TODAY'S NEWS

Reidy: Worse Publishing Environment May Be On the Way
By Cindy Crosby
Simon & Schuster president and CEO Carolyn Reidy called for CEOs to step up and lead during the deep economic slump and warned that possibly worse scenarios may be on the way. Her comments were made at the first of two addresses at the Evangelical Christian Publisher’s Association’s CEO Symposium and Publishing University at the Westin Hotel in Lombard, Ill., Nov. 2-4.

Reidy addressed about 20 religion house CEOs at a special dinner held before she gave ECPA’s opening keynote for all publishing attendees. Noting the dramatic changes that have occurred in the past month, Reidy said she hesitated to use the word “crisis” but “there is no question that we are currently dealing with a set of problems that will test us to our limits.” Critical issues facing publishers included: significant decrease in retail traffic, less consumer purchasing, a gloomy economic forecast, declining backlist sales, brand name authors continuing to sell but “everything else is far off normal levels,” and retail partners who demand more favorable terms and concessions “as if we are the answer to their problems,” she said. Other pre-existing problems she enumerated include retailers competing with publishers, low barriers to self-publishing, and the economics of digital publishing that appear to bring in less revenue. Read on »

Random Mounts Holiday Book Campaign
By Jim Milliot
In order to help convince holiday shoppers that books make good gifts, Random House has created a Web-based campaign promoting that message. The Books=Gifts promotion was suggested by RH chairman Markus Dohle as a way to get people shopping, said spokesperson Stuart Applebaum. Assembling the campaign was turned over to Doubleday marketing director Suzanne Herz who then put together a companywide effort to develop the program. The logo and slogan were created by Marc Bower of Bantam. Read on »

Piazza Signs with S&S
By Lynn Andriani
Mike Piazza, a 12-time All Star for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets, has signed a deal to write his autobiography for Simon & Schuster. V-p and senior editor Bob Bender acquired world rights from David Black, CEO of Black Inc., and Dan Lozano, Piazza’s sports agent. Publication is slated for 2010.

In the book, Piazza, who retired just before the 2008 season, will discuss controversies of his career, including the 2000 World Series incident when Roger Clemens threw a shattered bat at him, and the press conference he held to deny rumors that he was gay. The autobiography will also cover Piazza’s tumultuous relationships with the Dodgers, their front office and Tommy Lasorda; as well as his former teammates Bobby Valentine, Pedro Martinez, Rickey Henderson and others.

SharedBook Teams with Tattered Cover and Capitol Books
By Lynn Andriani
Custom publishing platform provider SharedBook announced today new affiliate agreements with two prominent independent bookstores, as well as the national children’s literacy organization First Book. Denver bookstore the Tattered Cover; and Montgomery, Ala., bookstore Capitol Book and News signed on to direct visitors from the stores’ Web sites to SharedBook.com, where customers can purchase personalized editions of more than 100 children’s books. Affiliates get 10% of sales. Read on »

Blogs

MORE STORIES

New E-Newsletters from PW, LJ
PW is launching a new bi-weekly e-newsletter for cookbooks December 1, titled Cooking the Books. The free e-newsletter will feature cookbook news, reviews, deals, people announcements, interviews with cookbook buyers at chains and independents, cookbook bestseller lists, interviews with niche publishers, and news stories about new cookbook publishing initiatives both from the major publishers as well as medium and small presses. Cooking the Books will go out to 45,000 subscribers every other Monday. PW senior editor Lynn Andriani will oversee the newsletter; publishers and booksellers can send story ideas to landriani@reedbusiness.com. To sign up, go to www.PublishersWeekly.com/cookingthebooks; for advertising inquiries, contact Cevin Bryerman: cbryerman@reedbusiness.com.

Library Journal has also debuted a new e-newsletter, BookSmack!, covering street lit, genre fiction and YA for adults. BookSmack! includes columns such as Books for Dudes, Prepub Exploded and Media Mashup. To sign up, go to www.LibraryJournal.com/booksmack.

AUTHORS ON THE AIR

Authors on the Air: More YOU; Don't Go There!; Deepak Chopra
Today, Oprah talks with Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz, whose YOU: Being Beautiful: The Owner's Manual to Inner and Outer Beauty (Free Press, 978-1416572343, $26.99; S&S Audio abridged CD, $29.99) pubs today. PW found it “as entertaining and challenging as other titles in the series.” Read on »

PICTURE OF THE DAY

A Baldwin On Tour
Yesterday actor-turned-author Stephen Baldwin launched the tour for his new novel, The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips (FaithWords), at the Lifeway Store in Nashville. Baldwin (l.) was surprised by a couple celebrity friends, including Miley Cyrus (r.), who showed up to support him. Submit your pictures here »

JOB OF THE DAY

PW VIRTUAL EDITION

To access the latest issue of Publishers Weekly no matter where you are, be sure to take a look at PW's Virtual Edition -- available online anytime. If you're not already a subscriber, take a look at a sample issue here.