The ABA convened yet another vibrant and successful Winter Institute, which featured ever-expanded programming and attendance, all substantially underwritten by supporting publishers, as was acknowledged at Thursday afternoon’s Town Hall meeting. If you were listening carefully, however, there is really one issue that matters the most to independent booksellers: Turning this “higher calling” into a…
College Bookstores File Class Action Lawsuit Against McGraw-Hill, Cengage, and Pearson
A group of independent college bookstores have filed a class-action antitrust lawsuit against McGraw-Hill, Cengage, and Pearson, who together control 80 percent of the higher education textbook market, and against college bookselling chains Barnes & Noble Education and Follett, who are dubbed their “co-conspirators.” At issue are the publishers’ “inclusive access” programs, digital-only course materials…
2019’s Book Club Picks, Part Two: How Did the Booksellers Pick?
As promised, this is the second part of the in-depth look we started yesterday, tracking the performance of well-known monthly book club and spotlight picks. This installment focuses on selections from booksellers and librarians, who generally highlight new release titles, as they should. In some cases that helps their sales track record, since they often…
People, Etc.
Geoff Shandler is stepping down from his role as editorial director of Custom House to pursue other opportunities. He joined William Morrow five years ago and led the imprint from inception. Morrow executive editor Peter Hubbard takes over Custom House as vp, editorial director, reporting to Liate Stehlik. Executive editor Katherine Nintzel moves over from…
Mavjee to Lead Knopf Doubleday Group As Arthur Named Knopf Publisher and Mehta Successor
Penguin Random House has made their much anticipated announcement about new leadership for Knopf, following the death of Sonny Mehta and the departure late last year of other longtime Knopf executives. Former Crown Publishing Group president and publisher Maya Mavjee will return to PRH on March 2 as president & publisher of the Knopf Doubleday…
Buzz Books Spring/Summer Preview: Nonfiction Part 1
Our season preview from our Buzz Books 2020 Spring/Summer sampler continues with nonfiction. Because of the number of titles, we have divided the preview in half, today featuring spring and summer books about politics and current events, social issues, and science and technology. Books concerned with saving American democracy from an assortment of threats dominate this…