BEA’s Editors Buzz Forum will return to its traditional Thursday time slot, and adds a Young Adult Buzz Forum on Friday, May 29 “to address the growing interest in young adult books.” Along with announcing this year’s selection, convention officials note that criteria for buzz book consideration has now been formalized for future years: All nominated books must have a fall release timeline (September – January). All submissions must have a digital packet which includes jacket art, first chapter, imprint logo, author photo and SMPR (social media press release). BEA will create a “Books with Buzz” tab on its web […]
New Releases/Forthcoming
Searching Inside HarperCollins' Digital Catalog
HarperCollins has been promising for a while that it would make its seasonal catalogs an all-digital affair, and as of yesterday, starting with Fall 2009, they’ve taken that step with a beta version that features book jackets and covers, prices, on-sale dates, marketing information, reviews, sample spreads, quotes, important media alerts and additional media content. The aim is for a “significantly more dynamic experience” than the traditional print catalog, also making available select galleys and AREs for browsing. “We are providing an improved tool that will always contain current information and one that will save time and resources for publishers, […]
Author Obama's Earnings Close In On $9 Million
While reporters still guess at George Bush’s advance, the NYT totals up President Obama’s earnings to date from his books: $8,605,429, and counting, based on disclosure forms. To clarify the CQ article we cited yesterday, which contained some errors (as did reports elsewhere), President Obama agreed in early January to a license of an abridged version of DREAMS OF OUR FATHERS for young readers, for a $500,000 advance. (Presidential aides indicate he will split the proceeds with Crown). Crown will create the abridgment, which President Obama will approve. A White House spokesperson told the NYT the president has not decided […]
Obama Signs Deal For Additional Nonfiction Work After He Leaves Office
Meanwhile, Congressional Quarterly reports that Barack Obama has signed a deal, again with Crown Books, for a youth-oriented version of DREAMS WITH MY FATHER as well as a nonfiction book after he leaves office. Obama reported $2.5 million in book royalties in 2008. CQ
George W. Bush to Write About 'Decision Points' for Crown
Former president George W. Bush is writing a book about decisions, reports the Associated Press. Robert Barnett negotiated world rights with Random House evp and publisher-at-large Steve Rubin, who will publish the tentatively titled DECISION POINTS with Crown in 2010. Instead of telling his life story, Bush “will concentrate on about a dozen personal and presidential choices” such as his choice of Dick Cheney as VP and sending troops to Iraq, his religious faith and his highly criticized response to Hurricane Katrina. “I want people to understand the environment in which I was making decisions. I want people to get […]
Patterson's Latest Collaborator
James Patterson is reaching across the ocean for his latest writing partner, working on a new thriller set primarily in Stockholm with Scandinavian crime writer Liza Marklund, best known for her Annika Bengtzon series. The book will be published in Sweden in 2010 with Marklund’s regular publisher Piratförlaget (of which she is a part owner), but that is the only territory sold so far. Robert Barnett at Williams & Connolly is representing rights for the US and the UK and has “a great deal of interest” from Patterson’s existing publishers in both territories. Linda Michaels, who was the “driving force […]