Latest from The Bookseller

Footfall down but Christmas sales holding up, say booksellers Footfall into bookshops is down year-on-year in December, retailers have reported, but traders are holding their nerve, hopeful for a rush of sales in the last week to go before Christmas.

Former Lion Hudson staff win payout after tribunal The 37 staff who were made redundant by Lion Hudson PLC in January have been awarded a payout after the company failed to properly consult with them before they were dismissed.

'Bold' Penguin Essentials covers celebrated in exhibition Penguin Random House is launching a new exhibition to showcase 100 "iconic, deliberately bold and thought-provoking" cover designs of its modern classics.

Espionage novel bags Little, Brown UEA Crime Fiction Award Merle Nygate has won the inaugural Little, Brown Award for crime fiction at the University of East Anglia (UEA).

German trade looks to Christmas to salvage disappointing year German booksellers are hoping for a shopping frenzy in the final run-up to Christmas to salvage an otherwise disappointing year.

Walliams tops Amazon children's Christmas wishlist David Walliams’ Bad Dad (HarperCollins) has topped the list of books children would most like to find under the Christmas tree, according to an Amazon UK survey.

Media Participations gets go-ahead for La Martiniere takeover The French Competition Authority has authorised the takeover of La Martinière Groupe by Media Participations, which will create the third largest book publisher in France after Hachette Livre and Editis.

Avon signs two more thrillers from Robson HarperCollins Publishers has acquired world rights in two new novels from author Amanda Robson.

Johns to chair new HE body, as three agencies merge A long-anticipated merger between the Higher Education Academy (HEA), the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) and the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education (LFHE) has been confirmed.

Pan Mac acquires magical adventure The Nightjar Pan Macmillan has acquired Deborah Hewitt’s The Nightjar, a book for adult readers infused with magical adventure and Finnish mythology.

Australian Natasha Lester signs with Sphere after auction Sphere is publishing Australian author Natasha Lester in the UK after acquiring four of her historical fiction novels.

Judge's short stories optioned for TV A former judge's collection of satirical short stories, entitled Walden of Bermondsey, has been optioned for television by Revelation Content and Media Limited.