There are a lot of crossed fingers, late hours, furrowed brows and open questions as at least part of the publishing business prepares for an April 1 to April 3 switchover to the agency model for ebooks. (Yes, even the day of change is unclear, since some of the Agency Five–now an accepted term of art–are switching models tomorrow while others are reportedly not doing so until Saturday, April 3.) Among the latest supply chain players to communicate with accounts is Overdrive, which powers a number of ebook retailers. Company ceo Steve Potash tells us they “are adapting as best […]
People, Etc.
Check out former Villard editorial director Bruce Tracy‘s long essay in the NY Post on his transitional year from being laid off by Random House to finding his way to satisfying roster of freelance editing relationships.NYP The shortlist for the UK’s Arthur C Clarke award for best sci-fi novel of the year was announced.Guardian
Bookselling: Store Moves
Durham, NC-area “landmark” for the African-American community, the Know Book Store and Restaurant has closed. Owner Bruce Bridges still hopes to find another space in which to reopen.Durham News Cambridge, MA-children’s bookstore Barefoot Books is moving from Porter Square to a new location in Concord.
Meyer Novella Set for June 5 Release
A Stephenie Meyer novella, THE SHORT SECOND LIFE OF BREE TANNER, is set for release from Little, Brown Children’s on June 5 with an announced first printing of 1.5 million copies. The $13.99 hardcover, at 192 pages, is told from the point of view of Bree, a character originally featured in Eclipse. A dollar per book from the first printing will be donated to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. The book will also be available online at breetanner.com for free from June 7 to July 5 “as a special thank you to fans.” Meyer says, “I’d always considered […]
Streisand at BEA
BookExpo America’s opening night keynote reception on May 25 will feature Barbra Streisand, interviewed about her November 2010 book, MY PASSION FOR DESIGN.
Results Drop at Bloomsbury, As US Unit Grows
With no Harry Potter paperback, full-year sales at Bloomsbury fell 12.7 million pounds at 87 million pounds for the year, as adjusted pre-tax profit dropped 35 percent to 7.71 million pounds. The company finished the year with total cash of 35 million pounds. The company says that profits were “ahead of consensus market forecasts achieved under difficult trading conditions.” US sales rose 1.46 million pounds to 18.78 million, with profit of 450,000 pounds before central cost recharges, but sales fell at Berlin Verlag, down over 2 million pounds at 9.55 million, which had its first operating loss since 2004. Their […]