Bestselling books of 2014: did the booksellers get it right?

What effect did Super Thursday have on book sales, and how well did eight leading retailers and pundits fare in predicting the top titles of the year?• Readers turn over a new leaf as celebrity sales stutter• ‘Amazon-free’ Christmas campaign diverts reported £5m worth of sales from online retailer• Retailers’ predictions tracked through the autumnSuper Thursday, Black Friday, Panic Saturday, Cyber Monday: if you believe in the power of constructed celebrations of consumerism, almost every day of the week has been a major Christmas event this year. In particular, Black Friday – imported from the US this year as a major discounting day in the UK – promised a surge in Christmas sales.In an attempt to monitor the Christmas market, we asked seven leading UK retailers – which included large chains and independents – plus the industry journal the Bookseller to predict the season’s bestsellers, and we’ve been monitoring their predictions through the autumn. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #top titles #readers turn #black friday #cyber monday #christmas market

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Bestselling books of 2014: did the booksellers get it right?'


New Jung Chang book to Jonathan Cape

Jonathan Cape has acquired the new book by Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans (William Collins). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jonathan cape


Does Banned Books Week Really Matter Anymore?

Banned Books Week garners headlines and is easy to support, but some believe its an anachronism that 'traffics in fear-mongering over censorship.' The post Does Banned Books Week Really Matter Anymore? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Honoring Picture Book Champions at the 2015 Carle Awards

The Eric Carle Honors, held on September 24, marked a milestone – the annual awards ceremony, art auction, and gala event turned 10 this year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #art auction


Banned Books Week: How it's being celebrated across the country

Banned Books Week, which celebrates works that have been challenged or banned, is being held this year from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3. The number of challenges reported this year is low in comparison to recent figures, according to the American Library Association. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #recent figures


Banned Books Week Is a Crock

The latest story about censorship in America began when a Knoxville, Tennessee, woman named Jackie Sims found out that her 15-year-old son had been assigned to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks over the summer. Rebecca Skloot’s 2010 book tells the true story of a poor black woman whose... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2015-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latest story #henrietta lacks #true story


PW Asks: Which Book Would You Un-Ban?

BannedBooksWeek.org made a list of the 10 most challenged titles of 2014. Which one would you make a case for lots of people reading? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pw asks #people reading


Book world joins forces for charity

Some of Britain's bestselling authors and their publishers are donating their books to raise money for Syrian refugees. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2015-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling authors #raise money #syrian refugees


My Job in 5: Helen Chapman, Picture book designer, Penguin Random House UK

Describe your role My job title is picture book designer but people outside the industry always think that I must illustrate all the books! Unfortunately I’m not that talented (though I do a mean stick man) so I end up describing my job as being an editor for the illustrators. Working in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #job title #editorial team #designing covers


Virgin Books wins auction for medical detection dogs title

Virgin Books has acquired a title by the founder of Medical Detection Dogs, in a “hotly contested auction”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #virgin books


How A Quiet, Failed Comic Book Artist Conquered Hollywood's Nightlife Scene

Franki Chan was once unemployed and broke. Today, his IHEARTCOMIX empire works with the likes of The Rolling Stones and Skrillex.Franki Chan is an unlikely nightlife king. Now in his late 30s and softspoken, his big professional ambition earlier in life was to work as a comic book artist. But... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2015-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rolling stones #music festival


Bookselling Roundup, Week Ending September 25, 2015

The indie revival continues this week with the announcement of a new design bookstore on New York City’s Lower East Side and the grand opening of Phoenix Books in Rutland, Vt., Phoenix’s third store. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #phoenix books #grand opening


Last chance to book children’s conference tickets

The children’s publishing world has only 24 hours left to book tickets to this year’s Bookseller children’s conference, which is taking place next Tuesday (29th September). The day, themed around the idea of growing the children’s market by invention and reinvention, covers four key areas:... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #conference tickets #bookseller children #publishing world #book tickets #taking place #key areas #print growth


German Book Trade Says #RefugeesWelcome

As the refugee crisis continues and the number of refugees coming into Europe rises, the German book trade has responded with offers of help. The post German Book Trade Says #RefugeesWelcome appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Why Faster Is Better in Book Distribution

Book distributors are adding warehouse space and upgrades to shave delivery time to bookstores. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book distribution


Jeremy Tarcher dies at 83; maverick publisher of New Age bestsellers

In the early 1960s Jeremy Tarcher packaged book deals for celebrities, which resulted in such comical titles as "Phyllis Diller's Housekeeping Hints" and Johnny Carson's "Happiness Is a Dry Martini." Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Book Deals: Week of September 28, 2015

Blue Rider nabs a collection of humorous essays from Annabelle Gurwitch, Amazon’s 47 North buys an urban fantasy series from Sarah Fine, Harlequin signs Gena Showalter, and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book deals #annabelle gurwitch


A manifesto for a digital book platform

"The future of the book business will certainly be unveiled on a digital platform." Even as some believe that ebooks' progress has been staggered by a retreat to print, Trajectory c.e.o. and co-founder Jim Bryant is undaunted in his vision for the primacy of "relevancy and discovery" inherent in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book business #digital platform


What Hot Titles U.S. Agents will Be Taking to the 2015 Frankfurt Book Fair

Among the titles expected to draw lots of interest are Anna Quindlen’s new novel, two projects by Karl Ove Knausgaard, an examination of artificial intelligence, and a look back by Cindy Crawford. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hot titles #titles expected #artificial intelligence


How Kepler's Books Returned to Profitability

Kepler’s bookstore, once on the brink of closing for good, just celebrated its 60th anniversary. Its revival reveals some secrets about how bookstores might work in the future. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #60th anniversary


The Little Book Distributor That Could

Small Press Distribution has carved out an important role in the distribution landscape, filling spaces overlooked by the bigger players through its commitment to independent and small presses. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book distributor #important role #distribution landscape #small presses