Sourcebooks announced this morning it has acquired “certain assets” of Nashville-based Cumberland House, best known as the publisher of Gregory Lang’s Why a Daughter Needs a Dad series of gift books, said to have sold more over 3 million copies. Sourcebooks publisher Dominque Raccah says “the addition of Cumberland House provides us with the opportunity to add a remarkably talented publisher to our team as well as significantly expanding our gift and regional titles.” Cumberland will remain as an independent imprint, and founder Ron Pitkin joins Sourcebooks as executive acquisitions editor. Sourcebooks is acquiring approximately 90 backlist and forthcoming titles. […]
Orman to Launch New Book with Another Oprah Giveaway
When Suze Orman promoted what became over a million free downloads in less than two days of her book WOMEN & MONEY on the Oprah Winfrey Show last February, the book had already been on the market for almost a year. Now Orman and publisher Spiegel & Grau are building on that experiment by launching her newly-announced SUZE ORMAN’S 2009 ACTION PLAN with an appearance on Oprah’s show and a free ebook download for a full week, ending with a live webcast on January 15. As with the previous download program, they are providing both English and Spanish versions. The […]
Rep Group Expands Electronic Ordering Tool for eCatalog Age
The non-profit professional association of commission book reps (National Association of Independent Publishers Representatives) is revamping its data service to create a “one-stop catalog-order data-management system” launching in late January (presenting fall 2009 lists). Designed to complement publishers’ move to e-catalogs, their Frontlist Plus Universal product promises “file-format translation compatible with a variety of proprietary inventory-control systems and other industry platforms.” The NAIPR asks, “Why should publishers, when developing e-catalogs, for example, have to individually reinvent the order processing piece? We encourage publishers to focus on rich content presentation rather than item-file population and ordering mechanics.” The data is free […]
New Yorker's Fiction Present
The New Yorker’s Fiction Issue carries a loaded line-up: An unpublished story by Mark Twain (from the book that Harper Studio will publish), as well as stories by Roberto Bolano, Alice Munro, Colson Whithead, and Donald Antrim, plus a personal essay by Zadie Smith and Dana Goodyear on cellphone novels in Japan.New Yorker
People: Dawson Back to Penguin
Kathy Dawson will join Penguin Children’s Dial Books in the new position of associate publisher, reporting to Lauri Hornik. She will work help to strategize and develop the list while acquiring and editing both novels and picture books. Dawson was formerly editorial director at Harcourt Children’s.
Judith Regan's Next Suit: Michael Wolff
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