Oprah Picks Frey Memoir
With the promise to "open doors to all books," Oprah chose James Frey's 2004 addiction memoir A Million Little Pieces as the next selection for her book club. The pick marks a departure from her recent focus on classics.
New S&S Kids Execs
Mara Anastas, currently director of sales for HarperCollins Children's Books, joins Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing group October 10 as v-p of sales and subsidiary rights. Mary McAveney, currently Harper Children's director of marketing, will become v-p of marketing a week later. Both will report to Rick Richter, president of S&S Kids.
Corporate Backer for Giller
Canada's most prestigious book award, the Giller Prize, has received financial support from Scotiabank, the country's second largest financial institution. In a deal between arts philanthropist Jack Rabinovitch, founder of the Giller, and Scotiabank president Rick Waugh, the bank will become the first-ever co-sponsor of the award. In addition to doubling the prize money from C$25,000 C$50,000, the agreement will result in a name change to the Scotiabank Giller Prize.
Mailer Gets NBF Medal
Norman Mailer will receive the National Book Foundation's 2005 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters at the NBF's annual award ceremony November 16. Mailer won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for Armies of the Night and won the Pulitzer again in 1980 for The Executioner's Song. Also on November 16, the NBF will present poet, publisher and bookseller Lawrence Ferlinghetti with its first Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.
Wellness from Warner Books
Warner Books will launch a new imprint next April, Warner Wellness, that will focus on books dealing with issues ranging from health to relationships to sex. Diana Baroni will head up the imprint as editorial director. Anywhere from two to four hardcovers will be released each season, along with 3—5 original trade paperbacks. First book out will be The Diet Code.
Martha Book from RH
Random House has published a picture book created during the new Martha Stewart: The Apprentice TV show. Jack in the Beanstalk went on sale on September 22 with 100,000 copies in print.
Potter Boosts Scholastic
Driven by $185 million from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as well as other Potter titles, revenue in Scholastic's children's book publishing and distribution group soared 125%, to $275.3 million, in the first quarter ended August 31. The strong performance helped boost total Scholastic revenue 54%, to $498.4 million, while the net loss in the period fell to $21.2 million, from $50.5 million. Noting that accounts are well supplied, Scholastic said it is not expecting significant sales from Half-Blood in the second quarter.
BAM Faces Delisting
Books-A-Million reported last week that because of its inability to file its second quarter 10-Q on time, it faces possible delisting from the Nasdaq. BAM has requested a hearing before the Nasdaq qualifications panel to state its case to keep trading on the exchange. Earlier in the month, BAM said that, because it was reviewing its internal controls over financial reporting for the second quarter, it will delay filing its second-quarter report with the SEC.
Comic-con NY Gets Quesada, Staff
Organizers of the New York Comic-con, a new comics convention set to launch in 2006 at New York City's Javits Center, announced commitments for half of the 90,000 square feet of exhibition space. Joe Quesada, Marvel Comics editor-in-chief, will be the guest of honor, and event organizer Reed Exhibitions announced a lineup of exhibitors that include Dark Horse Comics, the Sci-Fi Channel and a variety of licensing and trade associations. The New York Comic-Con is scheduled for February 24—26.
Counterpoint Tabs Scheibe
Amy Scheibe, formerly a senior editor at the Free Press, has been named executive editor of the Perseus Book Group's Counterpoint imprint, which has been without a dedicated editor since the departure of Dawn Sefarian in 2004.
Copeland Moves to Hyperion
Brenda Copeland, formerly a senior editor at S&S's Atria Books, has been named executive editor at Hyperion. She will report to Will Schwalbe, editor-in-chief.
