Latest News The Bookseller

Restructure at The Book People The Book People is undergoing a company-wide restructure, with its Coventry site slated for possible closure. The mail order and e-commerce company has been undergoing an "intensive period of analysis" since venture capital company Endless LLP invested £10-20m in the business, and co-founder Ted Smart exited the business, last September.

H&S buys Alex Ferguson on leadership Hodder & Stoughton has acquired a book on leadership by Sir Alex Ferguson, described as a “refreshing, inspiring and straight-talking business book – packed full of leadership lessons that can be applied far beyond the football pitch”. Leading, which will be co-written with investor and author Sir Michael Moritz, will investigate Ferguson’s years of management in Scotland and at Manchester United to “reveal the key tools he used to deliver sustained success on and off the field”.

Fresh Talent promotion from WHS Travel WH Smith Travel has launched a promotion to back new and emerging authors called Fresh Talent. The retailer has picked 12 titles to promote on dedicated bays in WHS Travel shops, with bespoke point of sale information featuring author photographs.  All the titles will be offered in a "buy one get one half price" deal and a new set of titles will be released in April, with the overall promotion running until August.

World Book Day dominates charts Top 10 World Book Day titles claimed nine of the coveted positions in the Top 10 in the most successful WBD week since 2012. A combined total of 339,133 copies of the 10 books published to celebrate the annual charity reading event (held on Thursday 5th March) registered through Nielsen BookScan in the seven days ending 7th March.

Major revamp for Goldsboro website Goldsboro Books has launched a £15,000 new website  which puts it "up there” at the forefront of online bookselling.

DFB acquires new Downham novel David Fickling Books (DFB) has acquired Jenny Downham’s third novel, titled Unbecoming. Fickling, who published Downham’s first two novels while running DFB as an imprint of Random House, acquired the world English rights from Catherine Clarke at Felicity Bryan Associates

'Concerns' at MJ over Gibson claim Michael Joseph has said it is “concerned about the issues raised” in a piece by the Australian newspaper about health blogger and author Belle Gibson, whose book has been scheduled for release in the UK later this year. Gibson is the founder of The Whole Pantry app, which has also been turned into a recipe book due for UK publication on 23rd April. The Whole Pantry was said to be created following a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer, with Gibson claiming that she had cured her illness purely through her diet and lifestyle.

Asia Literary Agency in Ed Victor partnership The Asia Literary Agency is to work in association with Ed Victor Ltd and Bedford Square Management. Bedford Square Management, which was set up by Ed Victor Ltd last year, will provide back office, consultation and other services to the Asia Literary Agency. Kelly Falconer, who launched the agency in March 2013, said the association would help “manage the increasing number of royalties and other payments for all my authors”.

McKearney to be chair of Book Marketing Society The Book Marketing Society (BMS) has appointed Miranda McKearney as its new chair. McKearney, founder and former c.e.o. of charity The Reading Agency, takes on the role from previous chair Martin Neild, who has stepped down after five years. McKearney stepped down from her role at The Reading Agency after 11 years in 2013, to be replaced by Sue Wilkinson.

Earnings jump at B&N Earnings at Barnes & Noble increased 14% year-on-year to $197m (£131m) in the quarter to 31st January, though sales of NOOK devices and related products were down more than 50%.

Virago acquires Mackay memoir and backlist Virago has acquired a memoir by Shena Mackay, plus the writer’s entire backlist. Publisher Lennie Goodings bought world rights to the books from David Miller at Rogers, Coleridge and White. Mackay published her first book, written when she was a teenager, at the age of 20 and has since written 15 works of fiction, including the 1996 Booker Prize-shortlisted The Orchard on Fire (Vintage). Now aged 70, Mackay is writing her memoir.

Scholastic Inc and Universal sign development deal US publisher Scholastic Inc has signed a three-year agreement to produce live-action films, based on children’s properties, with Universal Pictures. Universal is already developing Scholastic’s Clifford the Big Red Dog, a multi-million selling property based on the books by Normal Bridwell, and The 39 Clues, a series of adventure stories written by multiple authors. Both of the projects will be produced by Deborah Forte, who is stepping down as president of Scholastic Media to set up her own production company, Silvertongue Films.