Results Up at Wiley
John Wiley reported that operating income rose 8%, to $43.5 million, and revenue increased 6%, to $262.7 million, in the second quarter ended October 31. Sales in Wiley's domestic professional/trade unit rose 7% in the quarter, helped by a $3.5-million contribution from its purchase of Sybex. Technology and business books sold especially well in the quarter. Sales in Wiley's STM division increased 6%, and after a sluggish first quarter, sales in Wiley's higher education group increased 3% in the second period. Sales were strongest in the science, business, math and engineering categories, offsetting soft sales in the social sciences.
Robinson Departs
Colin Robinson, publisher and editor-in-chief of the New Press since 2001, will leave the company at year-end. Both Robinson and Diane Wachtell, executive director of the New Press, cited differences over the editorial direction of the press as the reason for his departure. Robinson said he and Wachtell differed over the type of books that the press should publish as well as its dependence on grants and foundation money. Wachtell said a successor to Robinson should be named in a few weeks.
Kirshbaum Sets Up Shop
Former Time Warner Book Group CEO Larry Kirshbaum is calling his new agency LJK Literary Management. The firm's new office, on 40th St. in New York City, opens today, December 12.
Kirshbaum has also added former ICM agent Jud Laghi to his startup; he joins Susanna Einstein, whose move to the agency was announced last month. LJK has signed six clients.
Martin Named RH Canada President
Brad Martin, executive v-p and COO of Random House of Canada, will add the title of president on January 1. In his new role, Martin will oversee RHC's publishing divisions, in addition to his current responsibilities supervising sales, marketing, operations and administration. He will continue to report to RHC chairman and CEO John Neale.
Wheatcroft New Holt Prez
Allen Wheatcroft has been named president and CEO of Holt, Rinehart & Winston, the school publishing division of Harcourt Education. Wheatcroft has been COO at Scott Foresman and takes over from Julie McGee, who had been serving as acting CEO since the retirement earlier this year of Holt president Judy Fowler.
NYCC Inks Two Pacts
Slated to debut in February, New York Comic-con has teamed up with comics convention organizer Wizard Conventions, which will help promote the Reed Exhibitions show. Reed is also joining with ICv2.com to hold a graphic novel conference in conjunction with New York Comic-con. The conference will be organized by ICv2 CEO Milton Griepp and will offer a day of panel discussions on the business and cultural impact of graphic novels.
All Viz Media
The folks over at Viz Media were all smiles after Viz manga titles took the first 13 slots on Bookscan's graphic novel bestseller list. The graphic novel list includes six different volumes of Naruto and two volumes of Rurouni Kenshin. Other titles included Bleach, Vol. 10; Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 4; Hana-kimi, Vol. 9; Dragonball Z, Vol. 23; and Hot Gimmick, Vol. 10.
BookStream Down at X-mas
After facing construction delays, the Poughkeepsie, N.Y., wholesaler BookStream will be out of commission for the holidays. According to CEO Jack Herr, the company will be up and running by the start of 2006 and will be able to make up the lost holiday sales.
From Loss to Legacy at SF Bookstore
After Debbie Echlin, owner of San Francisco's A Great Place for Good Books, died, the community's grief was slightly lifted by news that the store had been left to employee Kathleen Caldwell. Caldwell, who's been at Good Books for a year, will try to carry on the legacy of her friend and employer.
