The FT/Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year shortlist was announced, comprising: Lords of Finance, by Liaquat AhamedGood Value, by Stephen GreenImagining India, by Nandan NilekaniThe Match King, by Frank PartnoyAnimal Spirits, by George Akerlof and Robert ShillerIn Fed We Trust, by David Wessel The winner will be named October 29. And the Center for Fiction (formerly the Mercantile Center) announced the shortlist for their first novel prize (formerly the John Sargent Sr. prize): American Rust, by Philipp MeyerThe Cradle, by Patrick SomervilleTinkers, by Paul HardingThe Vagrants, by Yiyun LinWoodsburner, by John Pipkin Also, nature-reference publisher Waterford Press will move […]
Distribution
Announcements: Andrews McMeel Gives Up Sales Force; Hachette In French Joint Venture with Lightning Source
Marking the end of an era, Andrews McMeel Publishing is relinquishing its sales force of independent rep groups and turning trade sales over to Simon & Schuster as of January 2010, which has handled physical distribution for AMP for almost a decade. President Hugh Andrews says in the announcement, “We have had a long and fruitful relationship with our independent commissioned sales representatives, which we appreciate. This transition reflects not only a changing bookselling environment, but also allows us to concentrate on a core strength for us: recognizing and celebrating remarkable creative talent, providing content, and delivering it to the […]
NBN Adds eBook and POD Capabilities
National Book Network is launching NBN Fusion, offering digital services including e-book distribution, file conversion, and print-on-demand and short-run digital printing. They will also provide sales representation for ebook publishers. The digital offerings are accompanied by a broader set of services that include print brokering, copyediting, composition, file conversion, proofreading, indexing and consultation. NBN president Rich Freese says in the announcement “NBN Fusion will redefine what book distribution means for modern publishers. Full-service distribution must now include handling finished books, printer files and e-books, as well as providing online marketing tools.” The package mimics in part services that Freese had […]
People and Announcements
The PEN American Center has named Steven Isenberg as executive director. For the past six years, he was a visiting professor of humanities at the University of Texas, Austin). His many previous positions include stints as publisher of New York Newsday, evp of the Los Angeles Times, and chief of staff to New York Mayor John Lindsay. Release Susannah McFarlane, former co-owner, managing direct and publisher of Hardie Grant Egmont in Australia has launched a new company, Lemonfizz Media. She will “focus on fully developing a small number of publishing projects that we are passionate about and really investing in […]
People, Booker Longlist and More
Jill Santopolo will join Penguin Children’s Philomel as executive editor in mid-August, reporting to Philomel president and publisher Michael Green. She was formerly senior editor at Balzer & Bray imprint. The Booker Prize Longlist was announced this morning, and Sarah Hall’s How to Paint a Dead Man is the only hope for independent publishers (with Random UK taking 5 slots). Coetzee is a two-time Booker winner; Byatt has won once. The Children’s Book, AS Byatt (Chatto and Windus)Summertime, JM Coetzee (Harvill Secker)The Quickening Maze, Adam Foulds (Jonathan Cape)How to paint a dead man, Sarah Hall (Faber)The Wilderness, Samantha Harvey (Jonathan […]
Houghton Gets a Trade Publisher in Bruce Nichols, and More People News
In what many may view as a sign of at least temporary stability for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s adult trade lines, the unit has filled the vacant position of publisher. (Adult trade publisher Becky Saletan resigned last December and was not replaced.) Bruce Nichols–who saw his position as publisher of the Collins imprint diminished in the reorganization at HarperCollins in February that left him as publisher of the smaller Collins reference line and executive editor at Harper–will take the role as svp, publisher of of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Adult & Reference Group on August 3. HMH trade & reference president Gary […]