Chinua Achebe, November 16, 1930 – March 22, 2013
We are saddened by the death of the “Father of African literature” Chinua Achebe; he was 82. Achebe was an acclaimed and best-selling novelist, poet, and essayist whose works include the classic Things Fall Apart, Anthills of the Savannah, and Arrow of God. Achebe, whose novel Things Fall Apart was one of the first African novels, famously said: “If you don’t like someone’s story, write your own.” We are grateful that he told his story and left us with a legacy of great literature and a better understanding of Africa.
Robert A. Caro’s ‘The Passage of Power’ Wins the National Book Critic Circle Award for Best Biography
Read more here.
Bertelsmann Welcomes Antitrust Clearance of Penguin Random House by the U.S. Department Of Justice
Gütersloh, February 14, 2013 – Media companies Bertelsmann and Pearson welcome the clearance of the planned combination of their book-publishing companies into the new, international Penguin Random House publishing group by the U.S. Department Of Justice. The DOJ has informed the parties that it has completed its review and has cleared the transaction in the U.S. In late October 2012, Bertelsmann and Pearson announced plans to combine their respective publishing operations, Random House and Penguin Group. Since the announcement, the planned transaction has been undergoing review by antitrust authorities in various parts of the world. Read more here.
Random House Launches BookScout, New Book Discovery and Social Reading App for Facebook
Random House, Inc., today announces the official launch of BookScout, a new app for Facebook created by the company’s corporate Digital Marketplace Development Group. It will enable book lovers to discover new authors and share their favorite books with friends by adding the new app to their Facebook Timeline. Learn more here.
BEHIND THE BEAUTIFUL FOREVERS: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo has been honored as the 2012 National Book Award winner for Nonfiction
Congratulations to Katherine Boo, winner of the 2012 Nonfiction National Book Award for Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity! The Random House hardcover and e-book, and Random House Audio is a landmark debut work of narrative nonfiction that tells the story of families striving toward a better life in a slum in Mumbai, one of the twenty-first century’s great, unequal cities. Its superb reviews have been mirrored by its extended appearance on national bestseller lists. In accepting her award, Katherine Boo thanked “the ferocious women at Random House,” including her editor Kate Medina, publicist London King, and Gina Centrello, President and Publisher, Random House Publishing Group. We are thrilled for our author and for our Random House Publishing Group colleagues on this triumphant occasion for them and for Random House, Inc. Read the full press release here. Visit the National Book Awards website here.
Fodor’s Announces Their Annual 100 Hotel Awards
Fodor’s Travel, the leading name in travel guides for seventy-six years, announced the 2012 Fodor’s 100 Hotel Awards winners on the evening of November 14, 2012. Chosen by the experts at Fodor’s Travel, this second-annual list features an entirely new selection of hotels across nine categories that represent the year’s global hospitality trends. “Our Fodor’s editors and contributors are constantly evaluating hotels throughout the year, and the Fodor’s 100 represent our top picks for travelers right now,” explained Arabella Bowen, Fodor’s Travel executive editorial director. “We look for properties with great amenities and stellar service that offer a unique experience to guests. Every traveler will find a dream hotel on this list, no matter what their travel personality happens to be.” Read more here.
SHIPPING ALERT FOR CUSTOMERS OF RANDOMHOUSE.COM
We have currently suspended shipments into specific areas in the NY, NJ, CT areas severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy. We have identified these areas using USPS information. Once we are advised by USPS that delivery has been resumed, we will resume shipping. We appreciate your patience and hope that everyone is safe.
Bertelsmann and Pearson to Combine Book Businesses
Gütersloh / New York / London, October 29, 2012 – The international media groups Bertelsmann and Pearson announced today that they will combine the activities of their respective trade-book publishing companies, Random House and Penguin Group. Bertelsmann will own 53 percent, Pearson 47 percent. The closing of the transaction is scheduled to take place in the second half of 2013, following regulatory approval. Read more here.
Random House Inc. Honored by Readerlink
Random House Inc. was honored with three of Readerlink’s seven major prizes for achievements with them during the past year:
- Outstanding Hardcover/Trade Publisher of the Year
- Sales Rep of the Year – Katie Lenox
- Premier Partnership of the Year
Known as Levy Home Entertainment under their previous ownership, Readerlink is the nation’s largest full-service book distributor, among whose diverse large and smaller accounts selling our books are Walmart, Target, and Toys R Us. These tributes affirm both our great publishing programs and a job well done with an outstanding bookseller partner. Congratulations to Katie and to our entire Readerlink team for driving the sales and providing the services that earned these awards. Our quest for repeat recognitions at Readerlink’s 2013 ceremony is already underway.
Dr. Seuss properties TM & © 1990 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. All Rights Reserved. Elmo art TM © 2006 by Sesame Workshop. Sesame Street Muppets, © 2005 The Jim Henson Company. All Rights Reserved. Art © 2005 by Denise Brunkus, from the Junie B. Jones® series by Barbara Park. Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends © Gullane (Thomas) LLC 2005. Illustrations © 2006 by Sal Murdocca. Golden Books® and related trademarks and service marks are the property of Random House, Inc.