Publishers Lunch

Crowded market, poor retailing and ‘worthy books’ behind fall in YA sales Publishers need to acquire fewer Young Adult titles, publish fewer "issue" books and invest more in marketing, trade figures have said following the news that sales of YA titles through Nielsen dropped by 21.5% in the UK in 2018.

Novelist Rosamunde Pilcher dies, aged 94 Bestselling novelist Rosamunde Pilcher, most famous for her hit book The Shell Seekers, has died at the age of 94.

Audio helps HarperCollins to record second quarter worldwide HarperCollins achieved record revenue and EBITDA in the second quarter, parent company News Corp has reported, aided by the “burgeoning of digital audio”.

Nibbie returns for exports as overseas business rises In the wake of a record proportion of turnover coming from markets outside the UK in 2017 (43%), The British Book Award for Export is being revived with a new sponsor after a ten-year absence

ALPSP: '2020 date for Plan S is too soon' The Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers has warned that the pace of change scheduled for Plan S gives too little time for members to change their business models.

Clarke joins Gollancz as publisher Orion has announced Anne Clarke will join its science fiction and fantasy imprint Gollancz as publisher from her current role at Orbit US.

HarperCollins to press on with second Mallory novel HarperCollins says it has not changed its plans to publish a second novel by Dan Mallory after he admitted lying about having cancer.

Cressida Cowell backs call to share a story for World Book Day Author Cressida Cowell is backing Book Aid International calls for schools to share a story and change a life on World Book Day.

Profile and Aitken Alexander create academics' non-fiction prize Profile Books and Aitken Alexander have launched the Profile Aitken Alexander Non-Fiction Prize, awarded to the best debut trade non-fiction proposal from an academic.

Wrexham considers relocating libraries to schools Wrexham Council is reviewing the future of its library service for the second time in five years and could relocate them to schools to save money.

Bloomsbury scoops 'joyful' debut from Josie George Bloomsbury will publish a "joyful" memoir, Nothing Ordinary: A Still Life, by debut author Josie George.

Xilam Animation to adapt Michael Morpurgo novel Xilam Animation has acquired adaptation rights to Michael Morpurgo’s novel Listen to the Moon (HarperCollins Children’s Books).