Crain’s NY says the bidding for tennis star Serna Williams (through the uncharacteristic representation of Suzanne Gluck at William Morris) “is close to reaching a $1 million deal” for an inspirational memoir. They add, “according to one publishing executive, Ms. Williams and her agent will meet with the top remaining bidders next week.”Crains
Inside Harper Studio
Bob Miller’s start-up unit Harper Studio is blogging via the new site 26thStory.com, and they have announced their initial batch of acquisitions from almost 25 authors via the site. The imprint will launch in April 2009 with a collection of previously unpublished Mark Twain stories (see below). Among the other titles signed so far are former Disney ceo Michael Eisner writing on “great business partnerships,” including his with the late Frank Wells; actor John Lithgow’s memoir; Moosewood Cookbook author Mollie Katzen starts a series for beginning cooks; author Richard Carlson’s (Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff) widow Kris on finding her […]
A New Trend in BISG Stats
At its annual meeting held in NYC this morning, the Book Industry Study Group celebrated a year of growing membership, record revenues (up 23 percent at almost $840,000) and high-profile engagement in issues including environmentally responsible practices and the identification of electronic books and related products in the supply chain. Executive director Michael Healy and co-chair (and head of Sourcebooks) Dominique Raccah both noted in their morning presentations a major planned change in the organization’s annual compilation of statistics on the US book business, Book Industry Trends. The organization has set out to create a new methodology to “provide clear, […]
Sony Reader Goes to France–But It Isn't Simple, and Another Reader Is On the Way
The Sony Reader will launch in France next month, in an exclusive partnership with retail chain Fnac, along with publisher Hachette Livre (two Hachette books are included in the 300-euro price). A press conference is scheduled for next Tuesday to announce the launch. In the meantime, France’s Virgin Megastore is speaking out, claiming to be concerned that “exclusive arrangements hamper the development of supply for legal downloading.” The Bookseller says that subsidiary VirginMega is “working on a digital book project that would be open to all publishers.”Bookseller Separately, Business Week looks at a trial program in the country through France […]
Ambitious New Alexander McCall Smith Serial
The Telegraph will serialize a new Alexander McCall Smith novel, Corduroy Mansions, beginning on Monday and running in installments (a new one every weekday) over the next 20 weeks. The idea came from the Telegraph’s comment and community editor Iain Martin, who serialized a novel by the author when he worked at the Scotsman. Martin says, “He wanted to see if he could take it one step further –I think we have gone several steps.” The Telegraph has built a large website around the serial, which will elicit reader comments, questions and suggestions that McCall Smith will address online, and […]
Indigo Sets Out Recycled Paper Requirements
Canada’s dominant book retailer Indigo has informed publishers of new recyled paper guidelines that “will require publishers to use an average of 20% post-consumer recycled paper for uncoated books and 10% for coated books, starting this fall. Those levels will then climb to 50% (for coated and uncoated books) after five years. Indigo has also set benchmarks for magazine vendors, and has vowed to reduce its own internal paper usage by 25%,” Quill & Quire reports. A consulting company Indigo worked with indicates that “publishers will not be punished for failing to meet the new benchmarks” but those who do […]