RH Profits Down
Random House reported that its profits fell 35.5%, to 20 million euros, and worldwide revenue declined 4.2%, to 734 million euros in the first half of 2009. With revenue sinking largely due to the U.S. division, the publishing unit was boosted by a strong summer, but ultimately held down by the tumbling economy. With Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol coming in the fall, RH chairman and CEO Markus Dohle expressed some optimism, but also pointed to “fierce” competition in the marketplace.
Author's Guild Slams Amazon
The Authors Guild sharply criticized Amazon, claiming the online retailer's “hypocrisy is breathtaking,” after Amazon came out against the Google Book Settlement. The Guild pointed out that Amazon “dominates bookselling and the fledgling e-book market.”
Layoffs at BD&L, S&S
Both Black Dog & Leventhal and S&S's Pocket Books confirmed that they had each laid off three employees.
New NIV Bible
To mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, Zondervan will release a new revision of the 1984 New International Version of the Bible in 2011. The 1984 NIV edition has more than 300 million copies in print.
Reading on Phones
Dan Sinker has launched CellStories: A Daily Dose of Awesome, a digital reading venture that offers short narrative content to readers via their cellphones through a mobile Web site. The site offers a different story five days a week.
Russia Focus At LBF 2011
Russia will be the market focus and guest of honor at the 2011 London Book Fair. The decision was based on Russian publishing's rapid growth in the past two decades and on the success of the Russian Pavilion and Russian Literature Week at LBF 2009.
IPS Signs VeloPress
Boulder, Colo.-based sports publisher VeloPress has signed with Ingram Publisher Services to handle its trade sales and fulfillment. VeloPress will continue to manage direct sales to specialty retailers and distributors in the endurance sports industry.
Free to Fee
After releasing chapter installments of his latest personal finance book, Rich Dad's Conspiracy of the Rich, for free online, Robert Kiyosaki will release a $12.99 paperback of the book on September 8. The book will be published by Grand Central.
Salinger Case Appeal
Last week, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals listened to arguments to vacate the injunction barring U.S. publication of Swedish author Fredrik Colting's 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye. The judges' questions suggest they are leaning toward giving the book another look in court. No date was given for a ruling. If the injunction is vacated, Colting confirmed he will attempt to depose the reclusive Salinger.
Granta on Chicago
Granta 108, focused entirely on Chicago, will go on sale September 14, marking the second time the publication has focused an entire issue on a city. The issue features a cover illustration by graphic novelist Chris Ware, showing the city skyline, and writings by Chicagoans Aleksandar Hemon, Neil Steinberg and others. The issue will be supported by a week of events to be held in Chicago.
Sarnoff on Google Pact
Richard Sarnoff, co-chairman of Random House and chairman of the AAP, will discuss the Google settlement on Tuesday, September 8, in an event hosted by Bookbinders' Guild of New York. The talk will be held at the Random House offices, at 1745 Broadway. Cocktails are at 5: 30 p.m. and the program starts at 6:30; $50 for members and $60 for nonmembers.
Correction
In our August 24 issue, a picture on p. 39 identified the incorrect author; Reginald Hall, author of Midnight Fugue, is the person pictured.
