TODAY'S NEWS

BookExpo Canada Reconfigured for 2009
by Joshua Kerbel
Reed Exhibitions, the organizers of BookExpo Canada, announced major changes for the show in an attempt to improve its effectiveness by making the cost of attendance lower and increasing public exposure. While there is no change to the show's traditional time slot at the end of June, Reed lowered the cost of attendance for all publishers by offering pre-fabricated booths and meeting space so that publishers can cut down the expense of bringing in a large scale custom booth. Additionally, BEC will launch a public consumer-based event in Toronto in the Fall 2009 which will feature publisher booths and author appearances, as well as provide an opportunity for area booksellers to sell books directly to consumers. According to John McGeary, v-p for Reed Exhibitions in Canada, the fall event will likely be scheduled to with coincide with Indigo Books & Music Inc. Managers' meeting, and will feature publisher booths, author appearances as well as local booksellers selling books. Read on »

More Deals Trickling Out of Frankfurt
By Rachel Deahl
After a relatively strong start to deal-making on Wednesday, action in the rights center slowed considerably Thursday and Friday. As has become almost standard practice, some of the smaller agencies said they hadn't closed any deals at the Fair, but were optimistic that the groundwork done at Frankfurt would pay off in the near future. Still, with thousands of agents and editors in attendance, deals did get done. Read on »

Debut Novels Gain Momentum
by Matthew Thornton
Dial Press has won North American rights to Tom Rachman’s buzzed-about debut novel, The Imperfectionists. Susan Kamil topped seven other publishers with a significant six-figure offer (agent Susan Golomb had seven bidders total, with two imprints making a house bid) in an auction that kicked off on Tuesday and was remarkably speedy given that some participants, or those bidders’ bosses, are in Frankfurt. Dial’s pub date is likely to be fall 2009 or early 2010. The novel hasn’t sold in other territories yet, though foreign publishers may have been waiting to see how the North American auction played out. Read on »

Norton Rushing New Edition of Old Krugman
By Rachel Deahl
What does a Nobel win in Economics get you? Well, in addition it the $1.4 million that came with this year's prize, winner Paul Krugman is seeing one of his backlist titles getting a renewed shelf life. Norton is rushing a revised $24 hardcover edition of Krugman's 1999 book, The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008, for a December '08 release. Read on »

Clock Running Down on Sports Publishing
By Dermot McEvoy
Sports Publishing LLC of Champaign, Ill, appears to have run out of options in its bid to stay afloat and is reported to be in the process of filing for bankruptcy. According to a source, proceedings have not yet been finalized by the bank, Strategic Capital of Champaign. Sources said only Peter Bannon, president of the company, and Noah Amstadter, the COO, are still working at the company. Both declined to be interviewed by PW. Read on »

Blogs

MORE STORIES

Monday's Reviews Today: Eclipse and Don't Stop Believin'
This week's sneak peak at Monday's reviews features Eclipse, a legal thriller set partly in a Nigeria-like country called Luandia, Don't Stop Believin', a celebration and study of karaoke. Read on »

AUTHORS ON THE AIR

Authors on the Air: Movies, Movies, Movies; Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson; Peter Manseau
Movies opening today: The Secret Life of Bees, based on Sue Monk Kidd's novel (Penguin movie tie-in edition, $15; Highbridge Audio unabridged CD, $34.95), starring Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys. Flash of Genius, starring Greg Kinnear and Alan Alda based on John Seabrook's Flash of Genius: And Other True Stories of Invention (St. Martin's Griffin, $14.95). Read on »

PICTURE OF THE DAY

 Our Man of Greenwich Village
PW senior editor Dermot McEvoy celebrated the publication of his new novel, Our Lady of Greenwich Village, at The Kettle of Fish in--where else?--Greenwich Village last night. Pictured, l. to r., are McEvoy with novelists Pete Hamill and David Markson. Skyhorse Publishing released Our Lady on October 6. Submit your pictures here »

JOB OF THE DAY

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