Ever since the troubles at Woolworth’s became severe earlier this fall, we’ve been dubious about the short statements from Bertram’s managing director Michael Neil, whose twin pillars have been business is great and sale of the book wholesaler is imminent. Now Neil finally admits no sale is likely until next year, and calls himself unrealistic: “”Bertrams will be sold–probably not as quickly as we said it would be, but that’s because of Christmas and New Year. It’s unrealistic to think it would be sorted out this close to Christmas.” And business remains great, except not: “We had a great week […]
Lunch Weekly for Monday, December 22
Deal Reports Just e-mail to deals@PublishersMarketplace if you aren’t using the online form linked below. Report a deal using the online form The Key As usual, the handy key to our Lunch deal categories. While all reports are always welcome, those that include a category will generally receive a higher listing when it comes time to put them all together. “nice deal” $1 – $49,000 “very nice deal” $50,000 – $99,000 “good deal” $100,000 – $250,000 “significant deal” $251,000 – $499,000 “major deal” $500,000 and up FICTION Debut A.D. Scott’s FAULTLINES, about a young Scottish boy who is found […]
Bernard on the State of Things
Former Harcourt executive Andre Bernard uses the recent memorial service for Robert Giroux as the launching point for an assessment of current happenings in publishing (and at Harcourt in particular). He says that Houghton Mifflin Harcout is “reportedly now trying to bring” recently fired longtime editor Drenka Willen back “in another capacity.” “One way or another, whether printed on paper or seen on an electronic screen, good books — great books — will continue to find their way to readers. Good writers — great writers — will continue to surface, with the help of the Drenka Willens and Rebecca Saletans […]
Still More Best of Lists, from the SF Chronicle
They picks 50 top nonfiction books and 50 fiction and poetry works. A separate piece lists notable books by Bay Area authors.
People
At Grand Central, Karen Kosztolnyik (editor of the bestselling DEWEY) has been promoted to executive editor. Celia Johnson, who has worked with both Kosztolnyik and Les Pockell, has been promoted to assistant editor.
Bertelsmann Sells British Club
In a press release issued this morning in German, Bertelsmann announced the sale of their British book clubs, Book Club Associates (BCA), to Munich’s holding company Aurelius. The transfer is scheduled for January 1. BCA has approximately 700,000 members and sales are said to be in the “middle double-digit million euro range.” This will be the first British property in Aurelius’s portfolio.