The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is the top pick for September’s Library Reads list. You can read a free excerpt now in our Buzz Books 2018 Fall/Winter sampler, along with three other Library Reads picks for the month: T.M. Logan’s Lies, Rebecca Serle’s The Dinner List, and Sarah Bird’s Daughter of a Daughter of…
Briefs: UTA Sells Stake; Clinton and Patterson Sales Milestone; NEH Book Grants
In the capital-raising arms race among the big Hollywood talent agencies — which have grown into entertainment conglomerates themselves — United Talent Agency sold a minority stake to Investcorp and PSP Investments. Deadline and Variety say they sold approximately 40 percent of the agency, for an estimated $200 million. (When the search for investors was initiated…
Indigo’s Sales and Profits Fall on Store Renovations and Investments, As Merch Sales Keep Growing
Canadian retailer Indigo reported sales for their fiscal first quarter, ending June 30, with sales of $205.4 million (CA), down $1 million and below expectations of a modest gain, as the company swung to an adjusted EBITDA loss of $13.3 million, and a pre-tax loss of $20.7 million (versus a loss of $7 million a…
People, Etc.
Tom Miller has joined Liza Dawson Associates as senior agent. He spent the last three years at Carol Mann Agency. Maggie Haas has joined Chronicle Books as website and ecommerce coordinator. Previously she helped manage the SFMOMA online store. Tyrus Books founder and former publisher Ben LeRoy will serve as executive director of the Independent…
RWA Changes RITA Judging Policy to Address Bias
The Romance Writers of America (RWA) revised its procedures for evaluating bias in judging for the RITA awards, adopted at their July board meeting and effective in 2019. The changes are in response to charges of prejudice, especially complaints that diverse and queer books have been given low scores or erroneously rated “not a romance.” RWA said…
People, Etc.
Nancy Sheppard will join Basic Books on August 13 as marketing director. Most recently, she was marketing director at St. Martin’s. Matt Ortile has joined Catapult as digital managing editor. Ortile was most recently the global publishing lead for BuzzFeed International and the founding editor of BuzzFeed Philippines. Farin Schlussel has been promoted to assistant marketing director…