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 Hana Samek Norton’s untitled historical novel, in which a pious young […]
People
The Bookseller reports that Marcella Edwards has left PFD after less than two years at the agency. Edwards joined the company to manage their estates business and had headed up their initiative to reissue clients’ work in print-on-demand versions. Author Wendy Leigh told the NYDN that the announcement she would serve as co-author with “octomom” Nadya Suleman was “premature.” Leigh says “I was approached,” and adds, “but the talks were.” Justice Clarence Thomas disclosed another $300,000 in proceeds from his autobiography last year, bringing his total book earnings to $1.5 million. Justice Antonin Scalia received almost $100,000 for co-authoring MAKING […]
One Bookseller's Best BEA Ever
Bookseller Jessica Stockton Bagnulo–who blogs as The Written Nerd and is co-owner of the new bookstore-to-be, Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, had a great BEA and isn’t afraid to detail why. (Side note: it makes you think there should be something special at the show to make it easier for new booksellers to be identified and findable by publishers….)Written Nerd
Google Believes Most Out-of-Print Books Are Not Orphans
Posted on the Automat last week but worth a little more attention on this quiety day, Google posted on their public policy blog regarding the pending settlement of the GBS lawsuits. “As ‘parent’ rightsholders claim their books through the Book Rights Registry, we think it will become clear that most out-of-print books are not actually ‘orphans.’… Furthermore, many books that some think are in-copyright orphans (including a large percentage from 1963 or before) are actually out-of-copyright, and Google is working to make more information available that can clarify their copyright status.” But they say they continue to support orphan works […]
Borders SEC Filing Discloses Suit by California Employees
In February 2009, three former general managers of Borders stores filed suit in California and are seeking class action status, alleging that the bookseller improperly classified them as exempt employees and violated California Labor Code in a number of ways. Borders adds, “discovery has not commenced and we cannot reasonably estimate the amount or range of possible loss, if any, at this time. We intend to vigorously defend this action.” The company also notes that as of May 2, they had $112 million in funding available under their revolving credit agreement, though “this amount is not necessarily indicative of our […]
Quercus Still Growing, without Profits
Sales at Quercus rose to 10.94 million pounds, up 27 percent, but the house reported a consolidated loss of 281,000 pounds for 2008. CEO Mark Smith writes, “the disruption in the UK marketplace contributed to a shortfall in our anticipated Trade revenues and, as a result, total revenue fell short of expectations.” He writes that the first five months of 2009 have been better, saying “we are confident of achieving better results in 2009, but remain watchful and prudent in the current climate.” (Quercus should start to receive royalties from the US edition of Stieg Larsson’s novel later this year.) […]