Product Launches

U.S. Book Production Falls 18 Percent in 2005
May 12, 2006

NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J. -- Bowker, a bibliographic information agency, released a report this week that shows book publishing in the U.S. decreased 18 percent in 2005 to 172,000 new titles and editions -- marking the country’s first decline since 1999. The statistics, based on preliminary figures from U.S. publishers, were compiled from Bowker’s Books In Print database, a comprehensive listing of more than 6 million U.S. book, audiobook and video titles. The U.S.’s decrease allowed for Great Britain to assume the top spot as the world’s leader in English-language publishing, with the U.K.’s 206,000 new books in 2005 representing a 28-percent increase. The U.S.’s

Rodale Books President Resigns
May 12, 2006

EMMAUS, Pa. -- Tami Booth Corwin, responsible for acquiring “The South Beach Diet,” has stepped down as president of Rodale Books in order to become a full-time mother. A Rodale spokesperson said Liz Perl, vice president and publisher of the company, will assume her responsibilities. “Tami Booth has decided to leave Rodale to devote full time to her family in advance of the birth of her second child,” said Katrina Weidknecht, spokesperson for Rodale Books. “Liz Perl will become the acting head of the book group.” Perl joined the company last September. Corwin was promoted to president last June after acquiring and

Fast Stats
May 1, 2006

Fast Stats Used-book Sales Top $2.2 Billion Sales of used books in the United States topped $2.2 billion in 2004, representing more than 111 million copies sold and 8.4 percent of total consumer spending on books. Source: Book Industry Study Group E-book Unit Sales Flat E-book publishers reported a 23-percent increase in e-book revenues in 2005, over 2004. However, there was no change in the number of e-book units sold. The number of e-book titles published increased 20 percent over 2004, to 5,242. Publishers reported approximately 1.7 million e-book units sold and $11.9 million in revenues for 2005. The figures

The Book Look
April 1, 2006

‘Owen and Mzee: the True Story of a Remarkable Friendship’ The bond between a baby hippotamus orphaned during the Asian tsunami and a 130-year-old Aldabran tortoise is the basis for a recently released children’s book publsihed by Scholastic Inc. Written by Craig Hatkoff, his seven-year-old daughter, Isabella, and Dr. Paula Kahumba of Lafarge Eco Systems, operators of Haller Park in Kenya where the animals live, “Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship” tells the story of how these two animals came together. Inspiration for the Hatkoff’s to write Owen and Mzee’s story came after the two saw the pair’s picture

Creators of Web Comic to Fund The Monster Alphabet Book Through Kickstarter
December 31, 1969

When I found out I was going to become a father, I wrote The Monster Alphabet. I wanted a book to read to my son that was filled with nerdy delight, and came up with an alphabet based off the monsters of legend. Initially, I wasn't sure what to do with it. I asked my art partner, Obsidian, if he'd be interested in drawing it, but time was a serious issue for us.