Latest from The Bookseller

Hodder finalising deal for McKellen memoir Hodder is finalising a deal for actor Sir Ian McKellen’s memoirs, the publisher and McKellen’s agent have confirmed to The Bookseller. The deal is expected to be completed in “another couple of weeks”, McKellen’s agent Paul Stevens of Independent Talent said, with Rowena Webb, director of non-fiction at Hodder, editing.

Swainson, Hecht, Campbell and Bond honoured by Queen Bloomsbury’s Bill Swainson [pictured], Souvenir Press m.d. Ernest Hecht, Nature Publishing Group's Dr Philip Campbell and Paddington creator Michael Bond are among the book industry figures named in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours. Campbell, editor in chief of NPG's flagship journal Nature, is given a knighthood for services to science.

Leap in sales and profit at Egmont UK Egmont Book Publishing has reported soaring sales and profits at Egmont UK, thanks partly to the success of Minecraft.

Gardner steps down from Piccadilly Brenda Gardner, publisher at Piccadilly Press, is stepping down from her role after 43 years in the industry. Gardner set up Piccadilly Press in 1983 and has published many well-known children’s authors, including Anne Fine, Helen Cresswell, Malorie Blackman and Louise Rennison. The publisher was acquired by Bonnier Publishing in 2013. Bonnier c.e.o. Richard Johnson said Gardner’s “contribution to children’s publishing has provided thousands of children with great stories that are still being read today”. Bonnier is “currently reviewing” how to replace her.

Authors' profiles key in resurrecting fiction brands The reputation of an author writing a continuation novel in a well-established brand series is just as important as the brand itself, publicists have told The Bookseller. Novelist Sophie Hannah added that authors who are fans of the series they are writing in can channel the original author best and provide “an obsessive fan’s understanding of what such stories require”. Last year, HarperCollins released The Monogram Murders by Hannah, a continuation of Agatha Christie’s Poirot novels.

'Rejected' Spurling wins Walter Scott Prize John Spurling has won the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction for his novel set in imperial China, The Ten Thousand Things (Duckworth), a book which is said to have been rejected 44 times by publishers.   Spurling beat off competition from Martin Amis, Helen Dunmore, Hermione Eyre, Adam Foulds, Damon Galgut and Kamila Shamsie to take the award.

Three debuts on Theakstons crime novel of the year shortlist Three debuts have made the shortlist for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award 2015. Antonia Hodgson’s debut The Devil in the Marshalsea (Hodder & Stoughton), a murder mystery set in the Marshalsea prison in 1727, is shortlisted alongside Hachette stablemate Sarah Hilary’s debut thriller Someone Else's Skin (Headline) and TV and film scriptwriter Ray Celestin’s debut, The Axeman's Jazz (Mantle), a crime thriller set in 1919 New Orleans that is inspired by a real life serial killer.

iPads 'better for babies than books' Babies learn faster using iPads than books, according to a neuroscientist leading research into the issue.

Ince and Gibson appointed at Hachette Children’s Hachette Children’s Group (HCG) has appointed Rob Ince as education and non-fiction publisher and Nick Gibson as finance director. Ince, who joins HCG from Educate, will be responsible for the Franklin Watts and Wayland lists and the education sales and marketing teams. Gibson will oversee the finance team and previously worked for Penguin UK and Warner Music. Both Ince and Gibson will report directly to c.e.o. Hilary Murray Hill and will take up their jobs in the week starting today (15th June).

Bath children’s festival announces line-up Big-name authors including Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen and Judith Kerr are taking part in this year’s Telegraph Bath Children’s Literature Festival. The festival, which will take place in various venues in Bath 25th September – 4th October, features 120 events. Also appearing are Cressida Cowell, Francesca Simon and Axel Scheffler, and celebrity children’s writers Helen Skelton and ‘Sam & Mark’ (Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes).

Bookshop proposal for literature lovers The Falmouth Bookseller was at the heart of a romance story recently, when book-lover Jason Sandeman-Allen staged a surprise proposal to his girlfriend Stephanie Ashton in the indie bookshop.

Rosen goes on London indie tour Michael Rosen is touring six  London bookshops on the 22nd June to celebrate Independent Booksellers Week (IBW) and the publication of his new book.