Waterstone's chief pays the price for poor Christmas sales

The boss of Waterstone's has left with immediate effect after the book chain suffered a plunge in sales over the Christmas period. Parent company HMV reported that like-for-like sales at Waterstone's tumbled by 8.5% in the five weeks to 2 January. The poor results took the shine off a record performance at HMV's entertainment stores. Waterstone's managing director, Gerry Johnson, has paid the price for the poor sales. He left with immediate effect today, to be replaced by HMV group development director Dominic Myers
Technorati Tag: Books

New Gormenghast novel found in attic

A new Gormenghast novel, which was written by Mervyn Peake's wife based on notes left by the author, is to be published by their son after being discovered in an attic. Titus Awakes was written by Maeve Gilmore shortly after her husband's death from Parkinson's Disease in 1968. She decided to write the book, which runs to 210 pages, after he left her a page and a half of fragmented notes about how he might have continued the story
Technorati Tag: Books

Woodhead Publishing acquires Horwood Publishing

"Woodhead Publishing Limited in Cambridge UK has acquired the list of Horwood Publishing in Chichester. The deal was done just before Christmas, the second year running that Woodhead has completed an acquisition on Christmas Eve. The Horwood list comprises about 90 books in the fields of mathematics, engineering, biochemistry, chemistry and the environment. Commenting on the acquisition, Martin Woodhead of Woodhead Publishing said, 'The Horwood list fits very neatly with our existing strengths in engineering, materials science, food science and environmental technology but also brings with it a superb mathematics list of 30 titles including bestsellers such as Fundamentals of University Mathematics. We are delighted to add such a high quality list to our business.'"
Technorati Tag: Books

Book business faces 'tectonic' shift: 2010 and beyond, part one

The book trade will weather the recession, with digital and a resurgent independent sector providing the best opportunities for incremental sales in 2010, according to leading industry figures polled by The Bookseller this week
Technorati Tag: Books

I-Spy children's books make a comeback

"Back by popular demand, Michelin is introducing 12 exciting new titles to the iconic I-Spy collection including I-Spy Cars, Train Journeys, Birds and Creepy Crawlies. I-Spy books take you on a voyage of discovery and are a fun and exciting way for families to take a closer look at the world around them. What better way to keep the kids entertained on long journeys. Each pocket-sized book contains up to 200 themed colour photographs, which you have to 'I-Spy'. The aim is to tick them off as you go and collect points"

The Guardian: A look ahead to what's new in 2010

"From cosmology to children's picture-books, our reviewers give a guide to the best of the publishers' lists for the first six months of the new year"

Technorati Tag: Books

Costa Book Awards 2009 category winners announced

One winner is selected in each of the five categories - Novel, First Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book. Each category-winning author receives £5,000.

This year's Costa Book Awards 2009 category award winners are:

2009 Costa Novel Award Winner
Colm Toibin - Brooklyn

2009 Costa First Novel Award Winner
Raphael Selbourne - Beauty

2009 Costa Biography Award Winner
Graham Farmelo - The Strangest Man

2009 Costa Poetry Award Winner
Christopher Reid- A Scattering

2009 Costa Children's Book Award Winner
Patrick Ness - The Ask and the Answer (Chaos Walking, Book Two)