Vodafone UK is launching a program to provide books on cellphones starting today in association with GoSpoken.com, run by Toby Lynch and author Andy McNab. The company says they have over 2,500 books available for download. Originally designed to play as audiobooks, the site says that they are adding the ability to read titles via the phone screen as well. Charges go directly to the user’s cellphone bill with a “one-click” purchase model. Titles are expected to cost between 5 pounds and 15 pounds each. A story in the Times says GoSpoken has “signed up every leading publisher in Britain, […]
Lunch Weekly for Monday, October 6
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 Chinese-American Jean Kwok’s GODDESS OF INFINITE FACES, an inspiring immigrant coming-of-age […]
New Pynchon Novel
Following internet rumors, the LAT says that Penguin Press has confirmed that they will publish a new novel by Thomas Pynchon in August 2009.LAT
Atlas Faces Money Woes
The Observer reports that Atlas & Co. is postponing the publication of their spring 2009 list due to financial problems, and hopes to publish those titles in the fall instead. Founder Jim Atlas says “our chances look good–it’s a postponement, not a cancellation.” The company is issuing this fall’s titles as planned.Observer
The UK's Super Thursday
For Jews this Thursday is the holiest day of the year (Yom Kippur), but for Brits it’s when 800 big holiday titles are published, “three times more than an average day.” Borders UK category manager Michael Jones coined the moniker, and the tells the Guardian, “So many of the really big books that are contenders to be in the top 10 are coming out. I can’t remember there being one day or even one week when it’s been like this. We’ve known about this day for a while so we’re prepared.”Guardian Separately, today’s WSJ focuses on three cookbooks landing Tuesday […]
People
At Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Susan Canavan has been promoted to executive editor in the trade & reference division. Canavan has been at Houghton for 9 years. Former agent at Dupree/Miller and editor at Simon Spotlight Entertainment Michael Broussard has joined iSB New Media as executive vice president. Based in LA, the company calls itself a “multi-media talent platform” that integrates speaking (the parent company’s properties include the International Speakers Bureau), books, licensed products, programming, distribution, and web-centered marketing. Translated, that includes “literary representation of several major personalities.”