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NEWS NEWS / IN BRIEF
NEWS Rising Stars receives FBF boost BY FELICITY WOOD
The Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF) is augmenting its support of The Bookseller’s Rising Stars initiative with a new award programme for the person who is named as the annual list’s Shooting Star. Rising Stars is the yearly list of
40 “up and comers” in the UK book trade, compiled and published by The Bookseller. The Shooting Star, introduced last year, is bestowed on the person whom, in the opinion of the judging panel, deserves particular recognition: last year it was Conville & Walsh agent Sophie Lambert. FBF first sponsored the initiative
last year, and it will now fund the Shooting Star’s trip to FBF 2015, as well as putting €500 towards an international business trip to help them expand their overseas dealings; provide a weekly pass to
Minkus, FBF vice-president of emerging media and English- language markets, said: “We believe it is very important to be nurturing young talent and to be encouraging as many publishing professionals as we can in their chosen careers. We very much look forward to welcoming the Shooting Star to the Frankfurt Book Fair in October.” Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller
The Business Club at FBF (worth €990) and arrange one-on-one consultation with an expert of their choice. The Shooting Star will also receive invitations to receptions, get-togethers and networking opportunities at the fair and throughout the year, as well as a host of other exclusive benefits. Announcing the new award at today’s London Book Fair, Thomas
GOLLANCZ IN RIGHTS FLURRY
Gollancz has acquired two “controversial, postmodern satirical” novels by Victor Pelevin, who won the Russian Little Booker Prize, which is awarded to genre writing, in 1993 for his short-story collection The Blue Lantern. Publishing director Gillian Redfearn bought world English rights to S.N.U.F.F.
and Empire V from the AN&N Group, through Sveta Payne of Matteo Publishing, in a five-figure deal. S.N.U.F.F. is a “stunning post-apocalyptic take on war and the media . . . exploring the conflict between the nation of Ukraine and the city ‘Big Byz’ [which is located] above.” Empire V is a postmodern satire about a young man who involuntarily joins an arcane cult. Gollancz has also acquired a sequel to Sir Arthur C Clarke’s A Meeting with
Medusa, which will be written by Alastair Reynolds and Stephen Baxter, who worked with Sir Terry Pratchett on the Long Earth series. Redfearn bought world rights to The Medusa Chronicles from Robert Kirby at United Agents and Chris Schelling at Selectric Artists.
Taschen turns 35 with new Bibliotheca editions
To mark its 35th birthday, Taschen will publish new editions of its popular Bibliotheca Universalis titles. The new hardback, full-colour series of nearly 100 titles “in a neat new
format” will give readers the opportunity to “curate [their] own affordable library of art, anthropology and aphrodisia”, a spokesperson for the company said. They added: “With the opening of our Taschen Gallery in Los Angeles at the end of 2014, and a new Milan store opening next week, it seemed only fitting that we continued our tradition of producing high-quality art books at affordable prices.” For the duration of this year’s London Book Fair, the titles will be on display at Taschen’s showroom in London Square, Fulham (left).
features and insight editor, who co- founded Rising Stars, said: “Apart from being able to recognise the depth of young talent in the trade, it has been pleasing to see many Rising Stars go on to great things in their careers. FBF’s generous involvement is so pleasing—we really need to celebrate the leaders of tomorrow.” Companies or individuals wishing to nominate themselves or colleagues should do so by emailing
tom.tivnan@thebookseller.com.
HOT KEY HELPS HOY FLY
Editora Rocco has bought Brazilian Portuguese rights in Flying Fergus, a six-book series for readers aged five to eight by Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and Joanna Nadin, in a six-figure pre-empt from Jessica Maslen, rights manager at The Blair Partnership. Hot Key Books has acquired UK & Commonwealth rights to the series, which comprises five fiction books and one non-fiction title. The first two books will be published in the UK in March 2016.
MURRAY’S BEST YEAR YET
John Murray has acquired a book by Sophie Howarth, who co-founded The School of Life with Alain de Botton— and is looking to “reinvent the diary”. Publisher Georgina Laycock bought world rights in The Best Year Yet, which dedicates one page to one day, each containing an inspiration, game or exercise. John Murray will publish in November 2015.
PENGUIN P-P-PICKS UP . . . A PENGUIN
Penguin Random House imprint Michael Joseph has acquired a “remarkable” story of penguins. Tom Michell’s The Penguin Lessons tells the story of how the author rescued a penguin from an oil slick in Uruguay. Michell smuggled the creature into the boarding school where he lived and taught in Argentina. Michael Joseph editorial director Jessica Leeke acquired world rights from Laura Warner at Blink Films.
RAINE GAIN FOR ACCENT
Accent Press has acquired four books by Alice Raine. The Revealed series, about a secret relationship that develops between an actor and a teacher, will be published by Accent’s erotic romance list Cariad, which launched last year with another fiction series by Raine, Untwisted. The publisher said that the Untwisted titles had combined to sell more than 130,000 copies to date.
16.04.15
www.thebookseller.com NEWS IN BRIEF
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