Hernan Diaz’s ambitious second novel Trust (May 3, 2022, Editor: Sarah McGrath, Agent: Bill Clegg) topped “best of the year” lists and was the consensus Book of the Year according to PL’s comprehensive tabulation. Riverhead editor-in-chief Sarah McGrath talks to PM about the book that became everyone’s favorite of the year. Tell us about the acquisition process: Had Diaz’s first novel already been nominated for a Pulitzer when you received the submission for Trust? Did you get a full manuscript to read? What were your first impressions? By the time I read the manuscript for Trust I was already a serious Hernan Diaz fan. […]
Forthcoming: The Armor of Light by Ken Follett
Viking announced that Ken Follett’s next novel, THE ARMOR OF LIGHT, will be published worldwide on September 26. The novel will be the last in his eight-volume series that “chronicles the last thousand years of Western civilization.” Set in the 18th century, the book “tells of a group of linked families whose lives are turned upside-down by the new age of machinery.” Follett comments, “I’m fascinated by how people have struggled for freedom—and won. Most of my stories are about just that. The issue underlying The Armor of Light is freedom of speech.”
Harper Union Discusses Bargaining, Pay, Union Security
As the Harper Collins union prepares to rally outside News Corp headquarters today, marking their 50th day on strike, union chair and senior production editor Laura Harshberger updated Hell Gate and spoke about what it means to have union protections. While the union has demanded an increase in starting pay from $45,000 to $50,000, the company’s proposal was to raise entry-level salaries to $46,500, Harshberger said, which has not been disclosed previously. The union also seeks to even out the wage compression that happened for higher jobs titles when Harper increased its starting pay to $45,000 in 2021. Harshberger also […]
Bookselling: More Barnes On the Move
There may be a lot of these short items this year, as Barnes & Noble adjusts their real estate portfolio — opening, but also closing, a number of stores. In Philadelphia, the chain will close their big two-story Walnut Street store in Rittenhouse on February 15 after more than 25 years there. They will move to a smaller location on Chestnut Street in the spring. Near Sacramento, CA, later this month they will close their store at The Promenade at Sacramento Gateway in Natomas.
WH Smith Gains in Airport Stores, As High Street Still Slides Further
WH Smith released a trading report for the 20 weeks ended January 14, with sales up 41 percent over last year and 20 percent over 2019, driven by the continuing recovery in their travel stores. High Street sales, however, continued their long fade; revenues were down 2 percent from 2022, and 14 percent from 2019, which the company called as ever “a good performance, in line with our expectations.” Sales in the Travel segment were up 77 percent over last year and 48 percent from 2019. The company has opened 40 new stores so far this year, with 37 set […]
Pearson to Cut Costs in 2023, Focused on Higher Ed
Pearson released a brief trading update for the fourth quarter and full year 2022, ahead of their full results for the year on March 3. “Underlying” sales were down 1 percent for the quarter but up 5 percent for the year, and adjusted operating profit for the year was up 11 percent to £455 million. The company saw growth for the year in all segments except for Higher Education, which dropped 4 percent, at approximately £900 million, “an expected, albeit reduced, decline.” There, the company restructured the sales team and refocused sales and marketing and invested in modernizing their products. […]