Latest News from The Bookseller

Kieron Smith to join Blackwell's Former Book Depository m.d Kieron Smith is to join Blackwell’s as digital director in February. He replaces Matthew Cashmore in the role, who left this month to join the priesthood.

Blinkbox in talks to shift readers to Kobo Blinkbox Books is in talks to shift its readers to the Kobo platform when it closes next month. The Bookseller revealed yesterday (26th January) that Tesco will close its e-books platform at the end of February after exclusive talks with Waterstones to buy it failed at the last minute.

'Varied' 18 on Branford Boase longlist The judges of the 2015 Branford Boase have longlisted 18 "very varied" books for this year’s award, including the YA Book Prize-shortlisted Trouble by Non Pratt (Walker Books) and Half Bad by Sally Green (Penguin). The Branford Boase is given every year to the author and editor of a debut children’s novel.

Harry Potter 'chocolate frog' competition for schools Bloomsbury has launched a competition for schools to win a workshop with Harry Potter jacket illustrator Jonny Duddle as part of Harry Potter Book Night, which will take place on the 5th February. To win the workshop, pupils must design a new "chocolate frog" card. The cards, which feature moving pictures of famous wizards and witches, are a feature of the novels, making their first appearance in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, where they are given away with chocolate frog confectionery.

H&S publishes Bake Off booklet for Comic Relief Hodder & Stoughton is to publish a booklet to tie in with The Great Comic Relief Bake Off. Costing £2.50, at least £2 will be donated to Comic Relief on every copy of the booklet sold. The booklet will include 14 recipes, an introduction from Mel and Sue, and advice for readers on how to host their own cake sale.

New lit fic imprint for S&S US Simon & Schuster in the US has launched a new literary fiction imprint called Scout Press. The list will launch with literary agent Bill Clegg’s debut novel Did You Ever Have a Family, set for release on 15th September this year. Scout Press will be part of the Gallery Books Group, with Gallery publisher Jennifer Bergstrom overseeing it, said Publishers Weekly.