Amazon Launches Christian Imprint
Amazon Publishing is launching a Christian imprint that will specialize in faith-based nonfiction and fiction. Brilliance will publish titles from the new imprint, Waterfall Press. The first title from the press, The Four Best Places to Live by Mark Buchanan, will be released next month.
BEA Rebrands Consumer Day
BookExpo America is renaming Consumer Day—the day of the trade fair that is dedicated to the general public. Consumer Day, which launched in 2013, will now be called BookCon, and this year it will take place on Saturday, May 31. Like its predecessor, BookCon will feature events tailored to consumers, including author talks, book giveaways, and signings. The change, BEA said, is due to the expo’s increasing focus on consumers.
Self-Publisher WinePress Closes
WinePress Publishing, a Christian self-publishing company, has closed its doors. The house had been plagued in recent years with accusations of fraud, complaints from authors and former employees, and financial problems. WinePress itself had filed a number of lawsuits against its critics and unhappy authors. In the announcement on its Web site, the company attributed its demise to “lies and gossip.”
Courier Results Up in Fiscal Q1
Courier Corp. posted first-quarter 2014 sales of $72.8 million for the period ended Dec. 28, 2013, an increase of 12% over the year-ago period, and net income was up 9%, to $2.6 million. The revenue gain was due to a 14% increase in sales in the company’s manufacturing division, while sales in its book publishing division stayed flat at $9.1 million. Earnings rose in the manufacturing group, but the publishing unit still had a loss, albeit smaller than in the same quarter in fiscal 2013.
Quercus on the Block
Less than a week after announcing disappointing holiday sales and expectations of a significant loss, U.K.-based Quercus has put itself up for sale. The independent house, best known as the U.K. publisher of Stieg Larsson, has hired Livingstone Partners as its adviser to handle the sale. In a statement, Quercus management said the sale process is “at an early stage” and that there is no guarantee a deal will be concluded.
EDC Has Strong Third Quarter
Educational Development Corp. reported strong sales of $8.5 million in the fiscal third quarter of 2014, which ended Nov. 30—up 8% compared to the third period of fiscal 2013. Net earnings were up to $547,800, from $525,700.
