A report due out this week from research conducted by HarperCollins, the Trade Publishers Council and the National Year of Reading (NYR) says the book trade is “too intimidating” towards the C2DE socio-economic group, characterized as lower income, non-professional families. The report found that many families in this group, numbering up to 20 million, found books to be “alien and unattractive” while reading was considered “an anti-social activity for people who don’t know how to live.” NYR project director Honor Wilson-Fletcher said: “These are good solid families who don’t have literacy problems but who just don’t read. They are one […]
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FiledByAuthor Launches Public Beta
After spending a number of months in private pre-beta, FiledByAuthor has moved into public beta format. The site, which aims to be “the first large-scale author-centric promotional platform to provide every author that has been published in the U.S. or Canada a free, hosted, ecommerce enabled web page,” has more than 1.8 million pre-assembled author web pages and over 7 million book titles. “All authors, regardless of publishing category are encouraged to visit the site, claim their page, make corrections, and enrich them in a variety of ways,” said Founder, President & C.E.O. Peter Clifton in the accompanying release. FiledByAuthor
BEA Editors Buzz Forum Choices, Plus New YA Session
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 […]
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, […]
Baker & Taylor On "Bottom Rung" List
Baker & Taylor ranked on Moody’s Investor’s inaugural “Bottom Rung” list of companies considered at the greatest risk of default or bankruptcy after the B&T’s default rating was lowered last month to B3, with a negative outlook. Moody’s cited a drop in business (particularly on the retail distribution side) as well as B&T’s significant debt, combined with a weakening ratio of revenue to its interest payments.Charlotte Business Journal
Bertrams Sold to Smiths News
Book wholesaler Betrams has been sold to Smiths News for £8.6m, the Bookseller reported Friday, four months after its parent Woolworths went into administration. Smiths News, formerly part of WH Smith, has said that it “anticipates that working capital of about £7m will be injected over the period to August 31 into Bertrams” in order to increase stock availability and thereby customer service. “Publishers are delighted that Smiths News has acquired Bertrams and that they have a firm commitment to the future development of the company,” said PA president Ian Hudson. Smiths News has agreed that publisher’s debts will be […]