Jonathan Safran Foer‘s first novel in 11 years, HERE I AM, will be published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in September (Hamish Hamilton will publish the UK edition on September 29.) The NYT reports the novel, which FSG acquired as part of a three-book deal (which also includes another novel and a work of nonfiction), “unfolds over a single month in present-day Washington, as a Jewish family with three sons falls apart after the parents’ marriage falters. While the family implodes, relatives from Israel are visiting for the bar mitzvah of one of the sons. The drama unfolds as a […]
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Trade Sales Fell Back In August
After strong reports for June and July, AAP-reported book sales fell sharply in August, on a comparable basis. Total sales of $544.4 million were about even with July’s shipments, but they were well below sales of $604.2 million for the same month in 2014, down 10 percent. (August is traditionally the kickoff month for shipping in fall books.) The current report is more in line with August sales from 2013 (at $549 million), and we note that the comparison is exaggerated since the AAP has revised upwards the historical August 2014 sales — which were reported as $585 million initially […]
People, Etc.
At the Random House Publishing Group, Sanyu Dillon, Theresa Zoro, Susan Kamil, and Scott Shannon have all been promoted to executive vice president — comprising the executive leadership team, along with existing evps Bill Takes and Kara Welsh (whose announcement as publisher Ballantine Bantam Dell was noted Thursday) . RHPG president and publisher Gina Centrello said in the announcement: “Through our many organizational evolutions and publishing expansions, these exceptional people have helped me create an unparalleled publishing strategy for the division, while expertly managing their respective departments. Individually and collectively, they are the best of the best in the business, and I […]
People, Etc.: Welsh to BBD As Publisher, and More
Kara Welsh will join Ballantine Bantam Dell as executive vice president, publisher on January 19, reporting to Gina Centrello. Previously Welsh was svp, publisher at the Berkley Publishing Group, after joining NAL as publisher in 2001. Reporting to Welsh are svp, associate publisher and editor-in-chief Jennifer Hershey, and svp, deputy publisher Kim Hovey. Centrello said in the announcement: “Kara and I both began our publishing careers at Pocket Books, where she rose to vice president, deputy publisher. I loved working with her. Each day, she demonstrated her can-do, solutions-centric publishing sensibility, her open, collaborative, calm work ethic, and her advocacy […]
People
Tara Parsons will join Touchstone as editor-in-chief on January 4, reporting to Susan Moldow. Previously she was editorial director, fiction at Amazon Publishing. Moldow said in the announcement: “Tara’s range of commercial acquisitions combined with the unique experiences she has gained from working within an array of publishing models will make her a valuable and dynamic leader of the Touchstone editorial team.” Sally Kim had been editorial director at Touchstone until leaving for Putnam earlier this year. It’s the first time Touchstone has used the title editor-in-chief for a number of years. Mark Tavani will join Putnam as vp, executive […]
The Last Day for the Best Discounts
As noted yesterday, today is the final day to enroll for our big two-day Digital Book World Conference (March 8 and 9), the fifth annual Launch Kids (March 7), and/or the full three-day Total Access Pass that also includes your pick of the new Mostly Marketing Masterclasses and digital workshops, before the price goes up. So put the DBW roster of events on your calendar now, and lock in the best prices before you come back to work in January. Make sure to use this registration page just for Publishers Lunch readers, providing the best discount available on individual tickets, saving you hundreds of dollars […]