Penguin Random House Audio has launched Ahab, a global online casting platform for voiceover actors in any business. The platform was originally developed as an internal tool for PRH s audiobook producers.
Driven by strong backlist sales, unit sales of print books rose 26% last week over the week ended February 29, 2020, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. It was the largest week-over-week gain compared to 2020 so far this year, helping unit sales finish the first two months of 2021 with a 21.2% increase over the first two months of 2020.
Comic-Con International announced that it will once again replace WonderCon, its annual spring convention in Anaheim, and the San Diego Comic-Con in the summer, with free virtual events in 2021. In addition, CCI plans to launch a new and as yet unnamed in-person pop culture event in November 2021.
By Jim Milliot | Mar 01, 2021
Sourcebooks has formed a new imprint that company founder and publisher Dominique Raccah said will “expand what publishing can be for women authors.” The as yet unnamed imprint will launch at midnight March 31 when the entire print backlist of mega-selling author E.L. James becomes part of the unit. James’ current publisher, Penguin Random House, will retain audio rights to her back and front lists, and large print rights to James’ backlist. Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial will retain the Spanish language rights to James’ backlist. PRH has a 45% stake in Sourcebooks.
Raccah said she had been thinking about creating a new publishing model for entrepreneurial women for a number of years and in informal talks with PRH executives discovered they were interested in such an approach as well. For her part, James said she is looking forward to becoming part of something new. “I’m thrilled to be joining the Sourcebooks fam
By PW Staff | Feb 26, 2021
Unit sales of print books rose 10.9% in the week ended Feb. 20, 2021, over the comparable week in 2020, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. The adult fiction category had a solid week, with unit sales up 20.5% over the week ended Feb. 22, 2020.
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas was the top title, selling nearly 95,000 copies in its first week. In second and third place on the adult fiction list were two Kristin Hannah titles:
The Four Winds, which sold more than 46,000 copies, and
Firefly Lane, which sold more than 20,000 copies. YA fiction print unit sales jumped 47.7% over 2020, as E. Lockhart’s