News: books

Headline launches new Gaiman editions with live events

New editions of five Neil Gaiman novels are being launched by Headline this month, backed by two virtual events with Fane Productions. Read more

S&S Children's launches historical fiction stories series with Emma Carroll and illustrators

Simon & Schuster Children’s Books is to publish a range of historical stories by author Emma Carroll, in collaboration with selected illustrators. ... Read more

Lollies to go ahead this year, Scholastic confirms

The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards (Lollies) is set to make a comeback this year, after being cancelled due to Covid in 2020. Read more

CMA launches merger investigation into PRH and S&S deal

The UK's Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a merger investigation into Penguin Random House owner Bertelsmann's acquisition of Simon & Schuster. Read more

Quarto sees 2020 revenue fall 7% but profits rose

The Quarto Group saw revenue fall 7% year on year in 2020 to $126.9m (£91.5m) although adjusted operating profit increased to $10.6m (£7.6m) in the same period.... Read more

Unbound to release unseen notes from Douglas Adams

Crowdfunding publisher Unbound is to launch 42: The Wildly Improbably Ideas of Douglas Adams, featuring unseen notes, scripts and ideas from the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy author. ... Read more

Hodder buys two more from Iain Dale

Hodder & Stoughton has bought two books, including The Presidents, to be edited by former Biteback chief Iain Dale. ... Read more

Hodder scoops 'lyrical' novel from publisher Jacquie Bloese

Hodder has bought two books by debut author and publisher Jacquie Bloese, including “a brilliantly moving historical novel”. Read more

Viper details campaign for The Last House on Needless Street

Viper Books has put together an influencer-endorsed campaign for Catriona Ward’s third novel, The Last House on Needless Street. ... Read more

DK appoints Flint and Jorgenson from Quarto

DK has appointed Katy Flint and Pete Jorgensen from Quarto in the newly created roles of senior acquisition editors for its licensing division. Read more

Promotions and editorial reorganisation at Octopus

Octopus m.d. Anna Bond has made a series of promotions to the board, amid a reorganisation of the publishing group's editorial leadership team.... Read more

Ryan joins Head of Zeus from Hodder as editorial director

Head of Zeus has appointed Hodder's Thorne Ryan as editorial director of its women's fiction imprint, Aria, and its adventure imprint, Aries. Read more

Byrne's Afterlove snapped up by Two Rivers Media

Independent production company Two Rivers Media has acquired the film and TV rights to Tanya Byrne’s Afterlove (Hodder Children's Books), prior to its publication in July 2021.... Read more