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February Store Sales Jump
Despite lots of industry talk about a challenging economic environment, bookstore sales are off to a strong start. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, sales in February jumped 11.3%, to $1.13 billion, bringing the two-month total to $3.40 billion, a 6.7% increase over the comparable period in 2007. Total retail sales were up 7.3% in February and ahead 5.9% for the two months.

AuthorHouse Bows to Amazon Pressure Over Booksurge
By Claire Kirch
According to sources familiar with Author Solutions, the Indiana-based parent company of subsidy publishers AuthorHouse and iUniverse, the company has acceded to Amazon.com’s recent demand that publishers print-on-demand titles be printed by BookSurge, Amazon.com’s POD subsidiary, if they wish to continue to make these titles available for sale on Amazon.com.

When contacted by PW, Kevin Gray, Author Solutions public relations manager, refused to confirm or deny the rumors swirling about the industry, referring PW instead to a written statement posted on the company’s Web site by Kevin Weiss, Author Solutions CEO. Read on »

Comics Go Wide at New York Comic-Con; Gordon Lee Charges Dismissed
By Heidi MacDonald, Douglas Wolk, Laura Hudson and Kai-Ming Cha
Amid swelling crowds at this year’s New York Comic-Con—exact attendance stats have yet to be released—Neil Gaiman announced that the charges against comics retailer Gordon Lee have finally been dropped. Lee, who was charged with two counts of distribution of material harmful to minors in 2004, has had the support of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund since his case hit the news. Read on for more information about Lee and this weekend’s Con.

Three Answers: John Javna
by Dick Donahue
Three Answers today are from John Javna, whose 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth will be published by Hyperion on Earth Day, April 22. Read on »

Web Exclusive Reviews
This week: a war correspondent's love story; the cost of misunderstanding Muqtada; Swiss banking behind the scenes; the madness of Zelda and Marilyn; and the new graduation gift-book to beat. Plus: leadership for ladies, marketing's magic bullets and a fittingly over-the-top Top Chef cookbook. Read on »

The PW Morning Report
Signet, Cassie Split; Canseco’s Max IDed; Harry in Court; FDR & Lucy; Rushdie at 60; 20/20 Rowling Documentary?; Germaine Tillion Dead; "Insulting Turkishness"; Not Another OJ Book; and Patricia Highsmith Is #1 Read on »

Authors on the Air: Cannie Shapiro Returns; Dog Man; The Ten-Cent Plague
This morning, Jennifer Weiner visited The Early Show with Certain Girls (Atria, $26.95; S&S Audio abridged CD, $29.95), which PW called “a hilarious sequel to her 2001 bestselling first novel, Good in Bed, revisiting the memorable and feisty Candace Cannie Shapiro.” Read on »

Turner in Florida
Ted Turner stopped by Hachette’s recent sales conference in Sanibel, Fl., to talk about his forthcoming autobiography from the publisher, the November 2008-slated Call Me Ted. Pictured here (l. to r.) are: Turner’s editor, Rick Wolff; his co-author Bill Burke; Turner; publisher of Grand Central, Jamie Raab; and CEO of Grand Central, David Young. Submit your pictures here »

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