The first-ever National Book Awards longlists were narrowed down to five finalists in each category on Wednesday morning, ahead of the awards ceremony on November 20. Half of the contenders are published by Penguin Random House. As of 10:00, four free ebook samplers (titled “The Contenders”) will be available from major retailers, covering each of the awards categories, created and distributed with the assistance of Penguin. The nominees are below; rather than alphabetical order, we have listed them according to their print sales to date, with the biggest sellers listed first. (In fiction, Saunders has outsold the rest of the […]
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Catton Wins the Booker
Eleanor Catton’s 848-page second novel THE LUMINARIES won the Booker Prize, awarded in London on Tuesday night. At 28, she is the youngest Booker winner ever. Little, Brown just published the book in the US earlier in the day, though it was issued previously in the UK (Granta) and her home of New Zealand (Victoria University Press). Little, Brown published her debut novel The Rehearsal as well. In thanking her publishers, Catton noted wryly that it “was a publisher’s nightmare,” since “the shape and form of the book made certain types of editorial suggestions…not only mathematically impossible, but also astrologically impossible.” (A […]
People: A New President for Rodale, and More
Rodale has brought in their highest-level outsider since ceo Steve Murphy was dismissed in 2009 and Maria Rodale took over as chairman and ceo. Longtime Dow Jones executive Scott Schulman will join Rodale on October 28 as president, reporting to Maria Rodale. She had announced in July that the company was searching for both a president and a chief operating officer. Schulman will be responsible for developing strategy and revenue growth. Ruth Pomerance has joined Folio Literary Management as literary and dramatic rights agent. She will build her own client list while adding to Folio’s presence in the feature film, […]
People: LeBlond, Hijuelos, and More
Chronicle Books food and drink editorial director Bill LeBlond will retire on November 7 after 33 years with the company. Company president Jack Jensen says, “Bill has made a pivotal contribution to the ongoing success of Chronicle Books. I speak for many existing authors and colleagues, as well as probably hundreds who have come and gone over the years when I say Bill will be greatly missed.” Alex Littlefield has been promoted to senior editor at Basic Books, which he joined in March 2010. Pulitzer Prize winner for the novel The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love Oscar Hijuelos, 62, […]
People, Awards, Etc.: Munro, Charkin, Levinson, Potter Postage, and More
Vintage is reprinting a total of 100,000 copies across their backlist of 14 story collections by Nobel laureate Alice Munro. Random House Canada ceo Brad Martin told the Globe and Mail, “As far as we know, we have stock of all of Alice’s active titles,” though booksellers were light on copies and ran out quickly. Indigo placed “nice, substantial orders” for fresh inventory. You can read (or hear) Munro’s short phone call interview with the prize organizers here. She said in a written statement Thursday: “This is so surprising and wonderful. I am dazed by all the attention and affection that has […]
People, Etc.
Karrie Witkin will join Abrams on October 21 in the newly created role of editorial director, Gift and Paper Products. Previously she was senior editor and publishing manager for Potter Style. In addition, Maya Bradford has been promoted to publicist, adult trade. At Atria, Sarah Cantin has been promoted to editor. Sulay Hernandez has left Other Press. She can be reached at SulayHernandez.Ed@gmail.com. Random House Children’s Books announced that RJ Palacio‘s WONDER has crossed the 1 million copy sales mark in North America. PGW has added seven more clients to its distribution list, including the Los Angeles Review of Books, Patagonia […]