TODAY'S NEWS

Octopus Books USA Launches
By Lynn Andriani
Octopus Books, the Hachette-owned European publisher of illustrated books which had previously sold co-editions of its titles to North American publishers, has formed its own North American group. Octopus Books USA will begin publishing in North America in January 2009. Read on »

Riverhead "Saddened" by Love and Consequences Scandal
In a statement released today, Riverhead said it was "saddened" by the revelations in the New York Times' story about the wholly fabricated memoir it published, Love and Consequences. After the Times reported that author Margaret Seltzer, writing under the pseudonym Margaret B. Jones, had invented the entirety of the experiences she chronicled in the February release, the Penguin imprint issued an explanation revealing how it had been duped by its author. Read on »

Albert Whitman Comes Under New Leadership
The Morton Grove, Ill.-based children's book publisher, Albert Whitman & Company, is seeing a changing of the guard. Joe Boyd, who's been president of the house since 1986 (and with the company for more than 40 years) is retiring, along with his partner, v-p and Whitman veteran, Richard Gutrich. Boyd and Gutrich have sold the operation to John Quattrochi and Patrick McPartland (who used to work for Whitman). Quattrochi will serve as president and McPartland will be vice president.

The 89-year-old company publishes picture books, middle grade fiction and various series, including the Boxcar Children Mysteries. It's also known for its concept books, including such topics like homosexuality (My Two Uncles) and growing up with AIDS (Be a Friend: Children Who Live with HIV Speak). It publishes 25 to 30 titles annually and has a backlist of 550 titles.

Tuttle to Publish U.S. Edition of Murdoch Tell-All
By Lynn Andriani
The New York Times reported Monday that the Far Eastern Economic Review, which Rupert Murdoch recently acquired, killed a review of the Viking Australia book Rupert's Adventures in China due to the book's unfavorable look at Murdoch. With the book set for U.S. release this summer, it's unclear how the media will handle it.

Tuttle Publishing, the independent house that specializes in Asian-interest books, is considering moving the publication of the book, which they have re-titled Rupert Murdoch's China Adventures: How the World's Most Powerful Media Mogul Lost a Fortune and Found a Wife, from July to May because of the media interest. Publicist Rowan Muelling-Auer said Tuttle has not made changes to the book's content, aside from Americanized English, and at this time does not have plans to vet the book from a legal perspective. "It's not something that we're particularly worried about," she said. Read on »

The PW Morning Report: A daily round-up of the latest publishing news
By Dermot McEvoy
Hoax Fallout; Lucky "7" for Twelve; More on Dutton's; Octopus to U.S.; European Reference Struggles; Books Rule in Ireland; Penguin U.K. Riding High; and New O.J. Book Read on »

Blogs

AUTHORS ON THE AIR

Authors on the Air: Mike Lupica; Vivian Stringer; Gregory Rodriguez
This morning, bestseller Mike Lupica visited Today with his new children's book The Big Field (Philomel, $17.99). Read on »

PICTURE OF THE DAY

An Authorial Gathering
At the recent launch party for Anton Strout's new book, Dead to Me (Ace Books), the author (who is also a national sales rep for Penguin) was feted by some of his writer-friends. Pictured here (l. to r.) at New York City’s Village Lantern are: Carolyn Turgeon, author of Rain Village (Unbridled Books, 2006) and upcoming Godmother (Three Rivers Press, 2009); Strout; and Jeanine Cummins, author of Rip in Heaven (NAL, 2004). Submit your pictures here »

JOB OF THE DAY

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