Thursday, January 10, 2013

Random House Group To Launch Author Portal


Press Release

The Random House UK Group today announced it is to launch an 'author portal': an online one-stop shop, information resource for authors. The portal will be easy to use and rich in content and will complement the existing strong relationships authors have with their Random House publishing teams. Authors will be able to access up-to-date personalised sales and royalties information alongside a regularly updated library of Random House news, publishing industry updates, consumer insight reports, marketing tips and social media 'how to' guides. The portal, to be made available to Random House UK's authors and also the agent community, will be based on the author portal launched recently by Random House in North America but will be bespoke to the UK market.

Gail Rebuck, Chairman and CEO, The Random House Group, said: "It is part of our role as publisher to ensure that we provide our authors with useful and accurate information in real time and we are committed to doing this in the best way possible. Nothing will ever replace the unique and direct relationships that our authors have with their publishing teams, so we see the author portal as a wonderful added extra. It will give both authors and agents 24/7 access to personalised information and a plethora of useful tools to help authors connect directly in new ways with their readers.
"This is a very exciting project, and we look forward to sharing more details in the future about what, I am sure, will be an industry leading service."

Random House has appointed GroupFMG – who have a wealth of experience in developing complex digital solutions for partners including M&S, Staples and Haymarket Media Group – as its development partner. GroupFMG will work with a dedicated in-house project team, led by Richard Cable, MD Vintage Publishing and Nigel Waters, Group Commercial Director.
Mark Inskip, Group MD of Europe, GroupFMG said: "This is an extremely important strategic project for us that builds on our existing relationship with Random House. With the creation of this portal Random House UK's authors will be able access to the most up-to-date information and useful guides, and the team are really excited to be working on it."

A number of discussion groups with both authors and agents have taken place and feedback from the sessions is being incorporated into the portal's design and content in readiness for its launch in the second half of 2013. More details will be announced ahead of launch when authors and agents will receive direct communications.

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