Tuesday, February 04, 2014

Little Brown UK Buys Constable & Robinson; Simon & Schuster Launches Business Book Site

Publishers Lunch

Little Brown UK has purchased Constable & Robinson, which will continue to operate as its own entity under managing director Pete Duncan, who will report to David Shelley. Nova Jayne Robinson indicates to the Bookseller that the conversations began some time last year, before the death of previous chairman Nick Robinson in September. "Nick and I shared the view that we could not imagine a better home."

C&R had been a member of the UK's Independent Alliance, and they have been the UK distributor for Skyhorse as well as New Harbinger and New Holland.

Simon & Schuster has launched 250 Words, a new consumer-oriented, publisher-agnostic website devoted to business books. The site, which will be overseen by freelance writer Sam McNerney, will feature original essays, including a daily, original 250-word piece; reviews and commentary about business books from all publishers; interviews with well-known business executives, entrepreneurs, and thinkers; a curated collection of videos of authors discussing business books and topics and book recommendations from business leaders. Select articles will also be syndicated through Fortune.com. (Sales are made through standard affiliate links to major retailers.)

S&S ceo Carolyn Reidy says in the announcement that "business books have long had a strong and devoted readership, and we think that 250 Words can fill the need for a smart, highly-curated site dedicated to the best in this thriving category. In establishing 250 Words as a publisher-agnostic site, we believe we can foster a community that will better serve authors and readers by bringing attention to the books that are of the most interest to them, regardless of the source."


Additionally, the Jim Henson Company has started a book publishing division. The line will start with a middle grade series for girls that starts publishing this August, the Enchanted Sisters Series, by Elise Allen and Paige Pooler. Bloomsbury Children's will publish the series.

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