The Latest Leak As we surmised recently, the best way to get your name in the papers this week is to say that you bought a copy of Harry Potter on sale prematurely. This time its two men in Indianapolis who found their copy on Monday in what “they described as similar to an airport gift shop” downtown. Up to Chapter 18, one of the men says: “A lot of what I’m reading, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to believe. What J.K. Rowling is telling you is pretty shocking considering the last five books.” In other Potter-related angles, the […]

Osnos to Step Aside; New Head for DK PublicAffairs founder Peter Osnos announced this morning that a new publisher will be hired for the imprint and he will become editor-at-large once the new executive comes on board. Osnos says in a letter that he will also take “time for some other projects. I expect to work on a new initiative looking for ways to make books like ours more available in a changing world. And I will pursue my interests in the fields of journalism and human rights.” In his statement, Osnos notes: “As we begin our ninth year, this […]

Canadian Court Gags Early Potter Buyers British Columbia’s Supreme Court issued an injunction barring the disclosure of any details from HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE in advance of the official release date after 14 copies were sold in a Vancouver grocery store by accident last week. CTV But Soon they Can Sell them to Alibris Alibris has already issued a release offering to buy “gently used” copies of the new HARRY POTTER for five dollars, plus a label for free shipping. New Head for S&S Canada Simon & Schuster Canada has named Kevin Hanson as the unit’s new president, […]

Publisher Preiss Dies In Auto Accident Publisher, packager, digital publishing pioneer and longtime force in the rise of graphic novels Byron Preiss died tragically in an auto accident in East Hampton on Saturday. Just 52, making his weekly trip to Shabbat services, Preiss’s car was hit by a bus. The funeral service will be held tomorrow morning. In a posted notice, the family requests that any donations be made to the UJA of New York, where Preiss was co-chair of the Publishing Committee. Separately, comics veteran Jim Steranko writes movingly about his 35-year friendship and collaboration with Preiss: “Popular culture […]

Please Note Tomorrow is a travel day for me, so there will be no regular Lunch. We’ll resume with the weekly deal round-up on Sunday night and a full Lunch on Monday. On Hunter Evan Hunter, 78, best-known for his books written as Ed McBain, died yesterday at home, from cancer of the larynx. The NYT says he “virtually invented the American police procedural with his gritty 87th Precinct series featuring an entire detective squad as its hero.” Agent Jane Gelfman estimates he sold over 100 million books over 50 years of writing and publishing. Otto Penzler will published FIDDLERS, […]

High-Profile Hires All Over At Miramax Books, recently arrived president Rob Weisbach has hired Judy Hottensen as vp and publisher, starting July 13. Hottensen is currently director of marketing and publicity at Grove/Atlantic. She is charged with “overseeing all marketing and sales plans for all upcoming Miramax titles currently under contract and will work closely with [Weisbach] as we acquire and publish new titles for the book division of Bob and Harvey Weinstein’s new company. Houghton Mifflin will fill the slot as publisher of their children’s book group with Alan Smagler, who begins next week in the company’s Boston office. […]