The Next Step at Bulfinch In the continuing evolution of Bulfinch Press, made a part of Little, Brown after the departure of publisher Jill Cohen in April, “the imprint Bulfinch will cease to exist” after the release of the fall 2006 list, according to LB publisher Michael Pietsch. Thereafter, the imprimatur “a Bulfinch Press book” will be added only to traditional art books (photography, art, and museum-related titles), all of which will be published as Little, Brown titles. With a diminished staff that now includes a single dedicated editor for the list, four titles under contract were cancelled, Pietsch indicates, […]

This Summer’s UK Bestsellers-in-the-Making That’s the hope of authors and publishers who made Richard and Judy’s summer reading list. The picks are: The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch The Righteous Men by Sam Bourne The Island by Victoria Hislop My Best Friend’s Girl by Dorothy Koomson The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova The Abortionist’s Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde Next week the talk-show hosts will run an interview with JK Rowling as well. Over the weekend, the Times profiled Richard and Judy producer Amanda Ross, the power behind the picks. Ross says, “My criteria, honestly, is: is this book going to entertain […]

Monday, June 19 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 Natasha Bauman’s THE DISORDER OF LONGING, following a woman […]

Another Strong Quarter for Wiley A strong fourth quarter helped Wiley to finish their fiscal year with revenue of $1 billion for the first time, growing 7 percent. Fourth quarter sales of $267 million were up 10 percent, as income rose 14 percent to $23 million. The professional/trade unit had sales of $106 million in the fourth quarter, and $380 million for the full year in the US. The company cites “standout performances by the technology, business, finance and architectural programs, as well as global rights and website advertising. P/T’s finance and leadership programs, as well as the Sybex acquisition […]

New Laureate Donald Hall is being named as the country’s new poet laureate, taking over from Ted Kooser. The author of 15 books of poetry, Hall’s selected poems from 1946-2006 were just published in April, and Houghton has a collection of prose about New Hampshire, EAGLE POND, already scheduled for 2007. Washington Post On Kids and Reading A study just released by Scholastic and Yankelovich more or less gives statistical confirmation to what you probably already knew: Kids start losing their enthusiasm for reading as early as age 9, and the decline continues through age 17. Children of readers read […]

Heirs in the News In the long-running battle over control of John Steinbeck’s estate, a NY judge has awarded rights to OF MICE AND MEN, GRAPES OF WRATH, and eight other classics to Steinbeck’s son Thomas and granddaughter Blake Smyle. The action will also result in the termination over time of certain publishing rights currently held by Penguin and Steinbeck’s widow Elaine. Rights for Of Mice and Men will expire in 2012 and The Grapes of Wrath in 2014. Penguin can still appeal the decision. In a separate battle, James Joyce scholar Carol Shloss has joined forces with copyright renegade […]