National Book Network president Rich Freese has left the company. His last day was Friday, April 8. President of NBN parent company Rowman & Littlefield Jed Lyons told us over the weekend that Freese’s departure was “very amicable” and the result of NBN’s announcement back in January that they would reduce their number of distribution clients. “We’ve been talking about it for weeks,” Lyons explained. “Since Rich’s principal role was in working on new business development, it didn’t make sense for him and the company to continue working together.” Lyons said there will be no additional changes to NBN’s executive […]
Briefs: A Million eBook Sales for ‘Dragon Tattoo’; Legal Action Against Breakaway Angus & Robertson Franchises; and More
Knopf says that Stieg Larsson‘s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo has sold over a million eBook copies, and adds to us that The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest will reach that same milestone next week. (No word, however, on which e-vendor sold the millionth copy.) NYT Earlier this week a number of Barnes & Noble executives each disposed a small amount of stock at $9.18 per share, according to a number of SEC filings. Leading the group was Stephen Riggio, who decreased his total holdings by 3,136 shares to 96,924 shares. REDGroup administrators Ferrier Hodgson have taken their […]
BEA Books to be Buzzed
BEA organizers have announced selections for an expanded three “buzz” book panels for this year’s convention, with one panel each day starting on Monday, May 23. This year’s adult panel is nearly all debut fiction, and the roster includes a middle grade group for the first time. Here are the lists: Editors BuzzTHE ART OF FIELDING by Chad Harbach, Little, Brown and CompanyPresented by Michael Pietsch THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern, Doubleday Presented by Alison Callahan THE UNDERSIDE OF JOY by Sere Prince Halverson, Dutton Presented by Denise Roy RUNNING THE RIFT by Naomi Benaron, Algonquin Presented by Kathy […]
ROOM and UNBROKEN Top Indie Choice Awards
Emma Donoghue’s ROOM has been selected by booksellers as the fiction winner of the ABA’s Indie Choice awards, with Laura Hillenbrand’s UNROKEN claiming the prize for nonfiction. Karl Malantes’ MATTERHORN was picked as adult debut book of the year, and Jennifer Donnelly’s REVOLUTION was the young adult winner. Tom Angleberger’s The Strange Case of Origami Yoda was the middle reader winner of the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award, and Peter Brown’s Children Make Terrible Pets won the same award in the picture book category. ABA member booksellers selected Laurie Halse Anderson as Most Engaging Author, “for her exceptional involvement and responsiveness […]
People, Etc.
Random House is expanding the corporate communications team with the hiring of Claire Von Schilling as svp, corporate communications, reporting to Stuart Applebaum. She has been vp, corporate communications at Sony Music Entertainment since 2006, prior to which she worked at Bertelsmann, Inc.Ashley Hewlett has been promoted to associate publicist at Touchstone. Alyse Diamond has joined OpenSky as a talent business executive. Previously she was an editor at St. Martin’s. At Random House Children’s, Susan Chin has been promoted to associate manager, marketing design and production. Nick Canham has joined HarperCollins UK as editorial director, non-fiction, concentrating on the company’s […]
Borders Still Trying to Win Over Publishers, As Candid Video with CEO Edwards Makes Brief Appearance Online
As Borders campaigns privately to persuade creditors and vendors to support its reorganization plans and resume normal trade terms, the NYT adds its assessment to yesterday’s WSJ report, which does not show a lot of movement. Those publishers willing to speak remain unmoved and “said they were no more likely to resume normal trade terms with Borders.” One unnamed publisher said, “We are not impressed. None of it gave us any reason to think they can get themselves out of this. I don’t think it’s changed anybody’s mind.” But Borders ceo Mike Edwards retains his unshakable belief that everything is […]