Little, Brown announced that they will release ebook editions of J.D. Salinger’s four books for the first time on August 13. His son Matt Salinger notes in the release, ‘There were few things my father loved more than the full tactile experience of reading a printed book, but he may have loved his readers more—and not just the ‘ideal private reader’ he wrote about, but all his readers. As it became clear to us that increasing numbers of readers today read only ebooks, and after I was taken severely (if also humorously) to task by a reader with a disability […]
Libraries
Macmillan Splits the Library eBook Baby: A Small Concession, and Broader Windowing
Macmillan is the latest big publisher to announce an adjustment of their library ebook terms, this time in a letter from ceo John Sargent to authors and agents. Their policy has a twist to balance protecting sales with “ensur[ing] that the mission of libraries is supported”: Exactly one copy of every ebook will be available to each library system for purchase upon publication for $30, which is half the current library price, and that one copy will be available in perpetuity, for unlimited one-at-a-time lends. But any additional copies of their new-release titles will be windowed for 8 weeks after […]
People, Etc.
Jennifer Weis will join the Ross Yoon Agency as senior literary agent based in New York, representing book club and women’s fiction, thrillers, memoir, narrative and platform-driven nonfiction, psychology and health. She was previously executive editor at St. Martin’s. At Princeton University Press, Fred Appel is promoted to publisher, religion and anthropology; Ben Tate to senior editor, humanities; Susannah Shoemaker to editor, mathematics and engineering; Matt Rohal to associate editor; and Charlie Allen and Jacqueline Delaney to editorial associate. Alloy Entertainment editor Hayley Wagreich is joining Serial Box as head of content, reporting to ceo Molly Barton and president Julian […]
Simon & Schuster Improves Library eBook Terms, Adds Selected Pay-Per-Checkout Titles
As the big publishers move to relatively similar terms for providing ebooks to public libraries, Simon & Schuster announced a revision of their terms that libraries should see as at least incremental improvement. Effective August 1, S&S will expand their usage term from one year to two years — in alignment with other big publisher terms. Digital audiobooks, which had been sold for perpetual access, will move to the same two year, one-user-per-copy usage model, however. They indicate that most new-release ebooks will be priced from $38.99 to $52.99 for two-year access, and most digital audio titles will cost from […]
Briefs: Realignments, Initiatives, and More
Realigning Two UK publishers announced internal realignments. Ebury is adding “self” and “lifestyle/BBC” publishing “hubs” to the smart and entertainment hubs they created earlier this year — and now publicity and marketing are being brought closer together. It seems publicity is now called “campaigns,” with Joanna Bennett promoted to head of campaigns for the Smart hub, Tessa Henderson is head of campaigns for Entertainment; Stephanie Naulls has that position for Lifestyle/BBC; and they are recruiting someone for self. Separately, marketing becomes a Marketing, Insight & Digital centre (not a hub, or even a spoke), and will “share new digital resources […]
People, Etc.
Kirkus Reviews editor in chief for over six years Claiborne Smith is resigning to “focus on writing books” and supporting the San Antonio Book Festival, where he will be literary director. Newsday books editor Tom Beer will take over at Kirkus on June 17, reporting to ceo Meg Kuehn. She says in the announcement, “Tom Beer brings the literary sensibility Kirkus; readers have come to expect from us along with experience and keen instincts for reporting on books in a way that connects with reading enthusiasts.” Sourcebooks has hired Molly Cusick, as editor for Jabberwocky, Young Readers, and Fire; and […]