The Collins Group has announced a three-year publishing partnership with their corporate News Corp. sibling at the Wall Street Journal “to develop books written by the Journal’s expert editors and reporters across a variety of topics for a wide range of readers.” Collins group president Steve Ross had previously published a line of WSJ books when he was publisher at Crown. HarperCollins ceo Brian Murray notes in the release, “Through this partnership we will build a branded list of guides from the editors of the Journal and enduring narratives from The Wall Street Journal reporters that will stand the test […]
New Releases/Forthcoming
The Book on Obama Victory
Barack Obama’s electoral triumph was the best thing to happen to demand for printed newspapers in years–and now Andrews McMeel will publish the Poynter Foundation’s collection of 75 front pages from newspapers around the country.Poynter
Bloomberg's Politics Delays His Writing
With the New York City Council approving a revision to the term limits law for top officials clearing the primary obstacle to Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s hopes of running for re-election, the next phase for author Michael Bloomberg has been put on hold. Originally announced for publication this fall by Perseus’s Vanguard Press and then shifted to a February 2009 release, Bloomberg’s book DO THE HARD THINGS FIRST “is being delayed due to changed circumstances” as the publisher started informing accounts today. They said they “will announce a new publication schedule when it is determined.” Promotional copy for the book quotes […]
German Publisher Will Issue Complete Works of Pope
Germany’s Herder will publish The Complete Works of Joseph Ratzinger in a 16-book series, according to Bishop Gerhard Muller of Regensburg. The Catholic News Service says “Bishop Muller said the pope wants to make it clear that the works, almost all of which were completed before his election in 2005, reflect his personal theological thought and not the magisterial teaching of the church.” Director of the Vatican Publishing House Father Giuseppe Costa “said discussions already are under way with the U.S.-based Ignatius Press to publish English translations of the volumes.” CNS
Should Have Seen that Coming Dept.: Murdoch Unhappy with Wolff Book
It took a dizzying set of manipulations to produce today’s NYT story about Michael Wolff’s forthcoming book about Rupert Murdoch, which treats Murdoch’s path to an early look like a leak harmful to national security. The essence: Murdoch obtained an early copy of the book, and objected: “I have just read four or five chapters of your book,” he wrote to Wolff. “It contains some extremely damaging misstatements of fact which I will be happy to point out to you if we could meet. Otherwise I will have no option other than to speak to Random House.” The NYT says […]
Bolano's Other Publisher
As Andrew Wylie prepares to take over the Roberto Bolano estate and sell newly “discovered” works (per the story we cited earlier), the Observer visits with New Directions editor-in-chief Barbara Epler, who first published Bolano in the US. She originally acquired BY NIGHT IN CHILE from Christopher MacLehose at Harvill Press, along with two other books–and then went on to acquire rights to all but the “major” works, Savage Detectives and the forthcoming 2666 from agent Carmen Balcells. In all New Directions controls “seven short novels, two books of short stories, an essay collection and a volume of poetry called […]