Continuing last year’s developments that saw changes in leadership at Bonnier Books’ English-language divisions and a slimming of their lines (including the sale of Weldon Owen to Insight Editions), the company has sold the children’s publishing lines that comprised Bonnier Books USA. CEO Shimul Tolia and cfo Thomas Morgan have bought the division from Bonnier Books….
Children's
YA: Abrams Cancels Graphic Novel; Lerner Acquires Zest Books
Abrams has cancelled publication of controversial graphic novel A SUICIDE BOMBER SITS IN THE LIBRARY by writer Jack Gantos and illustrator Dave McKean, which was to be released in May 2019. The decision was made “together with the book’s creators,” after the title received criticism online. Abrams said in a statement, “While the intention of the…
Penguin Workshop Imprint for Kids Starts This Fall
Penguin Children’s will launch a new imprint this fall, Penguin Workshop, run by president and publisher of Grosset & Dunlap and Warne, Francesco Sedita. The new line will publish “new voices and established brands for readers ages birth to 12.” He says in the announcement, “Penguin Workshop is a laboratory for cultivating unique, new ideas….
Briefs: Empresa’s New Books Division; Amazon Updates Kindle; and More
Czech media conglomerate Empresa has launched a books division, Publishing Perspectives reports. The company released its first three titles this month and expects to publish 15 titles by the end of 2016. Empresa already owns an online bookstore which sells more than 170,000 titles by over 4,000 publishers. Amazon released its newest version of the…
People, Etc.
Kathy Trager has decided to retire from her position of evp general counsel, Penguin Random House as June 30. CEO Markus Dohle writes to staff, “As one of the most accomplished general counsels in publishing ever, Kathy has left an indelible mark on our company and our industry.” Associate general counsel Anke Steinecke will be promoted to fill…
HarperCollins Will Lower TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Trade Paperback Price For Schools
HarperCollins announced Tuesday afternoon that it will offer the trade paperback edition of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird at a lower price through its accounts that sell directly to K-12 schools in the US. The price promotion, which starts April 27, will reduce the $14.99 list price so that schools can “effectively purchase the book…