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.”
Toronto Store Will Close Without Rent Break
Toronto’s Pages Books & Magazines faces the same fate as many well-known US independent bookstores: the 30-year-old store will close next March unless the landlord agrees to a smaller rent increase or a new location is found. Owner Marc Glassman says “once our 10-year lease is up on March 1, the rent is going to practically double, unless the landlord changes his mind.” As for the search for a new space, “we haven’t found a place that’s quite right yet.” One way or another, the store’s well-known This Is Not A Reading Series will continue, though.Globe and Mail
Sony Announces Third Version of their Reader
Sony’s “third generation” of their Reader Digital Book was announced today, for release next month. The new version adds a touch screen, letting readers “flip pages with the slide of a finger.” You can also use fingers or a stylus to search, create notes and highlight text. The touch screen provides for a pop-up “virtual keyboard.” It also adds a built-in LED reading light to help in low-light situations. Sony promises to relaunch a better version of their online ebookstore this month as well. A Business Week blogger calls it Sony’s “best so far.” Head of the Sony Digital Reading […]
Beaufort Advances MEDINA Release
Beaufort Books is moving forward the publication date of Sherry Jones’s THE JEWEL OF MEDINA to Monday. President Eric Kampmann says, “By speeding up the publication, we wanted to reduce or eliminate the chance of violence.” He adds, “We wanted people to have a chance to read the book. Once they read the book, we thought the violence part of this story would disappear and people would be focusing on the story, and the book and Sherry.” Jones tells the AP, “I have spoken to a member of the FBI and have been assured I have not been targeted, so […]