Sales at HarperCollins dropped by nearly 20 percent in their fiscal third quarter through the end of March, falling by $59 million to $243 million for the period. The unit swung from adjusting operating income of $29 million a year ago to a $38 million loss this quarter, including a $30 million restructuring charge due to the layoffs earlier this year. The drop in sales is only modestly better than the 25 percent drop-off last quarter. The publisher is showing an operating loss for the three quarters of this fiscal year of $12 million (compared to profits of $132 million […]
More Changes at S&S Children's
Recently-appointed president and publisher of the Simon & Schuster Children’s division Jon Anderson announced “a number of transitions and consolidations,” reminding employees that “it is incumbent that we are structured in a way that maximizes our opportunities to publish vigorously and with our customary flair, while at the same time reflecting the realities of today’s marketplace.” Publisher of the Atheneum and Margaret K. McElderry imprints Emma Dryden will step down to an “advisory role” in which she will still edit authors including Ellen Hopkins, Karma Wilson and Alan Katz, while deputy publisher for Little Simon and Simon Spotlight Frank Totaro […]
SuperKindle Is Here; "DX" Must Mean Didn't Explain…?
Today’s SuperKindle press conference unfolded essentially along the planned/leaked script. (Except that we were amused to note Jeff Bezos had to read his expansive “mission statement” for Kindle from the monitor.) It’s better than a piece of plain paper, it studies better than a textbook, and starting this summer it swoops in to try and save three newspapers–except that it lists for $489. The new model, now positioned as the second member of the Kindle “family,” is–a bigger version of the current Kindle. The actual news that was not already leaked is that this summer, the New York Times, Washington […]
People and Awards
Kate Davis has been promoted to associate editor for Putnam and Marian Wood Books, where she has been “deeply involved in Marian’s entire list.” At Simon & Schuster Children’s, Laura Antonacci has been promoted to marketing associate, education and library. Other PEN award winners include Steve Coll’s THE BIN LADENS for nonfiction,and author of Knockemstiff Donald Ray Pollock for the $35,000 Robert Bingham fellowship for writers.Site list The National Book Foundation presented Innovations in Reading prizes to five recipients, including James Patterson’s ReadKiddoRead.com and the readergirlz blog.
Harlequin Remains Bright Spot for Torstar
While Torstar’s newspaper business suffers heavily from the advertising slump, sales at the company’s Torstar unit have remained strong, boosted further by the weak Canadian dollar. “Harlequin’s revenues, to date, have not been significantly affected by the global, and in particular, the US economic situation,” the company said. First quarter sales of $124.5 million (CA) were up $14.8 million from a year ago, or 13.5 percent, though $11.5 million of the increase was due to foreign exchange. EBITDA of $21.8 million was up almost 18 percent, from $18.5 million a year ago. The unit took a $1.4 million charge related […]
HBG Adds Speakers Bureau
Hachette Book Group has joined the likes of Macmillan, Harper, Simon & Schuster, Penguin and Knopf in officially launching the Hachette Speakers Bureau. Like S&S, they are working in partnership with Greater Talent Network. Participating HBG authors include Christopher Buckley, John Feinstein, Christopher Hitchens, Sir Harold Evans, Charla Krupp, and Dr. Bill and Martha Sears,