Robinson Joins Scribner
Former New Press publisher Colin Robinson joined Scribner July 5 as senior editor. Robinson reports to Scribner v-p and editor-in-chief Nan Graham and, according to Scribner, "will draw on his impressive set of contacts in both the U.S. and the U.K. to edit an international list that combines politics and history with music, film, sport and other cultural concerns."
B&T Deal Completed
The New York—based private equity firm Castle Harlan has completed its $455-million purchase of Baker & Taylor from Willis Stein & Partners. Gary Appel, Castle Harlan vice-chairman who led the transaction team, said he expects solid growth in B&T's library and direct-to-home businesses. B&T will continue to be led by the current management team, headed by Richard Willis.
New Springer E-books
Professional publisher Springer last month launched the Springer eBook Collection featuring more than 10,000 e-book titles. Included in the collection are electronic versions of textbooks, reference works, atlases and monographs. To accelerate the adoption of e-books by libraries and other institutions, Springer is offering its e-books without any digital rights management software.
'Vibe' Inks Kensington Deal
Vibe, the urban music and culture magazine, has entered into a partnership with Kensington Publishing to copublish a line of books called Vibe Street Lit under the Vibe Books imprint. Rob Kenner, editorial director of Vibe Books, will acquire and edit for the imprint; the first four titles—all trade paperback originals— will be released in January.
Kiyosaki, PGW in Deal
Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump's forthcoming book from Kiyosaki's Rich Press imprint will be distributed by PGW. In addition to distributing Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men—One Message, PGW will distribute Rich Woman, another business title from Rich Press by Kiyosaki's wife, Kim Kiyosaki. The deal will also see PGW distributing two new titles from Rich Press this fall.
Books Inc. to Open 11th Store
Books Inc., the independent bookstore chain with 10 California stores, will open its 11th store in the space being vacated by A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books in San Francisco's Opera Plaza. The new Books Inc. will be ready by mid-September. The move into Opera Plaza will give the retailer its first downtown presence in the city, and the 5,500-sq.-ft. store will be Books Inc.'s largest.
Lyle Stuart Dead at 83
Lyle Stuart, who started his first publishing company in 1956 with the proceeds from a libel lawsuit he won against Walter Winchell, died June 24 of a heart attack. He was 83. During his career, Stuart published both bestsellers (Jackie Oh!) and controversial titles, including The Anarchist Cookbook; Fidel Castro's History Will Absolve Me; Naked Came the Stranger; and The Turner Diaries. Stuart sold his company in 1990, but kept the rights to Anarchist, which he used to start Barricade Books. At the time of Stuart's death, Barricade was publishing about 10 books a year.
Jim Baen, 63
Jim Baen, a leading publisher of science fiction, died June 28 following a stroke. He was 63. Baen began his publishing career at Ace and worked at Galaxy magazine and Tor Books before founding Baen Books in 1984. In addition to publishing an impressive range of SF authors, Baen was an early supporter of e-books. Baen's company will continue under the leadership of executive editor Toni Weisskopf, who will assume the role of acting publisher. Tributes to Baen will be held at Trinoc*Con in Raleigh, N.C., July 22 and at LAcon IV, the world science fiction convention, in Los Angeles in August.
