Apple’s iPad released today in major book markets included UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Germany–plus France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Though the UK iBookstore launch was preceded by worried speculation that UK publishers were concerned aspects of Apple’s contract might run afoul of local pricing laws, lo and behold, Ye Agency Foure (Hachette UK, Penguin, Pan Macmillan and Harper UK) are all participating. (The smallest of the group, Simon & Schuster UK, is not currently participating and has yet to comment.) But no other UK publishers are known to have a direct relationship with Apple yet, and again Random UK […]
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Back to the Future: BEA Adds Back Third Day
You have to love the book business in all its idiosyncrasy. For years exhibitors complained about the third day of the show, and we have archived pictures of last year’s vast, empty aisles on Sunday. But nothing makes you miss something like taking it away. Writing that “while people like the two-day format, a lot of people genuinely need three days to meet their objectives at BEA,” show director Steve Rosato said they will add back a third day of exhibits next year. They will retain the mid-week schedule, and are likely to still have the conference day precede the […]
Borders' Core Skill: Shrinking
Reporting results for their first quarter ending May 1, in a still grim atmosphere for physical stores of all kinds, Borders sales fell 15.4 percent overall at $542 million. The loss from continuing operations of $64.5 million was better than a year ago, but the operating loss of $33.5 million was worse. Sales at the US stores fell further, down 16.1 percnent to $520–but same-store sales were down by only 11.4 percent company to a year ago. The company says that factoring out multimedia, which they theoretically pulled down dramatically years ago, comp store sales declined 6.8 percent, indicating less […]
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Peternelle van Arsdale has left her position as executive editor at Putnam to become a ghostwriter and freelance editor. She can be reached at pva@pvabooks.com. Publishing executive John Wicker has joined Tata Consultancy Services as publishing sector head for North America in their media and information services group. A division of the giant Indian conglomerate, Wicker will focus on helping publishers manage the costs and complexities of conversion to a digital publishing world, leveraging Tata’s natural strengths to advise on quality outsourcing. At Random House Children’s, Shana Corey has been promoted to executive editor. She was previously editor-at-large. At Harper […]
Book News: Auel Date, Larsson Strong Out the Gate
Knopf spokesman Paul Bogaards indicates that the third and final book in Stieg Larsson’s bestselling trilogy, THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, had estimated first-day unit sales (in print and digital combined) in excess of 250,000 units. Two reprints just ordered will bring them up to 900,000 copies in print, as Bogaards celebrates that “we finally have a book that is driving traffic into stores…. The hope is that Larsson will prompt other sales, especially as the summer lists from publishers across the board look very strong – with standout work coming from Justin Cronin, Bret Easton Ellis, Samantha […]
The Content and The Buzz Gives Over to the Crowds and the Celebs
As often happens at these conventions, popular culture quickly takes over from literature. The BEA’s official slogan has been trumped by last night’s appearance of the design-enthusiastic Barbra Streisand and this morning’s children’s breakfast featuring the center of the tabloid story of the moment, Sarah Ferguson. You can add to that an astounding long line down the middle of the show floor to meet singer/actor-now author Rick Springfield, who was warmly embracing fans and posing for pictures. (Ironically, far fewer attendees showed up to hear Springfield speak at his Author Stages session earlier in the day.) The crowds are here […]