Privately-owned Chicago-based Softplay, a marketer of interactive books and related toys, has purchased Boston children’s book publisher Kidsbooks, on undisclosed terms. Playthings
Sittenfeld's Provocative "American Wife"
Radar has excerpts from Curtis Sittenfeld’s forthcoming novel AMERICAN WIFE, “a thinly veiled novel based on Laura Bush’s life that is sure to send the White House into a fury” as it “mingles real facts and incidents with the author’s imaginative, fanciful, sometimes sexually charged musings. The result is a masterful highbrow-lowbrow mash-up that satisfies as ass-kicking literary fiction and juicy gossip simultaneously.” A number of short excerpts are posted. Radar
Holtzbrinck and Thalia Eye Weltbild Acquisition
Germany’s newspapers FAZ and Handelsblatt report that both Holztbrinck and the Thalia book chain are interested in bidding to buy the Weltbild publishing group. Holtzbrinck and Thalia currently own Netherlands-based online book distributor bol.com and publisher Droemer Knaur together. Thomson reports, “Weltbild said over the weekend that it wants to change and expand its structure but that there are no plans to break up nor sell its units.” Holtzbrinck deputy md Jochen Gutbrod acknowledged his company’s potential interest; Thalia did not comment. Thomson Financial
Enthusiasm at Brazil Literary Festival
Reuters reports on the latest Paraty Literary Festival–founded six years ago by the UK’s Liz Calder–which has “helped transform the town about halfway between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo into a trendy destination and given Brazil a spot on the international literary circuit.” Reuters
Ann Nelson on Bunch of Grapes Fire
The former owner who built the Martha’s Vineyard bookstore (now run by her son) writes in the MV newspaper about her experiences on July 4th: “John said, I’m going to take you into the building, here is your flashlight. And when I walked into the building wearing that heavy fireman’s suit — so heavy and they wear it all day! — I cannot tell you, the flashbacks of 35 years. And I cannot adequately describe the heat. It was like you were at a barbecue and someone had lit the briquettes right under you. It was so hot, the ceiling […]
Papers Say Direct Group France Sale Planned
Le Figaro and Les Echos have reported that Bertelsmann is working with Morgan Stanley to elicit offers for the Direct Group France division, which comprises both book clubs and the France Loisirs bookstore chain. One paper estimates the group could sell for 300 million euros, and the business newspaper says the sale could begin in September. But a spokesman for Bertelsmann said that no decision has been made yet, adding that “the news over the timing and the price are pure speculation.” Reuters In a broader story, FT Germany says the Bertelsmann has decided to sell off the Direct Group […]