TODAY'S NEWS

Rubin Named Head of Henry Holt
It didn’t take long for Stephen Rubin to resurface after his departure ealier this month from Random House. Beginning November 2, Rubin will serve as president and publisher of the Macmillan imprint Henry Holt. Dan Farley, who has led Holt since early 2008, will now focus exclusively on the Macmillan Children's Publishing Group where he has been president and publisher since its inception late last year. The announcements were made by Macmillan CEO John Sargent to whom both men will report. Read on »

Barnes & Noble Defends Its Turf
By Jim Milliot
With analysts questioning whether digital bookselling will help or hurt Barnes & Noble (early verdict is hurt since its stock has fallen 7% since introduction of Nook while Amazon’s stock price as soared since release of its blowout third quarter), the nation’s largest bookseller held an investor conference this morning where it made its case for being well positioned to take advantage of its leading spot in traditional bookselling, its growing online sales and its expanding presence in the e-book market. Read on »

Large Turnout Sparks SCIBA Show
By Wendy Werris
A substantial increase in attendance over last year’s event buoyed an enthusiastic Southern California Independent Booksellers Association annual trade show and Authors Feast in Los Angeles at the Biltmore Hotel on Saturday, October 24.

SCIBA’s executive director Jennifer Bigelow reported that with 45 bookstores represented at the author luncheon and education seminars and 164 guests at the Feast and awards presentations, this year’s event was one of the most successful in recent years. Nearly half of SCIBA’s bookstore members attended. “They need each other now more than ever,” Bigelow said. “They need the networking, the education and the chance to see their reps.” Author attendance was down, however, from 63 in 2008 to 52 on Saturday, which Bigelow attributes to fewer submissions by publishers and a more discriminating author selection process by the SCIBA board. Read on »

Mixed Indigo Second Quarter
By Leigh Anne Williams
Canada’s biggest book retailer, Indigo Books and Music, managed to increase revenue in its second quarter by 1% from the same quarter last year. According to the company, revenue for the quarter ending Sept. 26 was C$207 million, up C$1.7 million from the second quarter in 2008. Indigo attributed the increase to revenue derived from the opening of four new superstores in Alberta and Ontario. Net earnings for the quarter were down from C$3.2 million last year to C$2.2 million this year. Same store sales at Indigo and Chapters superstores were down 0.9%, while comps at small format stores were down 2.1%. Sales from Indigo's online channel, chapters.indigo.ca, decreased 5.2% to C$20 million. The drops were qualified by a reminder that last year’s figures were bumped up by the “phenomenally successful” Stephenie Myer’s Twilight series. Read on »

Vook Partners with HarperStudio on Vaynerchuk Title
Vook, the digital media company turning publishers' titles into interactive videos, has signed up its second book partner in HarperStudio. After the company debuted its first vooks with Simon & Schuster, Gary Vaynerchuk’s Crush It!, published this month by HarperStudio, bowed in the format. Vaynerchuk, who discusses his path to success in the book--while expanding his family's wine business he became an unexpected online tastemaker/social media force--appears in various videos for the vook.

HarperStudio is the second house to partner with Vook, after S&S. The company, when it debuted its vooks in late September, said it was in talks with various other houses about parnerships.

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Self-Publish Book Expo Set
Approximately 80 exhibitors, mostly authors but others as well such as small printers, will be at the first Self-Publishing Book Expo set for November 7 at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers in New York City. In addition to the exhibit hall, there will be a range of panels discussing topics that include how to get published, how to market and the importance of distribution. Panelists include representatives from such companies as Bowker, Lulu, Greenleaf and Smashwords. The event is open to the public; price to attend only the exhibit hall is $15, and $30 will provide access to the panels and exhibitors. All admissions will be collected at the door.

Web Exclusive Book Reviews
The return of photographer Andrew Zuckerman and documentarian Ken Burns, TV's Dogtown in print, a personal story of integrating Ole Miss, a rower's education, an oral history of Second City, and a fine appreciation of Strunk & White's Elements of Style. Plus: the year's best food writing, a couple new volumes on cheese, and more. Read on »

The PW Morning Report
Uncertain Future for Lonely Planet; Nook and B&N Store Sales; Amazon’s Best 2009 Books; E-Ink Beyond E-Books; Apple Tablet Again. Read on »

AUTHORS ON THE AIR

Authors on the Air: Anne Rice; Hulk Hogan; DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid
Today, Good Morning America hosted bestseller Anne Rice, whose Angel Time: The Songs of the Seraphim (Knopf, 978-1400043538, $25.95; RH Audio unabridged CD, $35) pubs today, kicking off her new Songs of the Seraphim religious romance series. PW said “Readers will revel in Rice's colorful recreation of the historical past and in her moving depiction of characters struggling to reconcile matters of the heart with their personal sense of faith.” Read on »

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Compoy Honored At SCIBA
On October 24, at the SCIBA regional show, Cynthia Compoy accepted the best non-fiction book award on behalf of her late mother, Susan Compoy, author of Celebrating with Julienne (Prospect Park Books.) Pictured (l. to r.) are: SCIBA president Sherrie Gallentine (Vroman's), Maeve Compoy; Cynthia Compoy; and Paul Cimusz (Baker & Taylor). Submit your pictures »