Amazon announced Thursday that it has cancelled plans for its new NYC headquarters, after facing opposition from the local community. “After much thought and deliberation, we’ve decided not to move forward with our plans to build a headquarters for Amazon in Long Island City, Queens,” said the company in a statement. Long Island City was selected in November as ones of the locations for HQ2, but residents and politicians spoke out about the transit and real estate problems it could create, and criticized the $3 billion in incentives offered by New York City and state leaders. Amazon said in the […]
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So Many Books, So Much Trouble Printing
2018 is notable for at least two related phenomena. The year began and ended with big nonfiction titles — Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff, and then Becoming by Michelle Obama –that sparked significant demand and had publishers scrambling to print enough hardcovers. That brings into relief a challenge that was present all year and will clearly carry over into 2019: Tight markets for both paper and book printing and binding had publishers juggling all the time to keep popular titles and steady backlist alike in stock. The issues look systemic, but paper and printing shortages were exacerbated by some of the […]
YA: Abrams Cancels Graphic Novel; Lerner Acquires Zest Books
Abrams has cancelled publication of controversial graphic novel A SUICIDE BOMBER SITS IN THE LIBRARY by writer Jack Gantos and illustrator Dave McKean, which was to be released in May 2019. The decision was made “together with the book’s creators,” after the title received criticism online. Abrams said in a statement, “While the intention of the book was to help broaden a discussion about the power of literature to change lives for the better, we recognize the harm and offense felt by many at a time when stereotypes breed division, rather than discourse.” The cancellation follows posts on Twitter by Zainab […]
Your News Goes Here
We just made it easier than ever to send your news our way, with a Newsbox page at PublishersMarketplace. As always, info@publishersmarketplace.com is the best place to email your press releases and personnel announcements, and deals should be reported via our English-language and International rights forms, please. But now you can also enter your less formal bulletins right into the Newsbox — along with news tips, story ideas, and any confidential communications you do not want to transmit via email. (Plus you can upload documents, memos, and other files.) Bookmark it as your reference point for how to reach us […]
Stephen Elliott Files Lawsuit Against Media Men List Creator Moira Donegan
Author and former editor of literary website The Rumpus Stephen Elliott filed a lawsuit in New York’s Eastern District against Moira Donegan, the creator of the S—-y Media Men list on Wednesday. Elliot alleges “libelous communication of knowingly false statements” in the private Google spreadsheet that became very public, along with intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotion distress. Elliott published an essay on Quillette in September, called How An Anonymous Accusation Derailed My Life. He seeks damages of at least $1.5 million, from Donegan as well as the other anonymous contributors to the list, asserting that “the defendants’ actions […]
Briefs: An Eric Carle Imprint, NYRB’s Statement, and More
Imprints Penguin Children’s is launching a World of Eric Carle imprint in winter 2019, “dedicated to the works of the acclaimed and beloved author and illustrator.” Francesco Sedita leads the line, which “will focus on publishing books that are based in the core values of discovery, creativity, learning and growing.” Initiatives Penguin Random House resumes its annual “2-Day transit program” for independent booksellers for the seventh year, starting October 1 and running through March 1, 2019. Bookselling Shaw’s Book Shop in Westwood, NJ is closing at the end of September after 40 years of operation. Owner Tom Downs said Amazon […]