 All about publishing a book, and getting help to convert a PDF to ePub, Mobi and other e-book formats |
Member Login (My Account) |
| Book Pitches | Writers' Registry | Agency Directory | E-Book News & Reviews | Join | About Us | Contact Us | | Search Site | |
|
FAST LINKS Follow us! 
Discover the best thriller writers on the planet!  SSL WARNING! PLEASE READ ABOUT THIRD PARTY ADS: Authorlink encourages writers to thoroughly investigate third-party ads on this or any other site offering free and easy publishing help. We subscribe to the highest standards of the traditional publishing industry, and do not necessarily endorse any advertiser on our site. Also, Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on our site enabling display of ads based on user visits to our site and to others on the Internet. Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy. Authorlink guidelines, #7 includes more on our own policies |
[ Search for News ]
AUTHORLINK NEWS ARCHIVESLate June, 1997
This web page is part of the
copyrighted web domain,
Authorlink (http://www.authorlink.com), and
'New Consciousness'
Books on self-improvement and alternative made a strong showing at the annual BookExpo America convention in Chicago earlier this month. The so-called New Consciousness market is thriving on titles ranging from astrology, crystals and meditation to alternative medicine. Books about "aroma therapy" are also soaring. According to the American Booksellers Association, New Age book sales totaled 10.6 million copies in 1996, an increase of nine percent from the previous year, well exceeding the three percent growth rate for sales of all types of books during the period. New Consciousness-- while still a small portion of the 1.1 billion books bought last year in the US-- is one of the fastest-growing market segments, according to Matthew Gilbert, managing editor of NAPRA Review, a trade magazine published by the New Age Publishing & Retailing Alliance.
ABA Survey
CHICAGO, IL/JUNE '97--A newly-released survey commissioned by American Booksellers Association, Book Industry Study Group, shows discount chains have increased their market share over other retail channels. Of the 1.06 billion books sold in 1996, nine percent were purchased by consumers in discount chains such as Kmart Corp., Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Dayton Hudson Corp.'s Target. The figure represents a 2% increase in market share over 1995. Independent stores declined to a record low of 18% from 20% for the previous year. And large-chain bookstores fell from 26% in 1995 to 25% in 1996. Market shares held steady for other outlets, including 18% for book clubs. The survey revealed percentages of the types of books sold:
The age breakout for readers showed:
Ingram Takes
LA VERGNE, TN/JUNE '97 -- Ingram Book Co., the leading trade book wholesaler, has acquired Spring Arbor Distribution Company of Belleville, MI. Spring Arbor, with $220 million in annual revenues, is the largest supplier of books to the Christian market. The acquisition now makes Ingram the leading Christian market wholesaler. Spring Arbor's solid 19-year-old reputation will be merged with Ingram's powerful distribution and information processing system. The new Ingram operation, which will keep the Spring Arbor name, will be headed by Spring Arbor chief executive officer Richard Pigott, assisted by Ingram Vice President Larry Carpenter. Some downsizing of Spring Arbor's 700 employees and five distribution centers is expected. Ingram has 3,400 employees and seven distribution facilities. The operations are to be completely integrated by the end of summer.
Motion Picture
WASHINGTON, DC/JUNE '97-- The Motion Picture Association (MPA) is co-sponsoring two European training initiatives on screenwriting and film development together with the Association of Commercial Television in Europe. Jack Valenti, chairman and chief executive officer of MPA, who recently returned from the Cannes Film Festival in London, said the training programs are "further evidence of MPA's commitment to nurturing the global film community." He added that "a strong European cinema is good for filmmakers and filmgoers everywhere." MPA member companies are contributing $1 million to the European Film College of Ebeltof, Denmark to facilitate the education of Europe's next generation of filmmakers. Valenti called the work at Ebeltoft "remarkable." While in Cannes, Valenti also met with high-ranking international film industry executives to discuss global issues relating tot he future of film.
Pocket Books
Pocket Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is seeking true, autobiographical stories and essays about growing up Black in America for Children of the Dream, to be published in 1998 by Pocket Books. The announcement was made by Laurel Holliday, Editor. Those of all ages are invited to submit their work. A $1,000 literary award will be offered for the best entry. Interested writers can obtain free guidelines at http://members.aol.com/laurelholl/index.html
LA Ordinance
A recently-passed ordinance in Los Angeles could tax all writers in the City of Los Angeles working from their homes, and require writers to obtain a license to practice their constitutionally protected craft, according to the Writer's Guild of America. The Los Angeles City Council has extend the amnesty period for compliance to the ordinance until September 5, 1997. Meanwhile, the WGA is writing a position statement which it will send to all members. For more information, watch The Writer's Guild of America web site at: http://www.wga.
Jack Shea
LOS ANGELES, CA/ JUNE '97--Veteran television and motion picture director Jack Shea was elected president of the Directors Guild of America at the Guild's biennial national convention at DGA National Headquarters in Los Angeles. Shea becomes the 21st president of the DGA, succeeding Gene Reynolds, who served as DGA President for the past four years. Delegates of the 11,000-member DGA also elected a new slate of officers and national board of directors at the convention. New York-based director Ed Sherin was chosen as National Vice President. Director Martha Coolidge was elected First Vice President, and past DGA President Gil Cates was elevated to the post of Secretary-Treasurer. Also elected were Second Vice President Max A. Schindler, Third Vice President John Frankenheimer, Fourth Vice President Larry Auerbach, Fifth Vice President Robert Butler, sixth Vice President Nancy Littlefield, and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Marilyn Jacobs-Furey. Shea began his career as a stage manager at NBC in New York, working on shows such as "Philco Playhouse." While at NBC, he was instrumental in organizing for the Radio Television Directors Guild (RTDG). At NBC in Burbank, Shea made the leap from stage manager to associate director on "The Bob Hope Show." His first directing job came at the age of 27, when he was asked to fill in for an ailing director of the prime-time game show "Truth or Consequences." As a director at NBC, Shea helmed episodes of "Jerry Lewis Specials," "Death Valley Days" and "The Bob Hope Show," including ten of Hope's overseas Christmas specials. After leaving NBC, Shea directed numerous episodes of shows such as "Hawaii 5-0," "The Waltons," "Paper Moon," "The Disney Sunday Night Movies," Apple's Way" and "Kate McShane." He produced and directed many episodes of "Sanford and Son" and the "Glen Cambpell Goodtime Hour," was series director of "Silver Spoons," "We'll Get By" and "The Ropers," and directed over 100 episodes of "The Jeffersons." He has also directed "Sunday Dinner," "Growing Pains," "704 Hauser Street," "Royal Family" and "Designing Women," (for which he received a second Emmy nomination), and spent last year directing the sitcom "Goode Behavior" for UPN. He has also directed the motion picture features "Dayton's Devils" and "The Monitors." Shea's wife, Patt, is a screen writer whose credits include story editor on "All in the Family,""Archie Bunker's Place," and "Lou Grant." They have five children, three of whom are DGA members. Shea is a member of both the United States Catholic Conference Committee for Communications and Catholics in Media, the latter of which he helped found.
Amazon.com
SEATTLE, WA/JUNE '97--Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ-AMZN.) --in all-out war against giant competitor BarnesandnNoble.com--has cut prices on more than 400,000 book titles on its web site. Every hardcover is discounted 30%, paperbacks have been marked down 20%, and selected feature titles will be sold at 40% off. According to Amazon.com Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, "We've always offered the biggest selection, and with these prices, Amazon.com offers the lowest everyday book prices anywhere in the world, on-line or off." S
&S Names
NEW YORK,NY/JUNE '97 -- Leonardo Newball, former Group Controller for The McGraw-Hill Companies, has been named vice president and business manager for Simon & Schuster's Latin America Group. Patrick Hidalgo, President of Simon & Schuster's Latin America division, made the announcement. Simon & Schuster, which has quadrupled Latin American sales during the last three years, has expanded its presence in the school, English language teaching and computer book markets. Leo Newball, has more than 25 years of publishing and finance experience with Simon & Schuster's chief competitor. Simon & Schuster's Latin America division includes Prentice Hall Hispanoamericana (PHH) (Mexico) and Prentice Hall de Colombia, Ltda. (PHC), publishers of Spanish translations of existing S&S university and technology titles, and customized Spanish textbooks for local schools.
Netscape Press
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC/JUNE '97 -- Netscape Press, a popular imprint of Ventana Communications Group, has launched a new line of Netscape developer books for webmasters, site managers, intranet developers, and other Internet professionals. The new book line coincides with the rollout of Netscape Communications Corporation's Internet product group, called Netscape Communicator suite. Among the Netscape Press developer titles will be the Official Netscape Technologies Developer's Guide, the Official Netscape Enterprise Server 3 Book and the Official Netscape JFC Developer's Guide. Netscape Press will publish a full line of book and book/CD-ROM titles in 1997, with worldwide distribution through ITP New Media Group, a division of International Thomson Publishing. Ventana Communications Group is a leading publisher of print and electronic information for today's computer users.
Suit Claims
EVANSVILLE, IND./ JUNE '97-- Total Management, Inc. small software publisher, has filed a $1 billion software piracy suit in US District Court against QUE Corporation, McMillan Computer Publishing and Simon and Schuster Inc. The suit claims the three companies unlawfully distributed, sold and/or caused to be distributed more than 200,000 pirated copies of Total Management(TM)--a multitiered, client- server- based, business software solution. TM says the software was distributed as part of the publishers' book "Platinum Edition Using Windows 95." Total Management claims Macmillan Computer Publishing's Que imprint distributed its Platinum Edition Using Windows 95 CD-ROM, along with its book, without authorization. Total Management said it sells the software for between $5,000 and $30,000. A spokesperson for Simon & Schuster said company policy prohibits public comment on litigation, but that the suit has no merit.
BCA To Launch
BCA, the UK's largest mail order book club, will soon launch The Christian Book Club, its first new club in more than three years. BCA presently has two million members and operates 14 book clubs, a home computer group and two music clubs. The company is refocusing its efforts on niche marketing and better customer service, after the fall of the Net Book Agreement weakened BCA's price advantage over other competitors. A new computer information system, installed late last year, will be a driving force in the company's ability to segment and differentiate its product, and fulfill customer needs, according to Dr. Manfred Herriger, BCA chief executive. BCA has also beefed up its direct mail advertising, and installed its first outbound telemarketing center in Swindon.
NetGuide Magazine
JUNE '97--CMP Media Inc. will cease publishing NetGuide Magazine after its august issue. In addition, the company's enterprise computing and PC publications will now report to Senior Vice President/Group Publisher Jeffrey L. Strief. The changes were made to enable the company to more seamlessly service advertisers who want to target buyers of technology. The centralized management of the enterprise and PC publications, will better position CMP to offer advertisers a single point of access to technology buyers ranging from CIOs and IS/network management to desktop business buyers to home-office and home PC users. Under the new structure, InformationWeek, CommunicationsWeek, Network Computing, WINDOWS Magazine and HomePC will coordinate circulation, research, pricing, editorial and on-line services. Strief will take on the additional responsibility of WINDOWS Magazine and HomePC, CMP's paid-circulation publications. The decision to discontinue publishing NetGuide Magazine reflects rapid changes in the market during the last two years. As the desktop and Internet have converged, the audience of desktop buyers served by publications such as WINDOWS Magazine and the audience of Internet buyers served by magazines such as NetGuide have similarly converged, eliminating the need for a stand-alone monthly magazine exclusively targeting the Internet buyer. NetGuide Magazine readers who have turned to the magazine for its business- and purchase-related content will now find that information in WINDOWS Magazine. Under the leadership of Publishing Director Claire O'Hare and Vice President/Editorial Director Fred Langa, WINDOWS Magazine will integrate most of NetGuide Magazine's editorial staff into its own and substantially increase its Internet coverage both in print and on-line. CMP Media Inc. serves the broad spectrum of builders, sellers and users of technology.
Mindscape
NEW YORK/JUNE '97-- Mindscape, a leading consumer software publisher, has won an agreement to publish and distribute the entire line of software titles for The Princeton Review. Princeton is the creator of the nation's best-selling SAT test-prep software. Mindscape will oversee product sales, marketing, manufacturing and support, and Princeton will provide content. The Princeton Review's software line includes Inside the SAT & ACT, Inside the GRE, Word Smart, Algebra Smart, Science Smart, and The Best College for You, a joint venture with TIME magazine.
Canada's Largest
TORONTO/JUNE '97--Chapters Inc. (ToSE:CHP.) Chapters Inc., Canada's largest book retailer, reported earnings of $5.1 million, ($0.82 per share) on revenues of $390 million for the 52 weeks ended March 29, 1997. Total revenues grew by 2.8 per cent while earnings increased two and a half times fiscal 1996 earnings of $2.0 million ($0.38 per share). Total revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997 grew by 11 percent over the same period last year. The company opened seven Chapters book superstores, at the end of the fiscal year for a total of eleven superstores. Another 12 - 15 new superstores are due to open in this fiscal year. The company now operates 335 traditional bookstores.
Scholastic Corp
JUNE '97--Scholastic Corp., publisher of children's books and classroom magazines, will trim 400 jobs from its current 6,000-member staff. The cost-cutting move comes after a downturn in its performance on the stock market and slow sales of a popular children's book series. The announcement immediately sent Scholastic shares up $3.13, or 11.4 percent, to $30.50, in NASDAQ trading. Scholastic also will close unprofitable magazines and sell others. The company estimates it will save at least $25 million annually, helping it to improve profitability in its 1998 fiscal year, which began June 1.
Texas Book
AUSTIN, TX/JUNE '97-- The Second Annual Texas Book Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2 in Austin. The event will celebrate Texas' rich literary heritage and raise funds to support the state's public libraries. Texas First Lady Laura Bush is honorary festival chair and a key organizer of the event. "I am proud to announce the second edition of the Texas Book Festival,"Mrs. Bush said. "A cast of characters and authors will reconvene at the Capitol for a festival that promises to outshine the first one. This star-studded show will celebrate our Texas literary treasures while benefiting a truly worthy cause -- our Texas public libraries." On Saturday evening, November 1, four renowned writers will read from their works at a black-tie fund raiser -- "The First Edition Literary Gala" -- to be held at Austin's Marriott at the Capitol. Author and playwright Larry L. King will emcee the evening event. Guest authors are Jim Lehrer of PBS's "NewsHour," who will read from his new novel, White Widow; San Antonio poet and author Naomi Shihab Nye; and Mexico's Carlos Fuentes, in one of his first appearances for his new novel, The Crystal Frontier, which is set in Texas and Mexico. Texas authors Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana will be the featured speakers at the opening session on Saturday morning, November 2. McMurtry's new book, Comanche Moon, is scheduled for November release. More than 100 writers will be invited to perform readings or to participate in panel discussions in the Capitol and Capitol Extension on Saturday and Sunday. After the presentations, authors will sign their latest works at the Texas Book Festival Tent. Again this year, the Festival will include book fair displays of publishers, small presses, booksellers and more. Other popular activities will include the Children's Chapter Tent -- with crafts, storytellers and readings; the Entertainment Tent, with Texas singer-songwriters and storytellers, and food vendors. Admission and parking will be free. The Texas Book Festival celebrates reading, writing and published works by and about Texans. Authors are chosen based on several criteria, including having an original book or a reprint issued between January 1996 and November 1997. Authors must either be Texans or have once lived in Texas, or their most recent book must have a Texas connection. The first annual Texas Book Festival, in Austin last November, drew more than 125 authors and 10,000 visitors. The festival raised $127,000 for more than 40 Texas public libraries. For more information, visit the Texas Book Festival web site at http://bookfest.tsl.state.tx.us, call the Texas Book Festival at 512-477-4055 or send an e-mail message to bookfest@onr.com.
Computer Books
A new market report from Cowles/Simba Information, Inc., shows the sale of trade and professional computer books rose 17.2% during 1996, maintaining the category's several-year ranking as the fastest growing segment of the publishing industry. Simon & Schuster and IDG Books Worldwide--the category's two biggest publishers--posted strong growth during the year, and dominated bookstore shelves, making it tougher for small publishers to gain space. Simon & Schuster remains the leading computer book publisher in the US, with net sales increasing 15.1% to $201 million, according to Cowles/Simba. The majority of S&S' sales come through its Indianapolis-based Macmillan Computer Publishing division, which released more than 500 computer titles in 1996--nearly one-third of all new books in the category. Simon & Schuster also publishes computer books through its Prentice Hall division. At IDG Books Worldwide, sales rose by an estimated 50% to $75 million, Cowles/Simba reported. IDG, second largest US consumer computer book publisher, publishes the popular "...for Dummies" series, a concept that revolutionized the category after its introduction in 1991. For information about Computer Publishing Market Forecast, contact Bill MacRae at 203-358-4248.
Two Top Execs
JUNE '97-- Two top executives at Henry Holt & Co. have announced plans to leave. William Strachan, vice president, associate publisher and editor-in-chief, departs later this month to become president and director of Columbia University Press. Lottchen Shivers, executive marketing director, left after eight years at Holt and will take time off before pursuing another publishing position. Holt's 150-employee operation has undergone numerous personnel changes since Michael Naumann became chief executive officer in January 1996. | |
Book Pitches | Writers' Registry | E-Book News & Reviews | Join | About Us | Contact Us | Feeds | Site Map | Search Site |
||
| Copyright © 2012 Authorlink.com is an Authorlink.com company All rights reserved | ||