Penguin is launching a dating website aimed at book readers as “a place to meet and indulge in the age-old art of writing love letters”. in conjunction with online dating giant Match.com.The Bookseller
Marketing
Coffee and Crime at Starbucks in Germany
Shelf Awareness points to how Starbucks is promoting books outside of the United States. In cooperation with Diogenes Verlag, Starbucks is putting on a Mystery Festival Coffee & Crime program that consists of 11 readings in nine cities featuring six mystery authors and an audiobook narrator (reading Georges Simenon books). Another 125 German Starbucks will feature a “reference library” of works by the authors and information about the readings. The difference? German Starbucks stores will not be selling any of the Diogenes titles, instead advising customers to visit their local bookstores. Schweizer Buchhandel (via Shelf Awareness)
Book Country Returns to New York
The abandoned New York is Book Country has been resuscitated by Nielsen Business Media, as pointed out in this month’s Publishing Trends. To be held September 21 in Central Park (one week after the Brooklyn Book Festival, and one week before the National Book Festival in DC), the new version highlights books and authors but also promises pavilions for electronic gaming, cooking, finance, and hybrid autos, plus a music pavilion, making New York…cornucopia country?NYCB site
AAP Launches Editor "Buzz Webcasts"
The Association of American Publishers will start a “pilot program” of webcasts featuring editors pitching Winter 2009 books to an intended online audience of booksellers media, beginning in September. For two weeks, two editors per day (on select days) will present “upcoming titles that have inspired them” in live 30-minute webcasts. Media and booksellers can call in and ask questions. Starting September 16, the schedule features: Rebecca Saletan from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Tom Miller from Wiley; Bill Thomas from Doubleday; Geoff Shandler from Little, Brown; Cindy Spiegel from Spiegel & Grau; Amy Einhorn from Putnam; George Witte from St. Martin’s; […]
Grove Atlantic Free Kindle Book Promotion
Christopher G. Moore’s novel SPIRIT HOUSE will be offered as a free download for Kindle owners between August 1 and August 15, prior to its print publication on August 28. Publisher Morgan Entrekin says in the announcement, “We think this innovative partnership is a great way to expand Moore’s audience even further.”
Borders Gets Behind LACE READER
With Barnes & Noble pushing The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Borders is focusing on Brunonia Barry’s THE LACE READER by “treat[ing] the book as an immediate bestseller” with deep discounts, a 25-minute Borders Book Club video of the author and seven book club members playing on Borders.com, in-store book club discussion guides, and “Original Voices” placement as well. The chain says in a release “thousands of booksellers throughout the retailer’s stores nationwide have been receiving information about The Lace Reader for weeks so that they can personally recommend the title to customers looking for a great read.” […]