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Branding 101 with Robert Friedman
In its first monthly San Francisco luncheon co-sponsored with the Association of American Journalists and Authors, the Northern California Book Publicity and Marketing Association invited Robert Friedman to speak about one of the biggest buzz words in the book business—branding.
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Galley Talk: 'The Sky Is Everywhere'
After hesitating to read it, Angela K. Sherrill, children's book buyer at Chicago's 57th Street Books, is won over by a spring YA novel.
Many booksellers have probably already read The Sky Is Everywhere. Those who haven't should definitely get started. My Penguin rep enthusiastically recommended this teen debut by literary agent Nelson, both in person and with a Must Read! sticker on its cover. But seeing the billowing heart on the jacket... -
Booksellers Protest Rep Cuts
The board of the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association has sent a letter to the sales directors and heads of the six largest trade publishers expressing their concern of the reduction in the number of field sales reps.
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Agents Largely Support Macmillan; Some Angered by Amazon
In a major industry development over the weekend--which saw Macmillan announce new terms of sale with Amazon for its e-books and Amazon ultimately capitulate to those terms in a statement--agents watched, many internally cheering the move made by the smallest of the "big six" houses.
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Macmillan, Amazon Dispute Nearing Resolution
Although nothing official has been announced and Macmillan’s titles are still not directly available for sale from Amazon, the dispute over new e-book terms that exploded Friday night appears headed towards resolution in favor of the publisher.
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Investigation Into Online Discount Practices Includes Barnes & Noble
The New York Attorney General office has subpoenaed 22 online retailers has part of an investigation into a practice that links consumers to membership programs that charge unauthorized fees. B&N is among the retailers subpoenaed, but the company said he has never turned over customer information to membership clubs.
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Indianapolis is Three Bookstores Poorer
Three independent bookstores in the Indianapolis region have closed or have announced plans to close.
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Recapping the Holidays: Austerity Mixed with Success
The 2009 holiday season had more than its share of harsh realities, including reduced consumer budgets and cautious or uncertain book buyers. But that didn’t stop independent bookstores from making the best of the holiday season—and in some cases great success—with thanks to Suzanne Collins, handselling, and National Public Radio. Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Mass., devoted more space to children’s this year...
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Companies Step Up Rental Efforts for New Semester
In time for the beginning of the new college semester, the textbook rental market saw new announcements from three of the industry’s players this week.
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A New Perspective on E-Book Pricing
The publishing industry is right to be concerned over $9.99 price tags for bestselling e-books. One price has the potential to disrupt the current publishing model, as well as change how books are marketed and priced in the future. The good news is that pricing techniques can be used to effectively manage this transition.
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Educational Paperback Association Broadens Its Mission
If change is good, then the Educational Paperback Association, whose members serve the school and library market, must be doing really well, because the 35-year-old organization just completed a year marked by change. At a time of consolidation throughout various segments of the book business, the EPA broadened its base in 2009, absorbing the American Wholesale Booksellers Association, which had dwindled to a few regional wholesalers.
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Retail Nation: Some Holiday Cheer for Indies
The just concluded holiday season met the modest expectations of most of the independent booksellers interviewed by PW. Booksellers used a number of different tactics to keep registers ringing, ranging from upgrading their Web sites to stocking more used books to meet the needs of a still very cost-conscious consumer.
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More on Sam's Club New Book Club
After word broke early this week that Sam's Club is launching a new book club for its members, PW spoke with a rep at the retail chain to get some details on exactly what the club entails.
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Cooking the Books with Rozanne Gold
When James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Rozanne Gold heard that Condé Nast was selling Gourmet’s collection of 3,500 cookbooks and that NYU’s Fales Library wanted to buy them, she couldn’t stop herself from getting involved—and giving the library $14,000 to acquire the archive.
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Amazon Offers Free Two-Day Shipping for Kindle
In an attempt to keep the momentum going for Kindle, Amazon is offering free two-day expedited shipping for the device, so customers can order between now and December 22 and receive Kindle by December 24. When customers add Kindle ($259) to their shopping cart on the site, they will have the option to select free two-day shipping. The retailer also said today that December has been the best month ever for Kindle sales.
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‘Amazon Breakthrough Novel’ Contest Goes YA
For the third year in a row, Amazon and Penguin have teamed up for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, an international writing competition that offers new writers a chance at publication. Earlier this week, it was announced that there would be two prizes for this year's competition, one of which will be for the best young adult novel. Also new this year: the competition is open to novels that have been previously self-published. Up to 10,000 manuscripts will be accepted for the contest...
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Lambda Rising to Close Remaining Stores
Lambda Rising, which started 35 years ago to sell gay and lesbian literature, will close its two remaining stores early in the new year.
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Elf on the Shelf's Sales Policy Works for B&N, But Not for All Independents
A self-published children’s holiday book has become a bestseller at a major online retailer—but some independent booksellers are having trouble even getting their hands on copies. First published five years ago and sold through Junior Leagues, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition is currently B&N.com’s number-one selling book.
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Lee Booksellers to Close in Lincoln, Nebraska
After a 30-year run, Linda Hillegass and husband Jim McKee have decided to retire and close their Lincoln, Neb. bookstore, Lee Booksellers.
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Booksellers See Solid Black Friday
Although less bleak than last year, Black Friday was by no means a slam dunk for retailers this year. Despite this, booksellers reported strong traffic for the major shopping weekend and saw particularly strong sales from some of fall's big authors in Barbara Kingsolver, Stephen King, and Srah Palin.
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