Publishers Lunch releases an ebook, The Trial, about the DOJ vs PRH trial
The ebook presents comprehensive day-by-day coverage and insider analysis, plus full public testimony and much more.
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Book sales update: Sept. 28, 2022
Earlier this month, the Association of American Publishers released its 2021 sales figures.
What Does the Future Look Like for Book Sales and Marketing?
At a recent panel about the health of the industry, publishing experts envisioned a future where publishers and booksellers more directly “own” the readership.
The Sometimes Invisible Opportunities of Write for Hire
Some work-for-hire jobs are only visible to authors who have literary agents.
AI Likely to Drive Next Wave of Audiobook Growth
The audiobook industry will be determining which books merit human narration and those that can do well with synthetic voices.
Missing Pages: An investigative podcast about book publishing
We almost missed this show, which launched in July: an all-new podcast about the “bad behavior within the secretive world of book publishing.”
Draft2Digital expands international print support
Draft2Digital has improved the ability for its authors outside the US to order author copies of their books without paying high shipping fees.
New agent at Arc Literary
Kate Davids has joined Arc Literary as an agent. She was previously at Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books.
New agents at Martin Literary Management
Rick Lewis and Kristen Terrette will open to queries on Oct. 10, 2022.
New imprint from Penguin Random House
Thesis will publish “urgent idea-driven nonfiction by thought leaders, journalists, and experts with a strong point of view,” starting spring 2023.
Zibby Books launches a magazine
Zibby Books, founded last year as a part of Zibby Owens Media, has launched a literary lifestyle magazine.
Colleen Hoover outsells the Bible in 2022
According to NPD BookScan, which tracks print retail sales in the US, Colleen Hoover has sold 7.3 million print books this year.
Penguin Random House sees profits decline in first half of 2022
Overall, PRH sales increased by more than 6% but profits were down by 1.8% due to cost challenges related to supply chain and inflation.
Book sales update: Sept. 14, 2022
Through August 2022, print book sales are down by 5 percent versus 2021, which is considered very good performance.
IBPA Updates Its Hybrid Publishing Criteria
While the IBPA doesn’t currently vet member publishers, authors are encouraged to reach out with questions.
Marketing Math: Penguin Random House’s 2 Percent Gambit
Big publishers can leverage smaller marketing spend to greater effect than smaller publishers.
About That “One Dozen Copies” Statistic: NPD BookScan Helpfully Clarifies
NPD analyst Kristen McLean provided context for the allegation that half of the trade titles published each year sell fewer than a dozen copies.
New crime imprint: Datura
UK publisher Angry Robot Books is launching Datura Books, a crime fiction imprint.
Lemonada Book Club launches in partnership with Penguin Random House
Podcast network Lemonada Media and Penguin Random House have partnered to launch the Lemonada Book Club podcast.
Literati Book Fairs expands
Austin-based startup Literati offers subscription book boxes and online book clubs primarily in the children’s market.
Corporate owner of children’s book publishers establishes kids’ programming arm
Trustbridge, which owns Candlewick Press and others, is starting to develop kids’ and family programming based on its library of titles.
Loyola Press launches new imprint for children, parents, and educators
4U2B Books & Media is a new imprint that will publish children’s books as well as select titles for adults.
A new gift imprint: Kaddo
UK-based Quarto Publishing is launching a new gift book imprint in 2023 called Kaddo.
Publicly funded research in the US must be made available for free upon publication
The White House changed a longstanding US policy, forcing publishers to make publicly funded research available immediately to the public.
Backlist sales continue their upward trend in 2022
It turns out that backlist is capturing most of the pandemic growth in the book market.
UK’s Society of Authors faces divisive row
Comparable to the Authors Guild in the United States, the Society of Authors in the UK is the country’s leading union of professional authors.
Barnes & Noble Focuses on Profitable Backlist, Creating Concern for New Titles
The US chain plans to stock fewer hardcovers‚ especially children’s titles, which will force publishers and authors to re-evaluate their publishing and marketing strategies.
Author Spotlight: Meg Medina Must Change Gears Like Her Fictional Character
The author’s new hardcover book won’t be stocked by Barnes & Noble. She understands the business plight of the chain, but worries about collateral damage to authors and young readers alike.
Schiffer launches a craft imprint
With a backlist of about 1,000 titles and 25 new titles per season, the imprint will publish books on arts and crafts.
Walmart launches the Walmart Book Club
The book club will feature five titles for adults annually—one for each season and one Pick of the Year.
TikTok’s official book club is now sponsored by Amazon
Right on the heels of the TikTok and Barnes & Noble marketing partnership, TikTok and Amazon have announced that Amazon will now sponsor the TikTok Book Club.
Links of Interest: August 31, 2022
The latest on Amazon, book banning, AI, publishing trends and more.
Closing Image: August 31, 2022
Even though Barnes & Noble is having a tough time with new titles in hardcover, the format was selling well overall in 2021 for the children’s market.
DOJ vs PRH: The Key Questions of the Trial
While the case hinges on how the merger may affect a mere 1,200 authors earning advances over $250K, information presented during testimony offers rare insights for all authors
Zando launches Sweet July Books with Ayesha Curry
Author and restaurateur Ayesha Curry is Zando’s latest high-profile publishing partner and will acquire fiction and nonfiction.
Tapas pivots to community-driven content and lays off staff
Tapas Media, which was recently acquired by a South Korean firm, has laid off staff in its original-content department.
Links of Interest: August 17, 2022
The latest on #booktok, romance & erotica, culture & politics and more.
Be aware: scam solicitations see an uptick
As self-publishing has proliferated, indie authors have increasingly become the target of illegitimate and fraudulent solicitations.
Closing Image: August 17, 2022
The mass market paperback format has been slowly declining for years, affected by lower-price ebooks and the migration of authors and publishers to the trade paperback format.
Gardners launches wholesale business in US
Not long after book wholesaler/distributor Ingram announced its expansion into the UK market, the UK book wholesaler Gardners is launching operations in the US.
Tom Doherty Associates rebrands as Tor Publishing Group
Tor Publishing Group will include Tor, Forge Books, Nightfire, Tor Teen, Starscape, and Tordotcom Publishing.
Book sales update: August 17, 2022
As of August 6, this year’s print book sales are 6 percent below 2021 levels, according to NPD BookScan.
IMHO: The Gatekeepers Have No Clothes
The unpredictable and subjective nature of publishing can look like incompetence to those outside the industry.
How Book Deals Are Negotiated by Agents and Publishers
Selling a book isn’t as simple as accepting the highest advance.
Using Data to Drive Acquisitions: Why Podium Bought Bookstat
With the backing of Podium, Bookstat looks to expand into additional territories.
Two new imprints at Trinity University Press
Based in San Antonio, Trinity University Press has launched Tinta Books and Terra Firma, both nonfiction imprints.
New lifestyle imprint at UK’s Bloomsbury
Tonic is a new nonfiction imprint that provides readers with “a toolkit to navigate everyday life.”
Links of Interest: August 3, 2022
The latest in unionizing, book banning, supply chain woes and more.