TODAY'S NEWS

‘PW’ Unveils Top Titles of 2009
Seven books from the Random House imprints, two from Norton and one from Penguin comprise the first-ever Top 10 list of the best adult books of the year as compiled by the review editors of PW. While PW has long done an annual best books list, this is the first year it has anointed a Top 10 list, which was chosen from more than 50,000 books submitted for review. “Everybody loves lists," said Louisa Ermelino, reviews director for the magazine. “With the passion PW has for books, choosing the top 10 out of the thousands we review was a real challenge and a really good time." Read on »

Macmillan Revised Contract Lowers Digital Royalties, Raises Direct to Consumer
In a letter sent to agents Monday, Macmillan CEO John Sargent outlined plans for the company to begin using a standardized contract for all of the company’s imprints beginning November 9. The goal, said Sargent, is to make a it easier and more efficient to reach a deal as well as to make sure “our author agreements reflect current business realities.” Read on »

SIBA Launches Collective Ad Program
By Claire Kirch
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance is partnering with its member booksellers to generate revenue while demonstrating the collective clout of independent bookstore – by placing the same banner ad on participating bookstore websites. SIBA will sell and control the rotating ads, which will appear simultaneously on every participating bookstore's website for the duration of its booking. Read on »

Scroll Motion Releases New Iceberg e-book Reader 3.0
By Calvin Reid
iPhone applications developer ScrollMotion is releasing the Iceberg Reader 3.0, an upgraded version of the e-book reading software that adds In-App purchasing of books and an in-app Bookshelf that allows the reader to organize their Scroll Motion titles. The reader will be available immediately.

Designed to exploit the functionality in Apple’s iPhone 3.0 operating system, The Iceberg Reader 3.0 offers a suite of new features for reading and for mobile web browsing. The bookshelf function also allows consumers to bundle together their books within the Iceberg app and take their library of e-books wherever they go. ScrollMotion features a library of popular and bestselling works from a range of publishers including Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Hachette, S&S, Penguin and McGraw-Hill.

Consortium, Ingram Publisher Services Add Clients
By Claire Kirch
Consortium Book Sales & Distribution and Ingram Publisher Services have both announced new additions to their lists of publishers.

Four publishers will join Consortium for the spring 2010 season, including two that are launching their publishing programs. Loudmouth Press is a Brooklyn publisher of nonfiction dealing with human and civil rights, as well as “issues of social, political, and cultural importance,” that is launching its publishing program with Office of Blame Accountability, an illustrated exploration of the culture of blame in America. Nicolo Whimsey Press is headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metro area, and hopes to make Shakespeare plays more accessible to young people by publishing 30-minute plays with stage directions and character suggestions. Nicolo Whimsey will launch its publishing program with six Shakespeare plays. The two other new Consortium clients are Enchanted Lion Books, a children’s nonfiction and picture book publisher in Brooklyn since 2003, previously distributed by FSG; and Child Heroes Publishing in Norfolk, VA, which publishes books for “children struggling with disease, disorder, disability, and dysfunction, or for those who just feel different.” Read on »

Blogs

MORE STORIES

Baker & Taylor, Gale offer Digital Reference Collection
Continuing its push into the digital distribution arena, Baker & Taylor has joined with reference publisher Gale to distribute the Gale Virtual Reference Library e-book collection, a digital reference collection offering 3,000 sources from more than 50 publishers that range across the classics, current events, the arts, humanities and business education. The GVRL includes Literature Criticism Online, a compilation of 10 scholarly series focused on authors, and the Gale Directory Library, an online searchable database of publishers and academic associations. Read on »

Job Moves
Linda Jones has been hired as senior v-p of Andrews McMeel’s calendar and greeting card and Accord Publishing divisions. She will report to president and CEO Hugh T. Andrews. Jones has more than 20 years of experience in retail merchandising, most recently as senior v-p of merchandising for Borders, where she oversaw children’s books and toys, newsstands, games, calendars, music and movies.

Cengage Learning has promoted Chris Vento to executive v-p, advanced digital products. Vento joined Cengage’s global new media team in September, after holding positions at Blackboard, WebCT, Lotus (IBM) and Avid Technology. Vento will work across the academic and professional group on launching new digital initiatives and technology platforms.

The PW Morning Report
No Weak Links! PW’s Top Ten Books of ’09; Eggers and Martel the Movies; Vook Slammed; Apple Tablet Goes Down Under; Fitzgerald’s Tax Records. Read on »

PW Spring Announcement Listings
E-mails were sent to publishers on October 12 (deadline was Oct 23); if you did not receive an e-mail, contact Skip Skwarek at skip.skwarek@reedbusiness.com.

AUTHORS ON THE AIR

Authors on the Air: Ace of Cakes; John Irving; Smart on Crime
Today, Oprah hosts Food Network’s Ace of Cakes Duff Goldman and his brother Willie Goldman, authors of Ace of Cakes: Inside the World of Charm City Cakes (William Morrow Cookbooks, 978-0061703010, $35). Read on »

PICTURE OF THE DAY

50 and Counting
A number of independent publishers attended last week's AARP Life@50 conference in Las Vegas. At the Rich Dad Poor Dad booth, attendees look over the books. Other publishers in attendance included Galaxy Press, Medallion and Upper Access. Submit your pictures here »