BTW News Briefs

Renowned Canadian Author Carol Shields Dies at 68

On July 16, author Carol Shields died of complications from breast cancer in Victoria. She was 68. Shields' eldest daughter, Anne Giardini told Anne Collins, Carol's Canadian publisher, "This is a difficult time for us. It is going to take all of our courage, resolve, and grace to even try to go on without her. My parents had 46 years of marriage, but there were many happy, busy years ahead of them. She had many books left to write. We are bereft."

Shields authored 10 novels and three collections of short stories, as well as poetry, plays, biography, and critical studies. She maintained her passion for writing throughout her illness, and was working on an unfinished novel in the months before her death, her family said in a press statement. Shields won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. She was a Companion to the Order of Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and a member of the Order of Manitoba. --DG

Simon & Schuster to Cut Titles and Staff

Simon & Schuster Inc. plans to cut the number of new titles it publishes each year and to fire about five percent of its global work force, the New York Post reported this week. The cutbacks amount to 75 of the house's 1,600 employees, and, the Post reported, editorial as well as back-shop operations will be hit. In a company-wide memo, S&S CEO Jack Romanos said, "Our industry continues to be challenged by any number of issues, including the most prolonged period of depressed sales in memory." --DG

Sterling Publishing to Publish Books With AARP

On July 23, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. CEO Charles Nurnberg and AARP CEO and Executive Director Bill Novelli announced that an agreement had been reached between the two companies to create and publish book bearing the AARP trademark. Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly create a program of at least eight books a year beginning in the spring of 2004. The titles will cover a broad range of subjects on current topics of interest from financial and consumer issues to health and mind enhancement. Sterling will assume the worldwide publishing rights to all future titles. --DG

Wholesaler Bookpeople in Due Diligence With St. Cloud Capitol

California wholesaler Bookpeople announced recently that, "in spite of having to take some drastic measures to keep the company going," it is in due diligence with St. Cloud Capital, it was reported in Publishers Lunch. St. Cloud is preparing to invest funds in the company, pending debt consolidation and other conditions, the article noted. The longterm strategy is to find new markets for Bookpeople beyond traditional wholesaling, including niche retailers, schools, and libraries. --DG