Adapted Hist-Fic Huge on German Boob Tube, Tie-ins Take Off Too

In German Buch News by Siobhan O'Leary

by Siobhan O’Leary Author and literary critic Elke Heidenreich once wielded enough power to make a book a bestseller in Germany simply by mentioning it on her television show Lesen!. When ZDF cancelled her show in late 2008 amidst controversial debates about its quality, many saw it as a sign that television networks now deemed books too unsexy for prime …

Random House CEO Dohle Gives 2010 Shout Outs to Bush, Blair, Digital Up 250%

In Global Trade Talk by Edward Nawotka

Random House Chairman and CEO Markus Dohle issued his year-end letter today. It reads: Dear Random House Colleagues, The year-end is traditionally a time of reflection and celebration, and as 2010 comes to a close we can proudly look back upon a year of remarkable accomplishments: the breadth of Random House’s print and digital publishing, our tremendous achievements in sales and operations, …

Are Enhanced E-books Actually “Readable”?

In Discussion by Edward Nawotka

By Edward Nawotka Today’s lead story looks at the popularity of enhanced e-books in Germany. Much of the real potential for e-books, so the pundits believe, lies in their potential for delivering multimedia options to readers. Some call this the “enhanced” e-book, one that comes with “extras” like you might find on a DVD. This could include additional chapters, interviews …

Follett’s Fall of Giants E-Book Outsells Print in Spain

In Global Trade Talk by Emily Williams

By Emily Williams In Spain, amid all the Amazon buzz, ​prestigious bookseller Casa del Libro announced that a small bit of e-book history had been made, as the e-book edition of Ken Follett’s The Fall of Giants outsold the print edition in the company’s online store. The caveat is that online book sales in Spain are still tiny compared with in-store purchases, …

Lübbe Experiments with Exclusive Follett E-book Sale

In German Buch News by Siobhan O'Leary

By Siobhan O’Leary Americans aren’t the only ones experimenting with e-book marketing and publication schedules. German publisher Lübbe gave book chain Weltbild exclusive rights to sell the e-book version of Ken Follett’s Die Tore der Welt (The Pillars of the Earth) for three weeks, starting December 28. According to Buchreport, Lübbe wanted to see if the promotion would help boost paperback sales …