Penguin India launches self-publishing platform with Author Solutions
Penguin India has launched a new self-publishing platform with the Pearson-owned Author Solutions called Partridge Publishing, reports TeleRead. Penguin India president and chief executive Andrew Phillips said in a statement...
Penguin releases new range of classics, Drop Caps
Penguin has released a new range of classics, with each book’s cover displaying a different letter of the alphabet. Drop Caps is a series of 26 hardback classics, each featuring...
ACCC undertaking ‘informal review’ of proposed Penguin, Random House merger
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is undertaking an ‘informal review’ of the proposed merger of Penguin and Random House. The ACCC is currently seeking ‘comments ... from interested...
Penguin, McGrath Foundation to launch ‘Pink Popular Penguins’
Penguin Books Australia will publish a limited edition set of 12 of its ‘Popular Penguins’ books with pink covers in March to help raise money for the McGrath Foundation. The...
New website, quarterly emag for Lantern
Penguin Books Australia’s Lantern imprint has a new look, thanks to a relaunched website and a new quarterly emagazine, Lantern Quarterly. The Lantern website was relaunched in November 2012. ‘It’s...
Talkback: The Penguin/Random House merger
What are the potential implications of a merger between Penguin and Random House for the business models of small, independent publishers? Bookseller+Publisher spoke to three publishers. Henry Rosenbloom, publisher, Scribe ...
‘The People Smuggler’ wins 2012 Human Rights Literature Award
The People Smuggler: The True Story of Ali Al Jenabi by Robin de Crespigny (Viking) has won this year’s Human Rights Literature Award. The People Smuggler was selected from a shortlist...
Penguin launches seminar for ‘popular writing’
Penguin Books Australia has launched a one-day seminar for aspiring writers of commercial fiction, called the Penguin School of Popular Writing. The seminar, which will be held on 19 January...
Johnson joins BICC
Simon & Schuster Australia managing director Lou Johnson has joined the Federal Government’s Book Industry Collaboration Council (BICC). Johnson replaces Penguin Australia CEO Gabrielle Coyne on the council and as...
Random House Australia to launch digital romance imprint
Random House Australia has announced that it will launch a digital-first imprint for Australian romance titles called Random Romance. The publisher said in a statement that the imprint will launch...
‘The Australian Moment’ wins 2012 Walkley Book Award
George Megalogenis has won this year’s Walkley Book Award for The Australian Moment: How We Were Made for These Times (Viking). Megalogenis received the award during the Walkley Awards for...
New S&S/Author Solutions self-publishing business open to Australian authors
Simon & Schuster has announced that it will work with Author Solutions, the self-publishing business acquired by Penguin in July, to operate a separate publishing business called Archway Publishing. Managing...
Quote of the week
‘Not to have a new Bryce Courtenay novel to work on will leave a hole in my publishing life. Not to have Bryce Courtenay in my life will be to...
UK publishers, booksellers join in Black Friday promotion
A number of UK publishers and booksellers offered special promotions to coincide with Black Friday sales in the US last week, reports the Bookseller. This is the first time UK publishers...
Australian author Bryce Courtenay dies
Much-loved Australian author Bryce Courtenay has died aged 79. Courtenay died at his home in Canberra on Thursday 22 November. The bestselling author had been suffering from terminal gastric cancer. Courtenay’s publisher...
News Corp reportedly interested in acquiring Simon & Schuster
HarperCollins parent company News Corporation has indicated to CBS that it is interested in acquiring the Simon & Schuster business, reports the Wall Street Journal. The WSJ reports that people...
International Library News
Penguin expands US ebook library lending In the US, Penguin will launch a new ebook library lending pilot program with Baker & Taylor this year, reports the New York Times....
ACCC ‘aware’ of Penguin, Random House proposed merger
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has told Bookseller+Publisher that it is ‘aware’ of the proposed merger between Penguin and Random House. An ACCC spokesperson said that ‘if the...
‘Business as usual’ at Random House, Penguin following merger announcement; industry responds
Random House Australia and New Zealand have told booksellers that it will be ‘business as usual’ for Random House and Penguin until the companies’ plans to merge have been approved...
Penguin US announces indie partnership program
Penguin US has invited independent booksellers to sign up to a new partnership program, the details of which are being kept confidential, which is designed to ‘increase sales and reduce returns...