Paper Reports on Borders and Paperchase The Telegraph “reports” that Borders has appointed JPMorgan Cazenove to “conduct a strategic review of Paperchase,” their UK-based stationery chain, with the expectation of a sale. It’s not clear, though, if the paper is sharing any actual news. (Earlier this month the NYT “reported” that Morgan Stanley was handling the sale of Direct Group North America, without realizing that news was first noted in mid-March.…) Both Morgan and Merrill Lynch were named as Borders’ bankers in March. Borders spokesperson Anne Roman notes that “when we publicly announced that the company was exploring strategic alternatives, […]

Hachette Partners on Self-Published Hit Hachette Book Group USA’s Faith Words will take over sales, marketing, distribution, licensing, and manufacturing for William P. Young’s self-published hit THE SHACK (covered in USAT on May 1, linked in Lunch) in a co-venture that will include future titles from Windblown Media — formed with Wayne Jacobsen and Brad Cummings to distribute The Shack. Publisher Rolf Zettersten says they have “compelling plans for future books, including He Loves Me by Wayne Jacobsen and So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman under the pen name Jake Colsen.” […]

Big Changes at Penguin Children’s President of the Penguin Young Readers Group for over a decade Doug Whiteman is taking on a new role at the company as evp of business operations for Penguin Group USA, starting next week. Former Random House evp and coo for North America Don Weisberg is returning to publishing to take over as the new president for Penguin’s children’s division. And he’s being joined by another publishing star as former Scholastic president of children’s book publishing and distribution Barbara Marcus joins the company as a strategic advisor. Weisberg says in the announcement, “I’m looking forward […]

Kiser to Hyperion, and More Personnel News Crown editorial director Kristin Kiser will move to Hyperion as vp and associate publisher, starting May 27, reporting to president Ellen Archer. Kiser will be responsible for the management of the production, art, operations, and sub rights departments, along with managing the strategic planning for the company’s publishing program and coordinating and directing campaign plans for Hyperion and Voice frontlist and backlist titles. At Barnes & Noble, vp of the newsstand business Jaime Carey has been promoted to the newly created position of chief merchandising officer, responsible for the merchandise buying of all […]

Here Come the e-Catalogs HarperCollins is the first to announce plans for an electronic sales catalog, which they will preview at BEA and launch in beta form over the next six to 12 months. Among the planned features: “Book covers, prices, on-sale dates, reviews, quotes and important media alerts will be updated in real time as soon as they have been entered. Booksellers will be able to create lists and place orders online as they review front list book pages, and an author’s entire backlist will be visible as well.” Catalog pages will link to other content, and “booksellers will […]