The manager of the Barnes & Noble in Maui Cindy Mauricio told employees and the media that the store will not be closing at the end of the year after all, based on a conversation with her district manager. A spokesperson for the mall owner did not have any confirmation yet, and the management company says for now that originally it was BN that declined to renew the lease rather than the inverse, as first report. The Bookworm in Carbondale, IL is up for sale as owners Carl Rexroad and Kelly Rexroad prepare to retire after more than 16 years in […]
International News
People, Etc.
Whitney Frick will take over as editorial director of The Dial Press on December 4, reporting to Susan Kamil. She has been executive editor at Flatiron Books. Becca Putman joins the Crown Publishing Group as marketing manager for Crown, Hogarth, Tim Duggan Books, and Broadway Books. Most recently she worked in Grove Atlantic’s marketing department. Steve Fischer will retire as executive director of the New England Independent Booksellers Association when a successor is found. He has been in the position since 2006. President of the board Laura Cummings says, “While we all wholeheartedly wish Steve well in his upcoming retirement, […]
We Are the World English World
Two interesting articles offer views on changes in the worldwide market for English-language books, and they are both about Amazon. In one, the NYT looks at the book market in Australia, where Amazon will arrive with full force shortly. (They have had an Australian Kindle store since 2013.) Long protected by both laws and oceans, independent bookstores had approximately 26 percent of Australia’s book business in 2015, according to Nielsen figures. Everyone puts on a brave face in the article, but competition is coming: “In interviews with more than a dozen booksellers, authors, independent publishers and lawyers specializing in copyright, two […]
WH Smith May Trim Inventory, Stores
UK retailer WH Smith reported annual results through August 31. In line with the long-term trend for Smith, their growing travel store business added more sales than their slowly declining high street bookstore business lost. For the first time, travel is the larger segment, with sales of £624 million, versus high street sales of £610 million (down from £639 million a year ago, or 5 percent). High street “trading profits” (before unallocated costs, finance costs and taxation) were flat, at £62 million, though that was with another £12 million of cost savings. The company make clear that “over the next […]
Briefs: New EL James, New Chandler Reps, Brzezinski Expands Concerns, and More
The surprise EL James book people at Penguin Random House have been whispering about was announced on Tuesday: DARKER: Fifty Shades Darker as Told by Christian, continues the retelling of her trilogy from Christian Grey’s point of view that began with GREY. Vintage will publish the trade paperback on Tuesday, November 2. The publisher says they will be soliciting orders from accounts over the next week, and currently have paper on order and press time reserved for a first printing of more than one million copies. James says in the announcement, “The inside of Christian Grey’s head is a fascinating place to […]
Acquisitions: PRH Buys Sasquatch, Octopus Buys Kyle Cathie
Penguin Random House acquired Seattle-based publisher Sasquatch Books, which it already distributes through Penguin Random House Publisher Services, last month, for undisclosed terms. Sasquatch will continue to be distributed through PRHPS will report to that unit’s president Jeff Abraham. No changes are planned for its location, management, or staff. Abraham says, “When it became known that the company was looking for new ownership to take Sasquatch to the next level, the prospect of PRHPS acquiring the company, while maintaining its independence in Seattle, was enormously appealing to both sides. We’ve accomplished so much with the incredible team at Sasquatch over the last few years. Now, […]