There’s been much ink spilled over the past few days about the San Francisco Opera’s upcoming production of Amy Tan’s The Bonesetter’s Daughter, with Tan writing the libretto herself after director Stuart Wallace “badgered” her into it, saying the novel “must be an opera.” As for her hopes for the opera, she tells Newsweek “part of it has been fulfilled already, as I’ve had this amazing musical experience. If people respond enthusiastically, I’ll be grateful. But even terrible reviews cannot diminish its success for me personally. It will hurt, but I won’t regret doing what’s been so fulfilling.” Meanwhile, reactions […]
Announcements
Bertelsmann DirectGroup announced yesterday that Najafi Companies has completed the closing of its acquisition of the North American book clubs and that effective immediately, the company’s new corporate name is Direct Brands, Inc. Consumer brand names such as Columbia House and BMG will remain unaffected. Oxford University Press has appointed Scott Kuem as Senior Vice President and CFO. Previously he was with the Neilsen Company. Also at OUP, Peter Berkery will be joining as Vice President and Law Publisher from Wolters Kluwer, effective August 18, and Julie Marshall has been named Retail Sales Director of the company. At Rizzoli, David […]
Coffee and Crime at Starbucks in Germany
Shelf Awareness points to how Starbucks is promoting books outside of the United States. In cooperation with Diogenes Verlag, Starbucks is putting on a Mystery Festival Coffee & Crime program that consists of 11 readings in nine cities featuring six mystery authors and an audiobook narrator (reading Georges Simenon books). Another 125 German Starbucks will feature a “reference library” of works by the authors and information about the readings. The difference? German Starbucks stores will not be selling any of the Diogenes titles, instead advising customers to visit their local bookstores. Schweizer Buchhandel (via Shelf Awareness)
A Note from the Substitute Chef
Sarah Weinman here, returning to Publishers Lunch for the next couple of weeks while the head chef is away. And since my own news-gathering skills may not pick up everything that merits inclusion, please send on tips, suggestions and comments until August 21 to marketplacetips@gmail.com.
Profile Books Remains Upbeat in Face of Profit Decline
For the fiscal year ending in March 2008, Profile Books reported a turnover of £7.58m and net assets increased by 18%, down from 2007’s turnover of £9.09m and 23% net asset increase. Pre-tax profit came in at £1.03m euros and operating profits were £770,000, down more than half from 2007. The publisher cited a lack of a number one bestseller for the downturn from last year’s “exceptional” figures. Managing director Andrew Franklin said: “These are very pleasing figures. Some years we publish a runaway bestseller and it’s a fabulous bonus when we do, but even without one these results show […]
Change They Can Sell
CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN: Barack Obama’s Plan to Renew America’s Promise will be published on September 9 by Three Rivers Press as a paperback with an announced first printing of 300,000 copies and a list price of $13.95. (An e-book version will publish the day before.) Written by the staff of Obama for America, with a foreword by Barack Obama, Crown says the book “will describe and explain how Senator Obama will change Washington and what that change will mean to the American people.” The second part of the book will collect seven of the candidate’s speeches: including the […]