Sub rights director at FSG and Holt Denise Cronin will move over to become directior of sub rights for the Random House Publishing Group in November. At Dial Press, Noah Eker has been promoted to editor. Michael Healy has officially stepped down from his post as executive director of the Book Industry Study Group (where he was working half-time) to work full-time on preparations to establish the Book Rights Registry.
Internet Archive Proposes Universal Book Search Plan
Searching for and within books on the internet is pretty much of a mess right now, and only getting messier. While Google aspires to serve and protect everyone’s ebook files from the cloud some day, so far even the search giant has favored the proprietary rules of Google Book Search over truly becoming the “Google of book search.” Into that void steps one of Google’s primary antagonists of the moment, the Internet Archive. Leapfrogging their own work-in-progress database the Open Library, the IA has been debuting their concept for BookServer, envisioned as “a new architecture using common open standards that […]
Pearson OK at Q3
In one of those UK “trading updates” that doesn’t disclose actual data, Pearson tells investors the company is “trading ahead of expectations” so far this fiscal year and raised its earnings guidance a few pence, to “at or above 60 pence a share” for the full year. Primarily, the pound has stayed weak enough against the dollar and the company has “outperformed the US schools market.” At Penguin, currency neutral sales are down 4 percent, but with the weak pound actual sales are up 12 percent “as the expected tough retail market conditions were largely offset by a good publishing […]
Cash-Starved Weinsteins Switch Book Operation to Perseus Joint Venture
Weinstein Books, which has published a modest output since its founding in 2007 while the larger would-be Weinstein empire has run through its cash, is switching from an independent imprint to a joint venture with Perseus Books as of December 1. The model follows the deal recently struck between Perseus and the Weinstein’s erstwhile partner Tina Brown, now at The Beast. The two companies will “jointly develop new book ideas and Perseus will be responsible for all JV staff and for executing all core-publishing activities.” Perseus will also take over distribution of the Weinstein Books backlist. Weinstein Books publisher Judy […]
Bookselling: Elliott Bay Book Co. Faces Financial Trouble, May Relocate
The stories began online, with unconfirmed reports that Seattle’s Elliott Bay Book Co. was considering a move to a more upscale part of the city. It took a darker turn when the Seattle Times confirmed the possibility in an interview with owner Peter Aaron, who says his credit line–due for renewal in January, at the same time his lease expires–is maxed out and notes that “finding a lender to keep us liquid is an ongoing battle.” Aaron said “I must refinance, or the loan gets called” and added “until the bank piece is in place, nothing will happen.” The paper […]
Another Week of eNouncements
As Kindle International starts shipping, Plastic Logic issue a vapor release telling the world that they will finally announce pricing and confirm productions details on their new e-reader January 7 at the Consumer Electronics Show. In the meantime, they have given It a name: “Que” (full name: Que proReader.) AT&T is their wireless service provider. iRex announced that they are working with NewspaperDirect and LibreDigital to make a wealth of newspapers and magazines available–both as single copies as well as by subscription–on their about-to-release unit. North American ceo Kevin Hamilton tells PaidContent about a third strategy they are working on, […]