Record Year For Wiley
With a $106-million contribution from its purchase of Blackwell Publishing, which closed February 2, total revenue at John Wiley & Sons for the year ended April 30 rose 18%, to $1.23 billion, while operating income increased 6%, to $161.3 million. Excluding Blackwell, sales were up 8%. Earnings reflect a $4-million charge to account for the AMS bankruptcy.
In the U.S., revenue in the professional/trade segment increased 5%, to $399.5 million, while sales in the STM category rose 8%, to $222.0 million. Sales in the higher education segment increased 4%, to $162.5 million. Internationally, sales were up 8% in Europe, to $316.1 million, and sales to Asia, Australia and Canada were up 7%, to $133 million.
Marlowe, Lifelong to Merge
The Perseus Books Group will fold its Marlowe & Co. imprint into Da Capo Press's wellness imprint, Lifelong Books. As a result, Matthew Lore, currently v-p and publisher of Marlowe, will become v-p and executive editor of Lifelong, and editors Wendy Holt Francis, Kathryn McHugh and Renee Sedliar have been named senior editors. The Marlowe name will be phased out by January 1.
Cochran Joining Ballantine
Marnie Cochran is leaving as executive editor of Da Capo Press/Lifelong Books to join Ballantine Books, where she will report directly to senior v-p and publisher Libby McGuire. Cochran will continue to work out of Boston and starts with Ballantine on July 23.
Peterson to Multnomah
Ken Peterson has been appointed v-p/publishing director for Multnomah Books, a new position. Peterson, who will start June 25, will report to Steve Cobb, president of the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, and will direct the editorial department and oversee acquisitions and development. He was formerly senior director of acquisitions and development at Tyndale House.
Guild, AAP Try To Halt Bill
The Authors Guild and the AAP sent letters out last week, slamming a bill on the floor of the New York State Legislature that would allow heirs to block the use of photographs and other likenesses of dead public figures. The guild, which sent out a letter alerting its members to the legislation, and the AAP—which sent a letter to legislators in Albany—both said the main problem is that the legislation does not currently allow exemptions for expressive works.
Kensington in e-Book Deal
Kensington Publishing has signed a deal with Samhain Publishing to publish paperback editions of Samhain's romantic and erotic e-books. Beginning in summer 2008, Kensington will publish up to 12 books annually in trade paperback or mass market formats. Samhain has a 300-title backlist.
