Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Book Publisher Takes Stab at New Model

HarperCollins imprint won't allow returns from retailers

By Laila Weir, Newser User

Posted Apr 4, 2008 2:46 PM CDT

(Newser) – HarperCollins has decided to rock the book-publishing boat, the Wall Street Journal reports. It’s launching a new imprint that won’t allow retailers to return unsold books—a potentially risky departure from tradition—and will offer little or no advance payments to authors. The... Read full story »

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

You need to Log in to Newser to comment. Don't have an account yet? Sign up now!

There are no comments

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Cops Shoot Naked Guy Eating Man's Face on Highway

Japanese Artist Serves Up Own Cooked Genitals

Wall Street Journal (Source Grid »)

Former Hyper

online retailers • publishing • HarperCollins • Borders • retail sales • book • Internet sales • Harcourt Brace Jovanovich • author advances

More Newser Stories

Palin Memoir a Gift to Booksellers

Going Rogue likely to continue trend of hits from right-wing figures

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin’s memoir is expected sell so well that it will singlehandedly boost the fortunes of the ailing book business. The book is already topping preorder lists, and publisher Harper plans an extensive slate of promotional appearances to make full use the former Alaska governor's drawing power. "They may feel one way or another about her, but they will want to read about her," says a Borders exec. More»

WWII Nazi Opus Ignites Passions (Pro and Con)

Publishers roll dice on shocking French work by Yank Jonathan Littell

(NEWSER) - A novel about a Nazi officer with a taste for sodomy and incest might not scream “bestseller”—especially at nearly 1,000 pages long and translated from French. Yet Jonathan Littell’s The Kindly Ones topped charts in France and precipitated a bidding war among US publishers. HarperCollins paid a reported $1 million, but early reviews have been deeply polarized, the New York Times notes. More»

Borders Cans Top Brass After Dismal Holiday Season

Bookseller reports 12% drop over '07, replaces CEO, others

(NEWSER) - Borders will immediately restructure top management to counter a steep slide in sales, the Ann Arbor News reports. CEO George Jones has been replaced with Ron Marshall, a turnaround expert with book experience. Other top spots were shuffled to veterans of the Michigan-based company. The bookseller announced today that its holiday sales were off almost 12% compared with last year. More»

Book Giant Weighs Bid for Chief Rival

Barnes & Noble checks out Borders

(NEWSER) - Barnes & Noble is mulling a possible bid for its nearest rival, Borders, reports the Wall Street Journal. America's biggest book chain, with 22% of the market, has assembled a team of 30 executives and experts to study a takeover of the second biggest, with 12% of the market. Such a takeover would likely raise anti-trust issues. More»

Amazon Squeezes Publishers

Print with us or sell elsewhere, company tells on-demand publishers

(NEWSER) - Publishers who print books on demand will have to use Amazon’s printing service if they want to sell their books on the leading online bookseller's site. Amazon's new policy means print-on-demand publishers will have little choice but to accept Amazon’s prices if they want to sell via the site. It also threatens to steal business from competing on-demand printers, reports the Wall Street Journal. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Book Publisher Takes Stab at New Model

HarperCollins imprint won't allow returns from retailers

Former Hyper

online retailers • publishing • HarperCollins • Borders • retail sales • book • Internet sales • Harcourt Brace Jovanovich • author advances

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Palin Memoir a Gift to Booksellers

Going Rogue likely to continue trend of hits from right-wing figures

WWII Nazi Opus Ignites Passions (Pro and Con)

Publishers roll dice on shocking French work by Yank Jonathan Littell

Borders Cans Top Brass After Dismal Holiday Season

Bookseller reports 12% drop over '07, replaces CEO, others

Book Giant Weighs Bid for Chief Rival

Barnes & Noble checks out Borders

Amazon Squeezes Publishers

Print with us or sell elsewhere, company tells on-demand publishers

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?