In an attempt to streamline book category and classification codes into a unified standard, a group of book industry representatives from 15 companies are joining forces on Thema, which continues the work already begun by the iBIC project jointly owned by Nielsen and the Book Industry Communication. Both entities donated the iBIC intellectual property to Thema’s board of directors for the creation of the global standard. For now, Thema will function alongside such national book-categorization standards as BIC, BISAC, and CLIL, but the plan is to move all involved markets, including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Spain, and […]
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In Australia, Allen & Unwin Buys Murdoch Books
Australia’s Allen & Unwin has successfully completed those exclusive acquisition talks we reported on recently and agreed to acquire illustrated books publisher Murdoch Books. Chairman and CEO of Murdoch Books Matt Handbury hails the new owners’ promise of continuity in quality publishing: “This is what Allen & Unwin has identified and so enthusiastically pursued in our sale negotiations. I am thrilled that the business will become an integral and wholly owned part of the largest Australian independent publishing house, and the efforts that my team have put into building the Murdoch Books brand will seamlessly continue in its new home.” As […]
People: Remembering Arlene Friedman, and More
Longtime publishing executive Arlene Friedman passed away Sunday night, from leukemia. She served as president and publisher of Doubleday in the nineties, after working at editorial director of the Doubleday Book Clubs (including the Literary Guild). Friedman also worked at Fawcett, Macmillan and Crown. Services will be held Sunday, September 9 at 11:30 am at Frank E. Campbell in New York City. In other personnel news, Maria Gagliano has joined Portfolio, Sentinel, and Current as a senior editor. She was most recently an editor for Perigee, which she joined in 2006. She is also the co-founder and Business Director of Slice, a nonprofit […]
People: Don Linn to Run Chicago Distribution
Donald Linn will take over as director of the University of Chicago Press’s Chicago Distribution Center, replacing the recently retired Donald Collins, starting July 16. Linn was owner and ceo of Consortium Book Sales & Distribution, and most recently worked with Firebrand Associates in their consulting division. University of Chicago Press director Garrett Kiely says, “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this position. The CDC does a great job of serving the needs of its clients and the market, and Don will help to position us for the future.” UK sales and marketing head of DK Catherine Bell will become […]
At Least Two Amazon Publishing eBooks Are Now Sold Everywhere
With Tuesday’s release of Oliver Pötzsch’s THE DARK MONK: A Hangman’s Daughter Tale in the US, the follow-up his to successful THE HANGMAN’S DAUGHTER, at least two titles whose US publishing rights are controlled by Amazon are now being carried widely by major ebookstores. The ebook editions for sale are published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which had previously licensed only print rights to the Potzsch books from Amazon Crossing (along with print rights to other titles from Crossing and Amazon Encore). Up until now, Amazon has sold ebook versions of titles from their growing family of publishing imprints exclusively through […]
Publishers: U. of Missouri Press to Close; Page Celebrates “Legacy”; Penguin Launches A Pintail
University of Missouri president Tim Wolfe apparently surprised staff with the announcement Thursday that the UM Press will close. Started in 1958, it currently publishes about 30 titles a year, and has issued approximately 2,000 books since its founding. Wolfe said they “take seriously our role to be good stewards of public funds, to use those funds to achieve our strategic priorities and re-evaluate those activities that are not central to our core mission.” The Press has been receiving a $400,000 annual subsidy. A phase out of operations will begin this July. “Ten employees will be affected,” the Columbia Daily […]