Harper Collins will create AI audiobooks of select foreign language backlist titles, working with text-to-speech software company ElevenLabs. “The agreement will lead to the production of audio versions of select deep backlist series books that would not otherwise have been created.” ElevenLabs’ interface can create an audiobook in about an hour that will, according to Harper, “reflect the emotion, intonation, and pacing of the written word in audio, delivering a high-quality experience that sounds human,” the Bookseller reports. A release from ElevenLabs states that “HarperCollins will continue to devote time and resources to voice actor-led productions which are intrinsic to […]
Forthcoming: THE ART OF POWER by Nancy Pelosi
Simon & Schuster will publish THE ART OF POWER by former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on August 6. The book focuses on her time in the house, and includes a personal account of January 6. S&S vp and editor-in-chief Priscilla Painton acquired world rights, sold by Mollie Glick and David Larabell at CAA. Pelosi will also narrate the audiobook.
Ask An Expert: Stacey Barney, Associate Publisher, Nancy Paulsen Books for Young Readers
Stacey Barney is associate publisher at Nancy Paulsen Books for Young Readers. She has edited bestselling and award-winning titles such as Krystal Sutherland’s The Invocations and House of Hollow, Renée Ahdieh’s The Beautiful quartet, Ayana Gray’s Beasts of Prey, and Katherine Arden’s middle grade quartet Small Spaces, as well as Caldecott Honor–winning The Cat Man of Aleppo and Coretta Scott King Illustrator honoree Nina: A Story of Nina Simone written by Traci N. Todd and illustrated by Christian Robinson. Can you talk about what, for you, separates a middle grade from a YA novel? How are the voice, characters, themes, etc. […]
People 4/17
Ravi Mirchandani will become publisher of a new UK branch of Summit Books on September 2, reporting to managing director Suzanne Baboneau.
Imprints: Airwave Books
Airwave podcast network and BenBella Books are launching Airwave Books, which will feature nonfiction books by Airwave’s podcast and video creators. Categories include history, business, science, wellness, and investigative journalism. PRH will distribute. Ben Mathis, head of content and partnerships for Airwave, says “Our content creators are natural storytellers, and we are excited to help them expand their voice to print and audiobooks. BenBella shares our passion for content that makes us better, smarter people, and they bring unparalleled experience, editorial support, and marketing power to Airwave Books.” BenBella Books founder Glenn Yeffeth said, “We’re excited to expand our reach through […]
Barnes & Noble Education Is Saved By Unlikely New Investor and Current Lenders
Barnes & Noble Education announced on Tuesday a complicated plan to raise new capital to keep the company going. The unlikely new lead investor is Immersion Corporation, a publicly-listed “developer and licensor of touch feedback technology, also known as haptic technology,” which “has been accused of being a patent troll.” Immersion has a market cap of about $225 million. Immersion “leads” an investor group that will put $50 million of new capital into BNED along with a $45 million “fully backstopped equity rights offering.” About $20 million of that new money will go to transaction costs, leaving BNED with $75 […]