News about publishers and the crazy things they do.
Katie Hall, formerly of Bantam Dell, has moved to Doubleday. We haven’t heard much more on this topic. Hall previously worked with fiction and non-fiction, especially that relating to military and sociological issues. Doubleday Books
While we’re more anime freaks that graphic novel freaks (and that reminds us that we’re missing this weekend’s anime festival, and, if our husband reads this, it would be really great if he surprised us with a trip to Anaheim), we appreciate the Japanese style of comics. Word on the street is graphic novels are hot — we’ve actually done some hands-on research here (said research consisting of perusing the selection at a Barnes & Noble). Now Scholastic is joining the fun, launching an imprint called Graphix, due to launch in early to mid 2005. Scholastic Joins Comics World Scholastic
It’s surprisingly gloomy for a Fourth of July weekend. Definitely curl-up-on-the-couch-with-a-good-book weather. But noooo, we have a bunch of editor and agent updates to post (we still haven’t worked out why we hold all this information until the weekend, but there you have it; we’re fairly certain our readers don’t come to us for breaking news). Besides, we already did the good book thing, and once we finish here, there’s another waiting for us. So, item the first: Dan Halpern was promoted to publisher of HarperCollins’s Ecco imprint. We were unable to find out what sort of cool perks come
Just the other day, we pointed to a story about the changes in academic and scientific publishing. You know, where the scientists were all excited about new and different ways to get their research out there. But wait! This may be bad. Yes, for the traditional publishers. After all, bypassing the middle man may impact certain corporate profits. We would feel better if the idea of protecting rigorous peer review and access to research wasn’t wrapped up in what appears to be self-serving profit motives. Open access jeopardises academic publishers, Reed chief warns Open access jeopardises academic publishers, Reed chief
Last summer, we were feted by various publishers*, and found ourselves on an upper floor of the Flatiron Building, staring uptown. It was a lovely evening, and we could see straight through to Central Park. We believe, but can’t be certain, that was when decided to stalk St. Martin’s Press in earnest. Yes, shallow is our middle name — we absolutely associate a great view with a great publisher. Holtzbrinck Publishers, parent of St. Martin’s Press and Henry Holt and others, has expanded its presence in the building, and is poised to find its name synonymous with the building. We
As noted previously, we have very little to add to the Clinton story (how rare that the mainstream media covers our territory with such thoroughness). Our previous analysis remains unchanged, though we might add an extra adjective before “a lot.” But that won’t stop us from sharing our delight with The Globe and Mail’s profile of editor, Robert Gottlieb. Sure, he whipped Bill’s book into shape, but for us, there is something that seems almost…earth shatttering…about the fact that Gottlieb was editing Joseph Heller at the tender age of 24. Perhaps it’s because at that age, we were still trying
We are the first to admit there’s a lot wrong with the publishing industry, especially as it relates to royalty accounting (don’t ever corner us at a party after we’ve had too much wine — we really get started on the subject). We also applaud entrepeneurship and looking for new publishing paradigms (do you seek paradigms or are they applied retroactively? Must ponder this later.). But we wonder at the authority of the Instant Book Writing Kit’s author when he offers quotes such as this: “One of the most blatant examples of these unacceptable practices is when the industry forces
Seriously, we get information from a variety of sources (not that we’re saying they’re all reliable, but that’s another issue). And, frankly, some of the stuff coming over the transom is cryptic. Yes, we do our best to research, but at the end of the day (moment, really), we have to guess. Like what is “major” non-fiction? Do you always know in advance? Can you be wrong? Is it possible that today’s major is yesterday’s news, what with publishing lag time? We’re so happy that we don’t have to worry about these things. No, that’s Rick Horgan’s job now that
Suzanne Harper has been named Senior Vice President and publisher for hardcovers, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. She’ll be in charge of Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Margaret K. McElderry Books, and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. As always, we refer you to the publisher’s website. As always, said website baffles us. We honestly don’t know where to start looking for information. And we do this for a living — we feel for those of you who are beginners when it comes to publisher’s websites. Simon Says
We admit it. When we read the first sentence of PW‘s story about Millbrook, we got all tingly. Something about the term “mopped up.” Then we started thinking. Never good. But that’s beside the point. Millbrook Press and Twenty-First Century Books have been sold (or, if you prefer legal mumbo-jumbo, agreed to be sold, pending other legal stuff which we don’t comprehend) to Lerner Publishing Group. The catalog will live on. We can only imagine the sigh of relief from Millbrook and Twenty-First authors. Millbrook Takes Care of the Rest
