At Abrams, Rebecca Kaplan has been promoted to editor-in-chief; Jamison Stoltz to editorial director, Abrams Press; Monica Shah to executive director, special markets & national accounts; Nadine Sferratore to associate director, special sales; Wayne Gurreri to senior manager, special sales; and Shelby Ozer to sales coordinator, special sales. Kay Makanju has joined as trade sales manager specializing in the educational market. Yulia Borodyanskaya has been promoted to vice president, subsidiary rights and export sales. Talia Behrend-Wilcox joins a subsidiary rights manager. Hilary Claggett has joined Georgetown University Press as senior acquisitions editor, global business, a new list for the publisher. She was previously senior editor, […]
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ViacomCBS Hopes For a Big Price for Simon & Schuster
A source helpfully — or hopefully? — tells the WSJ that ViacomCBS “will seek at least $1.2 billion for Simon & Schuster.” LionTree is advising ViacomCBS on the sale. While no one ever tells the press they are shopping a bargain, that would represent a very aggressive multiple. The best available yardstick for a company like this is Bertelsmann’s pending deal to acquire the remaining 25 percent of Penguin. They set an enterprise value (equity plus debt) of $3.67 billion, suggesting Bertelsmann is paying a multiple of about 6.5 times operating EBITDA. S&S just reported sales of $814 million for […]
Judge Pushes Back on Proposed Redactions of Audible Captions Settlement
It turns out Judge Valerie Caproni really meant it when she told Audible and the litigating publishers that the only redaction of their settlement agreement she was inclined to allow was the settlement amount(s). In her new order, filed February 27 after reviewing the proposed redactions, Caproni gave the parties until March 4 to make one of two choices: either “(1) redact only the settlement amount(s) and file the redacted agreement on the public docket, in which case the Court will approve the parties’ proposed injunction order and retain enforcement jurisdiction over the entirety of the settlement agreement, or (2) […]
Remaining RWA Board Members Resign, Sets Election
The remaining members of the Romance Writers of America board of directors resigned on February 12, clearing the way for completely fresh leadership. The RWA will hold a special election from March 13 to March 20 for members to elect a new board for a term set to last through August 2020. Board resignations began in late December 2019, following a controversy over the suspension of author Courtney Milan from the organization for an ethics violation. President Damon Suede resigned on January 9. The board wrote in a statement: “We believe that stepping down to allow for new leadership chosen […]
Publishing Figures in France Sign Op-Ed Condemning Sexism in the Industry
Forty-four authors and publishing figures in France have signed an op-ed written by literary director of Editions Stock Caroline Laurent about sexual harassment and sexism in the industry. It follows accusations against the writer Gabriel Matzneff and the withdrawal of his books from the market by publisher Gallimard. The piece says, “This scandal, so courageously reproduced by Vanessa Springora in Le Consentement, proves that this is a national affair and not a stir specific to the literary world alone.” “Sexism in publishing is a reality, as in many other sectors,” the op-ed continues. “But it is a hidden reality in […]
Barnes & Noble Suspends Diverse Editions Project with Penguin Random House After Online Controversy
Diverse Editions, which dressed twelve classic books from Penguin Random House in new dust jackets featuring typically white characters reimagined as people of different races, was “suspended” following a quick wave of online criticism and accusations of “literary blackface.” Comprising such titles as Moby Dick, Romeo and Juliet, and The Secret Garden, the new covers were scheduled to launch Wednesday evening at the Barnes & Noble on Fifth Avenue in NYC. A panel discussion as part of that launch, including manager, business development and business department at the Fifth Avenue store Cal Hunter and assistant marketing manager at Penguin Random […]