TODAY'S NEWS

Orbach Sees Lots of Silver Linings in Economic Clouds
Quarto chairman Laurence Orbach was upbeat about not only prospects for his company but for books in general in the holiday period. In comments accompanying an update on Quarto’s third quarter performance, Orbach said that while numbers “in the U.S. retail industry suggest little to cheer about…cash-register sales of published titles have remained strong and have even increased in some categories with the notable exception of the two areas of home improvement and automotive.” He said Quarto’s packaging division should finish the year strong, but acknowledged that the final performance of the publishing segment will depend on the retail sector. Read on »

DNAML and Global Reader Announce Partnership
by Craig Morgan Teicher
Australia-based DNAML, makers of the DNL e-book format and the DNL reader software, and MPS Mobile’s Global Reader, a leading distributor of e-books to mobile phones worldwide, announced a partnership today through which they will promote each other’s e-book products. The DNL e-book format provides a PC or laptop based multimedia reading experience through DNAML’s DNL reader software, which the company says has been downloaded to more than 110 million computers. Global Reader is available on 80 cellular phone networks in 160 countries. Read on »

Open Source Text Publisher Gets More Financing
by Jim Milliot
Flat World Knowledge, a year-old company that plans to publish free open source college textbooks, has received $700,000 in new financing, bringing total investment in the startup to $1.4 million. The company has also announced a number of new appointments, including that of former Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Newcomb to its board of advisors.

Flat World co-founder Jeff Shelstad said that given the current economic climate, he was “pleased” to complete the new financing deal. A larger round of investment is expected to be completed within the next six months. Read on »

Monster Sponsors Biz Author's Book Tour
By Rachel Deahl
In these trying economic times outside financial support for marketing campaigns can be key for publishers. With that in mind, Thomas Nelson is getting some backing from the online careers site, Monster, with the tour of one of its business authors. The Web site is sponsoring Marcus Buckingham's upcoming tour for his new book. The Truth About You, a career guide aimed at a Gen-Y demographic. The book, which Nelson is pitching as something which "challenges readers to put their strengths and passions to work," will be getting plugged on a university tour in which Buckingham will speak directly to college students about to enter the job market. Monster will be sponsoring Buckingham this month and next, as the author hits 13 cities across the country.

AAP Webcasts Go Live
By Lynn Andriani
AAP’s Book Editors Online & Unscripted webcasts are now available for viewing online at publishers.webex.com. The series of webcasts features book editors sharing the back story behind their favorite winter 2009 titles.

There are currently webcasts with 13 book editors, and PW editor-in-chief Sara Nelson moderates and provides a Q&A for each one. Among the editors are Rebecca Saletan of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, presenting Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin; Tom Miller of Wiley, presenting The Youth Equation by Jeffrey Dover; Bill Thomas of Doubleday, presenting Sag Harbor, by Colson Whitehead; and Geoff Shandler of Little, Brown, presenting Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell. Read on »

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AUTHORS ON THE AIR

Authors on the Air: Free to Be... at 35; Don't Call Me a Drama Queen!; 21 Nights
Yesterday, Marlo Thomas appeared on Today to celebrate the special 35th anniversary edition of Free to Be...You and Me (Running Press Kids, 978-0762430604, $19.95). After the jump: Prince, Tom Brokaw, Bill O'Reilly and Michael Pollan. Read on »

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Changing of the Guard at Harvard
Harvard Book Store co-owner Jeff Mayersohn (foreground) is pictured here at yesterday evening's monthly "Winedown." The event allowed customers, local authors and local business owners an opportunity to meet the new owners--Mayersohn and his wife, Linda Seamonson, are the new co-owners of the store. A farewell reading in honor of former owner Frank Kramer will take place in mid-November. Submit your pictures here »

JOB OF THE DAY

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