Publishing Trends

Driven to Disruption: Reading James McQuivey’s Digital Disruption

May 10, 2013

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PublishingTrends.com continues its regular column in which we review, explicate, and excerpt books that we think will resonate with people in the business of publishing and media.

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The word “disruption” is hardly unfamiliar to those in the publishing industry. Almost every part of book business has been affected by disruption, particularly of the digital kind, from the advent and availability of ereaders to the struggle for bricks-and-mortar stores to keep up with online retailers. With several disruptive companies already in full swing and announcements of new startups every day, Forrester Research VP and Principal Analyst James McQuivey’s Digital Disruption: Unleashing the Next Wave of Innovation (published, appropriately enough, by Amazon this year) seems like the ideal read for anyone in the book business.

Though this title is not specific to book business, McQuivey repeats throughout that digital disruption will affect every industry. The agility of new electronic platforms and digital technology in general has not only accelerated the rate of change in every business sector, but also allows for individuals to wield greater power. McQuivey cites entrepreneurs like Guy Cramer, who developed an online camouflage business, and Charles Teague with his weight loss program/community FitNow, as case studies demonstrating how one idea can create an entire business. He also goes so far as to say that future companies may be a part of a “disposable economy” where small teams of innovators work together on a certain project and disband after completion. This all embraces the lean startup mentality—but what is a company to do when it is not a startup? How can legacy publishers take advantage of this revolution? Read More »

Posted in Book Reviews • Tagged Amazon, Charles Teague, Digital Disruption: Unleashing the Next Wave of Innovation, Disney, FitNow, Forrester Research, Guy Cramer, James McQuivey, Tim FitzRandolph, Where’s My Water?

People Roundup, May 2013

By PT Editors

May 1, 2013

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PEOPLE

Brendan Cahill has joined Random House, Inc. as Vice President, Corporate Projects, working with departments across the company on a variety of internal and externally-directed endeavors, beginning with digital-partnership development opportunities. He was previously CEO of NatureShare, and before that VP and Publisher at Open Road, and an Editor at Running Press, Grove/Atlantic, and Gotham Books.

W. Ralph Eubanks has announced that he will be leaving his post as the Director of Publishing at Library of Congress to become Editor of the Virginia Quarterly Review

SVP of Hachette Digital & Audio Maja Thomas is leaving the company after 22 years with Time Warner and then HBG, “for the next exciting chapter of her career.” She has led Hachette Audio since 2000 and Hachette Digital since 2005, chief strategist for HBG of the Bookish website. Though she will be consulting for Hachette until the end of the year and reachable via that email address, she will also be at majathomas@gmail.com

Courtney Hodell is leaving FSG, where she was Executive Editor. She can be reached at Courtney.hodell@gmail.com.

Margaret Coffee has joined Egmont USA as Sales and Marketing Director. Most recently she was VP of Sales at Albert Whitman, and was previously at Scholastic for more than 16 years. Katie Halata moves up to Sales and Marketing Manager at Egmont.

Michael Cairns is joining Publishing Technology as COO of their Online Solutions division, succeeding Louise Russell and reporting to George Lossius. Most recently, Cairns has been a consultant and served as Chief Revenue Officer for SharedBook, focused on their Academic Pub platform.

Deputy Executive Director of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), Angela Bole, will become Executive Director of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) in July, remaining based in New York. Current Executive Director Florrie Binford Kichler, is retiring from the post in June.

Christian Trimmer will be joining S&S Books For Young Readers as Senior Editor. He has worked for the Walt Disney Company for nearly 13 years.

Ken Brooks, Cengage SVP, Global Production & Manufacturing Services, has left the company to restart his operations and product development consulting firm, Treadwell Media Group.

Julia Kenny is joining Dunow Carlson & Lerner as an Agent, rejoining her recent colleague Eleanor Jackson. Kenny was at Markson Thoma–from which Geri Thoma, Jackson, Laney Katz Becker and Kenny have all departed since early March.

Maddie Caldwell has joined Knopf, reporting to Director of Media Relations Paul Bogaards. She was at Weed Literary for the past year.

Jennifer Corcoran will join Little, Brown Children’s on May 6 as Director of Publicity. She was most recently Publicity Director at Disney Publishing Worldwide.

Julie Just, who became an Agent at Janklow & Nesbit in late 2010 after working at the NYT Book Review as Children’s Book Editor, is moving to Pippin Properties. Read More »

Posted in Book View • Tagged 29th Annual Literacy Partners Evening of Readings and Gala Dinner Dance, 39th Annual FIPP World Magazine Conference, Abbeville Press, Academic Pub, ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition, Aladdin, Albert Whitman, Angela Bole, Angela James, Annual Conference on the State of Higher Education, Atheneum, Audio Publishers Association Conference (APAC) at BookExpo America, Avon, BEA Bloggers at BookExpo America, Beach Lane, Beijing International Book Fair, Belgrade Book Fair, Bernadette Blanco, Book Industry Study Group (BISG), BookExpo America, Bookish, Bookworld Prague 2013, Brendan Cahill, Buenos Aires International Book Fair, Bumbershoot, Canongate, Carina Press/Harlequin, Carrie Swetonic, Cengage, Children's Choice Book Awards Gala, Christian Trimmer, Christina Abram, CIANA Remainder & Promotional Book Fair, Courtney Hodell, Dana Trombley, Diana Griffin, Dunow Carlson & Lerner, Dutton, Egmont USA, Eleanor Jackson, Eoin Colfer, Florrie Binford Kichler, Frankfurt Book Fair, FSG, Gallery Books, Geneva International Book Fair, George Lossius, Geri Thoma, Gotham Books, Grove/Atlantic, Hachette, HarperCollins, IDPF Digital Book Conference, Impulse, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), International Summit of the Book, Janklow & Nesbit, Jennifer Corcoran, Joan Strasbaugh, Jones Books, Julia Kenny, Julie Just, Katie Halata, Knopf, Kristin Dwyer, Laney Katz Becker, Liber International, Licensing Expo, Lippincott Massie McQuilkin, Little Brown Children's, Little Simon, Louise Russell, Lydia Finn, Maddie Caldwell, Maja Thomas, Margaret Coffee, Markson Thoma, Michael Cairns, MKM, Mo Willems, MPIBA Fall Trade Show, NAIBA Fall Conference, National Book Festival, National Stationery Show, New York Comic Con, New York Library Association (NYLA) Conference at BookExpo America, Nicole Russo, NYT Book Review, NYU Press, Open Road, Paul Bogaards, Paula Wiseman Books, PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, Pippin Properties, PNBA Tradeshow, Pocket Books, Publishers Launch Conference at BookExpo America, Publishing Business Conference and Expo, Publishing Technology, Random House, Rick Riordan, Romance Writers of America Conference, Running Press, S&S BFYR, S&S Books For Young Readers, San Diego Comic-Con West, Scholastic, Session 1, SharedBook, Shawn Nicholls, Simon Spotlight, Southampton Writers Conference, Southern Festival of Books, Tad Floridis, The Gourmet Housewares Show At NYIGF, Time Warner, Tokyo International Book Fair, Treadwell Media Group, uPublishU at BEA, Voyager, Walt Disney Company, Weed Literary, Yale Publishing Course, Zola Books

All Dressed Up with No Place to Go: The Renaissance of Argentinian Publishers VS. Global Isolationism

By Elisabeth Watson

April 25, 2013

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From April 25 to May 19, the Buenos Aires Book Fair will be welcoming readers and Spanish-language publishing professionals around the world, seeking, says the Fair’s Executive Director, Gabriela Adamo, “to reassure Argentina’s place as a leading country in the Spanish book industry.” Like every other part of the Spanish-language book industry, Argentina is feeling the effect of Spain’s suffering publishing industry. Add the country’s own high inflation and recent laws making it all but impossible to import books manufactured outside the country, and the situation seems dire.

While no one denies the extreme challenges, there is almost equally universal agreement among Argentinian publishing professionals that their industry is at a more exciting place now than it’s been since Argentina’s literary “golden age,” post-World War II. Despite the economic and legal challenges, many within the industry see specific ways that Argentina could very reasonably “reassure” its place in—and even help reshape—the global Spanish book industry if governmental policies shifted even slightly.

Argentinian book business’ greatest international challenge currently comes from the home front. In autumn 2011, faced with annual rates of inflation over 20% and taking a policy stance of “cultural sovereignty,” the Argentinian government introduced rigorous guidelines for all aspects of international trade. For the book industry, this means strict import quotas on the number of books manufactured outside Argentina and extensive chemical tests to the materials of those books that are imported, along with newly complicated procedures for sending international payments.

Posted in International • Tagged Alejandro Katz, Argentina, Astrid Lindgren Award, Baker and Taylor, Buenos Aires International Book Fair, Editorial Teseo, Eterna Cadencia, export, Gabriela Adamo, import, Irene Barki, Isol, John Bacon, Katz Editores, Leonora Djament, Octavio Kulesz, Sarte

How to Get Your Second Job in Publishing

By Kimberly Lew

April 16, 2013

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(Written from interviews conducted by Elisabeth Watson and Kimberly Lew)

Getting your foot in the door is important, but it’s also only the first step in building a career in the publishing industry. Though there have been many articles and stories about how to navigate a first job, very few delve into what happens next. How do you evaluate when you’re ready for a change? What is the best way to pursue a promotion? What do you do when unexpected opportunities to move up the ladder come knocking? In order to find out, we recently took a survey of a variety of publishing industry professionals who shared their second job experiences with us.

After finally getting that first real job, how does one identify when it’s time to move on? For Todd Berman, VP, Client Development at Random House, moving on to his next job has always been a matter of needing a new challenge, whether it was in publicity, marketing, sales, or even (his current position) client development. “Each job I approached I was somewhat unqualified for,” Todd admits. “Every few years, I want to learn something new or different, so when I see something of interest, I pursue it.” The drawback to this approach, of course, is that there is a sometimes a steep learning curve, especially since it might not just be the job title changing, but the department and house as well. The trick to finding new opportunities, Todd says, is to approach different departments and “get to know audiences and become a sponge for information.”

Others realized that it was time to move on when they saw that the job they had wouldn’t position them for the long-term career they really wanted. Claire Taylor, National Accounts Manager at Macmillan, and Bruce Nichols, SVP, Publisher at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, both got their starts at academic publishers but quickly realized that they needed to break out to fulfill their career aspirations. Though Bruce started in a coveted role as an Editorial Assistant at Little, Brown’s college division, he learned within six months of starting his first job (and in fact was told by many people in the Editorial department) “that the best way to move anywhere in College publishing was to get into Sales.” While Bruce’s eventual career in Sales provided him with the mobility he was looking for, he admits the importance of a first job, even (or especially) if it’s not perfect: “You know, I think if I’d applied for the sales position right out of college—even though it was the better position for me and for my career—I wouldn’t have gotten it. It was better to just get my foot in the door.” Read More »

Posted in Featured Articles • Tagged Bookspan, Bruce Nichols, Bruce Tracy, Candlewick, Carolyn Reidy, Charles Kim, Claire Taylor, DirectBrands, Doubleday, French Publishers' Agency, FSG, Gotham Ghostwriters, HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Kevin Bauer, Macmillan, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), National Design Museum, Oriana Leckert, Random House, Rebecca Saletan, Riverhead Books, Simon & Schuster, Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, Todd Berman, Value Books, Vintage, Wiley Blackwell, Workman

People Roundup, Mid-April 2013

By PT Editors

April 15, 2013

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PEOPLE

Random House has announced a multi-faceted book deal with Dave Zinczenko, formerly EVP, Editor-in-Chief of Men’s Health and General Manager of the Healthy Living Group and Rodale Books at Rodale, which includes a 3-book publishing deal with Ballantine, an imprint Zinc Ink within the Random House Publishing Group and a distribution deal for branded titles produced by his packaging company Galvanized Brands in association with American Media and others. Zinc Ink will be headed up jointly by Galvanized COO Stephen Perrine (formerly Publisher at Rodale Books) and BBD Publisher Libby McGuire.

As reported in Publishers Lunch, Vaughn Andrews will join Workman Publishing as Creative Director for the Workman imprint on April 22. Most recently a Freelance Designer, he worked for 26 years at Harcourt, including serving as Executive Art Director and Creative Director. Raquel Jaramillo, who has been acting Creative Director for two years, will return full time to her position as Director of Children’s Publishing.

Deb Futter has been named Publisher of Twelve in addition to her role as VP, Editor-in-Chief of Grand Central Publishing. As a result, Twelve Publisher Cary Goldstein has decided to pursue other interests. Cary joined Twelve at its inception, seven years ago.

Sam Tanenhaus has stepped down from his role as New York Times Book Review Editor to become Writer at Large. He is replaced by Pamela Paul, the Features Editor at the Book Review, whom Tanenhaus hired as Children’s Book Editor in 2011.

Maha Khalil has joined the Crown Publishing Group as the Marketing Director for Clarkson Potter, Potter Style, Potter Craft, Watson-Guptill and Amphoto. She joins Crown from Hyperion, where she was most recently the Director of Sales.

Judy Courtade is leaving her position as Associate Director of Client Services at Perseus Distribution and can be reached at judy@tcourtade.com

Eric Nelson, most recently Executive Editor at Wiley, has joined the Susan Rabiner Literary Agency as an Agent.

Laney Katz Becker has joined Lippincott Massie McQuilkin as an Agent. Previously, she was at Markson Thoma and before that, Folio Literary Management.

Tad Floridis has joined Zola Books as Director of International Business Development, with an initial mandate to take the company into the UK and British Commonwealth markets. Floridis was previously Co-founder and Associate Publisher of Canongate US.

Jhanteigh Kupihea will join Atria as Editor on April 22. Previously she was Associate Editor at NAL.

Lisa Vanterpool has joined InkWell Management as its Public Relations and Social Media Strategist; she worked previously for Blake Friedmann Literary Agency. Monika Woods has also joined InkWell as Assistant Literary Agent to Kimberly Witherspoon, who previously worked at Trident Media Group. Read More »

Posted in Book View • Tagged 29th Annual Literacy Partners Evening of Readings and Gala Dinner Dance, 39th Annual FIPP World Magazine Conference, Abrams, ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition, Allison Renzulli, American Media, Amphoto, Annual Conference on the State of Higher Education, Atria, Audio Publishers Association Conference (APAC) at BookExpo America, Ballantine, BEA Bloggers at BookExpo America, Beijing International Book Fair, Blake Friedmann Literary Agency, BookExpo America, Bookworld Prague 2013, Buenos Aires International Book Fair, Bumbershoot, Canongate, Carly Gorga, Carolan Raskin Workman, Cary Goldstein, Children's Choice Book Awards Gala, CIANA Remainder & Promotional Book Fair, Clarkson Potter, Crown Publishing Group, Dave Zinczenko, David Blatty, Deb Futter, Dervla Kelly, Eric Nelson, Folio Literary Management, Free Press, Galvanized Brands, Gary Freilich, Geneva International Book Fair, Grand Central Publishing, Harcourt, Healthy Living Group, Hyperion, IDPF Digital Book Conference, InkWell Management, International Summit of the Book, Jhanteigh Kupihea, Kevin Sweeting, Kimberly Witherspoon, Laney Katz Becker, Laura Dozier, Libby McGuire, Liber International, Licensing Expo, Lippincott Massie McQuilkin, Lisa Vanterpool, Maha Khalil, Mark Williams, Markson Thoma, Meg Cassidy, Men's Health, Monika Woods, NAIBA Fall Conference, NAL, National Book Festival, National Stationery Show, New York Library Association (NYLA) Conference at BookExpo America, PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, Peter Workman, Potter Craft, Potter Style, Publishers Launch Conference at BookExpo America, Publishers Lunch, Publishing Business Conference and Expo, Random House, Raquel Jaramillo, Rodale, Rodale Books, Romance Writers of America Conference, Samantha Weiner, San Diego Comic-Con West, Session 1, Southampton Writers Conference, Stephen Perrine, Susan Rabiner Literary Agency, Tad Floridis, The Gourmet Housewares Show At NYIGF, Tokyo International Book Fair, Trident Media Group, Twelve, uPublishU at BEA, Vaughn Andrews, Watson-Guptill, Wiley, Workman Publishing, Yale Publishing Course: Book, Yale Publishing Course: Magazine/Digital, Zinc Ink, Zola Books

Where Do We Go From Here?: A Survey on How to Get Your Second Job in Publishing

By PT Editors

April 9, 2013

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For almost four years, Publishing Trends’ most popular article has been a piece called “How to Get a Job in Publishing,” by Marian Schembari, a recent college grad who used her social media skills to land a job in book publicity. But getting a job in publishing is just a beginning—how and when does someone move on to the next big thing? If you’ve already got your foot in the door, where do you go from there?

With this in mind, we decided to take the next logical step and ask: “How did you get your second job in publishing?”—a change we chose to define as the first officially recognized title change, whether that was brought about by internal promotion, department change, or company switch. We compiled a survey with questions about the “second-job experience” and sent it to publishing professionals in all corners of the industry and at all points in their career. We wondered what that first career shift could tell us about what keeps young professionals in publishing, and how second jobs and the forces behind them have changed over the past four decades.

While our more in-depth interviews with participants are forthcoming, the initial data provides a striking portrait of a career milestone through time and in a wide variety of contexts.

WHO: The 650 carefully weighted surveys yielded a double digit response—some of them amazingly detailed—about careers that measured anywhere from three to forty-five years. Respondents currently work in companies that range from Big 6 publishers to indie presses, trade to textbooks, agencies to distributors, trade associations to national accounts, and hold titles that run the gamut from Associate to CEO.

WHERE: Among those surveyed, the greatest number began in Editorial, with 41% of responders having started there. Sales was runner-up with 20%, and Rights/Agencies were tied with Publicity, having each been the launchpad for 11% of our respondents. When they moved to their second job, 67% respondents said they moved departments, while 61% said that a second job meant moving to a different company altogether. Whether or not people moved departments seemed to vary depending on where they started: most people who started in Editorial stayed put in their department, with 68% of our respondents who started in Editorial saying they are still in the same department now. Those who started in Sales had higher turnover, with only 37% of respondents who started in Sales still working in that department now.

WHEN: The timeline for how long it took for people to get to what they considered their “second job” in publishing ranged from 6 months to 6 years, but averaged 1.75 years.

HOW: When it came to how the move to a second job was made, 59% said they “took direct action.” “Direct action” meant different things to different responders. Plenty of people said they made their desire to move up known to supervisors, or applied to job listings in-house or from other companies. Just as interesting are the number of job changes young workers didn’t go out of their way to obtain, but which were hardly part of their company’s typical career path. The most common example (and often the source of the most dramatic change) was a supervisor’s promotion or dismissal, pointing to the interconnectedness of individuals’ career paths.

But the meatiest questions begged for an in-depth conversation, so stay tuned to learn: How do people manage to make the leap? Why do people decide their next jobs should be in publishing at all? How does that first progression inform the career changes that come after?

Posted in Featured Articles • Tagged Big 6, CEO, Editorial, How to Get a Job in Publishing, Marian Schembari, publicity, Publishing Trends, Rights, sales, second job in publishing

People Roundup, April 2013

By PT Editors

April 1, 2013

Comments (4)

PEOPLE

As widely reported, Bob Miller has left Workman, where he was Group Publisher, and he may be reached at robert.s.miller56@gmail.com. He will “stay on as a consultant for ongoing projects until June.” Susan Bolotin has become Acting Publisher of the Workman imprint. Katie Workman will return to the company as an “active” participant, with her mother, Carolan.

Charlie Winton, Chairman, CEO and Publisher of Counterpoint, announced that he will step down as Publisher of the company. Rolph Blythe has been named Publisher of Counterpoint/Soft Skull and will begin at the Counterpoint offices in Berkeley on May 1, 2013. Winton will remain Chairman and CEO, and will also continue to acquire books as an Executive Editor-at-Large.

Christopher Sweet has gone to Thames & Hudson US as Editorial Director. He was previously at artnet.com and Abrams. Lauren Miller has been named Associate Marketing Director; she was previously at F+W.

Random House Children’s Books Editor-at-Large, Jim Thomas , will leave the company on April 5 to write full-time. Thomas will continue to work with RHCB and several authors on a freelance basis.

McGraw-Hill Education hired Mark Dorman as President of McGraw-Hill Education International. Most recently, he was President and CEO of Wolters Kluwer Law & Business. Philip Ruppel relinquishes that title but remains as President of McGraw-Hill Professional, a position he has held since 2007.

HarperCollins SVP, Publishing Transformation, Carolyn Pittis has left the company. She may be reached at Carolyn.pittis@yahoo.com. Meanwhile, Kate Jackson announced that Nancy Inteli has joined HarperCollins Children’s Early Childhood Group as Editorial Director. Previously, she was at Disney Book Group, where she was the Global Editorial Director. Kristen Pettit has joined Harper as Executive Editor; she was most recently with Razorbill. Alexandra Cooper joins as Executive Editor. She had been at S&S for thirteen years, most recently as Senior Editor. Tara Weikum has been promoted to Vice President, Editorial Director; she joined HarperCollins in September 2000.

Paul Harrington has been promoted to Vice President and Associate Publisher at CN Times. He was previously a National Accounts Manager at Oxford University Press. Sean Concannon has joined CN Times, Inc, the US subsidiary of Beijing Media Time, as Sales and Marketing Manager. He was previously Client Services Director at Sonnet Media. Helen Song has joined CN Times, Inc, as Executive Managing Editor. She was previously Editorial Production Manager at Continuum International Publishing Group.

Jeff Gomez, VP of Online Consumer Sales and Marketing at Penguin, has moved to Byliner as the Head of Writer Marketing, a new position. In his new role, Gomez — who was the Director of Internet Marketing at Holtzbrinck before he went to Penguin — will “work with the company’s team of accomplished editors to continue to grow the Byliner Writers Network,” according to the announcement.

Since Mark Suchomel left IPG earlier in March, where he had been President for 15 years, IPG has made a number of changes: Jeff Tegge has been promoted to EVP, where he will continue to coordinate the efforts of the IPG sales and marketing staff and look for additional sales opportunities outside of the book trade. Clark Matthews (son of majority owner Curt Matthews) moves up to VP, Digital Services, while Mark Noble has been promoted to VP, Publisher Relations.

Andrew Duncan has joined Grand Central on March 25 as Associate Director, Online Marketing, reporting to Matthew Ballast. He was most recently Senior Marketing Manager at Viking.

Betsy DeJesu has joined Basic Books as Assistant Director of Publicity. She was most recently at Oxford University Press where she was a Senior Marketing Manager.

Megan Perritt has joined Crown as Senior Publicist; she was previously at F&W Media. In addition, Rebecca Marsh has been named Publicist, moving from Simon & Schuster. At Crown/Hogarth, Zack Wagman has been promoted to Senior Editor, and Christine Kopprasch moves up to Associate Editor. Candice Chaplin has been named imprint Sales Director at Crown. Jacqueline Lebow has been appointed imprint Sales Director for publishing brands including RH Audio, Fodor’s Travel, Living Language, Princeton Review, and Prima Games.

Dave Bolen has joined Highlights Press, Inc. as Director of Sales. Previously, Bolen worked for Simon & Schuster, Levy Entertainment and Sourcebooks. Mary Colgan has joined the Highlights Book group in the newly created position of Senior Editor, Highlights Press. Colgan worked at Weldon Owen Publishers and Chronicle Books and will be based at the Highlights editorial offices in Honesdale, PA.

Craig Herman has moved to Iconix Brand Group as Executive Director, Publishing, Peanuts Worldwide, based in NYC. He was previously Associate Publisher at Running Press.

Martin Flanagan has moved from Ideals Publications, a division of Guideposts, after 26 years as President and VP of sales, and has joined APG Sales & Distribution located in Nashville as their Executive VP. He will be responsible for all day to day operations at APG and is actively recruiting new publisher distribution clients.

Following its sale to the Leon D. Black family last October, Managing Director Amanda Ridout announced her decision to leave Phaidon to pursue personal projects. Mary Albi has returned to Phaidon US as VP, leading their US operation and reporting to CEO David Davies. She had been VP, Sales & Marketing for Phaidon in the US previously until leaving in 2003. Albi has been Sales and Marketing Director at Egmont USA since 2009.

Ashleigh Gardner has joined Wattpad as Head of Content; she was previously Director, Content Management at Kobo. Wattpad also added two other members to their team: Candice Faktor as General Manager (formerly co-founder and VP of Corporate Development & New Ventures at Torstar Digital) and Charles Chan as Head of Engineering (formerly Director of Core Systems at Kobo).

Brandon Proia has joined the University of North Carolina Press as Acquisitions Editor. Previously he was an Editor at Public Affairs. Read More »

Posted in Book View • Tagged 29th Annual Literacy Partners Evening of Readings and Gala Dinner Dance, Abrams, ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition, Alexandra Cooper, Allison Worchte, Amanda d'Acierno, Amanda Ridout, Andrew Duncan, Anne Marie Tallberg, Annual Conference on the State of Higher Education, artnet.com, Audio Publishers Association Conference (APAC) at BookExpo America, Bangkok International Book Fair, Basic Books, BEA Bloggers at BookExpo America, Beijing Media Time, Betsy DeJesu, Bob Miller, BookExpo America, Bookworld Prague 2013, Brandon Proia, Buenos Aires International Book Fair, Byliner, Candice Chaplin, Carolan Workman, Carolyn Pittis, Charlie Winton, Christine Kopprasch, Christopher Sweet, Chronicle Books, Clark Matthews, CliffsNotes, CN Times, Continuum International Publishing Group, Counterpoint, Craig Herman, Crown, Curt Matthews, Dave Bolen, David Davies, Deanne Urmy, Disney Book Group, Dori Weintraub, Egmont, F&W, Fodor's, Fodor's Travel, Geneva International Book Fair, Grand Central, Greg Tubach, Harlequin Kimani, Harlequin Nonfiction, HarperCollins, Helen Song, Highlights Press, HMH, Hogarth, Holtzbrinck, Iconix Brand Group, IDPF Digital Book Conference, International Summit of the Book, IPG, Jacqueline Lebow, Jeanne-Marie Hudson, Jeff Dodes, Jeff Gomez, Jeff Tegge, Jim Thomas, Joe Goldschein, John Murphy, Kate Jackson, Katie Workman, Ken Carpenter, Kim Lauber, Knopf Books for Young Readers, Kristen Hewitt, Kristen Pettit, Laura Clark, Lauren Miller, LBF Digital Minds Conference 2013, Leon D. Black, Levy Entertainment, Licensing Expo, Lisa Senz, Living Language, Liz Rico, London Book Fair, Maria Ribas, Marina Padakis, Mariner, Mark Dorman, Mark Noble, Mark Suchomel, Mary Albi, Mary Colgan, Matt Baldacci, Matthew Ballast, McGraw-Hill Education, Megan Perritt, Michaela Sullivan, Michele Burke, Museum Store Association Conference and Expo, Nancy Inteli, Nancy Trypuc, National Stationery Show, New York Antiquarian Book Fair, New York Library Association (NYLA) Conference at BookExpo America, Oxford University Press, Paul Harrington, Paul Hochman, Peanuts Worldwide, PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, Penguin, Peter Workman, Phaidon, Philip Ruppel, Prima Games, Princeton Review, Public Affairs, Publishers Launch Conference at BookExpo America, Random House Children's Books, Razorbill, Rebecca Marsh, Rebecca Springer, RH Audio, Rolph Blythe, Romance Writers of America Conference, Running Press, Rux Martin, S&S, San Diego Comic-Con West, Sean Concannon, Session 1, Soft Skull, Sonnet Media, Sourcebooks, Southampton Writers Conference, St. Martin's Press, Susan Bolotin, Tara Weikum, Thames & Hudson, The Gourmet Housewares Show At NYIGF, Tokyo International Book Fair, Tolkien Projects, University of North Carolina Press, uPublishU at BEA, Viking, Webster's New World Dictionaries, Weldon Owen Publishers, Wolters Kluwer, Workman, Yale Publishing Course, Zack Wagman

Little Engines That Could: Children’s Publishers in Europe’s Smaller Markets

By Elisabeth Watson

March 20, 2013

Comments (1)

In anticipation of the Bologna International Book Fair, there’s no shortage of buzz about the fast-emerging kids’ markets in Asia, Latin America, and the Arab world, along with curiosity about how the traditional powerhouses of France, Spain, and Germany are faring. Falling somewhere in between, the smaller European territories are feeling the benefit of Asian markets hungry for content, but also the challenge of staying visible on the global scene as larger European countries develop their digital publishing industries, often at a faster rate.

All children’s publishers in these smaller territories conceded their relative good fortune in contrast to non-children’s publishing colleagues, due to parents’ (and even some governments’) unwillingness to cut corners on what they see as children’s cultural education. In Greece, says Dominique Sandis, Commissioning Editor at Psichigios Publications, juvenile “hasn’t felt the full extent of [the financial crisis’] wrath on publishing,” despite lower production numbers. Children’s publishers in those hardest-hit markets have suffered most in terms of the value of advances they are able to offer, agree Sandis and Hana Whitton, the Director of Oxford Literary in the UK , which represents many Hungarian and Baltic publishers. Several US Scouts and Rights Directors report that it’s only within the past 6 months that Greek publishers have started buying again, suggesting a hopeful upturn in business.

There is also concern over the production cost of small, four-color print runs, and over publishers’ attempts to absorb more costs by offering large discounts. “I’m worried people won’t recognize these prices as low anymore…and it will become impossible to produce good books, especially picture books, anymore,” says Eefje Buenen, Editor at Leopold in the Netherlands. In Finland, the number of children’s/YA titles has seen significant growth, but in a tiny country with tiny (expensive) print runs, the size of the market itself has held steady even as the variety of titles has increased, reports Outi Mäkinen, Director of Children and Juvenile Publishing at Tammi, Bonnier Finland.

Posted in International • Tagged Baltic Countries, Bologna Children's Book Fair, Bonnier, Bor the Beaver, Dominique Sandis, Eefje Buenen, Fifty Shades of Grey, Finland, Gyldendal, Hana Whitton, Heli Hottinen-Puukko, Hungary, Hunger Games, Kaya Hoff, Leopold, Mladinska knjiga, Moomins, Netherlands, Otava, Outi Mäkinen, Oxford Literary, Psichigios Publications, Rabén & Sjögren, Suzanne Öhman, Sweden, Tammi, Tove Jansson

People Roundup, March 2013

By PT Editors

March 4, 2013

Comments (1)

PEOPLE

Charlie Winton, Chairman, CEO and Publisher of Counterpoint, announced today that he will step down as Publisher of the company. Rolph Blythe has been named Publisher of Counterpoint/Soft Skull and will begin at the Counterpoint offices in Berkeley on May 1, 2013. Winton will remain Chairman and CEO, and will also continue to acquire books as an Executive Editor-at-Large.

Michele Martin will be joining Simon & Schuster as VP and Associate Publisher for the Gallery Books Group, reporting to Louise Burke. Martin was at S&S from 1994-1999 and has held positions at Avalon, Langenscheidt and Doubleday, where she created and oversaw the Main Street Books imprint. She will “work closely” with Jen Bergstrom, who was recently promoted to Publisher of Gallery Books.

Holly Dolce has joined Abrams as Executive Editor; she was formerly a Senior Editor and Producer at Melcher Media.

Twisne Fan is returning to Macmillan as Vice President, Trade Manufacturing and Production after 16 years at Simon & Schuster. Fan replaces Karen Gilles who is retiring.

The Frankfurt Book Fair has hired Michelle Turnbach as Sales Manager for English-language World, based in New York. She was previously with Baker & Taylor, working on their European and Southeast Asian retail opportunities. Also, NY-based Director of the German Book Office, Riky Stock, will add managing the Literary Agents and Scouts Centre at the book fair to her role.

Following its sale to the Leon D. Black family last October, Managing Director Amanda Ridout announced her decision to leave Phaidon to pursue personal projects.

As previously announced, Michael Palgon has left his position as EVP and Deputy Publisher at Crown Publishing Group. He can be reached at palgonm@gmail.com

Patricia Arancibia has joined Apple as head of the iBookstore‘s European operations. Previously, she was Editorial Director, International Acquisition & Relations – International Digital Content at Barnes & Noble.

Karina Mikhli has left On Demand Books for Triumph Learning to become Director of Content Operations. She may be reached at kmikhli@triumphlearning.com.

Margaret Coffee has left her position as VP, Sales at Albert Whitman. She had been at the company since 2009, and was previously at Scholastic. She can be reached at: mcoffee616@gmail.com. Read More »

Posted in Book View • Tagged Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, Al Greco, ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition, Albert Whitman, Amanda Ridout, Amistad, Annual Conference on the State of Higher Education, Atria, Avalon, Avideh Bashirrad, Baker & Taylor, Bangkok International Book Fair, BJ's, Bologna Children's Book Fair, BookExpo America, Books for a Better Life, Bookworld Prague 2013, Buenos Aires International Book Fair, Carson-Dellosa Publishing, Catherine Burke, Dawn Davis, Dial Pres, Doubleday, Frankfurt Book Fair, Gallery Books, Gallery Books Group, Geneva International Book Fair, German Book Office, Great American Bargain Book Show, HarperCollin, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, International Home and Housewares Show, Jen Bergstrom, Judy Harris, Karina Mikhli, Katherine Tiernan McCahill, Langenscheidt, LBF Digital Minds Conference 2013, Leigh Merchant, Leon D. Black, Licensing Expo, Little Brown, London Book Fair, Louise Burke, Main Street Books, Margaret Coffee, Michael Perlman, Michele Martin, Michelle Turnbach, Modern Library, Museum Store Association Conference and Expo, National Stationery Show, New York Antiquarian Book Fair, On Demand Books, PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, Penguin, Phaidon, Random House, Riky Stock, Romance Writers of America Conference, Salon du Livre (Paris Book Fair), Sam's Club, San Diego Comic-Con West, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, South by Southwest Interactive, Southanmpton Writers Conference, Sphere Fiction, Susan Kamil, Suzie Sisoler, Tokyo International Book Fair, Tom Perry, Toyko International Anime Fair, Triumph Learning, Twisne Fan, Yale Publishing Course: Magazine/Digital

AAP Annual Meeting: Fighting for Common Ground

By Lorraine Shanley

February 28, 2013

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At the annual Association of American Publishers meeting in New York on February 28, the topic was “Innovative Solutions for Historic Challenges,” and those ranged from education to the current congressional impasse, to copyright. Education critic and NYU professor Diane Ravitch was on hand to address the first, Senator Olympia Snowe discussed the second, and Richard Mollet, Chief Executive of the (UK) Publishers Association tackled the third. Before the program got started, members met to elect Carolyn Reidy to the role of Executive Chair of the AAP, from her position as Vice Chair.

Many publishers from both professional and trade houses were on hand, but the session was not as well attended as some in the past, despite the impressive speakers. Perhaps conflicts with some sales conferences caused the drop off. Nevertheless, Macmillan’s John Sargent, Perseus’ David Steinberger (who acted as MC with Tom Allen, President and CEO of AAP), HarperCollins’ Brian Murray, Hachette’s David Young, Reidy, Cengage’s Ronald Dunn and other CEOs were present.

Ravitch was particularly outspoken about the state of American elhi education, declaring at one point that “charter schools transfer public money to private ventures, undermine public schools, and work to destroy teacher unions.” She mentioned that, when she wrote her first book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System, numerous publishers turned it down (it was eventually published by Basic Books. Her next, Reign of Error, will be published by Knopf).

Snowe referred to the current congressional bipartisanship as “brinkmanship at its worst,” but on balance, she was hopeful that the country – and its leaders – are ready for change. Her book, Fighting for Common Ground, will be published by Weinstein Books in May.

Mollet was more focused on explaining what The Copyright Hub – a global digital copyright exchange initiative that would help potential licensors find the content’s copyright holders – would be able to do if all parties participated. As the Hub, which is a nonpartisan UK government sanctioned program, would include book, music and other content holders’ rights data, its successful launch would transform the global licensing business.

The meeting wrapped up shortly past 1 pm, and Tom Allen reminded participants that they should return again in 2014 – as soon as that date and venue is set. For details go to www.publishers.org

Posted in Events • Tagged Association of American Publishers, Basic Books, Brian Murray, Carolyn Reidy, Cengage, David Steinberger, David Young, Diane Ravitch, Fighting for Common Ground, Hachette, HarperCollins, John Sargent, Knopf, Macmillan, NYU, Olympia Snowe, Perseus, Publishers Association, Reign of Error, Richard Mollet, Ronald Dunn, The Copyright Hub, The Death and Life of the Great American School System, Tom Allen, Weinstein Books

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