Publishing News
Frankfurt Update - Visitors pack out first three days
The programme started with Publishers Launch ‘eBooks Around the World’ which attracted an impressive line-up of speakers.
The key messages coming from Hall 4.2 were that English-language eBooks in non-traditional markets have become big business but that publishers need to look to new business models to fully exploit the global marketplace.
New award plays down 'readability'
A proposed new literary prize aims to reward the best novel written in the English language and published in the UK in a given year, regardless of its writer's country of origin.
The Literature Prize, fronted by literary agent Andrew Kidd, aims to establish "a clear and uncompromising standard of excellence" with the prize judged by literary experts.
Organisers, who are working to arrange funding, have used a press release to take a pop at the Man Booker Prize, criticising it for favouring 'readability' over artistic achievement.
Gardners inks deal for eBook distribution
Baker & Taylor, Inc., the world's largest distributor of physical and digital books and entertainment products, and Gardners Books Limited, Britain's leading book wholesaler, today announced an agreement to expand the international content in Baker & Taylor's network.
The partnership will allow Gardners Books' nearly 1,000 eBook publishers to reach customers around the world via Blio, which is forecasted to be pre-installed on millions of consumer reading devices worldwide.
Curtis Brown partners with Pan Macmillan for digital backlist
Bello’, Macmillan’s new eBook and print on demand publishing list for lost classics and out-of-print backlists, launche with 120 books drawn exclusively from Curtis Brown's list, with a further 400 titles to follow next year.
Book fair visitors told publishing has a future
The overall message that should emerge from the 63rd Frankfurt Book Fair is that the future of the book is assured.
Debut novelist in nine-way auction
The debut novel from M L Stedman has been the subject of intense bidding wars with nine publishers bidding for rights in the UK alone.
Jane Lawson at Transworld acquired UK and Commonwealth rights for The Light Between Oceans. In the US, a seven-way auction saw the rights awarded to Nan Grham at Scribner. In Germany, an auction was won by Blanvalet and offers are currently on the table in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Brazil and Serbia.
Bloomsbury revives out-of-print titles
Bloomsbury Publishing has announced details of a new digital and print-on-demand imprint: Bloomsbury Reader.
The Bloomsbury Reader range incorporates many out of print titles, alongside new works by leading contemporary writers.
The Bloomsbury Reader range incorporates every genre including romance, crime, children's stories, science-fiction, politics, travel writing, biographies, prose and poetry.
Amazon ready to launch Kindle Fire
Amazon's highly-anticipated forthcoming tablet computer will be called the Amazon Kindle Fire, according to a technology blog.
TechCrunch claims that the online retail giant will officially announce the title at a press conference tomorrow, and then launch the tablet in the US in the second week in November.
Amazon head "most powerful" in book industry
Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, has been named the most powerful person in the book industry in a Guardian list that showcases the most influential people of the moment.
Ex-Bloomsbury editor launches children's publishing company
Hot Key Books has today been unveiled as the name for Sarah Odedina's new children's publishing company, which will be part of the Bonnier group.
Hot Key Books, which will be based in central London, is an addition to the Bonnier Publishing division, and will focus on children's fiction books for ages 9+. It plans to publish between 30-50 titles a year, starting from autumn 2012.
