The Bookseller newsletters

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Latest headlines for the book industry Illustrate your listings in the upcoming Buyer’s Guides—click here to find out more.

November 20, 2020

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LATEST NEWS Douglas Stuart's Booker Prize win welcomed by booksellers Booksellers have welcomed the decision to award Scottish author Douglas Stuart the Booker Prize for his “beautiful, heart-breaking” debut Shuggie Bain (Picador), hailed by judges as a future classic. Redundancies at Laurence King Publishing following Hachette buy Hachette has confirmed that it is in consultation with members of Laurence King Publishing staff, following its acquisition of the arts and gifts specialist earlier this autumn.  Weldon 'optimistic' amid pandemic as consumer demand soars Penguin Random House UK c.e.o. Tom Weldon has praised the resilience of the book trade in an interview at FutureBook 2020. Agents round on Amazon and publishers' Kindle Unlimited push Four leading literary agents have warned of Amazon’s increased dominance following the lockdown and the decision of some major houses to put books into Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited e-book subscription scheme at a time when the wider ecosystem has become more fragile. Succession star Brian Cox's memoir pre-empted by Quercus Quercus has pre-empted a “seminal” debut memoir from award-winning actor and “Succession” star Brian Cox. Lockdown drives 'explosive' online sales across formats, says BookStat's Abbassi The past six months have seen “explosive” online sales with print books up by 45%, e-books by 30% and audio increasing 28%, according to figures from Bookstat c.e.o. Paul Abbassi. Bonnier buys majority stake in Norway's Strawberry Publishing Bonnier Books has acquired a majority stake in Norwegian publishing group Strawberry Publishing AS. Stephanie Purcell joins Bloomsbury Stephanie Purcell, group rights director at Simon & Schuster, has been appointed group rights director at Bloomsbury. Yasmin joins Good Literary Agency Rukhsana Yasmin is joining The Good Literary Agency (TGLA) as an associate agent focusing on non-fiction but also building a select fiction list, particularly genre, literary and speculative fiction. Galley Beggar nets Ellmann essay collection Galley Beggar is to publish an essay collection from Lucy Ellmann, Things Are Against Us.    Yu, Payne, Callender, Mosley win at 71st National Book Awards During the first 30 years of the National Book Awards in the US, only three writers of colour won prizes; last night, at the (virtual) 71st instalment, almost every person who took home a book award was Black or Asian. Muswell Press launches competition for queer writing anthology Muswell Press is launching a global competition for entries to a new anthology, exploring queer love and life, in memory of publisher Sarah Beal's trans daughter, Lucy-Jack Reynolds.

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Latest headlines for the book industry FutureBook 2020: click here for the full progamme.

November 19, 2020

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LATEST NEWS Mann looks to positive industry developments brought about by pandemic Bonnier Books UK c.e.o. Perminder Mann has suggested, for all of the damage caused by the pandemic, the industry's long-term prospects may have improved, with the industry having "future-proofed" itself. Pearson creates new division focused on D2C relationship building Pearson has created a new direct-to-consumer division, hiring senior talent from Warner Bros to help lead it.  Embrace streaming to stay relevant, Tellander tells publishers Hesitant UK and US publishers need to move into audiobook streaming to stay relevant, and maintain premium pricing in the face of interest from music services such as Spotify, Storytel's c.e.o. Jonas Tellander has warned. Cape wins debut by psychiatrist and comedian Benji Waterhouse Jonathan Cape has triumphed in a nine-publisher auction for a “fly-on-the-padded-wall” debut from junior psychiatrist and comedy writer Benji Waterhouse. Stanfords smashes fundraising target to secure future Travel specialist Stanfords has smashed its £120,000 fundraising target to secure its future until at least spring 2021 after a deluge of donors came forward. HarperCollins to release unpublished Tolkien 'treasure trove' HarperCollins is to publish a “treasure trove” of a previously unseen collection of writings exploring Middle-earth penned by J R R Tolkien, in the decades after The Lord of the Rings was published. Retail shifting towards ethical spending, Bookshop.org's Vanderbilt says Customer behaviour is shifting towards ethical consumerism while online becomes much more than a “hits business”, Bookshop.org's UK m.d. Nicole Vanderbilt has said. William Collins wins five-way fight for Marçal's feminist economic exposé William Collins has won a five-way auction for a feminist exposé of the economy by journalist Katrine Marçal.  Nielsen details lockdown impact on audio consumption at FutureBook Lockdown was a key factor driving new consumers to try audiobooks in 2020 and helped increase listening among longer term listeners, according to hot-off-the-press data from Nielsen. Electric Monkey pre-empts collaboration from six YA authors Electric Monkey, the YA imprint of Egmont Books, has pre-empted Blackout, a collaboration between six black authors: Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon.  Two more Brontë mysteries for Hodder Hodder & Stoughton has acquired two more books in The Brontë Mysteries series by Rowan Coleman, who will continue to publish the books under the pen name Bella Ellis. British Book Awards crowned Event of the Year at PPA Awards The Nibbies has won Event of the Year at this year's Professional Publishers Association's Independent Publisher Awards.

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Latest headlines for the book industry FutureBook 2020: click here for the full progamme.

November 18, 2020

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LATEST NEWS Lockdown's online shift fuelling 'crazy' market for big name authors, Redmayne says A “seismic shift” to online shopping during the pandemic has fuelled a “crazy” market for acquisitions of big names, HarperCollins UK c.e.o. Charlie Redmayne has said. New York Times reports News Corp bid for S&S Rupert Murdoch's media giant News Corp has made a bid for Simon & Schuster, according to a report in the New York Times. Bologna moves to June 2021 as Thomas appointed for new conference The Bologna Children's Book Fair has changed its 2021 dates to 14th–17th June and appointed Jacks Thomas, formerly of the London Book Fair, as guest director of a new general publishing conference. 'Strong' first-day sales of Obama memoir online, says Waterstones Waterstones has seen "strong" online orders for A Promised Land (Viking), with the title also at number one in Amazon's bestseller charts. Code Name Bananas keeps top spot as lockdown hits data David Walliams and Tony Ross' Code Name Bananas (HarperCollins) has swung into a second week in the UK Official Top 50 number one spot.  Non-essential retail to close in 11 areas of Scotland Eleven areas in Scotland are being moved to tier four restrictions, meaning all non-essential shops have to close, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced. Halls hails Bookshop site as 'game-changer' for indies New retail website Bookshop.org has been hailed as a “game-changer” by Booksellers Association m.d. Meryl Halls while its founder has said more features are on the way. Focus on the customer to grow audiences, Shurin urges Jared Shurin, author, editor and head of strategy at M&C Saatchi World Services, has urged publishers and booksellers to focus on customer insight to grow and retain their audiences.  'Much work to do': pay transparency and hiring processes must change now, FutureBook hears Ensuring transparency around pay, demystifying the hiring process and giving illustrators the recognition they deserve are among the most fundamental changes the industry needs to make now, delegates at The Bookseller's FutureBook conference heard. Harvill Secker wins eight-publisher battle for Faloyin Harvill Secker has triumphed in an eight-publisher auction for the “invigoratingly original” Africa Is Not A Country by Dipo Faloyin. Kyle to publish 'manual for modern parenting' by influencer Shearsmith Kyle Books, part of the Octopus Publishing Group, will publish Mummin’ It by "Toby and Roo" blogger Harriet Shearsmith in April 2021. UK's most remote bookshop sold to new owners Achins Book Shop and Coffee Shop, thought to be the UK's most remote book retailer, has been sold to new owners six years after appearing on the market.

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Latest headlines for the book industry FutureBook 2020: click here for the full progamme.

November 17, 2020

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LATEST NEWS Shelley warns of 'tougher' 2021 in store for the trade Hachette UK c.e.o. David Shelley has warned 2021 could be a "tougher" year for the industry than 2020, in an interview with The Bookseller's editor Philip Jones at FutureBook 2020.  Marcus Rashford launches book club with Macmillan Children’s 'for every child' England International footballer and child poverty campaigner Marcus Rashford MBE is joining the Macmillan Children’s Books list, publishing a range of books across fiction and non-fiction for children aged five to 18 while also rolling out his own book club with the publisher. FutureBook: Abbey calls for industry to expand what it considers 'normal' The industry needs to expand what it considers "normal", breaking a current way of thinking which considers black authors niche and prevents books representing society, Black Writers' Guild co-founder Nels Abbey has said. Fourth Estate lands Franzen trilogy with new novel released October 2021 Fourth Estate will publish Jonathan Franzen’s new novel Crossroads, the first in a trilogy, in the UK in October 2021. BA Conference moves to September 2021 The next Booksellers Association Conference and Gardners Trade Show will take place on 12th and 13th September 2021 at Jurys Inn Hotel and Conference Centre, Hinckley Island. Booming audiobook market can accommodate new entrants, Bar-Kar tells FutureBook The audiobook sector's boom means it will be able to accommodate Spotify's move into the market but publishers are still only just realising the sector's potential, Bookwire's Videl Bar-Kar has said. Hodder & Stoughton lands Rutherfurd's 'best novel to date' Hodder & Stoughton will publish China, the latest historical novel by Edward Rutherfurd.  Transworld buys doctor's memoir of 'unwavering resilience' Transworld has bought a memoir by Dr Waheed Arian, billed as "the powerful story of a boy who dreamed about helping others, a tale of courage, ambition and unwavering resilience against all odds". Adele Parks signs film deal with Netflix series producers Adele Parks has struck a film deal with the producers of a series of hit Netflix franchises. Pan Mac nets two from ex-MI5 officer Marcus Pan Mac has netted two novels from Tom Marcus, a former MI5 surveillance officer whose identity is kept under wraps for his own safety. Faber bags book on Gertrude Stein from Francesca Wade Faber is to publish two non-fiction titles by editor and author Francesca Wade, including one on Gertrude Stein.  SelfMadeHero launches Draw Your Bookshop lockdown campaign Graphic novel publisher SelfMadeHero is launching a social media campaign calling for artists to support bookshops with a drawing of their favourite store.

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Latest headlines for the book industry Join 1,200 of your colleagues at FutureBook 2020 here.

November 16, 2020

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LATEST NEWS Total book sales fell 11% in first-half, PA stats show Total book sales across the industry fell by 11% in the first six months of 2020, despite a big increase for fiction and a surge in digital formats, figures released by the Publishers Association (PA) show. Obama to appear in interview with Olusoga on BBC1 Penguin Random House UK has revealed a major BBC TV and radio package it has been working on with the BBC for A Promised Land will include an interview between Barack Obama and historian and broadcaster David Olusoga. Shuggie Bain leads Booker Prize shortlist in sales Douglas Stuart's Shuggie Bain (Picador) is the bestseller of the 2020 Booker shortlist heading into the week of the announcement, though sales across this year's nominees are much more evenly spread than last year. Job cuts on the way as Frankfurt Book Fair considers future plans The Frankfurt Book Fair has warned job cuts are on the way as director Juergen Boos outlined future “modernising” plans that will see virtual events play a larger part in future fairs. PRH launches Christmas campaign with Bookshop and Neighbourly Penguin Random House has launched a Christmas campaign that will see it donate books to food banks and other good causes when customers buy selected titles through Bookshop.org. Hamish Hamilton to publish sequel to Barker's The Silence of the Girls Hamish Hamilton has acquired Pat Barker's The Women of Troy, the "eagerly awaited" sequel to The Silence of the Girls (Penguin, 2019).  New Franzen trilogy announced in US Jonathan Franzen is set to return in the US next year with Crossroads, the first novel in a new trilogy from the author. PA's week-long #WorkInPublishing campaign launches for 2020 The Publishers Association’s Work in Publishing campaign, aimed at encouraging young people between the ages of 14 and 24 to pursue a career in publishing, takes place this week (16th–20th November), involving publishers including HarperCollins, Penguin Random House and Hachette UK. Aster prescribed one from Dr Alex George Aster, part of the Octopus Publishing Group, has acquired the debut book from A&E doctor and broadcaster Dr Alex George.  Angelique Tran Van Sang to join Felicity Bryan Associates Angelique Tran Van Sang is joining Felicity Bryan Associates as an agent at the beginning of March 2021. Kamala Harris added to line-up for Little People, Big Dreams series The Quarto Group's Frances Lincoln Children’s Books imprint has added US vice-president-elect Kamala Harris to its Little People, Big Dreams list for 2021.  Legend Times releases lockdown stories for NHS Charities Together Legend Times is releasing a collection of poems, artwork and prose about life during the pandemic, curated by a group of volunteers, with all proceeds donated to NHS Charities Together.

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The most read stories of the week

 

 

Our round-up of the most read stories of the past week on The Bookseller: 1. Online retailer Bookshop.org racks up £415k sales in launch week (£) 2. Daunt warns 'Today' programme of Christmas threat to indies 3. Obama memoir's revelations shared as CNN obtains copy ahead of publication 4. Wildfire appoints Butler as Stevenson departs 5. HCG pre-empts Sagar's magical middle-grade fantasy in six-figure deal 6. Myth and folklore the pick of festive trends in children's 7. Nature writer Melissa Harrison's children's debut to Chicken House 8. HCG acquires Dr Ranj Singh's guide to puberty for boys 9. Goldsmiths Prize won by Harrison for 'literary masterpiece' 10. Picador bags Gillett's 'shocking' dance music history

 

Connect with us: . The Bookseller, The Stage Media Company Ltd, 47 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XT. Registered No. 02316307. Subscriptions: 01371 851879

Latest headlines for the book industry Join 1,200 of your colleagues at FutureBook 2020: last chance to book here. For company-wide bookings, contact emma.lowe@thebookseller.com

November 13, 2020

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LATEST NEWS Obama's memoir revelations shared as CNN obtains copy ahead of publication A copy of Barack Obama's memoir A Promised Land has been obtained by CNN, seeing key contents of the book shared widely ahead of Tuesday's publication date. It has also been reviewed by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for the New York Times. Trade backs bookshops as ‘essential retail’, but shop-floor staffers voice concern The new lockdown laws forcing bookshops in England to close has led some to call for them to be allowed to open as essential retail—but those on the frontline have other ideas. Meryl Halls named FutureBook Person of the Year The Booksellers Association managing director Meryl Halls has been named FutureBook’s Person of the Year for 2020, an award that recognises those individuals making a real difference in their sectors. Faber records 'second best year' with £20m-plus turnover Faber has reported "another exceptionally good year" in its latest annual results to the end of March 2020, producing the second-best turnover in the company’s history, bolstered by sales of Sally Rooney and its most successful year to date for the Academy.  Barack Obama and Duchess of Cornwall join Booker Prize ceremony Barack Obama, the Duchess of Cornwall and Kazuo Ishiguro will be among the star speakers at this year's Booker Prize ceremony. Cockleberry Bay author Nicola May moves to traditional publishing with Hodder Bestselling self-published author Nicola May has signed with Hodder & Stoughton to publish a new character-driven series, based around a fictitious street market in Cornwall. Mark Wright fitness guide to Thorsons Thorsons has snared “the ultimate guide” to getting in shape from TV star Mark Wright. Penguin Michael Joseph lands two more from Jónasson Penguin Michael Joseph has bought two new books from Scandinavian crime author Ragnar Jónasson.  HarperCollins reveals Saving Missy paperback campaign HarperCollins has revealed its marketing and publicity campaign plans for the paperback edition of Saving Missy by Beth Morrey, including early activity marking World Kindness Day. Mairi Kidd made Seven Stories c.e.o. Mairi Kidd, previously m.d. at Barrington Stoke and head of literature at Creative Scotland, has been appointed c.e.o. of the Newcastle-based National Centre for Children's Books, Seven Stories. Transworld and Ernest Jones launch Kinsella campaign Transworld has teamed up with jewellery and watch chain Ernest Jones in a promotional campaign for Sophie Kinsella's new book Love Your Life. Parodi joins Europa Editions in new sales and marketing role Caro Parodi, formerly of Octopus Books, is joining Europa Editions UK in the newly created role of sales and marketing manager.

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Latest headlines for the book industry FutureBook 2020: click here for the full progamme.

November 12, 2020

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LATEST NEWS WHS makes loss in pandemic year as revenues plunge W H Smith made a headline loss of £68m in the year to end August 2020, according to its preliminary annual results released today (Thursday 12th November).  Online retailer Bookshop.org generates £100k for indies in nine days Online retailer Bookshop.org has generated more than £100,000 in profit for indie booksellers in just nine days of trading, with 25,000 customers using the website. Shipping shortages and price hikes challenge publishers printing in Far East Publishers who print in the Far East are experiencing delays which can extend to several weeks on shipments amid global shipping shortages. Freight rates on Asia–Europe routes are also rising to "unprecedented levels", say trade insiders. Goldsmiths Prize won by Harrison for 'literary masterpiece' M John Harrison has won the £10,000 Goldsmiths Prize for The Sunken Land Begins to Rise Again (Gollancz), a genre-blurring tale of broken life in Brexit Britain hailed by judges as a “literary masterpiece”. Adichie named Women's Prize 'Winner of Winners' Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been crowned the Women’s Prize for Fiction ‘Winner of Winners’ for her novel Half of a Yellow Sun (HarperCollins). Sharon Stone’s 'powerful and deeply moving' memoir to Allen & Unwin Allen & Unwin, an imprint of Atlantic Books, has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to The Beauty of Living Twice by Sharon Stone. Cowell and BookTrust reveal pairings for Pass The Pen campaign BookTrust Represents and Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell have revealed the pairings for #PassThePen, a social media campaign designed to help promote visibility, champion new voices and generate book sales for emerging authors and illustrators of colour. Shaw appointed Orion's publishing operations director Bartley Shaw has been appointed publishing operations director for Orion. Lokko moves to Pan Mac with two novels Lesley Lokko is moving from Orion to Pan Macmillan with two “intoxicating” multi-generational novels. Raven Books acquires two more from Turton in 'major' deal Raven Books has acquired two new high-concept novels by Stuart Turton.  Daunt Books signs collection from Booker contender Taylor Daunt Books Publishing has signed Filthy Animals, the first short story collection from 2020 Booker Prize shortlistee Brandon Taylor. Faber signs King's 'landmark' Welsh history Faber has signed Brittle with Relics: A History of Wales, 1962–1997, billed as a “landmark” new work by Richard King.

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Latest headlines for the book industry FutureBook 2020: click here for the full progamme.

November 11, 2020

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LATEST NEWS Daunt warns 'Today' programme of Christmas threat to indies Waterstones m.d. James Daunt has reiterated his claims bookshops should be considered essential retailers and warned some indies will go out of business if they don't get vital Christmas trade. O'Farrell, McAnulty, Turton win at Books Are My Bag awards Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet (Tinder Press) has been named the public’s favourite book of the year in the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards. Walliams and Ross move into top spot with Code Name Bananas David Walliams and Tony Ross' Code Name Bananas (HarperCollins) has gone straight to the UK Official Top 50 number one spot, with 89,558 copies sold. EC brings anti-trust charges against Amazon European Union regulators have brought anti-trust charges against Amazon, accusing the retail giant of using sensitive data from the third-party sellers who use its marketplace to gain unfair advantage for its own retail business.  BookTrust and CLPE report small improvements for representation in children's books Representation in children’s books is still not reflective of society, according to reading charity BookTrust and the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE). Wildfire appoints Butler as Stephenson departs In a slew of changes to its editorial team, Wildfire Books has appointed Jack Butler from Amazon Publishing as fiction publisher, while editorial director Kate Stephenson is leaving to go freelance.  Four jobs go at The Reading Agency as coronavirus hits charity sector earnings The Reading Agency has confirmed it has made four redundancies as the coronavirus crisis hits the funds available to the charity sector. Kamala Harris paperback brought forward by Vintage Vintage is bringing forward the paperback publication of Kamala Harris memoir The Truths We Told: An American Journey after she became vice-president-elect of the US earlier this month. W&N swoops for Italian bestseller The Hummingbird Weidenfeld & Nicolson has acquired world English rights in Sandro Veronesi's Italian bestseller The Hummingbird, translated by Elena Pala.   Storytel pursues ambitious growth as streaming sales leap 23% in third quarter Audiobook streaming service Storytel has released its financial results for the third quarter, revealing its streaming sales have risen 23% and its subscriber base is up 34%. HCG pre-empts Sagar's magical middle-grade fantasy in six-figure deal Hachette Children’s Group has pre-empted a "magical" middle-grade fantasy series from debut author Andy Sagar in a six-figure deal. Amazon Charts: Walliams slips into Most-Sold: Fiction top spot David Walliams and Tony Ross' Code Name Bananas (HarperCollins) has bounced up five places to claim the Amazon Charts' Most-Sold: Fiction number one spot, in the same week it sold 89,558 copies through Nielsen BookScan's TCM.

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Latest headlines for the book industry FutureBook 2020: click here for the full progamme.

November 10, 2020

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LATEST NEWS BA calls for bookshops to be classified essential retailers The Booksellers Association (BA) has written to key government ministers and Lords calling for bookshops be classed as essential retailers, allowing them to reopen during lockdown in England. Conville and Vyner launch Francis Bacon-inspired imprint Agent Claire Conville and author Harriet Vyner have launched Cheerio, a new imprint and film production company commissioning work inspired by the artist Francis Bacon.  Six roles at risk as Reach publishing team takes over Mirror Books All six roles at Mirror Books have been placed at risk of redundancy as the imprint is taken over by the Reach publishing team. HarperCollins pre-empts trilogy from Dirty Diana podcast creators HarperCollins has pre-empted an "irresistible" trilogy based on the hit feminist erotic podcast "Dirty Diana", which stars Demi Moore. Ellis-Brown becomes HarperNorth editor-at-large Former Trapeze senior commissioning editor Katie Ellis-Brown is now working for HarperNorth as the new imprint's editor-at-large. Jones joins Dead Ink as interim publisher Laura Jones, co-founder of 404 Ink, is joining Dead Ink as interim publisher this month as director Nathan Connolly prepares to take parental leave. Puffin launches animated advert for gift-giving campaign An animated advert celebrating 80 years of Puffin authors, illustrators and stories has been launched to mark the publisher's gift-giving campaign this winter. Crime writers star in Ware's interactive mystery event Vintage will be hosting an interactive locked room mystery event with a script written by Ruth Ware during lockdown, featuring fellow crime writers including Steve Cavanagh, Dorothy Koomson and Abir Mukherjee. Tinder Press wins Patterson's 'heartbreaking yet joyful' memoir Tinder Press has won at auction Christina Patterson’s next book, Outside, the Sky is Blue: A Memoir of Faith, Hope and Loss. Europa to publish Kobby Ben Ben's 'bold' Ghana-set novel Europa Editions UK is publishing No One Dies Yet, a "bold" and "genre-breaking" novel by Kobby Ben Ben, set in Ghana's capital of Accra during 2019, the Year of Return. Tiny Owl announces crowdfunder to survive effects of pandemic Independent publisher Tiny Owl, which specialises in diverse picture books for children, is launching an emergency crowdfunding campaign to survive the pandemic. HarperVoyager wins four-way auction for 'delicious' Dean debut HarperVoyager has won a four-publisher auction for three titles, including horror fantasy The Book Eaters, from debut author Sunyi Dean.

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Latest headlines for the book industry FutureBook 2020: click here for the full progamme.

November 09, 2020

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LATEST NEWS Online retailer Bookshop racks up £415k sales in launch week In its first week of operation in the UK, website Bookshop.org has sold £415,000 worth of books to more than 20,000 customers. Parliamentary committee launches inquiry into freedom of expression The UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights has opened an inquiry into the issue of freedom of expression, in part seeking to address if hate speech law is in need of an update. It is inviting interested parties to contribute written evidence by 6th December. S&S revenues up 29% in third quarter Worldwide sales at Simon & Schuster have leapt by 29% in the third quarter, increasing from $217m in the same period in 2019, to $279m this year.  Myth and folklore the pick of festive trends in children's A number of independent and smaller publishers have revealed the titles they are backing to be a hit over Christmas, with myths prominent. The Bookseller survey: working during a second lockdown With most of the British Isles going back into lockdown over the past few weeks, The Bookseller is inviting people from across the trade to share their thoughts and experiences. Osman's debut novel announced as W H Smith Book of the Year Richard Osman's debut crime novel The Thursday Murder Club (Viking) has been named W H Smith's Book of the Year for 2020.  HCG acquires Dr Ranj Singh's guide to puberty for boys Hachette Children’s Group has acquired a "comprehensive" and "reassuring" guide to puberty for boys by NHS consultant paediatrician and TV presenter Dr Ranj Singh.  Toppings bookshop to expand in move to listed building Bath bookshop Toppings & Company is to move to a listed Georgian building, and will begin expansion building works next year.  Motherhood poetry collection to Trapeze Books Trapeze has signed a collection of poems on motherhood, edited by Ana Sampson, including work from classic poets such as Sylvia Plath and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, as well as new voices Nikita Gill and Kate Baer. Ebury swoops for Dench's Flight Ebury Press has swooped for Sacha Dench's Flight, an account of her 7,000km journey in a paraglider with a propeller strapped to her back, to follow and help to save the Bewick’s swan. Picador bags Gillett's 'shocking' dance music history Picador has bagged a “shocking, enlightening and engaging” social and political history of dance music in the UK by journalist and film-maker Ed Gillett. Trigger to launch new mental health series in 2021 Specialist mental health publisher Trigger Publishing is launching a new book series next year, focusing on "empowering people to help others with their mental health".

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The most read stories of the week

 

 

Our round-up of the most read stories of the past week on The Bookseller: 1. Bookshop.org launches with 150 stores 2. Daunt looks to click and collect as lockdown 'game changer' (£) 3. Retail site Bookshop makes £65k sales on UK launch day (£) 4. LBF moves in June 2021, Ventris made director 5. PRH announces WriteNow cohort of unpublished authors 6. Hachette UK hails 'stellar' quarter but Lagardère sees revenue plunge 38.3% 7. Support builds for Adeola’s illustrator credits campaign 8. First Bookshop Heroes list unveiled 9. McAnulty, Bennett and O’Farrell make Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist 10. HarperCollins UK drops embargo for latest Walliams book

 

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Latest headlines for the book industry FutureBook 2020: click here for the full progamme.

November 06, 2020

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LATEST NEWS First Bookshop Heroes list unveiled A new annual initiative celebrating the best of bookselling in the UK and Ireland sees 29 Bookshop Heroes hailed for their efforts in reaching readers with books—and beyond. Nielsen numbers reveal further audio growth as listeners rise in lockdown The most recent instalment of Nielsen’s Books & Consumers survey posits that audio sales have grown by 15.8% in the past 12 months, after gains in lockdown. Bourne unites authors in bookshop support campaign Author Holly Bourne has launched a campaign to support bookshops during lockdown, involving more than 300 writers so far.  "At Home with Four Indies" wins FutureBook Team of the Year award The four booksellers behind the "At Home with Four Indies" initiative have been named as FutureBook’s Team of the Year.  Richard Osman to write two more Thursday Murder Club books for Viking Richard Osman, whose first novel The Thursday Murder Club this week becomes the fastest selling adult crime debut since records began, has signed a deal with Viking for two more books in the series. New Sebastian Faulks novel to Hutchinson Hutchinson and Vintage have acquired Snow Country, a new novel by Sebastian Faulks that he has been wanting to write for at least a decade. Koomson to demystify book world with podcast series and platform Dorothy Koomson has launched a new writers' guide platform and podcast series that aims to demystify the book world. PPC's mentoring scheme returns for fifth year The Publishers’ Publicity Circle (PPC) has announced the return of its mentoring scheme for the fifth year, open to publicists at all levels. Quadrille bags 'Blank' podcast companion book Quadrille has acquired the companion book to hit podcast “Blank” by writer Giles Paley-Phillips and comedian Jim Daly, detailing those moments when things just aren’t going right. FCBG picks environmental theme for National Non-Fiction November ​The Federation of Children’s Book Groups is asking schools and libraries to share books about the planet we live on as part of National Non-Fiction November.  L J Ross launches Read, Write, Walk North East Author L J Ross is to launch an arts initiative, offering community grants, promoting literacy and encouraging tourism in the north-east.  Hodder nets 'twisty and compulsive' Jayatissa thriller Hodder & Stoughton has acquired Sri Lankan author Amanda Jayatissa’s debut thriller, My Sweet Girl, in a two-book deal.

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Latest headlines for the book industry FutureBook 2020: click here for the full progamme.

November 05, 2020

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LATEST NEWS Hachette UK hails 'stellar' quarter but Lagardère sees revenue plunge 38.3% Hachette UK has reported a “stellar” third quarter with year-on-year growth of 15.6% and record download revenue for e-books and audio. PRH 'disappointed' as gender pay gap widens Penguin Random House has said it is “disappointed” after the company's gender pay gap widened by 2.1% over the past year, but insists new initiatives mean it is making long-term progress. Publishers split on LBF's decision to reschedule Publishers have expressed mixed views on the London Book Fair's decision to postpone from March to late June 2021, with some welcoming the development while others complained the timing disrupts the natural rhythm of the publishing calendar. CILIP calls on government for 'evidence-driven' Covid response on libraries CILIP has welcomed the recognition of public libraries as "essential services", but the professional body has called for "better use of evidence" in HM Government’s Covid-19 response and expressed concern members could be exposed to "undue risk". Hachette backs bookshops' online sales of Rowling's Ickabog Hachette Children's Books has said the publisher will be "pivoting" promotional plans for J K Rowling's The Ickabog to support closed bookshops. Support builds for Adeola’s illustrator credits campaign ​More than 500 authors and illustrators have signed a letter by illustrator Dapo Adeola asking the BBC and the wider media to credit illustrators.  Katherine Armstrong joins S&S adult fiction Katherine Armstrong is to join Simon & Schuster UK as deputy publishing director in the adult fiction department.  PRH announces WriteNow cohort of unpublished authors Penguin Random House UK has revealed the 14 unpublished and underrepresented writers invited to join this year’s WriteNow editorial programme. Saraband launches 'food bank book bundles' for Trussell Trust Manchester-based independent publisher Saraband is to launch "food bank book bundles" as part of their online shop, in partnership with the Trussell Trust. HC snaps up Clarke's 'killer' thriller in two-book deal HarperCollins has snapped-up The Hen Weekend, a “killer” new thriller by Lucy Clarke, in a two-book deal. Comedian Norcott's 'smart' memoir to Monoray Monoray, part of the Octopus Publishing Group, has acquired Where Did I Go Right?: How The Left Lost Me by comedian and writer Geoff Norcott.  Jacaranda launches online book festival Independent publisher and bookseller Jacaranda is to launch an online book festival in December, celebrating a new wave of black British authors.

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Latest headlines for the book industry FutureBook 2020: click here for the full progamme.

November 04, 2020

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LATEST NEWS LBF moves to June 2021, Ventris made director The London Book Fair is to take place from 29th June to 1st July 2021, it has been confirmed. It comes as Andy Ventris is named the fair's new director.  Stanfords launches crowdfunder as coronavirus puts future in 'grave danger' London map and travel book specialist Stanfords has launched a £120,000 crowdfunding campaign and warned that the coronavirus crisis has put its future in “grave danger”. Hachette UK unveils Ethnicity Pay Gap Action Plan Hachette UK has revealed an Ethnicity Pay Gap Action Plan, sharing what it is doing to address diversity and inclusion in areas of recruitment, progression, retention and representation. Lee and Andrew Child's The Sentinel stands guard in top spot Lee Child's 25th Jack Reacher title The Sentinel (Bantam), written with his brother Andrew, has gone straight to the UK Official Top 50 number one spot, with 55,751 copies sold. Pang wins Royal Society Science Book Prize with 'instruction manual for humans' Dr Camilla Pang has won the £25,000 Royal Society Science Book Prize for her debut Explaining Humans (Viking), written as an instruction manual for a world she had difficulty understanding due to her Autism Spectrum Disorder. Reading Agency partners with Knights Of for Winter Mini Challenge Children's publisher Knights Of is partnering with The Reading Agency for this year's Winter Mini Challenge programme encouraging youngsters to keep up their reading during the winter holidays. Amina Youssef joins S&S Children's fiction team Amina Youssef has been appointed commissioning editor at Simon & Schuster Children's fiction division, as the team announces new acquisition responsibilities as part of a larger growth plan.  S&S sells Steadman's middle-grade series in 23 languages Simon & Schuster's rights team has sold A F Steadman's debut middle-grade series Skandar and the Unicorn Thief in 23 languages, with total advances in excess of £1m.  Robert Harris' Munich adapted for Netflix Jeremy Irons and George MacKay are starring in a feature adaptation for Netflix of the Robert Harris spy thriller Munich (Hutchinson), with shooting already under way. Miriam Margoyles to voice Bruton's latest audiobook Miriam Margoyles is to narrate the audiobook of Catherine Bruton's latest middle-grade novel, Another Twist in the Tale.  Virago acquires 'history of women’s words' Virago has acquired a "personal" and "campaigning" exploration of the language we have had for women’s bodies and experiences over the centuries, by Oxford academic Dr Jenni Nuttall. Avon nets Serial Killer's Wife from Hunter Avon Books has netted The Serial Killer’s Wife, an “addictive and disturbing” new thriller by Alice Hunter.

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Get your tickets now for #FutureBook20!

 

 

In times of crisis, new thinking flourishes DAY FIVE | Friday 20th November - INNOVATION   The final day of our week-long all-virtual FutureBook throws the spotlight on the fresh technologies, approaches and ideas rocking the world of books. This year, even the most traditional areas of publishing have had to adapt and evolve; could this be the start of the industry's next leap forward? With 40+ sessions and 100+ speakers across 16-20 November, plus the anytime pass giving you access to all videos until January, don’t get left behind.

 

BOOK YOUR PASS

 

On Friday 20th November you’ll hear from…

 

KEYNOTE: Disruption matters: Why we innovate Publishing has gone through many waves of excitement and disillusion when it comes to innovation. Why is it important for us to keep experimenting, and how can we translate bright ideas into real progress? Nadia Odunayo, founder & CEO of book recommendation startup The StoryGraph shares her story with Sam Missingham, founder of The Empowered Author and co-founder of FutureBook.

 

 

CEO INTERVIEW: Annie Callanan   With a background in delivering digital innovation and operational improvement across healthcare and tech, Annie Callanan became CEO of international publisher Taylor & Francis in 2017. In this interview with Philip Jones she will discuss the impact of Covid-19 on her global operation, the challenges to academic publishing, and her plans for the uncertain months ahead.

 

 

CONVERSATION: Asi Sharabi and Mathew Jones From pivots to partnerships, two of publishing’s leading entrepreneurs - Wonderbly’s Asi Sharabi and Perlego’s Matthew Jones - will explore what it takes to turn a startup into a sustainable business, and share the emerging developments they’re excited about.

 

 

SHOWCASE: Startup of the year In this live pitch-off, the finalists for our FutureBook Awards 2020 Startup of the Year will demonstrate how their innovations have the potential to impact the publishing industry long-term. From brand new beta businesses to more established companies who’ve undergone a transformative year, this is a bonanza of big ideas and smart execution. PANEL: How to make online events work   If there has been one constant in publishing 2020, it has been the pivot to online events. In this panel Alex Fane, founder of Fane Productions, will lead a discussion with the team behind At Home with 4 Indies (Forum Books, Booka Bookshop, Linghams Booksellers and Book-ish) about how to make the best of virtual events: what works, what publishers need to know, and how authors can get the most from them.

 

REVEAL: The FutureBook Award Winners 2020 After a week of unprecedented live voting by delegates, the winners of the FutureBook Awards 2020 for Book, Retail, Campaign and Event will receive their gongs. Our full shortlists, including the Best of Lockdown: Book shortlist (above), can be found on our website. SPONSOR: Innovate Like a Start-Up - Hosted by Wade Lucas, BookBub Hear from BookBub's Publisher Relations Lead Annie Stone, Findaway's Head of Audioenginge, Jesse Corn, and Bokdwood Books' Sales and Marketing Director, Nia Beynon, as they share stories, insights and tips from their start-up experiences. The panel will discuss how companies foster innovation and implement new ideas and touch on subjects such as how they work together on BookBub's new audio retail platform, Chirp, top digital marketing tips for this holiday.

 

BOOK YOUR PASS NOW! And email emma.lowe@thebookseller.com for freelance rates and team bookings. See you soon, The Bookseller Team

 

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With thanks to our sponsors:

 

 

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Latest headlines for the book industry FutureBook 2020: click here for the full progamme.

November 03, 2020

MORNING BRIEFING Where the news comes first Home | News | Blog | Jobs | Charts

LATEST NEWS Retail site Bookshop makes £65k sales on UK launch day New online retailer Bookshop.org secured sales of around £65,000 in its first day, making £16,000 for indies. PRH UK shares details of 'biggest ever campaign' for A Promised Land Penguin Random House UK has revealed its biggest ever marketing campaign is under way for Barack Obama’s memoir A Promised Land, the publication date for which remains 17th November in spite of the national lockdown commencing Thursday 5th.  Click and Collect might not suit us all, say indie bookshops Indie bookshop owners and managers are gearing up for a second lockdown with optimism, though some are divided over the viability of click and collect services. McAnulty, Bennett and O’Farrell make Waterstones Book of the Year shortlist Dara McAnulty, Brit Bennett and Maggie O’Farrell are among the authors shortlisted for the Waterstones Book of the Year 2020 title. Bonnier Books pledges to be carbon neutral by next year Bonnier Books UK is pursuing a new goal to be carbon neutral by 2021—meaning that from next year the organisation will be taking 20% more carbon from the atmosphere than it creates through its operations. Late night pre-empt secures Gutierrez's 'remarkable' literary suspense for PMJ Penguin Michael Joseph has acquired the literary suspense novel More Than You’ll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez after a late night pre-empt made within 24 hours of reading the manuscript. McQuaid leaves PRH for indie Rough Trade Books Kate McQuaid, currently publicity director at William Heinemann, Windmill and #Merky Books (Penguin Random House UK), is joining independent Rough Trade Books as its first publicist. Thread signs Sommerville's How To Be a Boss at Ageing Bookouture's non-fiction imprint Thread is publishing How To Be a Boss at Ageing by broadcaster and writer Anniki Sommerville who hosts a podcast of the same name.  Penguin Life wins three-way auction for Lancaster's Bridge Penguin Life has won a three-way auction for the debut non-fiction book from coach, therapist and founder of personal development programme The Bridge Retreat, Donna Lancaster.  Second print run for British bookshops travelogue Fairlight Books is ordering a second print run of its c.e.o. Louise Boland's travelogue, Bookshop Tours of Britain.  Bloomsbury to repay staff £700K in pandemic wage cuts Bloomsbury has announced it will repay almost £700,000 to staff who took a pay cut during the first months of the pandemic, following the publisher's most succesful interim results since 2008. Hay House bags book from Glamour's Emma Howarth Hay House will publish A Year of Mystical Thinking: Make Life Feel Magical Again by Glamour journalist Emma Howarth.

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Latest headlines for the book industry FutureBook 2020: click here for the full progamme.

November 02, 2020

MORNING BRIEFING Where the news comes first Home | News | Blog | Jobs | Charts

LATEST NEWS Daunt looks to click and collect as lockdown 'game-changer' Click and collect could be a game-changer for high street booksellers during the second national lockdown, Waterstones m.d. James Daunt has told The Bookseller.  HarperCollins UK drops embargo for latest Walliams book HarperCollins has told booksellers they can sell the new David Walliams title Code Name Bananas from midday today (2nd November), three days ahead of its official publication date, The Bookseller can reveal. Bookshop.org launches with 150 stores New website Bookshop.org is launching today (2nd November) with 150 indie bookshops already signed up and publishers including Faber & Faber, Atlantic, Picador and Jacaranda on board. Pan Mac puts three on Kindle Unlimited Titles from Jeffrey Archer, Lucinda Riley and Winston Graham, published by Pan Macmillan, have gone onto the Kindle Unlimited platform, in what the publisher describes as a trial. Memoir sales surge in post-Covid market  Since lockdown ended, sales of biographies and autobiographies have spiked, rising 16% in volume and 20% in value against the same period last year. Cho memoir competes on 'eclectic' Sunday Times Young Writer shortlist Literary agent Catherine Cho is in the running to be named 2020 Sunday Times/University of Warwick Young Writer of the Year for her "powerful" memoir, alongside the authors of two novels and two poetry collections.  Kurien hired to drive rapid expansion of Orion Dash list Orion has hired Aria’s Rhea Kurien as editorial director to lead a dynamic growth strategy for its digital imprint Orion Dash.  Manilla bags memoir from Children of God member Bonnier Books UK’s new literary imprint Manilla Press has acquired a "powerful memoir" from debut author Bexy Cameron exploring her childhood in the notorious cult Children of God. Sweeping art history of the world to Bridge Street in six-figure pre-empt Little, Brown imprint The Bridge Street Press has pre-empted for a six-figure sum world rights to Power, People and Painting: The Story of Art in Fifteen Cities by curator Caroline Campbell. Inaugural Staunch Book Prize winner Serong shortlisted again for 2020 award The first winner of the Staunch Book Prize, Jock Serong, has been shortlisted again for the 2020 award, in a year that sees indie publishers well represented.  Thalia Mayersche makes strategic partnership with Osiander German bookseller Osiander’s shock decision to enter a strategic partnership with Thalia Mayersche is sending ripples of concern throughout the industry. Black Writers' Guild condemns Badenoch's 'attack' on anti-racist writers such as Eddo-Lodge The Black Writers' Guild has shared an open letter expressing its deep concern that the minister for equalities has implied anti-racist books such as Reni Eddo-Lodge's Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race "advocate for racial segregation".

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The most read stories of the week

 

 

Our round-up of the most read stories of the past week on The Bookseller: 1. Florence suspended during Hay bullying probe 2. Widyaratna joins HarperCollins as Fourth Estate editorial director 3. W&N bags former bookseller's 'mind-stretching' debut novel 4. Concern over jobs at CUP as press consults on roles (£) 5. Wilson and Sharratt to end 30-year partnership with final book 6. Spare 'Zoom' project calls on professionals to meet publishing hopefuls virtually 7. Picador wins auction for 'superlead' Maddie Mortimer debut 8. Evaristo curates new series Black Britain: Writing Back for Hamish Hamilton 9. FutureBook's Best of Lockdown Awards unveiled 10. Norwich indie opens 3D virtual store

 

Connect with us: The Bookseller, The Stage Media Company Ltd, 47 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XT. Registered No. 07201744. Subscriptions: 01371 851879