CBS reported sales at Simon & Schuster for the second quarter of $186 million, down 7 percent from a year ago. It’s the third straight quarterly decline for the publishing unit and once again the statement says that “bestselling titles…did not match contributions from prior year titles.” OIBDA and operating income decreased 15 percent to $17 million and 19 percent to $14.6 million, respectively, with “lower revenues partially offset by lower royalty expenses.” In additional remarks the company indicated they “are also feeling, as we did the last quarter, the effects of higher freight costs,” and are seeing higher paper […]
Harlequin Turns in Better Quarter
Torstar reported second quarter earnings with sales at their Harlequin unit of $119 million (CA) up 3.5 percent from a year ago, and EBITDA of $19.8 million up 44 percent (for a margin of 16.6 percent). The company says Harlequin “is well on track to deliver solid growth for the year, albeit not at the pace of the second quarter…. After a very strong second quarter, we expect Harlequin’s growth to moderate in the second half of the year resulting in solid growth for the year as a whole. The U.S. economy could have a negative impact on Harlequin’s results, […]
Indigo Rises in First Quarter
Sales at dominant Canadian chain Indigo rose 3.1 percent in their first quarter to $191 million (CA), while their net loss was reduced by more than half, to $1.3 million. Same-store sales were up 3.3 percent at the Indigo and Chapters superstores, while the smaller format Coles stores were up 5.4 percent, and online sales rose 7.7 percent, to $21 million. Release
Trade Version of Rowling's "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" Coming
J K Rowling’s TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD–the book of wizarding folk tales referred to in the Deathly Hallows se she wrote by hand and illustrated herself, producing only seven copies, one which was bought at auction by Amazon for $4 million–will be issued in a trade edition after all, on December 4. Rowling will also add “notes by Professor Albus Dumbledore, which appear by generous permission of the Hogwarts Headmasters’ Archive.” Amazon will produce up to 100,000 facsimile “collector’s editions” (at $100/50 pounds) and Scholastic and Bloomsbury will print and distribute trade editions–all on behalf of the Children’s High […]
Speaking of Vetting Memoirs
The NYT takes an interest the forthcoming IN HIS SIGHTS, written under the pseudonym of Kate Brennan, “one of the first full-length memoirs of a stalking victim….The stalking, which continues sporadically today, is at once bizarre, terrifying and, owing to Paul’s deep pockets, maddeningly relentless and difficult to trace, according to the book. It led the author to move 16 times in 16 months, she writes.” The paper makes it clear that “her true identity and that of Paul were revealed to the New York Times so that the newspaper could confirm the outlines of her case.” Harper editor Jennifer […]
AAP Launches Editor "Buzz Webcasts"
The Association of American Publishers will start a “pilot program” of webcasts featuring editors pitching Winter 2009 books to an intended online audience of booksellers media, beginning in September. For two weeks, two editors per day (on select days) will present “upcoming titles that have inspired them” in live 30-minute webcasts. Media and booksellers can call in and ask questions. Starting September 16, the schedule features: Rebecca Saletan from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Tom Miller from Wiley; Bill Thomas from Doubleday; Geoff Shandler from Little, Brown; Cindy Spiegel from Spiegel & Grau; Amy Einhorn from Putnam; George Witte from St. Martin’s; […]