Latest News from The Bookseller

Trade 'frenzy' over second Harper Lee novelThe surprise second novel from Harper Lee, set for release this summer over 50 years since To Kill a Mockingbird was published, will be “the most sure-fire hit of the century” according to Waterstones.

Perrett to leave HarperCollinsHarperCollins' group digital director Nick Perrett is to leave the publisher later this month. Perrett, who began at HarperCollins in October 2012, will be leaving on 20th February to pursue a new opportunity. Executive children's publisher Ann-Janine Murtagh will now take on day-to-day running of the digital team, in addition to her current role. Perrett will support her in the role over the next month through the transition.

Mockingbird follow-up from Harper LeeA recently discovered novel by Harper Lee, featuring characters from To Kill A Mockingbird, is to be published this summer. Go Set a Watchman was written by Lee in the mid-1950s, before she wrote To Kill a Mockingbird, her only published novel so far, and features that book's narrator, Scout, as an adult.

PRH shifts consumer social media to Penguin brandPenguin Random House is to use the Penguin brand for its consumer activity across social media, The Bookseller has learned. From the end of tomorrow (4th February), the various Penguin social media channels will carry news about "books and authors”, with corporate news to be shared on Penguin Random House-branded YouTube and Twitter channels.  Random House’s Twitter feed told its followers: "Don't forget that we'll be moving in with @PenguinUKBooks as of tomorrow - follow us there to keep hearing about all our books and authors!”

Shanghai Maths textbooks from CollinsCollins Learning will publish a new a series of maths textbooks for use in UK schools, Shanghai Maths, based on the system used in China. Last autumn, schools minister Nick Gibb controversially criticised UK education publishers for their textbook offer and urged them to emulate the high-quality textbooks of Shanghai, Singapore and Finland.

Milan Kundera novel set for JuneMilan Kundera's first novel in 12 years will be published in English this June. Faber will release The Festival of Insignificance, translated from the French by Linda Asher, on 18th June. C.e.o. and publisher Stephen Page acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in the novel in a deal with Sarah Chalfant at the Wylie Agency. The book was first published in Italy in 2013, and has so far been released in Spain, Germany and France. HarperCollins will publish in the US this summer.

Hutchinson to publish charity title on fathers and sonsBono, Colm Tóibín, Paul McCartney and Salman Rushdie are among the big names contributing to an anthology about sons and fathers, as part of a joint venture between Hutchinson and The Irish Hospice Foundation. Jason Arthur, publisher of Hutchinson, Heinemann and Windmill, agreed a joint-venture deal with The Irish Hospice Foundation for world rights, excluding Ireland, in the book, titled Sons + Fathers. Literary agent Ed Victor took the book to Penguin Random House and it will be edited by writer and editor Kathy Gilfillan.

Penguin buys Peanuts tie-in rights Penguin has acquired film tie-in publishing rights for the "The Peanuts Movie", released in the UK on December 21st later this year.  Emily Campan, licensed publishing executive for Penguin Children's, acquired English language publishing rights in selected territories for the 0-7 years market from Peanuts Worldwide.

Historians debate charges at IWMHistorian Antony Beevor [pictured] has said the Imperial War Museums (IWM) are "completely right" to introduce charges for researchers, but first world war historian Dr Jonathan Boff of the University of Birmingham has warned it could negatively impact academic research.

Harris joins Bonnier in children's fiction roleJane Harris is to join the Bonnier Publishing Fiction division as executive director for children's fiction. Harris will report to recently appointed Bonnier Publishing Fiction c.e.o. Mark Smith, and will be responsible for all the company's children's fiction output, including imprints Hot Key Books and Piccadilly Press.

National Libraries Day to see Birmingham cuts protestProtesters will use National Libraries Day on Saturday as a chance to campaign against planned cuts at the Library of Birmingham.

Foyles marks anniversary of popular Waterloo branchFoyles Waterloo is set to celebrate its first anniversary with games, offers and prizes for customers.  The London train station store turns one next week and will celebrate this Saturday (7th February) by running a birthday tombola between 2pm and 5pm, in which customers have chance to win prizes including books donated by Penguin Random House, Foyles gift cards and money off customer shops. The store will also offer 50% off the hardback edition of Faber’s poetry anthology Train Songs, exclusively in store at Foyles Waterloo.