This Summer’s UK Bestsellers-in-the-Making That’s the hope of authors and publishers who made Richard and Judy’s summer reading list. The picks are: The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch The Righteous Men by Sam Bourne The Island by Victoria Hislop My Best Friend’s Girl by Dorothy Koomson The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova The Abortionist’s Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde Next week the talk-show hosts will run an interview with JK Rowling as well. Over the weekend, the Times profiled Richard and Judy producer Amanda Ross, the power behind the picks. Ross says, “My criteria, honestly, is: is this book going to entertain […]
Lunch Weekly for Monday, June 19
Monday, June 19 Deal Reports Just e-mail to deals@PublishersMarketplace if you aren’t using the online form linked below. Report a deal using the online form The Key As usual, the handy key to our Lunch deal categories. While all reports are always welcome, those that include a category will generally receive a higher listing when it comes time to put them all together. “nice deal” $1 – $49,000 “very nice deal” $50,000 – $99,000 “good deal” $100,000 – $250,000 “significant deal” $251,000 – $499,000 “major deal” $500,000 and up FICTION Debut Natasha Bauman’s THE DISORDER OF LONGING, following a woman […]
Lunch for Thursday, June 15
Another Strong Quarter for Wiley A strong fourth quarter helped Wiley to finish their fiscal year with revenue of $1 billion for the first time, growing 7 percent. Fourth quarter sales of $267 million were up 10 percent, as income rose 14 percent to $23 million. The professional/trade unit had sales of $106 million in the fourth quarter, and $380 million for the full year in the US. The company cites “standout performances by the technology, business, finance and architectural programs, as well as global rights and website advertising. P/T’s finance and leadership programs, as well as the Sybex acquisition […]
Lunch for Wednesday, June 14
New Laureate Donald Hall is being named as the country’s new poet laureate, taking over from Ted Kooser. The author of 15 books of poetry, Hall’s selected poems from 1946-2006 were just published in April, and Houghton has a collection of prose about New Hampshire, EAGLE POND, already scheduled for 2007. Washington Post On Kids and Reading A study just released by Scholastic and Yankelovich more or less gives statistical confirmation to what you probably already knew: Kids start losing their enthusiasm for reading as early as age 9, and the decline continues through age 17. Children of readers read […]
Lunch for Tuesday, June 13
Heirs in the News In the long-running battle over control of John Steinbeck’s estate, a NY judge has awarded rights to OF MICE AND MEN, GRAPES OF WRATH, and eight other classics to Steinbeck’s son Thomas and granddaughter Blake Smyle. The action will also result in the termination over time of certain publishing rights currently held by Penguin and Steinbeck’s widow Elaine. Rights for Of Mice and Men will expire in 2012 and The Grapes of Wrath in 2014. Penguin can still appeal the decision. In a separate battle, James Joyce scholar Carol Shloss has joined forces with copyright renegade […]
Lunch for Monday, June 12
Bonds Drops Suit Against Authors Barry Bonds asked the court to dismiss his suit against authors Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams and Gotham Books on June 2, the San Jose Mercury News reports. The paper says “he took the action because the reporters — Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams — have been subpoenaed by a grand jury investigating who leaked transcripts of the testimony.… Bonds wanted whoever leaked the documents to be held accountable, the player’s attorney Michael Rains said Saturday.” So far, though, the reporters have indicated they will not comply with that subpoena. Mercury News News Briefs Houghton […]