Co-founder and coo of distributor CDS (later bought by Perseus) Steve Black has joined SImon & Schuster in the new position of vp, client publisher services. He will have responsibility for distribution client relationships, including new business development, reporting to Dennis Eulau. EVP of sales and marketing Michael Selleck says in the announcement, “We areeager to take on the challenge of helping new and existing clients grow their positions in the marketplace, and look forward to joining forces with Steve to accomplish that.” At Chronicle Children’s, Naomi Kirsten was promoted to associate editor. Norman Mailer’s widow and novelist and memoir […]
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People
Vintage/Anchor publicist and bestselling author Sloane Crosley will leave her position next month after nine years at Random House to write full-time. She tells the NYT: “When it comes to book publishing, my colleagues are the most passionate people I have ever encountered outside of clinically insane religious zealots. I thank them for their boundless support both inside the office and out.” Author, editorial director of Brandon Books, and former president of the Irish Book Publishers Association Steve MacDonogh of Brandon Books, 62, died suddenly. The D4EO Literary Agency has selected the Taryn Fagerness Agency to handle foreign rights for […]
People, Etc.
Just to confirm ourselves, we received additional confirmation from a current employee of Dorchester of our story that ceo John Prebich has left the company. Bob Anthony is now said to be in charge (and Prebich’s former extension now has a voice mail recording from Anthony). The company is said to be preparing a press release, so that’s all the detail we have for now. Bestselling author and television personality Chelsea Handler has reportedly signed a new three-book deal, again with Grand Central, that creates for her a small imprint: Borderline Amazing/A Chelsea Handler Book. The deal seems to cover […]
Publishing Flat At Courier As They Take Another Writedown on Creative Homeowner Line; Hastings Keeps Selling Fewer New Books
Courier reported that both fourth quarter and full-year sales rose 3 percent, at $68.4 million and $257.1 million respectively, but weakness in the home improvement market led to yet another writedown at their Creative Homeowner publishing unit. They took a $4.7 million non-cash impairment charge due to “the systemic problems it currently faces in the home improvement market,” bringing fourth quarter net income down to $1.1 million. The publishing division had sales of $11.9 million in the fourth quarter, even with a year ago, as a 6 percent increase at Dover was negated by a 23 percent decline at Creative […]
Bookselling: Borders’ Relaunches Website
Borders has announced a redesign of their website. Gone is the “magic shelf” that they were excited about when they ended their agreement with Amazon and first built their own site. Highlighted verticals include sections labelled posters, crafts, and scrapbooking–which are new product lines for the site–alongside the more traditional merchandising sections. The company is promoting “new lower prices” through discounts on “more than 100,000 of its top selling” books, They’ve integrated commonplace features like expanded user reviews, working with PowerReviews. And they have partnered with UsingMiles for a “travel perks” program (which helps users manage and use their loyalty […]
Joseph-Beth Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy; Will Close Another Two Stores
Following our report from a week ago that Joseph-Beth Booksellers was closing stores in Pittsburgh and Charlotte, NC, yesterday the group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Lexington, KY and indicated that they will close another store in Cleveland and a Davis-Kidd store in Nashville. Owner Neil Van Uum said in statement, “Davis-Kidd has been an institution in Nashville. It breaks my heart to have to close this store.” Former co-owner Karen Davis was taken by surprise and “very disappointed and saddened” as well. “I think it holds a special place in a lot of people’s hearts.” The company […]