In the UK, Bloomsbury announced that they have commissioned “fully illustrated” editions of all seven Harry Potter books, intending to publish one volume a year annually starting in September 2015. Kate Greenaway Medal-winning illustration Jim Kay was selected for what he calls “the commission of a lifetime.” The Guardian writes that Kay “has reimagined Harry for a new generation of readers, in a style that nods to Daniel Radcliffe’s portrayal of the boy wizard in the film versions of the novels, and captures the character of Harry in the books.” Bloomsbury aspires to license simultaneous publication of the illustrated versions […]
New Releases/Forthcoming
Judge Continues Order Blocking Malcolm X Book
After a hearing on Friday, New York District Court Judge Laura Swain continued the temporary restraining order she first imposed on November 8, continuing to prevent the release of Third World Press’s planned THE DIARY OF MALCOLM X. The restraining order will stay in place through January 31, when Judge Swain will hear further arguments from the parties. The book was originally scheduled for publication on November 15.
The Next Book About Publishing
New York Magazine shares some short anecdotes from Dan Menaker’s forthcoming book MY MISTAKE, which releases tomorrow. “Financial success in frontlist publishing is very often random, but the media conglomerates that run most publishing houses act as if it were not…. Let’s say you publish a fluky blockbuster one year, the corporation will see a spike in your profits and sort of autistically, or at least automatically, raise the profit goal for your division by some corporately predetermined amount for the following year. This is close to clinically insane institutional behavior.” Also: “I think it’s impossible to do an editor-in-chief’s […]
Coming Soon
Two non-standard publication announcements of note today: – Simon & Schuster Children’s has announced a December 10 publication — with an announced first printing of 250,000 copies — of WHAT DOES THE FOX SAY?, a picture book by the Norwegian comedy due Ylvis, based on their viral novelty music video hit The Fox. (They say in the announcement, “We actually started the process with the illustrator before we even uploaded the video to YouTube.”) – Author of our four novels including TIME OF MY LIFE, Allison Winn Scotch is self-publishing her novel THE THEORY OF OPPOSITES. “After a terribly discouraging experience […]
Malcolm X Heirs Sue to Block Publication of A Diary One Daughter Authorized
Several of Malcolm X’s family members are reported to have filed a lawsuit last Friday to block publication by Chicago-based Third World Press of a diary the civil rights leader wrote in the last year of his life. The reproduction of a private diary kept as he travelled to the Middle East and Africa immediately before his assassination was scheduled for publication this week and lists daughter Ilyasah Shabazz as one of the book’s co-editors. The lawsuit, obtained by the NY Post and other publications and apparently filed in “Manhattan federal court” (but not yet listed on any federal docket) […]
Threshold Withdraws Book by Debunked Benghazi Attack Eyewitness
Threshold Editions said on Friday that it has “withdrawn from publication and sale all formats of” THE EMBASSY HOUSE, written by “Sergeant Morgan Jones” — now revealed to be independent security contractor working for the State Department Dylan Davies, and Damien Lewis. The publisher said in a statement they were taking action “in light of information that has been brought to our attention since the initial publication of THE EMBASSY HOUSE.” They are “notifying accounts that they may return the book to us” and recommending they withdraw it as well. On Friday morning 60 Minutes correspondent Lara Logan issued an apology for her […]