SHERMAN ALEXIE’S THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN TO BE AVAILABLE AS AN E-BOOK FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM LITTLE, BROWN BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers will publish the National Book Award–winning The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian for the first time in e-book format, it was announced today by Megan Tingley, the division’s Senior Vice President and Publisher. Sherman Alexie’s poignant coming-of-age novel will be released in digital form on January 10, 2012. Newcomers to this critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling novel and fans looking to rediscover Alexie’s timeless story of hope and resilience will have access to a deluxe e-book featuring artist Ellen Forney’s illustrations in full color, a foreword written by Markus Zusak, celebrated author of The Book Thief, and in-depth interviews with the author and illustrator.

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HACHETTE BOOK GROUP RENEWS DISTRIBUTION CONTRACT WITH CHRONICLE BOOKS

Hachette Book Group (HBG) announced that they have renewed their distribution services agreement with San Francisco based Chronicle Books. Since January 2008, HBG has provided fulfillment and distribution services into the United States trade market to Chronicle Books and their clients, which include Moleskine. HBG also provides international sales support into Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, as well as fulfillment of web orders placed on the Chronicle Books website.

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GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING TO PARTNER WITH LITTLE, BROWN UK ON FICTION IN TRANSLATION VENTURE

Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, announced today that it has formed a new transatlantic venture with Little, Brown Book Group UK that will focus on crime/suspense/thrillers in translation. The two publishing houses will jointly acquire and publish up to six titles a year – under the Grand Central banner in the US, and under a new imprint, Trapdoor, in the UK.

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Hachette Audio announces Tina Fey’s BOSSYPANTS has been nominated for a Grammy in the Spoken Word category!

Hachette Audio is proud to announce that Tina Fey’s BOSSYPANTS has been nominated for a Grammy in the Spoken Word category; the winner of this esteemed honor will be announced at the 54th Annual Grammy Celebration, February 12, 2012. BOSSYPANTS, a bestseller released to glowing reviews this past April, is Ms. Fey’s first book, and this is her first Grammy nomination.

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Tweleve has acquired and will publish the book DALLAS 1963 by Bill Minutaglio and Steven L. Davis

Today Cary Goldstein, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Twelve at Hachette Book Group, announced that Bill Minutaglio and Steven L. Davis’s DALLAS 1963 will be published in the fall of 2013. DALLAS 1963 is a riveting account of how a group of larger-than-life individuals turned Dallas into a city that became infamous for the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

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Orbit internationally launches its digital short fiction publishing program

Last April, Orbit US launched Orbit Short Fiction, publishing digital editions of original short fiction written by its authors. Starting in 2012 Orbit UK will be joining the initiative. Stories published under the program will be released simultaneously in the US, UK, and other markets in which its e-books are routinely distributed. 

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Hachette Book Group aligns with Bloomberg Businessweek to publish in ebook form select special projects from the magazine

Hachette Book Group today announced a new alliance with Bloomberg Businessweek to publish in ebook form select special projects from the magazine.  This collaboration will launch with the ebook release Steve Jobs 1955-2011 by Bloomberg Businessweek, which is drawn from Bloomberg Businessweek's October 10, 2011, issue capturing the complicated and remarkable life, work and achievements of Steve Jobs. 

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Hachette Book Group Attains Gold Certification From Book Industry Study Group

Hachette Book Group is pleased to announce that the company has been awarded Gold Certification from the Book Industry Study Group, the U.S. book trade association for supply chain standards, research, and best practices.

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Hachette Book Group signs a service and licensing agreement with Round Table Companies

Hachette Book Group (HBG) announced today that they have signed a service and licensing agreement with Round Table Companies to give Round Table access to HBG’s proprietary digital content management system for the development of a consumer storefront application (App).

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YEN PRESS ANNOUNCES MANGA ADAPTATION OF SHERRILYN KENYON’S CHRONICLES OF NICK SERIES

NEW YORK, NY (10/14/2011) — Yen Press, the graphic novel imprint of Hachette Book Group, announced that it has entered into an agreement with internationally acclaimed author Sherrilyn Kenyon to create a two volume manga adaptation of her #1 New York Times bestselling Chronicles of Nick series.

Chronicles of Nick, a YA prequel to Kenyon’s immensely popular Dark-Hunter novels, reveals the path of a young Nick Gautier and the circumstances that led him to become the man with whom readers first became familiar in Kenyon’s earlier books.

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YEN PRESS ANNOUNCES MANGA ADAPTATION OF CASSANDRA CLARE’S THE INFERNAL DEVICES

NEW YORK, NY (10/14/2011) — At New York Comic Con Yen Press announced that it has entered into an agreement with #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon Cassandra Clare in, a deal negotiated by Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary, to create a manga adaptation of her epic The Infernal Devices trilogy with artist HyeKyung Baek.

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Little, Brown for Young Readers annunces young adult book deal with bestselling celebrated fantasy author Holly Black

The vampire genre receives a refreshing and inventive new twist through the master storytelling of renowned contemporary fantasy author Holly Black. The bestselling and critically acclaimed author of Tithe and the hugely popular The Spiderwick Chronicles series, will publish her upcoming young adult title, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, it was announced today by Megan Tingley, the division’s Senior Vice President and Publisher.

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Grand Central Publishing Signs Author Jeffery Deaver

Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, announced that it will publish three new novels by bestselling author Jeffery Deaver.  The novels will feature his series characters of Lincoln Ryme and Kathryn Dance.

Jamie Raab, Executive Vice President and Publisher of Grand Central Publishing, negotiated the deal for North American rights with Deborah Schneider of the Gelfman Schneider Literary Agency, Inc. 

A former journalist, folksinger and attorney, Jeffery Deaver is an international number-one bestselling author. His novels have appeared on bestseller lists around the world, including The New York Times, The Times of London, Italy's Corriere della Sera, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Los Angeles Times. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. The author of twenty-seven novels, two collections of short stories and a nonfiction law book, he's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world. His novel The Bone Collector was a feature release from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.

Lagardere Releases 2011 First-Half Results

Lagardère SCA released its 2011 first-half results today, announcing stable net sales of 3.724 million euros, up .2% on a reported basis (down 1.1% on a like-for-like basis, which excludes consolidation and exchange rate shifts).
 
At Lagardère Publishing, revenues of 900 million euros are down 6% compared to the firsthalf of 2010.  Last year was a very strong year for the Publishing division, due in part to Stephenie Meyer’s global sales – this creates tough comparatives that will no longer be a factor in the second half of 2011 (as Meyer sales softened in the second half of last year), when we anticipate that the division will resume growth and profitability.
 
In the US, the book retail marketplace has been challenged this year, which directly affects HBG’s financial performance.  But digital continues to grow steadily: HBG’s eBook revenue is up 115% compared to the first half of 2010, and digital represented 21% of HBG’s overall revenue in the first half of this year.
 
HBG had 104 titles on the New York Times bestseller list in the first half of the year, beating the previous record set in the comparable period in 2010, and included an impressive 20 titles reaching #1.  In addition, 32 titles were on the New York Times eBook bestseller list.  Key titles driving sales for HBG in the first six months of 2011 include THE SIXTH MAN by David Baldacci, THE FIFTH WITNESS by Michael Connelly, BOSSYPANTS by Tina Fey, LIES THAT CHELSEA HANDLER TOLD ME by Chelsea Handler, Stephenie Meyer’s TWILIGHT SAGA: The Official Illustrated Guide, and TICK TOCK by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge.
 
As we look ahead to the Fall 2011 season, HBG will be publishing an outstanding array of titles including SERIOUSLY…I’M KIDDING by Ellen DeGeneres, THE BEST OF ME by Nicholas Sparks, ZERO DAY by David Baldacci, LADY GAGA x TERRY RICHARDSON by Lady Gaga and Terry Richardson, LETHAL by Sandra Brown, HERE COMES TROUBLE by Michael Moore, ARGUABLY: ESSAYS by Christopher Hitchens, SPONTANEOUS HAPPINESS by Andrew Weil MD, THE DROP by Michael Connelly, KILL ALEX CROSS by James Patterson, EVERY DAY A FRIDAY by Joel Osteen, LIVING BEYOND YOUR FEELINGS by Joyce Meyer, DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor, WHY WE BROKE UP by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman, and TWILIGHT: The Graphic Novel, Volume 2, by Stephenie Meyer and Young Kim.

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Wm. Paul Young, author of The Shack, signs with Hachette

Hachette Book Group announced today that it has signed an agreement for a new novel with Wm. Paul Young, author of The Shack.

The Shack was published in 2008 and became an international phenomenon with more than fifteen million copies in print (ten million in the United States and more than 5 million in foreign translations). It spent 50 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into 41 languages.

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Lady Gaga and Terry Richardson Collaborate on Unprecented Book of Photographs to be Published by Grand Central Publishing in Time for 2011 Holiday Season

Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, will publish LADY GAGA, a book of never-before-seen photographs of Lady Gaga taken by renowned photographer Terry Richardson.  Lady Gaga will write the foreword to the book, which is scheduled to be published on November 22, 2011.

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Yen Press Announces Graphic Novel Adaptation of Anne Rice's INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE.

Yen Press, the graphic novel imprint of Hachette Book Group, announced that it has entered into an agreement with internationally renowned author Anne Rice to create a graphic novel adaptation of her iconic novel Interview with the Vampire. Rather than a direct retelling of Interview with the Vampire, Yen Press’s adaptation (to be titled Interview with the Vampire: Claudia’s Story) will focus on the events of the novel through the eyes of the vampire Claudia, providing rich insight into the tale of this poignant character. Newcomer and rising talent Ashley Marie Witter has been engaged to undertake the art and adaptation for Interview with the Vampire: Claudia’s Story under Ms. Rice’s supervision.

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James Patterson Launches Two New Books Simultaneously to the #1 Spot on the New York Times Print Bestsellers Lists.

Hachette Book Group announced today that bestselling author James Patterson simultaneously hit #1 on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction and Print Children’s Chapter Book bestseller lists for the week of July 17, 2011. NOW YOU SEE HER by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge and MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts, both published on June 27, 2011, were a dual laydown of two new books by the same writer on the same day.

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Hachette Book Group Opens the World of Reading with eSSENTIAL Accessibility™

 Hachette Book Group, a leading trade publisher, announced today a new alliance with eSSENTIAL Accessibility™ to feature an online tool that extends the publisher’s online services to individuals with physical disabilities.  This venture is part of a Disability Community Involvement initiative sponsored by leading advocacy organizations for the disabled such as The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

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Carole King Memoir to be Published by Grand Central Publishing.

Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, announced today that it will publish Carole King’s memoir. Titled A NATURAL WOMAN, it is scheduled for publication in April 2012. Deb Futter, VP and Editor-in-Chief, Hardcovers, acquired world rights from Joy Harris of the Joy Harris Literary Agency, Inc. Futter said, “Carole King is one of the most beloved, iconic singer-songwriters of our time. It will be a thrill to bring her life’s journey to her devoted following who have waited for so long to read her story in prose.”

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Glee's Chris Colfer Signs Book Deal with Little, Brown Young Readers.

Award-winning actor, Chris Colfer, will publish two books with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, it was announced today by Megan Tingley, the division’s Senior Vice President and Publisher. Written for 8-12 year old readers, The Land of Stories will be simultaneously released in hardcover and e-book in the summer of 2012, and will be followed by a second untitled novel. The acquisition for world rights was made by Andrew Smith, Vice President and Deputy Publisher and Alvina Ling, Editorial Director, with Rob Weisbach of Rob Weisbach Creative Management acting on behalf of Colfer.  The Land of Stories will be edited by Alvina Ling.  Known for his role as “Kurt Hummel” on the critically acclaimed television series, Glee, Colfer is also a screenwriter who recently penned a pilot for the Disney Channel as well as the independent feature Struck by Lightning. 

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LITTLE, BROWN BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS TO PUBLISH ORIGINAL SHORT STORY IN NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING BEAUTIFUL CREATURES SERIES EXCLUSIVELY AS AN E-BOOK ON AUGUST 2, 2011.

 Little, Brown Books for Young Readers will publish an exclusive e-book as part of the bestselling BEAUTIFUL CREATURES series by award-winning authors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, it was announced today by Andrew Smith, the division’s Vice President and Deputy Publisher. DREAM DARK: A BEAUTIFUL CREATURES STORY is a never-before-seen short story, created as a prequel to BEAUTIFUL CHAOS, the hugely anticipated third book in the series, which goes on sale October 18.  The e-book is set to release on August 2 for $1.99, and will be available for download across all digital platforms.

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BESTSELLING AUTHOR JAMES PATTERSON TRIPLES RECORD-BREAKING EBOOK SALES TO 3 MILLION IN LESS THAN 12 MONTHS.

Hachette Book Group announced today that #1 bestselling author James Patterson has tripled his record-breaking ebook sales in less than a year’s time. To date, Patterson has sold 3,035,713 ebook units just 11 months after becoming the first novelist ever to surpass the one million ebook unit mark (as of July 2010).

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Grand Central Publishing to Publish Prequel to Mario Puzo's THE GODFATHER.

Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group,  announced today that it will publish THE FAMILY CORLEONE, an all-new prequel to The Godfather by Mario Puzo. Slated for publication in June 2012, THE FAMILY CORLEONE will be written by award-winning author Ed Falco based on an unproduced screenplay by Mario Puzo.

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Lagardere Announces First Quarter Revenues

Lagardère announced first quarter consolidated revenues today of €1,805m, an increase of 3.1% as reported (up 0.1% like-for-like, at constant consolidation and exchange rates). According to Lagardère's press release, the publishing division's first quarter revenues of €390m are, as expected, down 9.8% from Q1 2010 as reported and down 10.4% on a like-for-like basis. "As a reminder," states the release, "first quarter typically accounts for less than 20% of annual revenue and is not an indicator of full-year performance." The trend is based on a challenging comparative with an excellent first quarter in 2010, when the publishing division benefitted from robust sales of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga in English-speaking countries and strong rights income for Hachette Book Group. However, "EBook sales momentum was considerable" in the first quarter of 2011, "up 88% compared to Q1 2010, accounting for approximately 22% of revenue in the United States." Brisk sales in the U.S. for reading devices at the end of 2010 are a key factor in the explosive growth of digital reading in the first three months of this year. HBG has had 23 titles on the New York Times eBook bestseller list since the list's debut on February 13, 2011.

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Keith Richards' LIFE an 'Audiobook of the Year' Finalist.

Hachette Audio is honored to announce that LIFE, Keith Richards’ acclaimed rock-and-roll memoir, read by the author, Johnny Depp, and Joe Hurley, is one of three finalists for Audiobook of the Year. Winners in this most prestigious category will be announced at the Audies Gala awards ceremony on May 24, 2011, at the TimesCenter in New York City.

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#1 New York Times Bestselling Authors Rick Riordan and James Patterson on Stage Together for the First Time Ever on May 25th, Live, for One Night Only, at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City.

In one of the biggest events in children's publishing, Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, and The Heroes of Olympus series, and James Patterson, author of the Witch & Wizard, Maximum Ride, and Daniel X series, and the upcoming Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, will share the stage for "An Evening with Rick Riordan and James Patterson, hosted by Al Roker," a live special event for their  fans on Wednesday, May 25th at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in New York, NY at 6:30 p.m. Tickets will be priced at $5 and will be available through Lincoln Center's website, www.lincolncenter.org; by calling Center Charge at 212-721-6500 or at the theater's box office beginning Saturday, April 30th at 10:00 a.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit nonprofit literacy organization, First Book.

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Disney Book Group Retains Hachette Book Group, Inc for Sales & Distribution Services in Canada

Hachette Book Group (HBG) today announced that effective immediately, it will be handling Canadian sales and distribution for Disney Book Group (Disney). Disney is a division of The Walt Disney Company and a leading children’s book publisher. HBG also provides sales and physical distribution into the trade book market to Marvel, also owned by The Walt Disney Company.

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Center Street Acquires I Didn't Ask to Be Born, But I'm Glad I Was by Bill Cosby

Hachette Book Group announced today that it will publish I DIDN’T ASK TO BE BORN, BUT I’M GLAD I WAS by the world’s most beloved funnyman, Bill Cosby.  The book is scheduled for publication in November 2011 on the Center Street imprint. Over the past century, few entertainers have achieved the legendary status of one William H. Cosby, Jr.  His successes span five decades and virtually all media, remarkable achievements for a kid who emerged from humble beginnings in a Philadelphia housing project.  Comedian, actor, producer, author, educator, musician, and activist, he has done it all – with his own unique take and style.  His years of playing Cliff Huxtable on one of the defining TV sitcoms of the 1980s, The Cosby Show, brought him into homes and hearts across the country, and helped cement his standing as a comedic master.

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Lagardere Announces 2010 Full-Year Results

Lagardère announced 2010 full-year results today, with consolidated net sales up 0.9% at €7,966m.  The publishing division's revenues "returned to normal, reaching a level exceeding that for 2008, after a spectacular 2009, thanks to new best-sellers,” according to Lagardère’s press release. Net sales for the division totalled €2,165m, down 4.8% on a reported basis and 6.3% on a like-for-like basis. This result was expected due to the unusually high revenues in 2009. Revenue reported in 2010 was slightly above that for 2008, reflecting the resilience of Lagardère Publishing's markets.
 
The key trends for the publishing division in 2010 include a “sound performance in the fourth quarter,” and a decline in the US, UK, and in Illustrated Books in France, attributable to the softening sales for Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga.  However, Meyer sales will see a boost in 2011 with the April publication of The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide and the November release of the “Breaking Dawn” film.
 
Digital continues to be an area of explosive growth in our industry. EBooks accounted for 8% of revenues at Hachette Book Group in 2010, compared to 3% in 2009. And 2011 is off to a phenomenal start – for the first quarter of 2011, HBG is projecting a 100% increase in eBook sales over Q1 2010.
 
Hachette Book Group broke its bestseller record in 2010, with 155 books hitting the New York Times bestseller list – an 18% increase over 2009’s record of 131 titles – including 30 #1 best sellers.  HBG’s key titles last year include Jon Stewart's Earth: The Book, Chelsea Handler's Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, three Nicholas Sparks titles (The Last Song, Safe Haven, and Dear John), James Patterson’s Cross Fire, Keith Richards' Life, Stephenie Meyer’s The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra, and Emma Donoghue’s Room.

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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN EXECUTION wins Barnes & Noble Discover Award for Non-Fiction.

David Dow's Autobiography of an Execution, published by Twelve (an imprint of Grand Central Publishing), was awarded the Barnes & Noble Discover Award for Non-Fiction today. This is the second year in a row that a Twelve title has taken home the top award. The judge who presented Dow the prize shared that he had long been in favor of the death penatly but was so moved by the book, it caused him to rethink his position on the issue and change his mind. Autobiography of an Execution is also nominated for a National Book Critic's Circle Award.

Hachette Book Group, Inc. Retains Canadian Manda Group for Sales Services to Independent Bookstores, Libraries, and Non-Traditional Accounts in Canada.

Hachette Book Group, Inc., based in New York, has hired Canadian Manda Group for sales services and marketing support for independent bookstores, library accounts, and non-traditional accounts in Canada. Canadian Manda Group is located in Toronto and has been in business since 1977. David Young, Chairman and CEO of Hachette Book Group, Inc., said, “Canadian Manda Group’s excellent reputation in the Canadian marketplace, their Canadian roots, and their focus and passion make them an ideal company for us to work with. We’re thrilled to team up with owners Nick Smith and Carey Low, and their experienced staff.” 

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Hachette Audio Sweeps Spoken Word Category, Wins Two Grammys!

Hachette Audio claimed wins in both Spoken Word categories at last night’s Grammy Awards celebration, for the audiobooks THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART PRESENTS EARTH (THE AUDIOBOOK) and, in the Children's category, JULIE ANDREWS' COLLECTION OF POEMS, SONGS, AND LULLABIES. This double victory is all the more gratifying considered alongside the amazing talents of fellow esteemed nominees. These Grammys are the fifth and sixth for Hachette Audio, a division of Hachette Book Group; previously honored titles include The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 2000.

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Joel Osteen Signs Publishing Agreement with FaithWords.

Hachette Book Group announced today that it has signed Joel Osteen, pastor of American’s largest church and bestselling author, to a publishing agreement. The first book is scheduled for publication in September 2011 on the FaithWords imprint. Osteen is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, where approximately 40,000 people attend services every weekend. His services are televised around the world. His books have sold millions of copies and each has been a national bestseller.

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Center Street to Publish Florence Henderson's Memoir.

Center Street, a division of Hachette Book Group, announced today that they have signed Florence Henderson to write her memoir. The book is scheduled for publication in September 2011.From the time as a teenager when she first appeared on a Broadway stage to the iconic Brady Bunch and her recent impressive showing on Dancing with the Stars, Florence Henderson has never shied away from a challenge.  Her life story demonstrates how far talent, hard work, love of people and a healthy sense of humor and curiosity can take you

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Center Street Signs I'm Here to Win, by World Champion Triathlete Chris "Macca" McCormack.

Hachette Book Group announced today that it will publish I’M HERE TO WIN, by the world’s top ranked triathlete and winner of the 2010 Ironman World Championship, Chris McCormack.  The book is scheduled for publication in June 2011 on the Center Street imprint. Australian Chris McCormack, or “Macca,” as he is called, is a world class athlete, a fierce competitor, and has made triathlon history with the most Ironman distance victories.

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Yen Press Launches an iPad Storefront.

Today, Kurt Hassler, Publishing Director at Yen Press, announced the release of the Yen Press app, a digital manga and comics storefront and reader on the iPad. The app is free to download, and will include volumes of some of Yen Press’ most popular series: including Maximum Ride, Gossip Girl, Daniel X and Nightschool. Users will be able to preview and purchase volumes directly from the app, and get notifications when new titles and series are added to the library. The app also allows readers access to downloads of extended previews, standalone short stories, and creator and editorial commentary.

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Little, Brown Books For Young Readers to Host an Intimate Gathering of Twilight Fans from Around the World to Meet Stephenie Meyer

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, will host a special International Fan Event, featuring Twilight fans from around the world.  Ten fans will be chosen to have a once-in-a-lifetime intimate meeting with international bestselling author Stephenie Meyer.  The event coincides with the upcoming release of The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide (April 12, 2011; $24.99). Little, Brown is partnering with the Twilight Saga publishers in Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Taiwan and the United Kingdom to bring together each country’s respective Twilight fan.  The fan selected from each country will receive an advance copy of The Official Illustrated Guide and get to talk extensively with Meyer, who will answer their Twilight-related questions. 

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Cary Goldstein Named Publisher of Twelve.

Jamie Raab, EVP and Publisher of Grand Central Publishing, announced today that Cary Goldstein will be assuming the position of Publisher of Twelve, replacing Susan Lehman. As Associate Publisher of Twelve, Goldstein has been responsible for orchestrating the imprint’s publicity strategies, and acquiring and editing works of fiction and nonfiction. “Cary has been part of Twelve since its inception, and has truly been one of the pillars of the imprint,” said Raab.  “He’s a brilliant marketing strategist, a very fine editor with a keen eye for acquisitions, and, most importantly, has a real vision for the future of Twelve.  He created enormously successful campaigns for Ted Kennedy’s TRUE COMPASS and Sebastian Junger’s WAR – and these are just two of many. Cary’s commitment to Twelve’s books and authors is extraordinary, and I look forward to seeing him thrive in his new role as he shapes Twelve’s publishing program and guides the imprint to continued success and acclaim.”

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Little, Brown Young Readers Takes Home Five Awards at ALA Mid-Winter Meeting.

Paolo Bacigalupi has been awarded the 2011 Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature for his novel Ship Breaker, published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group.  The award was announced today at the 2011 American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting in San Diego. The Printz Award is bestowed annually to a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature by the Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the ALA, and sponsored by Booklist magazine.  Bryan Collier received both a Randolph Caldecott Honor and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, written by Laban Carrick Hill.  Also honored from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers was Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes with a Coretta Scott King Author Honor, while Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! by Grace Lin was named a Theodore Suess Geisel Honor Book, Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey was named a William C. Morris Debut Young Adult Award Finalist, and Freaks and Revelations by Davida Wills Hurwin was named a Stonewall Children’s & Young Adult Honor Book.

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Bestselling Authors Brad Meltzer, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child Partner for eBook Promotion.

NEW YORK, NY; January 7, 2011; Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, announced an entirely original form of eBook collaboration today with bestselling powerhouses Brad Meltzer, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. The bonus eBook edition of Meltzer’s new novel THE INNER CIRCLE (January 11, 2011; ISBN: 9780446582636; $12.99) will feature a complimentary backlist novel from Preston and Child in the same eBook package; correspondingly the bonus eBook edition of Preston and Child’s new novel GIDEON’S SWORD (February 22, 2011; ISBN: 9780446564335; $12.99) will also include a complimentary backlist title from Meltzer.

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HACHETTE BOOK GROUP ADDS GORGEOUS ILLUSTRATED TITLES BY ANSEL ADAMS, TODD PARR, AND VICKI MYRON TO APPLE'S IBOOKSTORE

Hachette Book Group today announced the addition of gorgeous illustrated books from legendary photographer Ansel Adams, award-winning children's book author Todd Parr and bestselling author Vicky Myron to the iBookstore through Apple’s just released, free iBooks 1.2 app for illustrated titles.  iBooks 1.2 features visual enhancements for brilliant, full-color, two-page display of illustrated books on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

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Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Stephene Meyer Donate $1.5 Million to the American Red Cross International Response Fund from Sales of Stephenie Meyer's THE SHORT SECOND LIFE OF BREE TANNER.

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, and Stephenie Meyer have donated 1.5 million dollars to the American Red Cross International Response Fund from their proceeds from Stephenie Meyer’s The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: an Eclipse Novella. As previously announced, one dollar for each book sold in the US from the first printing would go to the American Red Cross.  The donation was made today by Hachette Book Group CEO David Young and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Publisher Megan Tingley to The American Red Cross Senior Vice President of International Services David Meltzer. 

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Hachette Book Group Selected as one of Crain's Best Places to Work in NYC!

Hachette Book Group is thrilled to once again be included in the Crain’s New York Business list of Best Places to Work in NYC! The list of 50 companies were ranked by a statistical analysis of employee surveys and company benefits, and the winning firms received high marks for a fun atmosphere, challenging work, advancement opportunities and myriad of perks and benefits. HBG ranks #19 on the 2010 list – up from #24 in 2009!  Rising five slots is wonderful upward momentum, and once again, HBG was the only publisher to make the list.

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Bestselling Author Sandra Brown Returns to Grand Central Publishing with Three New Novels

Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, announced today that it will publish three new novels by bestselling author Sandra Brown. The first book, currently untitled, will be published in fall 2011. This marks the return of Sandra Brown to Grand Central Publishing, where she published 16 novels, beginning with Slow Heat in Heaven in 1988 through The Crush in 2002.

• Click here to view the full press release.

Business Plus to Publish THE INVESTMENT ANSWER by Gordon Murray and Daniel Goldie

Business Plus, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, announced today that it has acquired world rights to publish THE INVESTMENT ANSWER: Learn to Manage Your Money & Protect Your Financial Future by Gordon Murray and Dan Goldie. Originally self-published by the authors in August 2010, Business Plus is scheduled to publish the book in hardcover on January 25, 2011. Mr. Murray is a former bond salesman for Goldman Sachs who rose to the managing director level at both Lehman Brothers and Credit Suisse First Boston. He has glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, first diagnosed in 2008. Five months ago, after a recurrence of the disease, he decided to cease all treatment and started writing THE INVESTMENT ANSWER with his friend and financial advisor Daniel Goldie. The book explains investing in a handful of simple steps.

• Click here to view the full press release.

Ansel Adams Comes to the iPad!

Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, announced today the release of Ansel Adams for the iPad. This groundbreaking interactive app, available now on iTunes for $13.99, provides a multi-tiered introduction to the life and work of the most honored American photographer of the twentieth century. Taking full advantage of the remarkable screen resolution, backlit display, and audiovisual capabilities of the iPad, this app sets a new standard for the presentation of art and biography on a hand-held device.

• Click here to view the full press release.

Dan Rather Memoir to be Published by Grand Central Publishing

Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, announced today that they have acquired World Rights to publish a memoir by Dan Rather. The book, titled SUMMING UP, is tentatively scheduled to be published in spring 2012, and will be written in the same “boots-on-the-ground” spirit that Dan Rather has pioneered in his long and illustrious journalism career.

• Click here to read the full press release.

Chelsea Handler to Launch Imprint at Grand Central Publishing

Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, announced today that they have signed Chelsea Handler for her own imprint. The imprint, to be called Borderline Amazing/A Chelsea Handler Book, will make its debut with Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me, to be published in hardcover in May 2011. Borderline Amazing Productions is the production company of Chelsea Handler and Tom Brunelle.

• Click here to read the full press release.

Lagardere Announces Third Quarter Results

Lagardère announced its third quarter results today, with consolidated revenues for the first nine months of €5,820M, unchanged from the comparable period of 2009 and down 2.5% on a like-for-like basis, a slight improvement on the trend to end June 2010. While Lagardere’s global publishing division continued to feel the slowing sales of Stephenie Meyer’s novels, revenues for the first nine months of 2010 are slightly ahead of those for the comparable period of 2008. Key titles driving sales for HBG in the third quarter include SAFE HAVEN by Nicholas Sparks, EARTH (The Book), by Jon Stewart, PRIVATE by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, THE POSTCARD KILLERS by James Patterson and Liza Marklund, and BREAKING DAWN (trade paperback) by Stephenie Meyer.  Each of these leading titles also hit #1 on the New York Times best seller list.  HBG continues its remarkable run of New York Times best sellers, with 144 titles hitting the list this year to date.

• Click here to read the full press release from Lagardere.

Hachette Book Group Partners with NetGalley for Broad Distribution of Digital Galleys.

Hachette Book Group announced today that they will use NetGalley to distribute digital galleys and digital press kits (including video, audio, tour schedules, author Q&As, and photos) to reviewers, bloggers, media, booksellers, librarians, and educators.  Using NetGalley, HBG will be able to share secure, text-searchable, full-color digital galleys, which the reader can download onto a variety of devices, including Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo Reader, and the user’s desktop.  Distributing galleys and marketing material through NetGalley is a faster, more efficient, and environmentally conscious method of sharing content. 

HACHETTE BOOK GROUP ANNOUNCES THE JAMES PATTERSON APP FOR IPHONE AND IPAD

JOHNNY DEPP TO READ KEITH RICHARDS’ MEMOIR, LIFE

Hachette Audio is thrilled to announce that Johnny Depp and critically acclaimed musician Joe Hurley, along with the author himself, will read the audiobook edition of LIFE by Keith Richards, which will be released October 26, 2010—publishing simultaneously with the hardcover book by Little, Brown and Company. Richards’ rich voice introduces the audiobook and leads us into Johnny Depp's performance, while fellow artist Joe Hurley bridges the long road traveled, before Richards closes with the final chapter of this incredible 23-hour production, which includes a bonus PDF of photos.

• Click here to read the full press release.

James Patterson's #1 New York Times Bestselling Series WITCH AND WIZARD to be Published in Manga Editions.

Hachette Book Group announced at New York City Comic-Con on October 9th that its graphic novel imprint, Yen Press, has acquired world rights to a graphic adaptation of the first three books in James Patterson’s young adult series WITCH AND WIZARD.  The #1 New York Times bestselling series tells the story of Whit and Wisty Allgood, who only learn about their magical powers when they are arrested by guards of the New Order dictatorship and locked in a reformatory. The artwork and adaptation of the WITCH AND WIZARD series will be done by Svetlana Chmakova, creator of the New York Times best-selling manga series Nightschool, and will be serialized in Yen Plus (www.yenplus.com).

Hachette Book Group Breaks its 2009 New York Times Best Seller Record!

Exciting News! With the addition of four new titles to the October 17th New York Times Best Seller list, Hachette Book Group has succeeded in breaking its 2009 record!  In 2009, HBG had 131 bestsellers on the New York Times Best Seller List.  The appearance of DON’T BLINK by James Patterson & Howard Roughan (#2, Hardcover Fiction), SQUIRREL SEEKS CHIPMUNK by David Sedaris (#5, Hardcover Fiction), I, ALEX CROSS by James Patterson (#2, Mass Market Fiction) and THE COMING ECONOMIC ARMAGEDDON by David Jeremiah (#9, Advice/How To), brings our yearly total to 133. Congratulations to all our authors and staff for their hard work in helping HBG reach this amazing milestone!

Several HBG Titles Debut on the New York Times Bestseller List!

Another big week for HBG books on the New York Times Best-Seller list for the week of October 3, 2010! New additions to the list include : SAFE HAVEN by Nicholas Sparks at #1 on the Hardcover Fiction List, Jill Kelly’s WITHOUT A WORD at #18 on the Hardcover NonFiction List, POWER THOUGHTS by Joyce Meyer at #2 on the Hardcover Advice, How- To and Miscellaneous List, Peter Brown’s CHILDREN MAKE TERRIBLE PETS at #10 on the Children’s Picture Book List, and RECKLESS by Cornelia Funke at #5 on the Children’s Chapter Book List.

Susan Lehman Named Publisher & Editor In Chief of Twelve

Hachette Book Group is pleased to welcome Susan Lehman as Publisher and Editor in Chief of Twelve, beginning on September 27. In this role, Lehman will oversee the celebrated imprint’s unique publishing program, which was established in April 2005 with the objective of publishing no more than one book per month. Lehman will report to Jamie Raab, Executive Vice President and Publisher of Grand Central Publishing.

• Click here to read the full press release.

HBG’s James Patterson To Give Over $70,000 In Book Gift Certificates To College-Bound High School Students

Number one bestselling author James Patterson is launching a new program to support college-bound high school students. “Book Dollars for Scholars” is a contest open to high school seniors who will have an opportunity to win one of fifty-six gift certificates, ranging from $250 to $5,000 apiece, for use at any IndieBound-affiliated independent bookstore. To win the certificates, high school students can visit www.JamesPatterson.com and enter into and win an essay contest. The essay question is “How has your favorite book inspired you toward what you’d like to do in life?”

On Book Dollars for Scholars, Patterson says, “My hope with this award is to help students going to college — where they’ll be immersed in textbooks and great classics, and be under pressure to succeed — to maintain their interest in enjoying a good book for fun. I’m looking forward to reading the entries!” 

• Click here to read the full press release (on PR newswire)
• Visit JamesPatterson.com to enter the contest!

Lagardère SCA announces 2010 first-half results

Lagardère published its 2010 first-half results today, announcing consolidated net sales of €3.716 billion, virtually unchanged relative to the first half of 2009 on a reported basis. The global publishing division “saw only a limited fall in net sales in the first half of 2010…Overall, net sales at Lagardère Publishing for the first half of 2010 were up 6.5% on the comparable period of 2008 on a like-for-like basis, a remarkably resilient performance.”  These figures show strong underlying growth at Lagardère Publishing despite difficult comparisons with 2009, when the sales of the Stephenie Meyer Twilight saga were at a high around the world.

HBG’s eBook revenue is up 280% on 2009, and the company’s robust digital publishing program has produced many eBook bestsellers this year. HBG has also had 110 New York Times bestsellers in 2010 – including 23 titles at #1 – and is on pace to break last year’s record of 130.

• Click here for Lagardère SCA’s press release.

Yen Press Launches Online Version of YEN PLUS

Yen Press announced last week that its monthly manga anthology, Yen Plus, is now available online at Yenplus.com.  From August through September 10th, Yen Press is offering free access to the August issue.  Subscriptions will cost $2.99 per month and members will have access to the two most recent issues of the magazine. Each issue of Yen Plus includes the latest installments of popular manga such as Maximum Ride, Daniel X, Nightschool, Time And Again, and more.

• Click here to see the full press release

Bestselling Author James Patterson Breaks eBook Record The First Novelist To Sell Over 1,000,000 eBook Units

Bestselling author James Patterson has become the first novelist to sell over 1,000,000 eBook units. Patterson is once again at the forefront of a major publishing trend, with eBook sales more than tripling over the last year.  Patterson said, “Things have really changed in the digital space. With more and more people reading on iPads, Kindles, and Nooks, taking time to create interesting, user-friendly, enhanced eBook editions is becoming more and more important.  And if eBooks get people who might otherwise not be reading to pick up a book, then that makes me happy.”

• Click here to see the full press release

HBG Titles Available in Apples's iBookstore in Canada

Hachette Book Group has announced that they will make their eBooks available in Apple's iBookstore in Canada beginning today.  iBookstore is included in the free iBooks app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch (www.itunes.ca/appstore).

• Click here to read the full press release.

HBG titles nominated for Indigo Teen Reads Awards

Indigo Books & Music Inc., the largest book retailer in Canada, has just launched their first annual Teen Read Awards Program in which teen readers can vote for favorite books, authors and characters in ten nominated categories.

We’re so pleased to have several HBG titles nominated:

• Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink has been nominated in the Best Villain category   
• The Daughters by Joanna Philbin has been nominated in the Best Lip Lock category   
• Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl has been nominated in the Best New Writer category   
• Twilight and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer have been nominated in the All-Time Fave and Best Book-to-Flick categories respectively   
• Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger has been nominated in the All-Time Fave category

Nominated authors are enthusiastic about the awards.

“I'm thrilled that The Daughters has been nominated for Indigo's very first Teen Read Awards!” said Joanna Philbin, author of Daughters and nominee for Best Lip Lock. “This is bound to be an amazing summer tradition for Canadian teens, and I'm happy - and honoured - to be a part of it.”

Michelle Zink, nominated in the Best Villain category for Prophecy of the Sisters adds: “I'm especially excited to be nominated for the 2010 Indigo Books Teen Read Awards because the winner is chosen by the people who count most – teen readers!  Their enthusiasm, insight, and passion for life inspire me every day.”

The Teen Read Awards featuring nominated authors and musical guests will be hosted on September 25th and is expected to be this Fall’s hot event ticket for teens. For more information on the first-ever Indigo Teen Read Awards please visit www.teenreadawards.ca.

• Click here to read the full press release from Indigo.

Over One Million Copies Sold in the US of Stephenie Meyer’s The Short Second Life Of Bree Tanner

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, announced today that it has sold over one million copies of The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: an Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer.  The novella, released on June 5th, has already become the biggest selling new book of the year so far.  As previously announced, one dollar for each book sold in the US from the first printing is being donated to the American Red Cross International Response Fund* resulting in a donation of over one million dollars to the American Red Cross to date.

• Click here to read the full press release

Staff Announcements for Center Street & FaithWords

Hachette Book Group is pleased to announce the hiring of two new senior level employees in the New York office: Kate Hartson has been named Senior Editor for the Center Street imprint and Andrea Glickson has been named Marketing Director for the FaithWords and Center Street imprints. In addition, Editor Christina Boys in Hachette’s Nashville office will now focus exclusively on acquiring fiction for both FaithWords and Center Street imprints.

• Click here to read the full press release.

Grand Central Publishing and Kingdom Records, INC. Partner to Present African-American Music and Authors in an Innovative Way

GCP announced this week that it will begin a new partnership with Kingdom Records, the platinum-selling gospel record label whose stable of artists includes The Whispers, Phil Tarver, Tonya Baker and internationally renowned Shekinah Glory Ministry. This exciting and innovative collaboration will bridge the gap between gospel lovers and book lovers, expanding the audience for our authors through promotions and events.

• Click here to see the full press release

Grand Central Publishing to Publish the Next Two Novels by Candace Bushnell

Grand Central Publishing has acquired Candace Bushnell’s next two novels. The first novel, titled THE TWO MRS. STONES, is about a love triangle and will be published in 2012.

• Click here to view the full press release

Little, Brown and Company announces new suspense imprint’s name and launch list

Little, Brown and Company announced today the name of its new imprint devoted to publishing suspense fiction:

Mulholland Books

The name is taken from Mulholland Drive, a winding stretch of road in the Hollywood Hills. Its hairpin turns, sharp cliff faces, and breathtaking views of Los Angeles have long made it synonymous with drama and suspense

The goal of Mulholland Books is simple: to publish books you can’t stop reading. The promise of a Mulholland Book—whether a crime novel, thriller, police procedural, spy story, or even supernatural suspense—is that you’ll read it leaning forward, hungry for the next word.

Learn more at www.mulhollandbooks.com.

• Click here to read the full press release.

GCP to Publish Book by Ellen Degeneres

Grand Central Publishing will publish a book by comedian and actress Ellen DeGeneres. The book, not yet titled, will take a look at her life through her humor. It is slated for publication in fall 2011.

• Click here to read the full press release.

Little, Brown author Irene Sabatini wins the Orange Award for New Writers!

We’re proud to share the news that Irene Sabatini, author of THE BOY NEXT DOOR, published by Little, Brown and Company has won the Orange Award for New Writers 2010!

• Click here to visit the Orange Prize website for more information on this honor.

Hachette Audio wins three awards at the 15th annual Audies Competition

Hachette Audio was a big winner at last night's annual Audies Competition, sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association.

The prestigious honor of Audiobook of the Year was awarded to NELSON MANDELA'S FAVORITE AFRICAN FOLKTALES, which also won in the Multi-Voiced Performance category. Its many narrators include: Gillian Anderson, Benjamin Bratt, LeVar Burton, Ricardo Chavira, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Whoopi Goldberg, Sean Hayes, Hugh Jackman, Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Debra Messing, Helen Mirren, Parminder Nagra, Sophie Okonedo, CCH Pounder, Alan Rickman, Jurnee Smollett, Charlize Theron, Blair Underwood, Forest Whitaker, and Alfre Woodard.

Many thanks to all the people throughout HBG who made this project possible (including Matthew McLaughlin who created the amazing http://www.mandelasfavoritefolktales.com/ site!)

NURTURESHOCK by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, and read by Po Bronson took top honors in the Personal Development category.

To see the full list of the 2010 Audies Winners & Finalists click here: http://www.theaudies.com/

• Click here to see the full list of the 2010 Audies Winners & Finalists.

Little, Brown and Company to publish Governor Rick Perry's FED UP!

Little, Brown has just acquired Rick Perry’s FED UP!, in which the Governor of Texas will examine the dangerous and unconstitutional intrusion of the federal government on states’ rights and individual liberties.  Publication is scheduled for fall 2010 in time for the midterm elections.

• Click here to read the full press release.

Book Expo America 2010 is Here!

BEA will open tonight, Tuesday, May 25th and will close at 5pm, Thursday, May 27th.  A large number of Hachette Book Group’s authors will be signing books and participating in various panels and events over the course of the fair.  Below you can find a listing of our author’s events:

Featured Author Events:
Sound Stage: Nelson DeMille- THE LION

Speed Dating: Bryan Collier- DAVE THE POTTER

Author Stage Events:
Noah Feldman- SCORPIONS
Jeffrey Hayzlett- MIRROR TEST

Authors of the Editors Buzz:
Benjamin Hale- THE TALE OF BRUNO LITTLEMORE

Authors of the YA Editors Buzz:
Kody Keplinger- THE DUFF

Teen & Educator Event:
James Patterson-WITCH & WIZARD: THE GIFT

BEA Breakfast:
Jon Stewart- THE EARTH BOOK

Authors Luncheon:
Christopher Hitchens- HITCH-22

Corral Signings:
Michael Kortya- SO COLD THE RIVER
Nelson DeMille- THE LION
Peter Brown – CHILDREN MAKE TERRIBLE PETS
Bryan Collier- DAVE THE POTTER
Jason Hawes & Grant Wilson: GHOST  HUNT
Kody Keplinger- THE DUFF
Wendy Mass- The CANDY MAKERS
Kathleen Kent- THE WOLVES OF ANDOVER
Stacy Schiff- CLEOPATRA
Mick Foley- COUNTDOWN TO LOCKDOWN
Jefferey W. Hayzlett-MIRROR TEST
Matthew Reinhart- DC SUPERHEROES

Booth Signings:
Scott Turow- INNOCENT
Cornelia Funke- RECKLESS
Brad Meltzer- INNER CIRCLE
Glenn Plaskin- KATIE UP AND DOWN THE HALL
James Patterson- WITCH & WIZARD: THE GIFT
Nelson DeMille- THE LION
Emma Donoghue- ROOM
Michael Connelly - THE REVERSAL
Karen Miller – THE PRODIGAL MAGE and WIZARD SQUARED
Kevin Anderson- ACROSS THE FACE OF THE WORLD

• Click here for the complete schedule and more information on Book Expo America.

HBG Partners with RoyaltyShare

HBG will be working with RoyaltyShare to gather, manage, and validate our digital sales data, and give us accuracy in sales reporting and royalty payments.   RoyaltyShare is a leading provider of revenue processing solutions for the music industry.  HBG is their first book publishing client.

• Click here to read the full press release

Two HBG Authors Take Top Honors at the Children's Choice Book Awards!

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers is thrilled to announce that James Patterson and Peter Brown took home top honors at last night’s Children’s Choice Book Awards gala! Over 100,000 children across the country voted for their favorite books, author, and illustrator at bookstores, school libraries, and at www.BookWeekOnline.com.

The Children’s Choice Book Awards program, launched in 2008 by The Children’s Book Council (CBC), was created to provide young readers with an opportunity to voice their opinions about the books being written for them and to help develop a reading list that will motivate children to read more and cultivate a love of reading. This year’s event was hosted by Mo Willems and the star-studded list of presenters including Judy Blume, Jerry Pinkney, and Libba Bray.

James Patterson – who has been writing books for young readers with LBYR since 2005 – was presented the “Author of the Year” award last night for Max (A Maximum Ride Novel).  During his acceptance speech, he emphasized the importance of promoting children’s literacy by giving kids something they actually enjoy reading, thanked his long-time editor “Dr. Andrea Spooner,” and dedicated the award to his 12-year-old son, Jack, who was also in attendance last night. There was stiff competition in this category – the other finalists were Suzanne Collins, Jeff Kinney, Carl Hiaasen and Rick Riordan.

Peter Brown, who has also been publishing books with LBYR since 2005, was awarded “Illustrator of the Year” for The Curious Garden. The other finalists in this category were the illustrators of Fancy Nancy: Explorer Extraordinaire, Goldilicious, Listen to the Wind and Ladybug Girl/Bumblebee Boy. Peter thanked his long-time friend and editor Alvina Ling and said Little, Brown has been “like a family.”

Congratulations to all!!

• Read more on the Children's Book Council website

Lagardere Announces First Quarter Consolidated Revenues

Lagardère SCA today announced first quarter 2010 consolidated revenues of €1.751m, a decrease of 1.5% on a reported basis and 3.1% on a like-for-like basis. 

As detailed in Lagardère’s press release, revenues at Lagardère Publishing fell 5.9% relative to the first quarter of 2009.  Although first quarter sales were down from 2009 (the expected softening in Stephenie Meyer sales contributed, in part, to this downturn) first-quarter revenues were up 7.4% on the comparable period of 2008.  This growth over two years constitutes “a remarkable performance” given that the book market has been flat, and illustrates Lagardère Publishing's “ability to grow through significant market share gains, especially in the English-speaking world.”  Lagardère highlights Stephenie Meyer’s upcoming title, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner as one of the key events for the publishing division in the second quarter.

Sales of eBooks were “buoyant,” according to the release, “accounting for some 8% of first-quarter revenues in the United States.”  Digital sales at Hachette Book Group grew 368% over first quarter 2009. The company’s strength in the eBook market is evidenced by HBG titles’ presence on key eBook bestseller lists. Currently, HBG has five out of the top ten sellers on the iPad: David Baldacci’s Deliver Us From Evil, Scott Turow’s Innocent, James Patterson 9th Judgment, Sebastian Junger’s War, and Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child’s Fever Dream.  On Sony’s recently announced all-time top ten bestseller list, HBG has 7 of the top 10 titles: Stephenie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn, Eclipse, Twilight, and New Moon; James Patterson’s I, Alex Cross; Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones; and Nicholas Sparks’ The Last Song.

Hachette Book Group’s first quarter bestselling titles include David Baldacci’s First Family, Chelsea Handler’s Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge’s Worst Case, and Nicholas Sparks’ The Last Song. HBG has had 82 titles hit the New York Times bestseller list in 2010, up significantly from 2009 – a record year for the company in terms of bestsellers.

• Click here to read Lagardere's Press Release

HBG dominates Sony Top 10 eBook Bestseller List!

Last Week, Sony announced their all-time Top 10 eBook bestsellers. Hachette Book Group titles claim seven of the ten spots! Our bestselling titles are listed below.

1. The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown
2. I, Alex Cross, by James Patterson
3. Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer
4. Eclipse, by Stephenie Meyer
5. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
6. Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer
7. New Moon, by Stephenie Meyer
8. The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold
9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson
10. The Last Song, by Nicholas Sparks

Brad Parsons to join HBG's Online Marketing team as Associate Director

Brad Parsons will be joining the Hachette Book Group Online Marketing team as Associate Director on May 24. In this role, Parsons will be a key contributor to the company’s innovative web publicity campaigns and a driver of digital media opportunities for books and authors, conceiving of and implementing original strategies and activities to support visibility of new releases from the adult trade publishing groups and imprints. His focus will be on Fiction. Parsons will report to Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Online Marketing.

Parsons was most recently the Senior Editor for Books at Amazon.com where he joined the then-four-year-old online e-tailer in 1999. At Amazon, Parsons created, coordinated, executed, and analyzed high-quality, revenue generating sections and e-mail merchandising initiatives. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in many new initiatives for Amazon Books from author stores and seasonal previews to videos, podcasts, and blogs where he created a best-in-class customer experience.

Additionally, Parsons served as an expert resource to the media, commenting on book news and trends for national and regional print and broadcast media. He acted as Amazon’s U.S. Editorial lead for the final Harry Potter book release in July 2007, the largest single-product distribution in Amazon history at that time.

Parsons’ career began at Borders in Syracuse, NY where he was Community Relations Assistant. In 1999, he moved to Seattle to be the Community Relations Coordinator at Borders and in short order was scooped up by Amazon.

Parsons holds an MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) from Columbia University School of the Arts. He is a culinary aficionado and food blogger and his first book, Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, with Cocktails and Recipes, is scheduled for publication in Fall 2011 from Ten Speed Press.

Orbit to Publish Digital Short Fiction

Orbit, the Science Fiction and Fantasy imprint of Hachette Book Group, announces a digital short fiction publishing program launching later this year.

Orbit (US) has offered to publish digital editions of all original short fiction written by its authors. The digital editions will be distributed widely through major retail channels, for reading on a variety of devices. Authors will be paid a royalty for each story sold, rather than the flat fee more common in the short story market.

• Click here to read the full press release (on the Orbit web site)

Hachette Book Group To Handle Sales And Distribution Of Marvel Books Into Trade

Effective September 1, 2010, Marvel books will be sold and distributed into the traditional and non-traditional trade book channels throughout the world by Hachette Book Group. Marvel will continue its exclusive relationship with Diamond Comics Distributor to distribute its product into the comic shop market.

• Click here to read the full press release

WORST CASE by James Patterson now available as an interactive eBook!

#1 bestselling author James Patterson’s thriller WORST CASE was released as an eBook with enriched content on April 3, 2010. The first such release by this author launches fans of “America’s #1 storyteller” (Forbes) into a newly enhanced reading experience.

• Click here to read the full press release

HBG eBook sales via Agency Model begins 4/1

Starting on April 1, 2010, all eBook titles published by Hachette Book Group will be sold directly to consumers by means of third party agents. David Young, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, sent the following announcement to authors and agents:

Dear authors and agents –

As we announced in February, starting on April 1, 2010, all eBook titles published by Hachette Book Group will be sold directly to consumers by means of third party agents.  This agency model allows us to make more titles available to more consumers on more platforms.   We are pleased to let you know that we have made arrangements with most of our eBook distributors to operate under this model. However, as with any transition, we expect there will be a few hiccups along the way, and you may even see some short-term interruption in the availability of our eBooks, especially in the first few days, as systems are being adapted to accommodate changes. We fully expect any such issues to be resolved within the first week, as we smooth out the new processes.

We welcome this opportunity to expand the reach and readership for our eBooks and authors, which is at the heart of what we do as a publisher.

David Foster Wallace’s Classic Novel INFINITE JEST to be Published as an Enriched e-Book

Little, Brown and Company has released a first-of-its-kind, enriched e-book for David Foster Wallace’s epic novel INFINITE JEST. Little, Brown and Hachette Digital collaborated on this project to deliver an exciting new reading experience, where readers can utilize an enriched footnote capability—just tap the note number when it appears and the note will open in a new window. Tap again to close. Other features to enhance the reader’s experience are the ability to search through the text, endnotes included, and to create one’s own notes and bookmarks. 

• Click here to read the full press release.

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers to Release New Novella from International Phenomenon Stephenie Meyer on Saturday, June 5, 2010 -- The Short Second Life Of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, has announced today that it will release the first new title from Stephenie Meyer in nearly two years. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is a novella told from the point of view of Bree, a character originally featured in Eclipse. The novella (at 192 pages) will be released at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2010 in hardcover for $13.99 with a first printing of 1.5 million copies. One dollar for each book sold in the US from the first printing will be donated to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which supports disaster relief efforts such as those in Haiti and Chile.

• Click here to read the full press release