Regional Stat Shot
The polar vortex seems to have had an impact on January book sales. The weather phenomenon brought record-breaking low temperatures to much of the Midwest and East, and mild temperatures to the West. Book sales were better where the weather was warmer. According to outlets that report to Nielsen BookScan, unit sales in the cold Mid-Atlantic region were down 7% through the week ended Jan. 26, 2014, compared to the first 27 days in 2013. Sales in the more mild South Central and Mountain areas were up 2% in the period, while sales in the Pacific region were flat.
From the Newsletters
A look at the big book-to-film adaptations in 2014, including The Fault in Our Stars, The Giver, and Gone Girl.
Children’s Bookshelf
We speak with newly minted Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo and Caldecott Medalist Brian Floca about where they were when they got “the call.”
Guidelines for navigating the new challenges and opportunities in the growing self-publishing market.
The most-read review on publishersweekly.com last week was The Triple Package: How Three Unlikely Traits Explain the Rise and Fall of Cultural Groups in America by Amy Chua and Jed Rubenfeld (Penguin Press).
PW Radio
Jennifer Senior tackles parenting issues in her new book All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood (Ecco), and PW children’s reviews editor John Sellers will highlight the just-announced book awards from ALA.
Blogs
Steve Galloway’s latest novel, The Confabulist, unveils some of Houdini’s famous tricks. In discussion with PW, he worries about possible retribution from the Alliance of Magicians.
See our bookseller bloggers’ photo-essay chronicling the visit of Lunch Lady author Jarrett J. Krosoczka.
Podcasts
Marie Rutkoski talks about The Winner’s Curse, the first book in a trilogy set in a world torn apart by conquest and class warfare.
Rick Steves discusses his travels in Europe, as well as building his Europe Through the Back Door series, from its first volume, self-published in 1980, to this year’s releases.
PW senior news editor Calvin Reid interviews cartoonist Ron Wimberly, author of Prince of Cats and Sentences: The Life of M.F. Grimm.
The Week Ahead
PW senior writer Andrew Albanese discusses the recently concluded ALA Midwinter meeting in Philadelphia.
Listen to these and more here.
Authors
Benjamin Black, aka John Banville, talks about channeling Raymond Chandler in his new novel, The Black-Eyed Blonde (Henry Holt), which revives iconic private eye Philip Marlowe.
Webcasts
Common Core 101: Understanding the Basics
Join us for this live PW webinar focused on the Common Core standards, hosted by Margaux DelGuidice and Rose Luna, PW’s Cut to the Core contributing editors. The presentation will inform and educate librarians on the basics of implementing the standards in their classrooms and libraries. It will also assist librarians with Common Core book selection, the collection development process, and assessments.
