Authors fear the worst if Penguin owner takes over Simon & Schuster

Analysis: if Bertelsmann, owner of Penguin Random House, buys US publisher, writers expect smaller deals and less choice for readersUK watchdog investigates Penguin owner’s Simon & Schuster takeoverJokes circulated online when, in 2013, Penguin and Random House merged: would the new mega-publisher, which became the world’s biggest trade publishing group, be known as Random Penguin? Penguin House? Now, as the prosaically named Penguin Random House’s parent company Bertelsmann’s $2.17bn acquisition of Simon & Schuster comes under scrutiny in the UK, the jokes are fewer and further between.Authors have made it abundantly clear that they fear the fallout if the deal goes ahead. When it was first announced last November, the Authors Guild in the US was quick to register its objections. The acquisition, which would bring heavyweight S&S authors including Hillary Clinton, John Irving, Stephen King and Bob Woodward under the PRH umbrella in the US, would “creat[e] a huge imbalance in the US publishing industry”, it warned, calling on the US justice department to step in. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-03-22 23:24:23 UTC ]

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Random House to Publish New Salman Rushdie Collection in November

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Barbara Marcus to Retire from Random House Books for Young Readers

Mallory Loehr is set to succeed Barbara Marcus, who is to retire as head of Random House Books for Young Readers. The post Barbara Marcus to Retire from Random House Books for Young Readers appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2025-03-24 00:12:42 UTC ]
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Barbara Marcus to Retire from Random House Children’s Books

Barbara Marcus, one of the most prominent and influential figures in children’s book publishing for decades, will step down as president and publisher of Random House Children’s Books on May 1. She will be succeeded by Mallory Loehr, currently EVP and publisher of the Random House Books for... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-03-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Latvia’s Book Market Driven by Fiction and Domestic Authors

Local authors of fiction and their genre dominated the Latvian trade publishing market in 2024, in a 'stable year' of business. The post Latvia’s Book Market Driven by Fiction and Domestic Authors appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2025-03-17 22:47:59 UTC ]
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Slovakia’s Publishers Surprised by a VAT Reduction on Books

Facing publishing industry backlash, Slovakia's government reversed its 23-percent book VAT hike, instead slashing it to 5 percent. The post Slovakia’s Publishers Surprised by a VAT Reduction on Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2025-03-11 19:42:53 UTC ]
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‘Something magical is happening’: sales boom for children’s comics creating young readers of the future

Publishers and analysts say popularity of genres like manga and superhero comics is a gateway into readingThe best route to learning to love words in print could well be pictures. This, at least, is the hope of the publishing industry this spring, as it welcomes news that sales of children’s... Continue reading at The Guardian

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Book Deals: Week of March 10, 2025

A beloved romance novelist and master supernatural thriller filmmaker team up on a new novel at Random House, a Nobel laureate readies his latest at Transit, a PW Star Watch Superstar inks her first two deals at Putnam, and more in this week’s book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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S&S UK and International CEO Ian Chapman Stepping Down

After 25 years with Simon & Schuster, the company's UK and International publisher and CEO, Ian Chapman, is to step down in May. The post S&S UK and International CEO Ian Chapman Stepping Down appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2025-02-17 18:48:19 UTC ]
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In Toronto, Random House Canada Names Vivek Shraya a Senior Editor

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ChatGPT, can you write my new novel for me? Och aye, ye preenin’ Sassenach | Gareth Rubin

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What Are Book Blurbs, and How Much Do They Matter in Publishing?

An announcement from Simon & Schuster’s publisher left the literary community wondering whether blurbs, the little snippets of praise on a book jacket, are all they’re cracked up to be. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2025-02-04 19:45:15 UTC ]
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My advice to male writers struggling to get published? Toughen up – and embrace poverty | Van Badham

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Simon & Schuster imprint will no longer ask authors to obtain blurbs for their books

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US Authors Guild to certify books from ‘human intellect’ rather than AI

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Why Simon & Schuster’s Flagship Imprint Won’t Require Blurbs Anymore

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Authors Guild sets up 'Human Author' portal to certify books come from 'human intellect'

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