Some information and highlights from this morning’s Publishers Launch Conference, eBooks Go Global, in Frankfurt. One of the premises of today’s conference was an expectation the ebooks will lead to new ways of publishing more fluidly around the world. Riccardo Cavallero confirmed this in the morning’s opening panel of international trade executives in two announcements. “We’re going to launch our authors in English directly into English-speaking markets” in ebook form. “We will keep paper rights free,” so if their translations find a market, “we will able to convince some reluctant North American publishers” to take over the English rights. Cavellero […]
People: Berstelsmann Promotes Rabe to CEO as Ostrowski Leaves; Redmayne Named Pottermore CEO
Bertelsmann announced Monday that ceo Hartmut Ostrowski is leaving his position after more than three years for “personal reasons” and will join the company’s supervisory board as chairman. Thomas Rabe, who has been cfo since 2006, will replace him as of January 1, 2012. Ostrowski first joined Bertelsmann in 1982 and has worked for the company in various functions, including the chief executive position at Arvato and chairman of Bertelsmann’s executive board. Various news sources reported the news in advance of Bertelsmann’s statement, with Reuters deeming Ostrowski’s departure a “surprise” because his contract was not due to expire until December […]
Two Actions Might Disrupt Frankfurt Travel
Those attending the Frankfurt Book Fair this week are faced with the possibility of two different work slowdowns that could catch you coming or going. Flights into Frankfurt are experiencing delays Monday afternoon as over 1,200 ground handling staff attend meetings discussing EU plans to increase competition among the handlers. Lufthansa said Sunday “we are actively preparing for it and hope to limit the effect on passengers as much as possible,” while warning that at least some delays are likely. The larger concern is when you’ll be able to go home. Germany’s air traffic controllers rejected a mediator’s proposal to […]
Nobel Peace Prize Trio Includes Two Authors
The Nobel Peace Prize is being shared by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakul Karma. Gbowee’s book MIGHTY BE OUR POWERS: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War, was published last month by Beast Books and attracted attention for an author tour that’s being underwritten by Len Riggio. Sirleaf’s book THIS CHILD WILL BE GREAT was published by Harper in 2009 and is available in trade paperback and ebook. In other awards news, The Crime Writers’ Association announced the winners of various Dagger Awards in a ceremony that will be televised on ITV3 on October 11: Gold Dagger For […]
DeLillo’s Stories Top November Indie Next List
Here are the ABA’s latest monthly picks: The Angel Esmeralda: Nine Stories, by Don DeLillo The Lady of the Rivers: A Novel (The Cousins’ War), by Philippa Gregory Zone One: A Novel, by Colson Whitehead Aloha From Hell: A Sandman Slim Novel, by Richard Kadrey The Marriage Plot: A Novel, by Jeffrey Eugenides The Boy in the Suitcase, by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis The Puppy Diaries: Raising a Dog Named Scout, by Jill Abramson Triangles: A Novel, by Ellen Hopkins And So It Goes: Kurt Vonnegut: A Life, by Charles J. Shields White Truffles in Winter: A Novel, by […]
Amazon Opens Kindle Store in France
Amazon has opened a Kindle store in France at Amazon.fr with more than 35,000 titles in French (and 800,000 more, primarily in English), a French-language version of its budget Kindle for 99 Euros, and the introduction of local Kindle Direct Publishing. The store will also offer graphic novels, more than 4000 free French classics, and top French newspapers. It is their second Kindle store in a language other than English, following the German store they opened in April. “French customers are passionate about books and reading, and just as we’ve seen in the US, UK and Germany, we believe they […]