over to RHE as manager for events. Humorist/essayist David Rakoff, 47, died Thursday night in Manhattan after a three-year battle with cancer. A frequent contributor to This American Life, Rakoff authored the essay collections FRAUD (2001) DON’T GET […]
Awards
Corporate: Teachers Awards from Random House; Paperless Reporting from S&S
The Random House Foundation, Inc. is creating the Random House Teacher Awards, to “recognize the nation’s most dynamic and resourceful teachers who use their creativity to inspire and successfully instill a love of reading in students,” providing “grants to help make their innovative reading programs possible.” Crown author Jonathan Kozol will present the first awards at the National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention in November. After posting PDF files of client royalty statements to their Agent Portal back in February of this year, Simon & Schuster is now inviting agents to opt out of receiving paper royalty statements. […]
Mette Jakobsen’s The Vanishing Act Tops September 2012 Indie Next List
The ABA has announced its September Indie Next List, which includes five titles — THE YELLOW BIRDS by Kevin Powers, MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND by Matthew Dicks, JOHN SATURNALL’S FEAST by Lawrence Norfolk, THE ORCHARDIST by Amanda Coplin, and BEA Buzz Book pick THE PEOPLE OF FOREVER ARE NOT AFRAID by Shani Boianjiu — among the featured excerpts in our popular free ebook anthology of selections from over 30 big forthcoming books, BEA BUZZ BOOKS. Most of the excerpted titles release later in the year (and into next January), so if you haven’t checked it out yet, it’s as […]
People, Etc.: Atria Partners With Short Books on Marble Arch Press
In its first international co-publishing agreement, Atria will publish approximately 12 titles annually in print and digital formats from UK publisher Short Books’ list under the banner Marble Arch Press. The fall list will launch with The J M Barrie Ladies’ Swimming Society by Barbara J Zitwer, The House on Paradise Street by Sofka Zinovieff, and For the Love of Letters by John O’Connell. Atria executive vp and publisher Judith Curr said in the announcement: “Even as digital distribution and marketing take on ever-greater importance in our industry, quality content remains the driving force in successful publishing. The Short Books […]
Booker Longlist Announced
The Booker Prize announced its longlist of a dozen books. The list will be winnowed to six on September 11, with the winner announced on October 16. The full list, including US publishers where applicable, or known: The Yips by Nicola Barker (Fourth Estate) The Teleportation Accident by Ned Beauman (Sceptre/Bloomsbury, March 2013) Philida by André Brink (Harvill Secker) The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng (Myrmidon Books/Weinstein Books, Fall 2012) Skios by Michael Frayn (Faber & Faber/Metropolitan) The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce (Doubleday/Random House) Swimming Home by Deborah Levy (And Other Stories) Bring […]
Amazon Lists Top Fall Picks
Amazon’s website book editors, led by Sara Nelson (whose title is Editorial Director of Books and Kindle, Amazon.com), posted their Fall Books Preview, include their picks for “fall’s ten most intriguing releases” along with a variety of recommendations across multiple categories. Their top ten, in alphabetical order: Telegraph Avenue, by Michael Chabon America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren’t, by Stephen Colbert The Twelve (Book Two of The Passage Trilogy), by Justin Cronin Winter of the World: Book Two of the Century Trilogy, by Ken Follett Flight Behavior, by Barbara Kingsolve The Casual Vacancy, by J.K. Rowling Joseph Anton: […]