The Bookseller.com

4th July 2009

Harper to rewrite rules with global list

04.04.08 Philip Jones

HarperCollins is to attempt to rewrite the rules of traditional publishing with the launch of a new global list that will pay authors a share of the profits and refuse returns. Publishing veteran Robert Miller is to spearhead the list that will adopt what HarperCollins described as a "non-traditional business model".

According to the press statement, authors will be compensated through a profit sharing model as opposed to a traditional royalty, and books will be promoted using on-line publicity, advertising and marketing. Both the New York Times and Wall Street Journal report that books will be sold on a firm-sale basis.

As president and publisher of the yet-to-be-named entity, Miller will publish approximately 25 "popular-priced" books per year in multiple physical and digital formats including those as yet unspecified, with the aim to combine the best practices of trade publishing while taking full advantage of the internet for sales, marketing and distribution.  Miller will start at HarperCollins on Monday, 14th April, at the London Book Fair, and will report directly to Jane Friedman, president and c.e.o. of HarperCollins Publishers Worldwide.

"Bob Miller is one of the most talented publishers in the business, and we are thrilled have him join the HarperCollins team with the objective to re-define publishing for the 21st century," said Friedman. "Our industry needs digital and financial innovation to match its publishing expertise to thrive in an increasingly competitive world. Combining Bob's creativity with HarperCollins' sales acumen and digital leadership, this new entity will create a unique publishing platform to incubate a new publishing paradigm-- one that is unparalleled in the industry."

Miller said: "HarperCollins is known for its innovation and experimentation, and I will live that philosophy. Our goal will be to effectively publish books that might not otherwise emerge in an increasingly 'big book' environment, an environment in which established authors are under enormous pressure to top their previous successes, while new authors are finding it harder and harder to be published at all."

Miller joins HarperCollins from a 17 year career with ABC's Hyperion Books division which he founded in 1991 for the Walt Disney Company. Prior to Disney Miller held editorial positions at Delacorte Press, Warner Books and St. Martin’s Press.

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