James Patterson’s latest set of rewards for independent booksellers will come in the form of $250,000 in “holiday bonuses” to selected employees of ABA stores, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per winner. The FAQ explains: “It could be that this bookseller recommended one of your favorite books this year. Maybe they were responsible for an incredible book event or developed a new program at the store. They might stay late every evening to keep the store in top shape or consistently go above and beyond the call of duty. James Patterson wants to reward bookstore employees who are making a difference in […]
Bookstores
People, Etc.
At Doubleday, Michael Goldsmith has been promoted to publicity manager, reporting to Todd Doughty. Journalist and author of 18 books Phil Patton, 63, died last week from complications of emphysema. Nantucket author of DEAR MR. JEFFERSON and several historical novels Laura Simon, 66, died last Friday. Forthcoming The Oregon Shakespeare Festival has commissioned translations into modern English of all of Shakespeare’s plays, and intends to have those new versions ready to perform on stage in three years. John McWhorter makes the case in the WSJ for what Conrad Spoke calls a “revolutionary 10% translation” that enables “every student to make contact with the original text.” […]
SEC Censures, Fines Glickstein For 2014 “Proposal” To Buy Out Barnes & Noble
Since 2011 the “private investment firm” G Asset Management — by all appearances a one-man shop operated by Michael Glickstein — garnered headlines by writing repeatedly to the Barnes & Noble board, proposing various splits of the company’s assets or theoretical offers to acquire control of parts or all the company itself, culminating in a press release claiming it had “made a proposal to acquire” controlling interest in the bookseller. Apparently Glickstein’s antics registered hard on the radar of the SEC, which announced Thursday afternoon sanctions against G Asset Management for issuing “a misleading news release…that claimed it had offered to purchase a majority interest in Barnes & […]
People
Kensington has promoted Lynn Cully to publisher, less than six months after she rejoined the company in April as director of sales. (Previously Cully was publisher at Kensington when she left the company in 2000 to devote more time to her family.) President and ceo Steven Zacharius said in the announcement: “Even though w interviewed many well-qualified people over the past year, we chose to wait until the absolute perfect candidate was available to take the job –- and I’m glad we did. Lynn is the ideal Publisher for Kensington. She’s wonderful with accounts, agents, authors and co-workers. A voracious reader […]
Groff’s Fates and Furies Leads October Indie Next List
The October Indie Next List is up, led by Lauren Groff‘s novel Fates and Furies as the No. 1 pick. You can start reading Groff’s novel, as well excerpts from six other recommended October titles — Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins, The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks, Bats of the Republic by Zachary Thomas Dodson, A Line of Blood by Ben McPherson, The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr, and The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine by Alex Brunkhorst — right now in our Buzz Books 2015: Fall/Winter. The rest of the list features: City on Fire, by Garth Risk […]
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At Chronicle, Laura Lee Mattingly has been promoted to senior editor, while Sarah Billingsley moves up to senior editor, food & drink. Brendan Coyne has joined the Pennsylvania State University Press as director of sales and marketing. He was formerly associate sales director at Johns Hopkins University Press. Penguin Random House UK group UK sales director Garry Prior is retiring at the end of the year, after 35 years with associated companies. Co-founder and former chief technology officer of The Book Depository Emad Eldeen Elakehal will launch ibiidi.com, a global international bookselling website selling titles in multiple language and focusing […]