News from The Bookseller

Publishers unite to condemn Charlie Hebdo attackArab publishers have joined those from France and from the international publishing community in voicing condemnation of today's terror attack on the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which saw 12 people lose their lives with a further 11 wounded. Author Salman Rushdie (pictured) also condemned the attack.

France's publishers pay tribute to Charlie Hebdo staff The French Publishers Association (Syndicat National de l’Edition, SNE) said in a statement this afternoon that it was “deeply upset” by today's terror attack against publication Charlie Hebdo and “freedom of the press, expression and right to publish, the foundations of democracy.”

Police guard at Houellebecq's French publisherA reinforced police guard has been installed at the offices of Flammarion, publisher of Michel Houellebecq's latest novel Soumission (Submission), according to the website of French daily Le Parisien. The novel, published in France today (7th January), is set in 2022 and tells of a new Muslim party taking power in France.

Hodder buys Rising StarsHodder Education has acquired independent publisher Rising Stars, which publishes curriculum, assessment and revision resources for primary schools. Rising Stars will retain its imprints and branding and Andrea Carr, founder and m.d., and her team of 28 staff will remain with the business. Carr will also take overall responsibility for Hodder Primary publishing, including Rising Stars.

Strong December boosts high street High street chain retailers have been buoyed by successful December trading, The Bookseller can report. Blackwell’s saw a like-for-like sales increase of 3.38% excluding its London Charing Cross Road store, which closed in June. Across its promotion and Christmas catalogue titles, sales were up 12.6% in December excluding the Charing Cross Road store and including it, promotion book sales were up 6%. Online sales were also up 15% in December, David Prescott, Blackwell’s c.e.o said.