TODAY'S NEWS

B&N Cancels Order for Chelsea Green’s Obama Book
By Lynn Andriani
Barnes & Noble has cancelled its 10,000-copy order of Obama’s Challenge, a book by Robert Kuttner that Chelsea Green is making available early exclusively through Amazon.com. Chelsea Green president and publisher Margo Baldwin said the chain will make the book available on BN.com and will special order it, but that it will not stock it in its stores. “In effect, they have made a decision to boycott this book in order to punish Chelsea Green,” said Baldwin. B&N's decision follows in the wake of independent booksellers' outrage over the book being sold early exclusively through Amazon.com. B&N spokesperson Mary Ellen Keating said Chelsea Green's move "effectively takes away sales from all booksellers in the period when the predominate sales of such media related titles typically occur. Our initial order was based on the book being available to all booksellers simultaneously—an even playing field—which is common practice in book publishing." She continued, "We agree with Margo Baldwin's statement that 'a little perspective is in order' but believe the appropriate perspective is for the publisher to show appreciation to the bookselling community that has supported Chelsea Green for many years. To couch their action as a bold political move is a red herring for unfair business practices."

Borders, however, is keeping its order. Spokesperson Anne Roman told PW, “We are keeping with our original buy and marketing plans for this title. It is an important book that will be sought after by our customers as the election heats up in October and we want to meet their needs.”

Faber Makes First Joint Deal
by Matthew Thornton
Faber and Faber publisher Mitzi Angel has made her first acquisition in her new post, teaming up with Lee Brackstone at Faber Ltd. in the U.K. to preempt world English rights to two books by debut author Petina Gappah. Claire Patterson at Janklow and Nesbit made the sale.

The books, a collection of stories and a novel, are set against the chaos and confusion of the author's native Zimbabwe; Gappah's stories feature characters struggling with the spiraling inflation, power cuts, and financial hardship that characterize life under Robert Mugabe’s regime, as well as more universal disappointments and yearnings. “Her writing is full of verve and wit,” Angel added. “I’m delighted to be publishing this talented writer in America, and equally delighted that this will be the first shared acquisition for Faber in the U.S. and Faber in the U.K.” Read on »

McGraw-Hill Education Gets New President
The McGraw-Hill Cos. has appointed Peter Davis president of its McGraw-Hill Education group, succeeding Henry Hirschberg who will retire October 31. Davis, who steps into the new role September 2, has been executive v-p of global strategy for MHC since 2006. Davis will report to MHC chairman Terry McGraw who cited Davis’s “deep understanding of business strategy and extensive international expertise” as key factors in his appointment. Among the executives who will report to Davis are Bill Oldsey, executive vice president of McGraw-Hill Education and head of the pre-K-12 education business; Rik Kranenburg, president of Higher Education, Professional and International; and Mostafa Mehrabani, president of McGraw-Hill Assessment and Reporting.

Georgia Bookseller Raises $25,000 to Save Store
By Edward Nawotka
Faced with a large chunk of debt, Wordsworth Books of Decatur, Ga. was in danger of closing earlier this month when it launched an aggressive fundraising campaign that culminated last Friday with an event featuring author Jack Pendarvis and his book Awesome (MacAdam/Cage). The two-week blitz enabled Wordsworth to raise nearly $25,000, taking itself out of immediate danger. “We came very close to our fundraising goal,” said owner Zachary Steele.

Steele’s August 4 e-mail blast generated lots of publicity in publishing circles and the store received a big boost when NPR’s All Things Considered ran a four-minute segment on August 11 outlining the store’s need. Contributions came from 18 states, as well as Canada and the U.K. Additional funds were provided by higher sales and some 40 new members signing up for the store’s loyalty program. Read on »

Sterling Signs U.K. Bestseller
By Rachel Deahl
Across the pond Paul McKenna is a big name. Sterling is hoping, soon enough, he'll be a household name in the States as well. The house has a four-book deal with the bestselling British author of I Can Make You Thin, a book which Sterling said sold over one million copies worldwide. Michael Fragnito, v-p and editorial director of Sterling, inked the deal with McKenna's attorney Michael Sherman and the house plans to release Thin (and a companion CD with it) in January 2009 with a first announced printing of 200,000. Sterling plans to roll out McKenna's three forthcoming titles shortly after Thin, releasing Instant Confidence also in 2009 and both Quit Smoking Today and I Can Make You Sleep in 2010.

Fragnito noted that McKenna--who's appeared on TLC and has a handful of celebrity clients including Ellen DeGeneres--has moved from London to L.A. in order to better publicize his books in the U.S. Sterling has high hopes for the author. "We think this is Paul's moment to capture the U.S. market. ... Aside from the fact that Paul is a fabulous television performer, I have no doubt these books will find a massive audience, for one simple reason: the system works."

The PW Morning Report
By Dermot McEvoy
Woodward’s 900,000-Copy Title: The War Within; Michael Moore: Don’t Read My Book; Third Place Rowling; Fox Prevails in Watchman Lawsuit; Julius to Mandalay Pictures; and Ebook Gossip Girl Read on »

Blogs

AUTHORS ON THE AIR

Authors on the Air: Young, Beautiful, and (HIV) Positive; Poisoned Profits; 187 Reasons Mexicanos Can't Cross the Border
This morning, The Early Show talked with Marvelyn Brown, author of The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful, and (HIV) Positive (Amistad, $14.95), which pubs today. Read on »

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Kingston In Hawaii
Recently W. S. Merwin and Maxine Hong Kingston appeared at an event in Maui called “Finding Words in Our Time,” organized by the local nonprofit, Ala Kukui. Arnie Kotler, of Koa Books (which publishes Kingston's Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace), also helped organize the event. Submit your pictures here »

JOB OF THE DAY

PW VIRTUAL EDITION

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