Simpson: “Closure, Not Money” Indeed On Friday, Borders Group announced that they will not profit from Harper’s OJ Simpson book, and will donate the net proceeds to a national organization that assists domestic violence. Borders’ Ann Binkley says in the statement that “the book will be available for sale” at all of their stores “because we believe it is the right of customers to decide what to read and what to buy, but we will not discount the title or promote it.” In a survey conducted by AbeBooks of 979 booksellers, 96 percent of the respondents claimed they would not […]

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 Actress Courtney Thorne-Smith’s OUTSIDE IN, a comedic novel that captures the sparkling […]

Today’s Big Buy Perpetually for sale/not for sale academic and professional giant Blackwell Holdings has quietly reached an agreement to sell the company to Wiley for 572 million pounds ($1.08 billion), or a 2.7 multiple of 2005 sales of 210 million pounds. According to the announcement, Wiley already has “irrevocable commitments from the principal shareholders.” Release If You Can Believe It Judith Regan’s bizarre 2,200-word statement should be read in full rather than through newspaper excerpts. The gist, as you probably know, is that she’s publishing the book because her ex-husband abused her. That and: “I made the decision to […]

BN’s Q3 Comparable store sales rose 2 percent at Barnes & Noble in the third quarter, with companywide sales of $1.1 billion, as the company posted a loss of $2.8 million, all in line with previous projections. Superstores comprised $972 million; BN.com sales fell 0.5 percent compared to a year ago, at $96 million, and the nearly non-existent B. Dalton registered $20.5 million. Due to the ongoing investigation of alleged options irregularitis, the company will not file its 10-Q form with the SEC, and it “will not purchase shares under its stock repurchase program until it completes all required filings.” […]

If He Wrote It When the National Inquirer first reported on OJ Simpson’s IF I DID IT, attorney Yale Galanter (“[he] is not writing a book. We haven’t been paid 35 cents, much less $3.5 million” and “if anyone comes out with such a book, I’ll go on every talk show and call it crap”) and Regan director of publicity Suzanne Wickham both apparently lied in their denials. Which sets the context for yesterday’s announcement from Fox and Regan that they will air a two-part interview with Simpson and then release his book at the end of this month. If […]

Random On the Waterfront (In a Bikini) Similar to Harper’s agreement announced at the beginning of the year, Random House is also partnering with Waterfront Media in a “multi-year, multi-book strategic agreement” to develop online resources based on health and wellness titles. Random’s Todd Krizelman, who is manager of growth projects, negotiated the relationship for the company. The first collaboration is on a site linked to the March 2007 Doubleday release BIKINI BOOT CAMP by Melissa Pearlman and Erica Gragg, founders of the camp and eco-resort, based in Mexico. Personnel News Alyssa Eisner Henkin will join Trident Media Group in […]