What’s Next for Simon & Schuster?
Paramount Global chose not to extend the $2.175 billion sales agreement it signed with Penguin Random House in November 2020, which was set to expire November 21. With the deal now dead, Paramount will receive a $200 million termination fee. “A healthy publishing ecosystem is one that has many publishers with different tastes, interests and degrees of risk willing to assume. The bigger any of the Big 5 are, the harder it is for the smaller and newer publishers to compete,” the Author’s Guild CEO, Mary Rasenberger said.
Literary agents threaten to blacklist HarperCollins from upcoming author projects in support of striking staff
More than 150 literary agents have signed an open letter to HarperCollins vowing to “omit” the publisher from upcoming book submissions until it reaches an agreement with striking employees. Nearly 250 publicists to editorial assistants, entry-and mid-level staff, have been on strike since November 10. Wages, workforce diversity and other issues are in disagreement. No new talks are scheduled.
Click here to read Harper Collins response.
By now, we’ve all heard about the Nigerian prince who wants to send us millions because we are a good person. Now there’s the Mexican Filmmaker Scam – read all about it on Writer Beware:
And another one: sent to WPN members
SCAM ALERT from Kathleen Kaiser, WPN president
Two members have now contacted me about an email from an agent who “found their book on the internet” and wants to sign them. The name on the email is Eric Myers who is a legitimate agent.
However, this is a scam. Always google the agency and go to their website. NEVER follow links in the email. And never send them your manuscript!
Below is what is on the top of the Myers Literary Management website.
BEWARE OF PEOPLE FLATTERING YOUR EGO. THEY HAVE ANOTHER AGENDA.
PW’s 2022 People of the Year: The Defenders
We recognize the librarians, booksellers, authors, publishers, and allies standing tall in the face of an unprecedented attack on the freedom to read.
To balance the bad news libraries and teachers face, Publishers Weekly asked librarians and teachers what they enjoyed most this year. Click here for the surprising answers.
In more good news, librarians are social media savvy – Social Media Mavens: How Teachers and Librarians Are Harnessing Online Platforms
Singer Roberta Flack makes children’s book debut with The Green Piano. Look for it January 10th.
Jesse Myers has been named president and CEO of Baker Publishing, making him the first non-Baker family person to hold the job.
USA Today has paused its bestseller lists through the end of the year and laid off their editor.
From Publishers Weekly, “Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle has relinquished his position as publisher, “at his own request and on the best of mutual terms,” just weeks after a federal judge blocked the publisher’s attempt to acquire rival Big Five publisher Simon & Schuster. PRH president and COO Nihar Malaviya will succeed Dohle on an interim basis.”
Although the deal with Penguin Random House fell through, Paramount’s CEO says the company will still divest itself of Simon and Shuster. No details of how or when.
