About a year ago the NBCC started what was going to be a monthly Best Recommended List, which shortly thereafter turned into a seasonal list of Good Reads and then went dormant after spring recommendations. Now they return with a revamped NBCC Reads for fall. The new plan is not so much recommendations about new books as an online English class: “Three times a year, we will pose a question to this group. The results will be posted here at Critical Mass. We will no longer tabulate votes or rank the titles under discussion. Instead, we will simply give an […]
Because It's Friday: Sarah Palin, the Calendar
A WSJ blog highlighted this new product from Anchorage-based photographer and friend-of-Palin Judy Patrick. “Patrick said her inspiration for the calendar was a simple one–she needs money” to trade up to a new condo in Anchorage “somewhat out of their price range.” Patrick says she printed 30,000 calendars. Currently on sale via SarahCalendar.com, “she is also working out a deal with Barnes & Noble to sell the calendar either in stores or online. It’s also available in local book stores in Wasilla and Anchorage.”WSJ
Random Moves to Reduce eRoyalty Rates
Literary agent (as well as ebook publisher via E-Reads) Richard Curtis posts on his site about Random House’s recent letter to agents explaining their intention to reduce ebook royalty rates on new contracts as of December 1. The new proposal is for a royalty of 25 percent of amount received on sales–compared by Curtis to an earlier contract that provided 25 percent of the retail price until the advance was earned out, and 15 percent thereafter. (Authors who agreed to a lower electronic royalty in the early days will have their rates adjusted upwards.) The company says their previous rates […]
S&S Rises, Even as CBS Battles
Simon & Schuster broke from three straight quarters of sales and profit declines with a strong third-quarter showing. Sales of $225 million were up 5 percent from $214 million a year ago (though they are still down 5 percent overall thus far in the fiscal year). OIBDA and operating income were both up 8 percent compared to a year ago, at $25.8 million and $23.4 million respectively. The report credits “the success of best-selling titles in the third quarter of 2008, including The War Within by Bob Woodward and Real Life: Preparing For the 7 Most Challenging Days of Your […]
Harlequin Holds On
With Canada’s Torstar reporting results for the their third quarter, their Harlequin unit “had a solid quarter and remains on course for a good year of growth,” even as the economy weakens. The company says “we remain concerned that the US economy could have a negative impact on Harlequin’s results, but to date there is no evidence of this.” In part, the weaker Canadian dollar makes US sales more valuable, though in an odd dichotomy, the company credits foreign exchange for helping to lift sales this period, yet blames FX for reduced profits. Sales for the quarter were $118 million […]
More Reports: Indigo Holds Steady
At Canada’s dominant retailer Indigo, sales for the second quarter fell 2 percent to $205 million (CA), with net earnings “down slightly” at $3.2 million. CEO Heather Reisman says “we were pleased with the bottom line results given today’s challenging economic climate.” Same-store sales rose 2 percent at the Indigo and Chapters superstores, and 7.4 percent at the small-format Coles stores. But online sales decreased 19.8 percent to $21.1 million, attributed entirely (and then some) to the comparison to last year’s numbers for the release of the final Harry Potter Book.Release