Latest from The Bookseller

Harper Lee fans turn out for 'special' night Harper Lee fans packed bookshops up and down the country last night and early this morning to mark the midnight release of Go Set a Watchman (William Heinemann) on what was described as "a special night" , with booksellers predicting that "sales will live up to the hype". But there were mixed views over the depiction of Atticus Finch in the newly published novel, where the lawyer - the liberal hero of To Kill a Mockingbird - is presented as having much less progressive reviews on race equality.

Critics dub GSAW 'edgier, more ambitious' Critics have said the newly published Harper Lee novel Go Set a Watchman is more "edgy" and "ambitious" than To Kill a Mockingbird, even if it shows a lower level of literary skill.

Go Set a Watchman: Review Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman is not a book that should be read in a vacuum. It becomes fairly transparent, fairly early on, that this can only be taken as a first draft of what would become To Kill a Mockingbird. This perspective allows it to be an unprecedented insight onto a seminal novel, and renders complaints about it being inferior to To Kill a Mockingbird unhelpful if not irrelevant.

Shavit to succeed Franklin at Cape Dan Franklin will step down from his role as publishing director at Jonathan Cape at the end of the year, with Michal Shavit [pictured], currently deputy publishing director at Harvill Secker, taking his place.  Franklin, who is aged 66, will take the title of associate publisher and will continue to look after all his current authors, working three days a week.

First summer party for combined PRH Children's Francesca Dow, m.d. of Penguin Random House Children’s [pictured below], thanked the division’s authors, illustrators and supporters at its annual summer party at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington last night (14th July), where guests included Chris Riddell, Lauren Child and Shirley Hughes. The party was the first for the combined children’s group of Penguin and Random House and Dow [pictured below] said the guests represented “the most thrilling display of children’s talent”.

Jones and Profile agree to split Profile’s publishing director Mike Jones is to leave the company at the end of this week, by mutual consent. Jones joined Profile from his role as non-fiction publishing director at Simon & Schuster almost exactly a year ago in July 2014. The publisher said it was “very sorry” to make the announcement and that while Jones would leave the office this Friday (17th July), he would continue working for the company until the end of September, editing a number of manuscripts from home.

Gallic Books to operate under 'Belgravia' banner Gallic Books will now operate under the umbrella company name Belgravia.  The publisher of translated French fiction and non-fiction will operate under the new name along with its new imprint Aardvark Bureau, run by Scott Pack, and the company’s independent bookshop Belgravia Books. All parts of the company will work out of offices at the Victoria-based bookshop.

Walker acquires Katherine Webber debut Walker Books UK has acquired the debut YA novel by Book Trust programme coordinator Katherine Webber. Wing Jones, set in the run-up to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, is about a girl called Wing who, having one grandmother from China and another from Ghana, often feels caught between worlds. But when tragedy strikes, Wing discovers a talent for running she never knew she had. After an eight-way auction, fiction commissioning editor Annalie Grainger acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in a two-book deal from Claire Wilson at RCW.

Lawrence linked to Rosie Project film Actress Jennifer Lawrence is attached to star in the film adaptation of The Rosie Project, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The report did not specify which part Lawrence is going to play but confirmed the production company behind the film is Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony. Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber, who were responsible for "(500) Days of Summer", wrote the script, and Matt Tolmach and Michael Costigan are producing.

NLT highlights link between literacy and health The National Literacy Trust has today published a report promoting the link between literacy and health. Understanding the role of literacy in public health suggests and improving  literacy skills can empower individuals to take control of their own health, leading to reductions in health inequalities and the pressure on public services.

PRH skydives for MIND Penguin Random House employees have raised nearly £30,000 for mental health charity MIND after undertaking a charity skydive. All 43 employees who took part in the "Who Says Penguins Can’t Fly" event dressed as penguins to jump out of a plane at Sibson Airfield, Peterborough, raising over £29,000 so far for charity. The jump was organised by Philippa Cotton, press officer at Cornerstone, and Rachel Gimbert, project and branding executive at Penguin Random House Children's.

Marwood gets film option Alex Marwood’s thriller The Killer Next Door (Sphere) has been optioned for film. The novel has been optioned by producer James Franco, who has previously produced "27 Hours", and actress Ahna O’Reilly, who featured in "The Help", is making her debut as a producer and also taking a role in the film. The Killer Next Door has been translated into 14 languages and has been nominated for the Anthony, Barry, and Macavity Award. It is published by Penguin in the US.