Time Warner Digital Formed
The Time Warner Book Group has formed the TWBG Digital Media division and named Maja Thomas, currently publisher of Time Warner AudioBooks, to head the new unit. Thomas will be the point person as TWBG formulates its position in the expanding world of digital publishing. Working with Thomas will be Neil De Young, who joined TWBG as digital media manager from Scholastic.
Time Warner AudioBooks will now be part of the Digital Media division; as a result, the audiobook department has been restructured. Anthony Goff has been promoted to associate publisher of TWAB, where he will continue to direct sales and marketing efforts for the audio group.
Solana Imprint from Warner
Warner Books will launch a new imprint in early 2007 targeted at Hispanic and Latino women. Under the Solana imprint, Warner will publish six original English-language trade paperbacks that feature Latino characters. The imprint will focus on a wide range of women's fiction, said Warner associate editor Adrienne Avila, who will direct Solana.
Knopf Speeds Booker Winner
Knopf has moved up the publication date for John Banville's The Sea from March to November after the novel won this year's Man Booker Prize. Knopf has set an initial print run of 50,000 to 60,000 copies, and will put Banville on tour in January.
Church Publishing Makes Two Buys
Church Publishing, the official publisher of worship materials for the Episcopal Church, has acquired Morehouse Publishing and Living the Good News from Continuum Publishing. Morehouse and LTGN will remain in their current locations in Harrisburg, Pa., and Denver, respectively. Kenneth Arnold, publisher of Church Publishing, had served as head of Morehouse in the past.
RH Sets Up Lecture Biz
Random House is partnering with the American Program Bureau, one of the biggest lecture agencies in the country, to land more speaking engagements for its authors. Carol Schneider, Random's executive director of publicity, said the goal of the program is to "extend the life of a book." While APB will be combing Random's catalogue and initially selecting the authors it wants to work with, Schneider said Random House can also make suggestions.
TWBG Gets New Logo
The Time Warner Book Group is going with a new company logo— an image of an open book—that will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Book Fair. The logo will be rolled out by the publisher here and in the U.K. by the end of October.
Pinter Wins Nobel
Harold Pinter has won the 2005 Nobel Prize for Literature. His U.S. publisher, Grove/Atlantic, has already gone back to press for numerous works by the author, including two compilations: Death Etc. (which got a 25,000 print run after the Nobel nod) and Complete Work.
NOLA Book Fair a Go
After organizers were assuming they would pull the plug on the 4th New Orleans Book Fair, the alternative event is back on. GK Darby, publisher of Garrett Court Press, said he hopes this year's turnout will be on par with showings from previous years. The event is set for Barrister's Gallery. For more info, call (215) 238-9893.
'PW' Comic Strip Coming
Next week PW will debut Storyville, a new comic strip developed for PWby cartoonist Greg Cook, which offers a funny and quirky look at books, people and life in a very small town.
