Italy’s Mondadori will make “more than 2,000 ebooks” available via Kindle stores in the UK, Germany and the US. They expect to add another 1,000 titles before the end of the year, and hope to have 80 percent of their 10,000-title list as ebooks “by 2012.” Remarks from deputy chairman and chief executive Maurizio Costa at least imply that an Italian Kindle store might not be far off, following Amazon’s recent launch of an Italian web site. Italy is on Kobo’s list of local ebookstores planned for the coming months as well, though today’s release only mentions Amazon. Barnes & […]
International News
Briefs: University of California Shutters Poetry Program; OFT Signs Off on Bertrams/Dawson Merger; and More
The University of California Press has decided to suspend the publication of its poetry book series New California Poetry after it publishes 3 titles in 2012. Director Alison Mudditt told the LA Times that the decision came about because of budget cuts – it expects to see 10 percent in funding reductions from the university – as well as the “shifting marketplace” for books and publishing. LAT The Office of Fair Trading has been in the headlines of late because of mounting opposition to Amazon’s acquisition of The Book Depository (so much so that UK trade organizations are taking the […]
People: Sarah Odedina to Start New UK Children’s Publisher for Bonniers
Longtime publishing director of Bloomsbury Children’s in the UK Sarah Odedina will become managing director of “an entirely new children’s publishing company” in London as part of Bonnier Publishing. The line will launch in late 2011 or early 2012, focusing on children’s fiction across all age brackets. CEO of Bonnier Publishing Richard Johnson says in the announcement, “Bonnier is committed to grow in the English language and lead the way in quality children’s publishing and we could have wished for no one better than Sarah, one of the UK’s leading children’s publishers, to head this new initiative.” Odedina adds, “I […]
International News: PA and IPG Want to Block Amazon/Book Depository Merger; Competition Commission on the Pearson/REDGroup Case; and More
As expected, the UK Publishers Association and Independent Publishers Guild are asking the government to block Amazon’s purchase of The Book Depository, calling for a wider public investigation into the competition between the online and bricks and mortar bookselling market. What’s less expected is that their request is a joint one, which PA ceo Richard Mollet said in a statement “reflects the strength of feeling among publishing companies that the OFT should block this merger.” Bookseller Meanwhile, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will conduct an ‘informal review’ of Pearson’s proposed acquisition of REDGRoup Retail’s online business. The closing […]
A Batch of Updates
Today’s headlines are mostly updates to yesterday’s stories and other ongoing tales: * The UK’s Office of Fair Trading has officially invited comment on Amazon’s deal to buy The Book Depository and whether it “may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom,” a process which “effectively starts our merger enquiry.” They will decide whether to refer the deal to the Competition Commission for formal investigation and report by the end of August. Release * In Australia, the remaining 16 company-owned Angus & Robertson bookstores that have not been […]
Christopher Little Threatens Legal Action Over Blair and Rowling Departures
The UK press now has reaction from agent Christopher Little–via a spokesperson–following last week’s departures of Neil Blair from Little’s agency to set up his own company, and of star client JK Rowling, who “has terminated her association with the Christopher Little Literary Agency” will continue working with Blair at his new company. Rowling’s spokesperson says, “This was a painful decision, especially as Ms Rowling had actively sought a different outcome for some weeks. However, it was not taken without good reason and it finally became unavoidable.” Meanwhile, Little’s spokesperson implies that the action is not final, saying “he is […]