Judith Regan says she will sue Michael Wolff over remarks about her in his book THE MAN WHO OWNS THE NEWS. Regan tells the NY Daily News: “Michael Wolff has been obsessed with me and my sex life for close to 30 years. I’m finally going to give him what he wants – he’s going to get [bleeped] by Judith Regan.” She addsL “Michael Wolff had an obligation to prominently set the record straight. He’s grossly irresponsible. I’m going to sue him personally, so he’ll have to spend his own money.”NYDN
EUK to Liquidate
As predicted, the bankrupt UK wholesaler EUK has failed to find a quick buyer for what it is basically an unsustainable basis and bankruptcy administrator Deloitte announced today that “700 employees have today been made redundant.” The business will “continue to operate with a reduced workforce of 375 employees” while they try to extract whatever small value they can from the company. “Whilst we will continue to consider offers for the sale of the business as a going concern, we will now focus on realizing value from the company’s assets.” That will likely increase the efforts to sell Bertram’s–which is […]
People
Former Rodale Books editor-in-chief and then president Tami Booth Corwin has joined SparkPeople.com as evp of publishing and content, just as the company has struck their first book deal with Hay House. Agent Elise Proulx notes that her new job will be marketing and outreach coordinator for the eScholarship Publishing Group at the California Digital Library (CDL), University of California. Lori Burke will move over from DK to Penguin Children’s next week in the dual role of director of licensing for Grosset & Dunlap/Price Stern Sloan and US brand manager for Warne Books (Beatrix Potter, Spot and Flower Fairies), managing […]
Portland's Feminist Non-Profit Bookstore In Trouble
Portland, Oregon’s In Other Words bookstore, which has a “feminist and queer bent,” is in “a crisis situation” according to program director Katie Carter. “We looked at our financial situation and realized it was much more dire than it has ever been in the past. Book sales are “down significantly from previous years, and it looks like it’s going to continue that way.” The board needs to raise $11,000 or close in early January.Blog post
Sales Down at Waterstone's–And Getting Worse
HMV reported sales for the first six months of their fiscal year (ending October 25), showing revenue of 235.1 million pounds at their Waterstone’s unit declined 3.8 percent overall, and 3.1 percent on a same-store sales basis. The company notes that without the impact of last year’s release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, same-store sales declined just 1.4 percent. The bookseller showed an operating loss of 9.3 million pounds for the period, 4.5 percent more than last year’s loss of 8.9 million pounds. The company says increases in costs included 1.5 million pounds towards their supply chain overhaul. […]
Perseus Adds Pay Freeze
Perseus ceo David Steinberger wrote to employees today about “steps we feel we need to take right now” as the company, while “successful, is also being affected by the economic downturn.” He announces “several temporary across the board steps that we feel are the fairest way to go.” The company is “suspending” annual pay increases and matching contributions to pension accounts, and will hold open all positions that are not currently filled. Steinberger adds, “We feel we need to takes these steps now, while making sure that we don’t interfere with our plans to grow the company over the long […]