In the unscientific lexicon of trade show reporting you will tend to find a limited set of standard vernacular for describing fair activity. Regardless of numbers, there’s either “busy” or “not busy.” This year’s London Book Fair has clearly been voted “busy,” allaying any speculation that last year’s volcanically-challenged show had somehow broken the habit of attendance. As usual, though, the packed first two days have given way to a much quieter third and final day. The weather was unseasonably lovely up until today, which always helps the collective mood, even if you never actually see the sun shine once […]
Book Fairs
You Say There’s Been a Revolution
While executives debated questions of evolution and revolution at the London Book Fair, one of the rare aspiring authors in attendance was describing his participation in an actual revolution to prospective publishers from around the world. Google executive Wael Ghonim, who was one of the people behind the anonymous Facebook page and related efforts that helped galvanize and organize the uprising in Egypt, held half-hour sessions describing his experiences and his plans for REVOLUTION 2.0. Intended for release next January 25, rights are being represented here by Michael Carlisle of Inkwell Management (along with his partner Richard Pine, who stayed […]
At LBF, Questions of Digital Revolution vs. Evolution
As book fair business unfolds in rather traditional fashion–23,000 people having meetings with each other–a number of panels aired the anxiety-making question of the digital era: Is this revolution or evolution, and who of those 23,000 survives and prospers in that transition? An international panel of executives took on that topic in one of this morning’s panels, with Penguin ceo John Makinson beginning the conversation by allowing that “I’ve never been in a revolution…but it certainly doesn’t feel like evolution when I come in to the office every day.” Makinson noted that “at every step of the way something dramatic […]
Frankfurt to Expand Rights Center
While today’s focus is on a full London Book Fair, where the rights center has sold out its 575 tables, organizers of the Frankfurt Book Fair have announced the expansion and reenvisioning their rights center. Previously located on part of one floor in hall 6, this year it will encompass all of hall 6. A new StoryDrive Business Center will comprise part of that expanded agents center, presenting “a new meeting place for representatives of the film, games and book industries.” FBF director Juergen Boos underscores that in the digital transition, “the business of content has taken on even more […]
People, Awards, Etc.
Former Executive Vice President and Worldwide Head of Literary Operations for William Morris Agency Owen Laster, 72, died this morning after a short illness. Laster represented a distinguished and diverse roster of bestselling and literary authors, ranging from Ralph Ellison, Chaim Potok, Robert Penn Warren, Gay Talese, Edward Albee, and Gore Vidal, to James Michener, Dominic Dunne, Susan Isaacs, Andrew Grove, William Diehl, and Judith McNaught. A New Jersey native, Laster graduated from Syracuse University, and after serving in the Army worked at William Morris for over forty years. Laura Nolan has joined Paradigm as a literary agent and will […]
Announcements: Russia at BEA, Harper Offers “Book Perks”
BEA will host Russia as guest of honor in their Global Market Forum program in 2012. Russia holds a similar role at this year’s London Book Fair. BEA organizers say that “Russia plans to have 50 Russian writers plus another 50 editors and publishing executives coming to New York for these events, which will include both a cultural and a professional component.” HarperCollins has officially launched a groupon-esque site, BookPerk.com. They carry–and push out–a series of offers for signed and deluxe editions of books and other “extras” like movie tie-in tickets along with contests (like a “perk of the day” […]