JK Rowling and Joe Wicks powered 2016 surge in UK book sales

Helped by Harry Potter and the hit fitness guru, year on year takings to December rose sharply to £1.59bnRetail sales struggled in 2016, but JK Rowling cast a spell strong enough to power sales towards a magical £1.6bn during the year, a rise of almost 5% on 2015, according to the latest annual sales data.Led by Harry Potter’s newest incarnation in a West End play, Rowling’s first screenplay and titles by diet and fitness guru Joe Wicks, annual book sales in the UK rose to just over £1.59bn in 2016, from £1.51bn in the previous year, according to the annual sales roundup from data specialist Nielsen BookScan. Related: Lean in 15’s Joe Wicks: ‘I don’t understand the clean-eating thing. I’ve just had bangers and mash’ Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "JK Rowling and Joe Wicks powered 2016 surge in UK book sales"


Harry Potter’s magical moving portraits could become a reality thanks to Samsung’s AI

No invitation to Hogwarts required. When Harry Potter first comes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he is stunned to see the portraits that line the school’s storied stone walls move and talk. Thanks to artificial intelligence, that just might be a reality some day.Read Full Story Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2019-05-23 12:27:04 UTC ]
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The ‘Harry Potter’ tour near London expands its universe

There is always something magical to uncover in the world of Harry Potter, which is the ultimate premise behind “The Making of Harry Potter” on the Warner Bros. studio tour near London, an experience that continues to reveal new secrets from the film franchise. The tour’s latest — and largest —... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rare ‘Harry Potter’ book featuring misspelled title fetches $90,000 at auction

A rare first edition of a "Harry Potter" book featuring a misspelled title fetched about $90,000 at an auction last week, the Independent reported Friday. The copy of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (published in the U.S. as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"), the first book in... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Little, Brown to publish Harry Potter and the Cursed Child behind the scenes book

An official behind-the-scenes book of the record-breaking play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts One and Two" will be published by Little, Brown. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jojo still has her mojo; Moyes' Still Me hits top spot

Jojo Moyes’ Still Me (Penguin) has soared into the UK Official Top 50 number one spot, scoring the highest number one single-week volume since Joe Wicks’ Veggie Lean in 15 (Bluebird) in the first week of 2019.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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An Ellicott City native's handbag line for 'Game of Thrones' fans

After successful collections for Harry Potter, Looney Tunes and Trolls, winter has come to the Danielle Nicole brand. Founder and Ellicott City native Danielle DiFerdinando has joined forces with HBO for GOT X DN, a collection inspired by the book and TV series “Game of Thrones.” In hues of red,... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2019-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Slim pickings: Wicks, Kerridge lead New Year, New You charge

British book buyers awoke in January from their collective holiday hangover/food coma and embraced "New Year, New You" tightly, with 12 titles in last week's UK Official Top 50 in the healthy eating, fitness and personal development space, led by Joe Wicks' latest chart-topper. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-01-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The 100 bestselling books of the year: from Eleanor Oliphant to Michelle Obama

While Gail Honeyman is completely fine, where have all the female writers gone? John Dugdale takes a look at 2018’s biggest books and the year’s trendsRead Alex Clark’s look at 2018: the year the books world opened upThere are two contrasting strategies for achieving a mega-seller, as... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-12-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pentagram designs a Harry Potter font, and it’s magical

It’s called “Crimes New Roman.” Harry Potter, the beloved children’s books by J.K. Rowling, is now a bona fide franchise, with books, theme parks, and countless movies. The latest? The Crimes of Grindelwald, a sequel to the spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It’s playing in movie... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2018-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pro tip: Do not drag J.K. Rowling and her writing room

"A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction," Virginia Woolf wrote in a famous 1929 essay. British businessman Arron Banks apparently disagrees, and he incurred the wrath of fans of "Harry Potter" creator J.K. Rowling after mocking the author on Twitter for having... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Fantastic Beasts' enchants the box office with $62-million opening

Warner Bros.' "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" met expectations in winning the box office this weekend, opening in first place with $62.2 million, according to figures from measurement firm Comscore. The "Harry Potter" prequel, a follow-up to 2016's "Fantastic Beasts and Where to... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Books News: Michelle Obama’s ‘Becoming’ Finally Hits Shelves

The publishing industry might have to think back to Harry Potter’s heyday for a book that has garnered as much attention as the former first lady’s has. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2018-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Potter’s Pole new world

Poland-based kids’ publisher Ameet will release a series of books based on the Wizarding World franchise—encompassing the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films—after partnering with Warner Bros Consumer Products. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A Star Is Born: Tatiana Maslany turns 33 today

JK Rowling once surprised readers by telling them that all along, without mention in her books, one of her "Harry Potter" characters was gay. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wicks' Sweet 16 gives Pan Mac a one-two charts punch

The starting gun for the autumn season has sounded with 17 new titles in the UK Official Top 50—many of which will undoubtedly feature in the race for the Christmas number one—including this week's chart-topper, Joe Wicks' Joe's 30-Minute Meals (Bluebird).  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Natalie Dormer to narrate Harry Potter: A History of Magic

This October Audible will release an audiobook of Pottermore Publishing’s Harry Potter: A History of Magic, read by Natalie Dormer. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scholastic Sales and Earnings Dropped in Fiscal 2018

Blockbuster sales of 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' helped drive revenue to $1.74 billion in fiscal 2017, but without a comparable hit, sales fell 6% in the fiscal year ended May 31, 2018. Operating income dropped 38%. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Model spiders to mark 20 years of The Chamber of Secrets

Seven models of the spiders from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets will be unveiled across the UK at the end of the month to mark the novel’s 20th anniversary. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Band's Visit' and 'Harry Potter' dominate Tony Awards with inspired creativity. Why theater needs more

Revivals redeemed a lackluster Broadway year. But now that the Tony Awards have closed the book on the 2017-18 season, it will be easy for producers and press agents to spin a self-congratulatory narrative. “The Band’s Visit,” as arrestingly original a show as “Hamilton” and “Fun Home,” won the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tony Awards: Races to watch and front-runners to beat

Can "Mean Girls" edge out "The Band's Visit" and "SpongeBob SquarePants"? Will "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" or "Angels in American" take home more trophies? Here's a quick rundown of key contenders from shows with the most nominations. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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