TODAY'S NEWS

The Customer is King at Digital Book 2008
by Craig Morgan Teicher
“Give the customers what they want” was the message at Digital Book 2008, the annual conference sponsored by the International Digital Publishing Forum, held yesterday at the McGraw-Hill auditorium in Manhattan. On panels about e-book standards, new innovations, international digital publishing and the education market, publishers and technology developers sounded the same note over and over again, pointing out that the Internet has given them unprecedented access to consumer feedback, and that the way to grow the e-book market is to listen to what readers are saying. “Power is shifting to the consumer,” said Matt Shatz, v-p of digital at Random House. Read on »

Borders Cuts Eight Management Spots
Looking to trim expenses, Borders has eliminated eight positions at the vice president and director level, a company spokesperson confirmed. Although no further details were released, the cuts are believed to have come in various departments, including buying, merchandising and finance. The cuts come as Borders prepares to implement a new structure in its merchandising department. In a letter sent to publishers in early April, the company, which previously had a pool of buyers, will now be restructured into a merchandising department with buyers, planners and directors. The changes will go into effect May 19.

Hachette in Co-Pub Deal for 'The Shack'
by Lynn Garrett
The FaithWords division of Hachette Book Group has entered into a co-publishing partnership with Windblown Media for the runaway bestseller The Shack by William P. Young. The long-term deal also will include future titles to be published by Windblown. Hachette will handle sales, marketing, distribution, licensing, and manufacturing, with Windblown retaining rights to The Shack and future books, while having its own imprint under FaithWords. Read on »

Jaffe Ready to Close Paperbacks Plus
by Kevin Howell
After 38 years in business, Fern Jaffe will be closing Paperbacks Plus, which is the only general-interest independent bookstore in the Bronx. Unless a buyer is found, Jaffe is targeting a final closing for four to six weeks from now. Starting May 14, everything in the store is being discounted 20%.

“I’m a woman of a certain age and have worked hard for 38 years and would like to retire,” Jaffe told PW. “I was dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. We computerized, became a Book Sense store and Web presence. We organized our local businesses about shopping local before it became the thing to do. We’ve done everything you can do in the book business at least once. This store needs someone with more energy who hasn’t done it all before.” Read on »

GBO Hosts First German Book Buzz Panel
The German Book Office is hosting its first buzz panel on Friday, May 23. The event, which starts at 12:30 at the Deutches Haus in Manhattan (address is 43 Washington Mews), will be moderated by former Bookforum editor Eric Banks and will introduce the audience to a collection of noteworthy new fiction from Germany. Among the panelists are translator Benjamin Ross; Playboy magazine editor and translator Tim Mohr; and Grove/Atlantic author Sasa Stanisic.

For more information on the May 23 event, contact Riky Stock at stock@gbo.org.

Blogs

MORE STORIES

The PW Morning Report
Clarke’s Last Book; Living Library; Novelist Elaine Dundy Dead; Samuel Johnson Prize Shortlist; and Hemingway to Film Read on »

AUTHORS ON THE AIR

Authors on the Air: Ghosts Among Us; Dead Lucky; Dead Heat
This morning, James Van Praagh visited Good Morning America with Ghosts Among Us: Uncovering the Truth About the Other Side (Harper One, $24.95; Tantor Media CD, $29.99). Read on »

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Hangin' With Eloise
Hilary Knight signed a copy of Eloise for Jordana Beatty, the Australian actress who is playing the title role with Uma Thurman in the forthcoming film of Eloise in Hollywood. On Wednesday morning, the Plaza Hotel had an unveiling of the famous Eloise portrait, which is now hanging once again in the renovated hotel. Submit your pictures here »

JOB OF THE DAY

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