At St. Martin’s, Matthew Shear has been promoted to evp and publisher, continuing to report to president and publisher Sally Richardson. As ceo John Sargent notes, “though a structure with two publishers in the same company is a bit unorthodox, I believe it truly reflects how they work together.” Richardson and Shear have worked together at SMP for 15 years. Sargent writes in his announcement: “St. Martin’s has grown tremendously over the last decade under the leadership of Sally Richardson and Matthew Shear. Much of the success of the company has been a result of this great partnership.” the promotion […]
Sales and Income Improve at Bertelsmann, As Mondadori Sales Decline
In a brief first quarter trading update, Bertelsmann said that sales are up 2.5 percent, at 3.622 billion euros, and group income has returned to profitability at 45 million, compared to 78 million euro loss in the same period a year ago. No divisional data is provided in the quarterly update; those details will come in their half-year earnings report on August 31.Release Elsewhere in Europe, Mondadori also returned to modest profit in the quarter of 2.4 million euros, though their sales declined 2.8 percent to 345 million euros due to lower advertising and circulation. “Mondadori said it would continue […]
Awards: New Yorker to Annoint 20 Under 40; PEN for Sports; and More
The New Yorker will inform authors being considered for their double issue celebrating 20 American writers under age 40 “on Friday, or Monday at the latest, whether they have made the cut,” the Observer reports. The magazine issue will have a June 14/21 issue date, landing on June 7. But don’t confuse the list with an idealized selection. The candidates were limited to those authors “who could provide The New Yorker with a piece of new, unpublished work” that the magazine could publish. Some authors wrote new material just to qualify for consideration.Observer The Children’s Choice book awards were presented […]
Sales Fall at Lagardere In First Quarter, As US Digital Books Hit 8 Percent
Sales at Lagardere Publishing of 433 million euros fell 6.5 percent in the first quarter (ending March 31), attributed to the “expected erosion” in sales of Stephenie Meyer books. Digital book sales, however, were “buoyant,” comprising “some 8 percent” of US revenues in the first quarter. The company says that “the current pace of growth in digital books – in particular with the arrival of the iPad” could wind up having “a very slightly positive effect” on their full-year earnings. In the short term, the publication of Meyer’s novella The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner on June 5 “is […]
Angry Robot Imprint Sold to Osprey
In a strangely-worded press release that makes you struggle to sort out what has happened, Harper UK’s science fiction imprint Angry Robot Books, started a year ago, has been sold to Osprey Publishing. Osprey focuses on niche communities, like military history. Angry Robot publisher Marc Gascoigne says the publishing program will be unaffected–except for a delay and relaunch. “Our publishing programme for 2010/11 will be basically unaffected by these changes. There will be a short break while the transition is sorted out, but we will be re-launching in September 2010 and then it will be business as usual.” Terms were […]
Briefs: Quirk Moves Distribution; Ingram Thanks Relief Contributors
Quirk Books will move their sales and distribution to Random House Publisher Services as of January 1, ending a nine-year relationship with Chronicle Books. Publisher David Borgenicht says “We’ve had an incredible partnership with Chronicle Books since we launched the Quirk Books list in 2002. Together, we have created many publishing successes, and I am grateful to have been able to team up with them. In this ever-changing publishing landscape, our new relationship with Random House will open up new and significant opportunities while building upon our previous achievements.” At Simon & Schuster Children’s, Kate Angelella has been promoted to […]