Kaplan Publishing has acquired “the majority of the assets” of the Cleveland Clinic Press, including 29 titles in the Cleveland Clinic Guides health reference line, and seven other books. The guides comprise “consumer health books written by Cleveland Clinic experts in various subject areas.” Started in 2005, the press’s staff was disbanded last spring. (Kaplan notes that it was Publishers Lunch report on trouble at the press “that led to this agreement coming into place.”) Kaplan president and publisher Maureen McMahon says in the announcement, “Last spring we began looking to expand our trade publishing program and this move allows […]
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One Dollar Ebooks
Orbit has launched a promotional program offering a different book each month, selling for just one dollar each. Vendors include Amazon and Sony, along with Stanza, eReader, Fictionwise, Diesel, and MobiPocket. This month’s offering is Brent Weeks’ debut THE WAY OF THE SHADOWS. Publisher Tim Holman says: “We believe that this promotion will give readers a great opportunity to discover new writers. Most of our consumer marketing has an online focus, and the digital marketplace offers the perfect platform for price-promotion initiatives such as this…. The range of titles chosen for the promotion includes a mix of frontlist and backlist, […]
People: Goldberg Named CEO of Lonely Planet, and More News and Announcements
Lonely Planet has appointed Matthew Goldberg as ceo as of March, reporting to BBC Worldwide managing director of Global Brands Marcus Arthur and based in Melbourne, Australia. He was svp, digital strategy & operations at Dow Jones, where he led business operations at the Wall Street Journal Digital Network. (Prior to Dow Jones, Goldberg worked at Bertelsmann.) Arthur says in the announcement that Goldberg “has extensive experience in print and digital media and is a perfect fit for a company like Lonely Planet both culturally and commercially. I’ve no doubt that Matt’s expertise will not only help maintain Lonely Planet’s […]
Scholastic's Sales Hold Up As Earnings Fall
In Scholastic’s [SCHL] fiscal second quarter, the company reported sales of $661.6 million, down $27 million overall (or a little under 4 percent), though just a 1 percent decline in revenue from continuing operations. But adjusted earnings were 40 cents a share lower than analysts were expecting and the company revised its earnings guidance from continuing operations for the fiscal year downward to $1.20 to $1.50 per share from $1.75 to $2.10 per share. The stock was trading significantly lower this morning as a result. They also announced a reduction in their spending plan for the balance of fiscal 2009 […]
Layoffs at Macmillan; Farley to Head Single Children's Division
A restructuring throughout Macmillan USA eliminates 64 positions from throughout the company’s imprints and divisions (including cuts at their college business, central services for the whole company, and Scientific American magazine), representing about four percent of staff in all. CEO John Sargent writes in the memo, “Going forward we are tightening our belts in response to the current recession, but we are also reorganizing and rethinking our business to position ourselves for the long term.” He tells the NYT, “Book sales are markedly slower this Christmas than they were last Christmas. This is a recognition of the times that we […]
Also at Macmillan, Talley Retires
Not to be overlooked in the day of news from Macmillan, Truman Talley, 84, is retiring after 11 years at his eponymous SMP imprint, and 60 years in publishing. The announcement says he “looks forward to receiving book projects from both old and new authors, while this retirement will also allow time to go fly-fishing with his wife, Susannah.” In other personnel news, Grand Central has announced promotions in their publicity department: Elly Weisenberg and Tanisha Christie have been promoted to publicity manager; Melissa Bullock and Nick Small have been promoted to associate publicist.