Copyright 2008 The New York Sun Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:41:29 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Michael Cader :: Stories from The New York Sun http://www.nysun.com/authors/Michael+Cader istoll@nysun.com (Ira Stoll) webmaster@nysun.com en-us MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/author-to-write-of-covert-plot-to-disrupt-vote/4011/ Fri, 29 Oct 2004 00:00:00 EST Penguin's Riverhead imprint has acquired a book that tantalizingly hints at what it calls a thwarted "plot to disrupt the presidential election." The full story may well not emerge until long after the election is history, however, with publication not scheduled until next fall. The author, Larry J. Kolb, promises to disclose the details of a sensational case in which he said one American citizen has already been arrested and another is being sought by law enforcement authorities. The men, both... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/frankfurt-book-fair-puts-focus-on-middle-east/2788/ Wed, 6 Oct 2004 00:00:00 EST For most American publishers, the Frankfurt Book Fair, which officially opened last night, is primarily a place to sell rights to their books. And for some, it's an increasingly expensive anachronism in a world in which rights are traded year round, and other book fairs, like the one held in London every March, have gained momentum. But this year's convention has taken on an additional political dimension as the guest of honor is not a single nation, but the Arab world as a whole. (Or almost as... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/advanced-marketing-services-executive-pleads/2646/ Mon, 4 Oct 2004 00:00:00 EST The federal government's yearlong investigation into Advanced Marketing Services, the book wholesaler that services many major warehouse clubs, moved into a new phase last week. Former director of advertising (creative services) Marcy Wilson Roke, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of wire fraud in connection with a plan to defraud customers. She faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of as much as $250,000 for each count, with sentencing scheduled for the end of... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/book-deal-season-begins/2430/ Wed, 29 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST With summer officially over and the annual Frankfurt Book Fair set to open in the middle of next week, publishers and agents are dealing at full speed, and announcing more sales than usual as they try to stir interest in selling rights to other territories. Recent big money nonfiction sales have included Oxford history professor Diarmaid MacCulloch's sweeping history "Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years," which the Penguin Group bought for their American and British imprints for over... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/trade-groups-sue-treasury-on-freedom-of-speech/2362/ Tue, 28 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST Two publishing trade organizations, the PEN American Center and Arcade Publishing, have jointly filed suit against the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control in a New York federal court. The parties are asking the court to strike down regulations that require publishers and authors to acquire a government license in order to publish in America written works from nations under sanctions, including Iran, Cuba, and Sudan. They maintain that the regulations violate the First... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/legal-threats-swirl-around-best-selling-da-vinci/2288/ Mon, 27 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST The smash success of Dan Brown's novel "The Da Vinci Code" has given rise to a whole subgenre of successful books in the vein of "Secrets of the Da Vinci Code," and now it appears the book may inspire a wave of legal action as well. Following Mr. Brown and Random House's pre-emptive filing against author Lewis Perdue, who has maintained that the hit novel infringes on books of his own, comes word from Britain that a suit may be pending there against Mr. Brown. Trade magazine Publishing News... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/purpose-driven-success/2173/ Thu, 23 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST We've already written about the astounding success of the Reverend Rick Warren's "The Purpose-Driven Life" - as well as the way in which the mainstream press has generally overlooked the book - but with the celebration of a recent milestone, the point bears repeating. Earlier this week, Zondervan and HarperCollins threw a party at the Rainbow Room to celebrate sales of more than 20 million copies of the book in North America. (The figure includes 1 million Spanish-language copies.) That's... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/from-the-da-vinci-code-to-the-booker-prize/2097/ Wed, 22 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST Author of the huge best-seller "The Da Vinci Code," Dan Brown, and Random House have filed suit in a Manhattan District Court against Lewis Perdue, author of "The Da Vinci Legacy" and "Daughter of God." They are asking for "a declaration that 'The Da Vinci Code' does not infringe Perdue's copyright." The filing asserts that, "Apart from stock elements common to the thriller genre or fundamental historical and religious facts and beliefs, 'The Da Vinci Code' is striking dissimilar to Perdue's... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/kirkus-reviewers-for-hire/2029/ Tue, 21 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST Kirkus Reviews, one of the few outlets that publishes trade reviews of books well in advance of their publication, has quietly initiated a new service via its Web site that crosses a line many in publishing and the review world would have once considered sacrosanct. The new program, called Kirkus Discoveries, provides the opportunity for just about anyone, from traditional publishing companies to "self-published, e-published and print-on-demand authors," to "commission" a review, for $350... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/garcia-marquezs-latest-to-be-out-next-month/1950/ Mon, 20 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST Nobel laureate and Colombian literary master Gabriel Garcia Marquez will publish his first new work of fiction in over 10 years next month. Called "Memorias de Mis Putas Tristes" (Memories of My Sad Whores), it was described by the Argentinean newspaper Clarin as "a history of love narrated in little more than 100 pages." Though not officially announced for publication here, his long-standing American publisher Knopf is preparing to release a Spanish-language edition in America simultaneously... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/blume-wins-american-letters-award/1812/ Thu, 16 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST The National Book Foundation announced that Judy Blume will be the first author of young adult books and the fifth woman to receive its prestigious medal for a Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Executive director Harold Augengraum noted that in addition to having "influenced and inspired countless children since the early '70s," Ms. Blume's "active participation in the causes of the literary community and her struggles against censorship have also been exemplary." The foundation's... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/ams-lowers-earnings/1756/ Wed, 15 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST Advanced Marketing Services, a wholesaler to warehouse clubs and distributor for independent publishers, lowered its earnings again as it struggles under the weight of government investigations and transitions in its major businesses. AMS warned investors on Monday that it expects to show earnings of only 10 cents to 15 cents a share for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004, after an internal audit rather than the previously predicted 30 cents to 40 cents a share. Even that figure, announced... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/new-ceos-face-tough-environment/1700/ Tue, 14 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST Both a venerable industry mainstay and a fast-growing start-up announced the appointment of new leaders. Ingram Book Group, the largest wholesaler in the book business, announced that its chief operating officer, James E. Chandler, has been promoted to president and chief executive officer. He takes over from Mike Lovett, who will "assume a new position" with parent company Ingram Industries. Mr. Chandler joined the company in 1997 as president of Ingram International. Mr. Chandler said in a... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/dont-tease-kittys-publisher/1623/ Mon, 13 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST Over the past year or so book publishers have tangled plenty with the press over the sanctity, and enforceability, of embargos on newsworthy books. In the strangest twist yet, Doubleday is threatening legal action against Newsweek for the opposite - choosing not to run a prepublication story on their Tuesday release, Kitty Kelley's "The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty." A letter from parent company Random House general counsel Katherine Trager to Newsweek, quoted by the AP, maintains... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/were-no-12-a-best-sellers-strange-tale/1558/ Fri, 10 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST Two days ago Barnes & Noble issued a press release celebrating the appearance of the book "Hippie" by Barry Miles on the New York Times bestseller list, a first for its Sterling Publishing division, which the bookselling chain bought in early 2003. The story illustrates how best-seller lists don't necessarily reflect reality. The release (and an article in yesterday's Times) touted that the book will appear at no. 12 on the nonfiction list in the September 12 edition of the Times... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/cautious-outlook/1482/ Thu, 9 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST Random House, the largest trade publisher in the world, reported revenues for the first six months of the year of 818 million euros ($995 million), up 9.5% from a year ago, and earnings almost three times higher at 31 million euros (nearly $38 million). Parent company Bertelsmann - where sales rose 3.3% overall to 8.14 billion euros ($9.75 billion) and profits rose compared to a large write-down last year - underscored Random's "especially strong sales and profits in the U.K. and Australia" and... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/summers-biggest-surprises/1417/ Wed, 8 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EST Any chunk of time in the book business is bound to be filled with surprises - otherwise we might not need newspapers. With summer fun officially over, here are some reflections on lingering surprises and mysteries: The biggest surprise of all - the broad success of The 9/11 Commission Report - shouldn't have been a surprise at all. Significant government reports have always drawn book readers and political books have been making headlines and topping best-seller lists all year. Even so, the... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/barnes-noble-on-top/595/ Fri, 20 Aug 2004 00:00:00 EST The nation's largest bookselling chain, Barnes & Noble, managed to outperform its competitors in the fiscal quarter, showing an increase of 1.4% in comparable store sales at its superstores. For the second quarter, the company reported total sales from its bookstores unit of $1.015 billion. Of that, Barnes & Nobles stores accounted for $961.3 million, up 5% overall. Its declining mall-based unit, B. Dalton, posted sales of $39.9 million, with a comparable store decrease of 6.8%... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/more-michael-moore/518/ Thu, 19 Aug 2004 00:00:00 EST Simon & Schuster announced a deal for two new books from best-selling author and creator of documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 Michael Moore. "Will They Ever Trust Us Again?" is a collection of letters written by American troops serving in Iraq sent to Mr. Moore. That book will be ready for release in hardcover this November. The publisher will also bring out a trade paperback companion to Mr. Moore's hit film, "The Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader." The companion will include a transcript of the... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/harry-potter-a-tough-act-to-follow/437/ Wed, 18 Aug 2004 00:00:00 EST Two of the nation's three largest bookselling chains reported quarterly earnings yesterday after the close of the market, and top chain Barnes & Noble will report later in the week. All three are struggling with the challenge of trying to exceed last year's record-setting summer release of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," but yesterday's results indicate healthy book sales. Borders Group called its sales of $847.1 million, up 2.4% over a year ago, "stronger than expected," even... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/latest-film-options/371/ Tue, 17 Aug 2004 00:00:00 EST A number of books have caught Hollywood's eye this month. On top of the option for Karen Jay Fowler's bestseller "The Jane Austen Book Club" that we noted last week, Bryan Burrough's recent release "Public Enemies," about J. Edgar Hoover's FBI during the gangland days of the '30s, has been optioned to Universal Pictures. Rights had been controlled by director Michael Mann and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who had first tried to produce the project at HBO and "will continue to be involved."... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/houghton-sales-decline/323/ Mon, 16 Aug 2004 00:00:00 EST Houghton Mifflin reported second quarter results on Friday that "reflect the expected decline in 2004 adoption opportunities in the K-12 marketplace," with overall sales falling $27.2 million, or 7.5% compared to a year ago, to $334.1 million. Textbooks for the K-12 market dominate the company's product lines, though they have a substantive and well-regarded trade and reference division. In that unit, news was better, with sales rising 11.3% to $33.6 million. As the earnings statement notes... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/from-jane-austen-to-dave-eggers/262/ Fri, 13 Aug 2004 00:00:00 EST You wouldn't have thought a book about six people in a book club who like Jane Austen would have "cinematic" written all over it, but after the surprise best-selling run of Karen Joy Fowler's "The Jane Austen Club," Hollywood has take note. Sony Pictures Entertainment and veteran producer and former studio boss John Calley have optioned rights. *** Retired insurance company vice president and University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor Ted Kooser will succeed Louise Gluck as U.S. poet laureate... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/harpercollins-flying-high-on-earnings/228/ Thu, 12 Aug 2004 00:00:00 EST Within a strong earnings report from parent company News Corp., book publisher HarperCollins once again defied conventional wisdom about the business with its seventh straight year of record profits under the direction of CEO Jane Friedman. Along the way,the company has built itself to operating profit margins that most other publishers in this chronically low-margin business would find extremely hard to achieve. "I think that's what I'm probably proudest of," Ms. Friedman remarks. "Our... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/publishers-eyeing-obama/175/ Fri, 30 Jul 2004 00:00:00 EST Barack Obama may or may not be the next U.S. senator from Illinois, but after his well-received keynote address at the Democratic convention plenty of publishing people think he has the right stuff for the best-seller list. Mr. Obama's agent, Jane Dystel at Dystel & Goderich, says that she has been discussing publishing plans with Crown, which is about to reissue his first book, originally published in 1995. There has been talk at a rival house that there was an auction being held for... MICHAEL CADER http://www.nysun.com/business/tv-stars-bet-on-low-carb-craze/75/ Sat, 17 Jul 2004 21:43:29 EST At least two Food Network TV stars are convinced that the nation's lowcarbohydrate obsession isn't over yet. Chef Bobby Flay is following up his grilling book "Boy Gets Grill"with a title called "Good Carb Grilling"for Scribner. Meanwhile, Rachael Ray, creator of the bestselling 30-Minute Meals cookbooks, is writing a book targeted at the "low-carb frustrated" in a new multibook agreement with Clarkson Potter. Ms. Ray has published her books through small publisher/book producer Lake Isle Press...