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Major publishers to skip Frankfurt’s physical event

Monday, 1 June 2020
HarperCollins, Bonnier Books UK and Pan Macmillan UK won’t attend Frankfurt Book Fair’s physical event, while other UK publishers and agents are uncertain about attending, reports the Bookseller. As previously...

Karp appointed S&S CEO

Friday, 29 May 2020
In the US, Jonathan Karp has been appointed president and CEO of Simon & Schuster (S&S), reports Publishers Weekly. Karp will succeed Carolyn Reidy, who died from a heart attack...

RWA retires RITA Awards

Friday, 22 May 2020
In the US, the Romance Writers of America (RWA) will retire its annual RITA Awards, which have been presented annually since 1982, reports Publishers Weekly. The move follows the cancellation...

UK indies hail £160m emergency funding package

Thursday, 21 May 2020
In the UK, independent publishers have spoken of their ‘huge relief’ after receiving funding from Arts Council England’s £160m (A$297m) emergency coronavirus package, reports the Bookseller. Recipients of the funding, which...

Waterstones to put its books under 72-hour quarantine

Tuesday, 19 May 2020
In the UK, bookselling chain Waterstones will put its books under a 72-hour quarantine after they have been handled by browsing shoppers, reports the Guardian. As part of Waterstones' plan...

Bertrams put up for sale

Monday, 18 May 2020
In the UK, wholesaler Bertrams has been put up for sale by its parent company Aurelius, reports the Bookseller. Bertrams’ subsidiary companies Dawson Books and Education Umbrella are also up...

Washington wins 2020 Dylan Thomas Prize

Friday, 15 May 2020
In the UK, US author Bryan Washington has won the 2020 International Dylan Thomas Prize for his debut short story collection, Lot (Atlantic). Swansea University professor and judging panel chair...

UK reading more books in lockdown: Nielsen

Friday, 15 May 2020
In the UK, Nielsen Book research has found 41% of UK adults are reading more since lockdown started, but only 25% are buying more books, and 18% are buying fewer...

Simon & Schuster CEO Carolyn Reidy dies

Wednesday, 13 May 2020
In the US, Simon & Schuster (S&S) president and CEO Carolyn Reidy has died suddenly after experiencing a heart attack. Reidy was 71. Simon & Schuster Australia told Books+Publishing the...

McGraw Hill and Cengage call off merger

Tuesday, 5 May 2020
McGraw Hill and Cengage have ‘mutually agreed to terminate their proposed merger’, according to a statement from McGraw Hill. According to the Bookseller, Cengage said the decision was brought about...

Edgar Allan Poe Awards 2020 winners announced

Tuesday, 5 May 2020
In the US, the Mystery Writers of America has announced the winners of the 2020 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, which honour ‘the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction and television’ published...

Gardners re-opens with ‘much reduced staff’

Tuesday, 5 May 2020
In the UK, Garners has announced it is again accepting online orders and ‘will look to turning on further methods of accepting orders as soon as we can’, after having...

Bertrams future ‘at risk’

Monday, 4 May 2020
In the UK, the Sunday Times reports that Bertrams will appoint an administrator, with the Bookseller writing that the book wholesaler’s future is ‘at risk’ following the sale of its...

Covid-19 hits first quarter sales at Bertelsmann, Lagardère

Friday, 1 May 2020
The parent companies of Hachette and Penguin Random House (PRH) have both reported first-quarter revenue declines due to the challenges of Covid-19. According to Publishers Weekly, Lagardère—the parent company of...

Shortlist announced for £40k Wolfson History Prize

Thursday, 30 April 2020
In the UK, the shortlist for the £40,000 (A$76,200) Wolfson History Prize shortlist has been announced. The shortlisted titles are: The Boundless Sea: A Human History of the Oceans (David Abulafia,...

UK to introduce micro-loan scheme for small businesses

Tuesday, 28 April 2020
In the UK, the government will introduce a new micro-loan scheme for small businesses, in response to the impact of the coronavirus lockdown, reports the Bookseller. From 4 May, businesses...

Pearson reports 5% decline in first quarter update

Monday, 27 April 2020
Pearson has announced a 5% decline in revenue in its first quarter update, in line with revised expectations reported in March due to Covid-19. It also reported a 10% decline...

Bologna releases schedule for virtual book fair

Monday, 27 April 2020
Organisers of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) have released the schedule for the virtual book fair, which will take place across BCBF's digital channels from 4–7 May. Among the...