In July Penguin will debut their newest imprint, Current, focused on science books for general readers. Portfolio and Sentinel president and publisher Adrian Zackheim will have the same titles for Current as well, and the line will share editorial, marketing and publicity staff with Portfolio and Sentinel. They plan to publish five to eight new titles a year. Zackheim comments in the announcement, “Once Current gets ramped up, we aim to publish in every subcategory from genetics to quantum physics to neuroscience.” The first title is a July release by journalist David Stipp, THE YOUTH PILL: Scientists at the Brink […]
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Anonymous Official Says Canada Is "Leaning" Towards Approving Amazon's Expansion Plan
The Canadian Booksellers’ Association has urged the country’s government to reject Amazon’s application to operate their own Canadian-based warehouse and fulfillment operation. But an article in the Globe and Mail quotes an unnamed senior official who indicates the Harper administration is “leaning towards” approving Amazon’s plan, believing there is a “net benefit” to Canadians. That person added, “If you look at the issue specifically, it’s Amazon setting up a warehouse to be able to distribute what they already distribute via the Internet. There’s no change in terms of Canadian content.” Part of the booksellers’ argument is that “individual Canadian booksellers […]
Announcements: Imprints
Lerner Publishing’s Carolrhoda Books is launching a young adult line this fall, Carolrhoda Lab. Speaking of young adult books, yesterday’s Automat link to an LAT piece on the rising popularity of YA novels among adult readers was so heavily re-tweeted that it’s worth a separate link. “Authors may gear their novels toward the junior and senior high crowd, but adults are snapping up the books, often about misfit teens or fantasy worlds…. Attracted by well-written, fast-paced and engaging stories that span the gamut of genres and subjects, such readers have mainstreamed a niche long derided as just for kids.” Kris […]
Announcements: People
The Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas, Austin has acquired the archive of the late David Foster Wallace. The collection will include materials for his forthcoming, posthumous work The Pale King upon the book’s publication, scheduled for April 2011. Little, Brown is donating their own DFW correspondence and internal memos to the archive, too. The center has already posted a few samples from the collection online.Release Macmillan Audio has hired Liz Edelstein as digital content & marketing manager. She was a senior program manager at America Online/Netscape Communications and is the author of twelve romance/science fiction novels.
People
Agent Jud Laghi has formed the Jud Laghi Agency. He will continue to be affiliated with LJK Literary Management, where he was a senior agent, and will share office space and collaborate on projects with Kirshbaum and his colleagues. Laghi says, “I’ll continue to represent primarily non-fiction projects, especially narrative, popular culture and business, along with literary fiction and thrillers. And I’m excited to both see, and partake in, what new opportunities will arise for authors in our rapidly evolving industry.” Barnes & Noble.com has hired Jonathan Shar as general manager, digital newsstand and emerging content, responsible for “creating and […]
FSG's Lorin Stein New Paris Review Editor
Lorin Stein, 37, will take over as editor of the Paris Review in April when Philip Gourevitch steps down. He has been an editor at Farrar, Straus since 1998. He says: “The Paris Review is an institution like nothing else in American letters. It stands for the newest, the best, the most daring in writing and art, and that’s been the case now for more than fifty years. To be entrusted with that tradition is a true honor.” Publisher Antonio Weiss notes “Lorin has an uncommon literary sensibility and eye for new talent.”