Lagardere reported third quarter sales in brief, with the publishing division’s “performance dented by a drop in sales of the Stephenie Meyer saga, and by a delay of a few weeks in delivering new secondary school textbooks in France.” They note that results are also lower “due to the non-recurrence of the sale of the international rights to the Twilight saga.” With sales of 634 million euros this quarter, by our count that’s down approximately 50 million euros or over 7 percent from 684.6 million euros a year ago. (They don’t formally break out third quarter sales.) Besides the difficult […]
People, Etc.
San Francisco-based Curtis Brown agent Nathan Bransford announced via his popular writers blog on Friday that he is leaving agenting to work for CNet, where he will help coordinate social media strategy. He says the blog and its forums will continue. At Oxford University Press, Pam Sutherland moves over to the newly-created role of group chief information officer (CIO), overseeing group-wide digital and IT infrastructure and reported to ceo Nigel Portwood. She was operations director for Oxford Journals. Casper Grathwohl recently became online and reference publisher in Oxford’s Global Academic Business, and Ernst Kallus was appointed digital media director for […]
Now, PW’s Top 10 Books
PW has issued their top picks for the year, this time offering a more conventional selection that overlaps with the other lists already published: A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan (Knopf)Freedom, Jonathan Franzen Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand The Surrendered, Chang-rae LeeThe Big Short, Michael LewisThe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca SklootJust Kids, Patti SmithMan in the Woods, Scott SpencerThe Lonely Polygamist, Brady Udall The Warmth of Other Suns, Isabel WilkersonPW
Joseph-Beth to Close Two Stores; New England Mobile Book Fair Looking for Buyer
Joseph-Beth Booksellers is closing branches in Pittsburgh and Charlotte, NC. Director of marketing Chad Showalter says with sluggish forecasts into 2011, “we decided we needed to make a significant change.”Post-Gazette In Newton, MA, New England Mobile Book Fair–“the largest independent bookstore in New England”–is looking for a buyer. Attorney Steve Gans emphasizes that the 53-year-old store is strong and believes there is “pent up demand” among prospective buyers. They are working with Paul Siegenthaler at Ridge Hill Partners, who worked on the recent sales of the Wellesley Booksmith and Harvard Bookstore. Siegenthaler says “It’s a way to reach the emotional […]
NY Appeals Court Allows Portions of Amazon Sales Tax Argument to Go Forward
Both sides are claiming victory in the long-running dispute between Amazon (and Overstock) and New York state over the collection of sales taxes. A court of appeals unanimously ruled that the “dismissal of the entire complaint was premature” and portions of the lawsuit can proceed. The court found that at least portions of the New York law are constitutional, but will let the plaintiffs present further arguments over whether online affiliates are considered to “solicit business” within the state, and whether or not those affiliates are “significantly associated” with the companies’ business in New York.CnetBTW
Hillenbrand Tops The December 2010 Indie Next List
Here is the full list: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, by Laura HillenbrandThe Neighbors Are Watching: A Novel, by Debra GinsbergChange: A Story for All Ages, by Judith Barnes, Erick James, Jeff Grader (Illus.)Rescue: A Novel, by Anita ShreveAn Object of Beauty: A Novel, by Steve MartinMy Reading Life, by Pat ConroyMy Nest Isn’t Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space: The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman, by Lisa ScottolineThe Turquoise Ledge: A Memoir, by Leslie Marmon SilkoMusic of the Distant Stars: An Aelf Fen Mystery, by Alys ClareLost and Found in Russia: […]