Poets & Writers starts the new year with a new series of interviews with bookselling entrepreneurs, Inside Indie Bookstores. The first installment visits with Richard Howorth of Square Books: “It’s a very difficult business. But in many ways, I like the fact that it’s a difficult business. Otherwise, people who want to make money–by selling crap–would be trying to get into the book business. [Laughter.]” Looking to the digital reckoning, he says: “I think bookstores offer an experience to book consumers that is unique. To be able to go into a place physically, to experience a sensation that is the […]
Free
People
Brant Janeway is leaving the ad sales team at The Daily Beast and returning to publishing, joining Macmillan Audio as marketing director. Among his publishing positions, he was director of advertising at Bantam Dell, where he also managed their podcast program. At Orbit Books, DongWon Song has been promoted to Editor, as Jennifer Flax moves up to assistant editor. At Scholastic Press, Jody Corbett has been promoted to associate editor and Erin Black has been promoted to assistant editor. Next March, Poets & Writers will present their annual Writers for Writers Awards to Junot Diaz, Maxine Hong Kingston and M.L. […]
Bookselling: Brooklyn's Vox Pop Closes Temporarily
The Vox Pop Cafe says on their site they have closed for now and are “in the process of trying to address the issue of back taxes that was inherited by the new management when NYS Department of Taxation and Finance chose to seize the assets. We are currently negotiating with them to have the space reopened.” The post adds: “Since we have reopened we have been actively paying down much of that inherited debt. We chose to use our limited resources to pay the people who needed it most first — like back pay for our employees who are […]
People
First reported by the Washington Post’s Ron Charles via Twitter, director of the NEA’s national reading initiatives and Big Read evangelist David Kipen‘s position has been eliminated and he will leave the organization at the end of the year. Andrews McMeel publisher Kirsty Melville will move up to the new position of president of AMP’s book division, continuing to report to company ceo and president Hugh Andrews. He notes “she skillfully conceived, developed, and launched AMP’s cookbook program, streamlined our product offerings, accelerated our digital and online presence, and provides energy and leadership to editorial, marketing, sales, and production teams […]
Bookselling: More Closings, Challenges
Leo’s Book Shop in downtown Toledo, OH will close by the end of the year after 42 years in business. Owner Daryl Yourist says he “will continue to operate his textbook business, but not from a retail establishment, and not downtown.”Blade Toronto Women’s Bookstore, a “36-year-old institution and icon of the local feminist movement,” told supporters that it is “in crisis” and is “hoping to raise $40,000 by January – enough to keep its doors open for another three months,” the Globe and Mail reports. The nonprofit is one of three feminist bookstores in Canada.Globe and Mail And the AP […]
People: Paulsen to Launch Eponymous Children's Imprint; Knopf and Random Canada Merge Editorially; and More
President and publisher of Putnam Children’s for the last 15 years Nancy Paulsen will launch an eponymous imprint, Nancy Paulsen Books in 2011. She plans to publish 12 to 15 picture books, middle grade and young adult novels a uear. Paulsen will keep her current position until a replacement is named, with a search underway now. Paulsen says in the announcement, “I am thrilled with the opportunity to return to my true passion full time–editing. My imprint will focus on publishing a select group of picture books that are eye-opening and inventive, along with fiction, from culturally diverse and distinct […]