Publishing News
Simon & Schuster digital share hits 17%
E-books are expected to account for 17% of Simon & Schuster’s total revenue in 2011, double that of 2010, according to Simon & Schuster president and CEO. Carolyn Reidy (pictured).
Apple and Amazon in EU price fix investigation
The European Commission on Tuesday announced that it has opened a formal antitrust investigation into whether major book publishers colluded—possibly with Apple—on the sale of e-books.
Publishers named in the investigation include Hachette Livre (Lagardère Publishing), Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin (Pearson Group) and Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holzbrinck (Macmillan).
Cambridge Press plans digital reshuffle
Cambridge University Press has announced top-level restructuring and staff changes to allow it to become more responsive in the digital environment through improved management information, faster decision-making, and fewer fixed costs. The news comes as the Press reports its ninth successive year of growth with sales of books and journals up 12% and overall revenue growing by 11%.
Penguin USA pulls eBooks from libraries
Penguin Group USA has decided, for now, to no longer make digital editions of new titles available for library lending.
Random House plan digital short story 'singles'
Random House has announced details of a new digital short story brand, called Story-cuts, with more than 150 e-books, comprising 243 stories, by authors including Julian Barnes and Ruth Rendell. Industry commentators have described them as the 'singles' of the story-telling world.
The majority of short story eBooks will retail for £1 and will be available through regular online retailers.
Bloomsbury to make 2012 'year of short story'
Bloomsbury have dubbed 2012 the 'year of the short story'. It will publish one short story collection a month in print and digital formats from January to May.
'Diving Belles' by Lucy Wood will launch the series on 19 January. Collections will follow from Roshi Fernando, D W Wilson, Rajesh Parmeswaran and Man Booker long listed novelist Jon McGregor.
A short story sampler will be circulated online to selected media and reading groups along with a podcast where authors will read a story from their collection and talk about the genre.
Penguin launches self publishing scheme
Penguin’s online genre fiction community, Book Country, has launched a self-publishing service.
The new self-publishing tool provides prospective authors with the option of either professionally producing their print and eBook or doing much of the production work themselves. It also offers the choice between distribution on just Book Country or a wider network, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other popular eBook stores.
Angry Robot new writer scheme "a success"
Angry Robot have signed two new writers as a result of a 'no agent required' month. During March, the sci-fi and fantasy publisher opened the doors for submissions from new writers doing away with the need to approach editors through a literary agent.
Almost 1000 manuscripts arrived and two writers have already landed two-book deals. Angry Robot promises 'more to come'.
First book award shortlist revealed
The shortlist for the 2011 Guardian First Book Award, in association with Davidstow, was announced today.
The awards recognise the finest new authors who have had their first book published in English in the last year. A winner will be now be selected by a judging panel that includes author and screenwriter David Nicholls.
Faber seek slice of self publishing pie
If you can't beat them, cash in seems to be the attitude of Faber with the launch of a three-day Faber Academy course that promises to explore self publishing.
"Bring Your Book to Market", will run in February 2012. The tutors are author/journalist Ben Johncock and self-publishing expert Catherine Ryan Howard. Faber's publishing director Hannah Griffiths will also contribute.
