Arcadia Publishing Acquires Dry Climate Studios
The purchase of children's publisher Dry Climate, best known for its alphabetical books spotlighting cities, states, and regions across the U.S., is the latest in a string of acquisitions made by the regional books publisher Arcadia. more...Book Deals: Week of May 13, 2024
Atria lands a memoir by ‘Ted Lasso’ costar Brendan Hunt, Viking takes Lindsay Owens’s exploration of price gouging, and more. more...
The Cases Against Book Bans
After a string of wins, potentially significant developments now loom in several key book-banning lawsuits. PW rounded up the status of some of the more closely watched book banning cases. more...Librarians, Advocates Sue to Block Restrictive New Alabama Library Policies
The suit comes amid a months-long drama which saw allies of a right-wing group take over the library board and abruptly fire the library director. “This is about who should get to decide what books our kids get to read—parents or politicians,” said Angie Hayden of Read Freely Alabama, one of the lead plaintiffs, in a statement. more...and more.
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Financial ReportingPublishing Industry Sales Were Flat in the First Quarter of 2024
Trade publishing sales saw declines in the first quarter, precipitated by drops in the adult nonfiction and children's/YA categories, although audio continues to be a bright spot.
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Business Deals
Abrams Buys Taunton Books
Following its acquisition of Taunton Press in December, the enthusiast magazine publisher Active Interest Media has sold the Taunton Books imprint to Abrams.
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Comics
TokyoPop Moves Its Distribution to Penguin Random House
Beginning January 1, Penguin Random House Publisher Services will sell and distribute the entire TokyoPop frontlist and backlist across all sales channels worldwide.
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Bookselling
Print Book Sales Fell 4% in April as Nonfiction Struggles
The decline was due in part to an earlier Easter this year, as well as the continued soft sales in the nonfiction category, according to Circana BookScan.
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Religion
Black 'Nones' Find a Humanist 'Religion'
More Black Americans are choosing nonbelief as their "religion" and Humanism as their new identification, says Anthony Pinn, author of 'The Black Practice of Disbelief: An Introduction to the Principles, History, and Communities of Black Nonbelievers' (Beacon, May 22). PW caught up with Pinn to talk about Humanism as religion and why it appeals to many as a safer space than the Black church.
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Bookselling
Amazon Launches Massive Six-Day Book Sale
The inaugural Amazon Book Sale will run May 15–20 and feature deep discounts on thousands of books, including 50% off print bestsellers. The e-retailer is touting the event as "The Book Sale of Your Dreams."
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Religion
Baker, Eerdmans Announce New Marketing Execs
Two veteran publishers are settling into new roles this month at two venerable Christian publishing houses.
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Religion
'The Way We Live with Authenticity': PW Talks with Author and ‘Guncle’ Jonathan Merritt
The cultural commentator, speaker, literary agent, and author's first children's book 'My Guncle and Me' (Running Press) is a gentle, authentic story of Henry Higgleston, a young boy bullied and teased at school for being different until his “guncle” comes for a visit and shows young Henry that each person is a gift. PW talked with Merritt about his debut children’s book, and what it means to be a “guncle.”
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Religion
Religion Book Deals: May 15, 2024
Beaming Books takes Laura Alary's picture book tale of a Christmas that almost wasn't, Behrman House signs Howard Blas's guidebook for families and clergy planning b'nai mitzvah celebrations for children with disabilities, and more.
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Religion
Religion Publishers See a 'Good Day'
While their counterparts in trade publishing struggle to increase sales, eight senior executives in the religion space discuss a banner 2023 and bright prospects for the current year.
