Paulette Jiles’ new novel, News of the World, is the no. 1 pick for the October Library Reads List. You can start reading an excerpt of that book as well as of Marie Benedict’s The Other Einstein, Brit Bennett’s debut novel (and No. 1 Indie Next Pick) The Mothers, and Maria Semple’s Today Will Be Different, right now at Buzz Books 2016: Fall/Winter. The rest of the Library Reads list features: The Trespasser, by Tana French Small Great Things, by Jodi Picoult Crosstalk, by Connie Willis All the Little Liars, by Charlaine Harris Smoke and Mirrors, by Elly Griffiths The […]
BN Education Has Flat Quarter
Barnes & Noble Education also reported first quarter fiscal 2017 results Thursday morning, though their mediocre showing was more in line with expectations. Fulfilling our assessment as “the growth company that doesn’t grow,” sales of $239 million were flat even with the addition of 33 new stores “with estimated annual sales of $110 million.” That’s because same-store sales fell 2.8 percent, in particular because textbook sales declined 6.8 percent. Comments from ceo Max Roberts underscored that BN College is officially a student merchandise chain that also sells textbooks rather than the inverse (italics are ours): “The comparable store sales decline is the […]
As Feared, Barnes & Noble Reports Poor Quarter, Reduces Sales Guidance; Riggio Promises Remedies
As publishing people had feared since the abrupt announcement that CEO Ronald Boire was dismissed by Barnes & Noble after less than a year on the job, the retailer reported disappointing results for their fiscal first quarter, ending July 30, on Thursday morning. Sales of $914 million fell 6.6 percent compared to a year ago, with a consolidated net loss of $14.4 million, or $0.20 per share (compared to a loss of $7.8 million, or $0.27 per share, a year ago). That’s well short of analysts’ expectations of $958 million in sales and a loss per share of 13 cents, and investors who fell for the misplaced enthusiasm yet again of […]
Britt Bennett’s Debut The Mothers Tops October Indie Next List
Britt Bennett’s debut novel The Mothers is the no. 1 pick on the ABA’s October Indie Next List. Also on the list are Jade Chang’s debut novel The Wangs vs. the World, Maria Semple’s Today Will Be Different, Paulette Jiles’ News of the World, Truevine by Beth Macy, Mercury by Margot Livesey, Marie Benedict’s The Other Einstein, all of which, including the Bennett, are featured as lengthy pre-publication excerpts that you can read right now in Buzz Books 2016: Fall/Winter. The rest of the list comprises: Small Great Things, by Jodi Picoult Reputations, by Juan Gabriel Vasquez The Trespasser, by Tana […]
People, Awards, Etc.
Katie Grinch has been promoted to associate director of publicity at Putnam. Morgan Amer will join Chronicle as trade sales coordinator on September 13. She was an assistant manager at Ryland Peters & Small. Author of the Llama Llama children’s books Anna Dewdney, 50, died on Saturday of brain cancer. Forthcoming Scribner will issue a collection of what they call “the last remaining unpublished and uncollected short stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald” in April 2017, edited by Anne Margaret Daniel, titled I’D DIE FOR YOU. The promo copy notes that “some of these stories were submitted to major magazines and accepted for publication during Fitzgerald’s lifetime but […]
Declining Book Sales Still Weigh on Wiley
John Wiley reported sales for their fiscal first quarter, with still-falling book sales and foreign exchange (since they have substantial sales in the UK) pulling down results. Sales of $404 million fell 4 percent, and net income of net income of $30.4 million was down 12 percent. Book sales continue to decline across the company. In the professional development group, print book sales declined $7 million to $41.5 million, with digital books gaining a modest $600,000 to $11.2 million. In education, print textbooks declined $11 million to $23.5 million, with digital books falling almost $1 million to $4.8 million. And in the research […]