News Briefs: Week of 9/29/2008

Google introduced a new feature tied to its Book Search program, a widget-like tool called Google Previews. By adding simple code to their Web sites, publishers, retailers or anyone with sufficient technical knowledge can embed a Google-hosted preview of up to 20% of any book that has been included in the Google Book Search database.

Without the $240 million contribution from last July’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, revenue at Scholastic dropped 46%, to $285 million, in the first quarter ended Aug. 31, and the company had a net loss from continuing operations of $44.7 million, compared to earnings of $3.3 million in last year’s first quarter. Chairman Dick Robinson said the company’s focus continues to be on cutting costs, an initiative that includes a hiring freeze and a voluntary retirement program for employees over age 50. In Scholastic’s children’s book publishing and distribution group, sales fell from $296.8 million to $61 million; within the group, sales in the trade segment fell to $40.4 million from $276.9 million. Book fair sales rose 20%, to $12 million, while club sales declined 13%, to $8.6 million.

Capstone Publishers has strengthened its presence in the school and library market through its acquisition of the Heinemann-Raintree library reference group from Pearson. The deal involves more than 6,000 titles aimed at the pre-k to secondary school market.

Brisingr, the third volume in Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance cycle, sold 550,000 copies on September 20, the first day of its release, setting a one-day sales record for Random House Children’s Books.

DC Comics said last week it was shutting down Minx, a line of graphic novels targeting teen girls, a little more than a year after the first book in the line went on sale. Minx will cease publication next January.

As Microsoft works to increase the market share for its Zune media players in the iPod-dominated market, Audible and OverDrive have announced audiobook compatibility with the device. Microsoft’s September 15 firmware update for the Zune enabled compatibility with both companies’ audio files.

Dystel & Goderich Literary Management has promoted Michael Bourret to v-p and Lauren Abramo to subsidiary rights director. Additionally, agent Jessica Papin will be rejoining the firm following a three-year stint in international rights sales for the American University in Cairo.

In last week’s story, “Life After Harcourt,” Sarah Melnyk’s name was misspelled.