Friday, August 21, 2015

Latest News from The Bookseller

LATEST NEWS
Authors have reacted with sadness to the news that HarperCollins is to close its online community for aspiring writers, Authonomy.
The site invited users to submit manuscripts online. Submissions were ranked by users, and the best-ranked were considered for publication by HarperCollins.
child reading
Library groups have welcomed education secretary Nicky Morgan’s drive for all children to have a library card, although campaigners say the news rings hollow at a time when many public libraries are closing.
Desmond Clarke, a veteran library campaigner who has spoken out against library cuts in the past, said the announcement was “very good news”.
W H Smith
“Favourable” publishing in books has pushed sales at WH Smith’s High Street arm “slightly ahead” of its forecast, the company revealed in its pre-close trading statement today (20th August).
The chain retailer will announce its full year financial results for the year ending 31st August 2015 in October and has released a trading update before entering into a closed period until that time.
WHS revealed the performance of its High Street business for the year was in line with expectations “with sales slightly ahead, driven by some favourable publishing in books.”
HarperCollins
HarperCollins India c.e.o. P M Sukumar is to depart the company, while the business is to report to HarperCollins UK c.e.o. Charlie Redmayne going forward.
The Rest of Us Just Live Here
Walker is printing exclusive editions of Patrick Ness’ new novel, The Rest of Us Just Live Here, as part of its sales and marketing campaign.

The special editions (priced £12.99) are case-bound and hardback, and come with a special print. The first 1,000 copies can be pre-ordered through Waterstones.com before the 27th August publication date will be signed by the author.

The Waterstones website will also host two exclusive videos featuring Ness.
 
Plum Literary
Mark Mills, owner of the Plum Pudding Illustration Agency, and former Bloomsbury editor Fiz Osborne, are setting up a new children’s literary agency.
Plum Literary will be based in Reigate, Surrey, and cater for writers for all kinds of children’s books, from picture books to YA.


Sweet Caress
Bloomsbury has promised a “high profile and heavy hitting” marketing campaign for the global release of William Boyd’s new novel Sweet Caress next week (27th August).
The publisher said marketing plans include a “major” National Rail advertising campaign, third party partnerships, national television interviews and a six city speaking tour.
Sphere is to release a new book by Kevin Pietersen this autumn, focusing “squarely” on events on the pitch.
Pietersen’s KP: The Autobiography, released last year, has sold 106,654 copies through Nielsen BookScan to date. In the book Pietersen criticised a number of his former England cricket teammates, and included accusations of bullying in the England dressing room, which received widespread publicity in the nationals.
The new book, Kevin Pietersen on Cricket, will give Pietersen’s insight into “what it means to be a cricketer in the modern age”.
Amazon
Amazon is scrapping its Trade-In programme from the end of this month.
Currently, books, video games and other items can be traded in on Amazon’s website in return for Amazon gift cards. 
But the company has told customers it is now closing the programme for good on the 31st August and will not accept trade ins after this date.
Headline has signed two more books by author and Daily Telegraph columnist Bryony Gordon, including one looking at mental illness.
Gordon is the author of The Wrong Knickers, also from Headline and about Gordon’s 20s, which has sold 45,225 copies through Nielsen BookScan to date.
Her first new book, Mad Girl, will look at Gordon’s struggles with OCD, bulimia and depression, with the author tackling the subjects with her “trademark humour, warmth and eye watering honesty”.
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster US is teaming up with Hotels.com to offer some of its bestselling e-books to travellers, including those by authors Stephen King and Philippa Gregory.
The partnership will enable Hotels.com customers who book a minimum two-night stay in selected US destinations to download one of seven free e-books from S&S. The publisher hopes partnership will allow it to find new audiences.
Headline
Headline launched its Rooftop Book Club last night (19th August) at London’s Carmelite House with author Tasmina Perry saying the industry needed to work out how to “put the entertainment into publishing”.
The event hosted authors Perry, Stella Newman and Jo Thomas in conversation with Heat magazine’s Isabelle Broom.
Perry told The Bookseller the industry needed to work out “how to put the entertainment into publishing”.

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