Media & Publicity
Recent press releases and announcements about Random House, Inc.'s corporate and organizational activities.
April 21, 2008
Having completed its initial year, the Random House, Inc. Green Committee presents a review of its activities over the past twelve months and sets a first-draft agenda for the year ahead.
Click on to read the report.
April 10, 2008
The Time of His Time: A Celebration of the Life of Norman Mailer
On Wednesday, April 9, the Random House Publishing Group division of Random House, Inc. hosted and helped organize "The Time of His Time: A Celebration of the Life of Norman Mailer" at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Random House published Mr. Mailer continuously for the past twenty-four years. The many speakers at the tribute included Joan Didion, Don Delillo, William Kennedy, Sean Penn, Mr. Mailer's nine children, and Gina Centrello and David Ebershoff, his publisher and editor respectively.
The latter's remarks can be read by clicking below:
Gina Centrello
David Ebershoff
March 18, 2008
In September 2008, Vintage Español will publish La Breve y Maravillosa Vida de Oscar Wao, the Spanish language edition of Junot Diaz's first novel.
On September 2, 2008, Vintage Español will publish La Breve y Maravillosa Vida de Oscar Wao, the Spanish-language edition of Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. The novel, which has already won many prestigious literary awards and was included on Best of lists around the country (Time, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, etc), was awarded the National Book Critics Award last week.
March 10, 2008
BISG Report: Random House, Inc.'s "Improving Environment Performance"
Random House, Inc. is selected as one of six company case studies in "improving environment performance" within the heralded research report on environmental responsibility by the independent and highly respected Book Industry Study Group, co-commissioned with Green Press Initiative, which was released this morning.
February 25, 2008
Random House, Inc. acquires the Monacelli Press publishing house.
The Monacelli Press, a leading visual arts book publisher, has been acquired by Random House, Inc., the world's largest trade book publisher. Established in 1994, The Monacelli Press has published more than 250 books distinctive for both content and visual presentation on architecture, the fine arts, interior design, landscape architecture, photography, and graphic design.
February 11, 2008
Random House Publishing Group to offer individual chapters for sale online.
The Random House Publishing Group is launching a pilot project to sell individual chapters of a book online, it was announced today by Gina Centrello, President and Publisher of the Random House Publishing Group. This is believed to be the first time a major trade publisher has offered readers the opportunity to buy digitized sections of a book.
The title chosen for this digital download format is Chip Heath and Dan Heath's successful Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die. A creative guide to communicating ideas effectively, it was originally published as a Random House hardcover in January 2007. It appeared on the New York Times Advice, How To bestseller list and continues to sell well, with 220,000 copies in print.
January 11, 2008
On June 3, 2008, Random House will publish Salman Rushdie's new novel, The Enchantress of Florence, a dazzling historical novel set in Renaissance Florence and the court of the Great Mughal Empire.
"This new novel marks a bold departure for Salman Rushdie in terms of setting and subject matter," comments Will Murphy, Rushdie's editor at Random House. "It is an amazing display of his gifts as a storyteller and will undoubtedly draw many new readers to his already wide audience."
January 10, 2008
First Book Matching Gifts Application
Random House, Inc. has proudly made a $1 million multi-year corporate commitment to First Book, the national literary organization. We invite you to join us in helping First Book place brand-new books in the hands of children in need. Every donation that you as a publishing professional, author, illustrator, agent, bookseller, or vendor make to First Book will be matched by Random House dollar for dollar, up to $1,000. Download this matching gifts application form or for further information contact Melanie Fallon-Houska at 212-782-8319 or mfallon-houska@randomhouse.com.
October 30, 2007
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers to publish book three of Christopher Paolini's #1 bestselling Inheritance series September 23, 2008. Series will be expanded to include a fourth full-length novel.
Christopher Paolini, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eragon and Eldest, the first two books in his Inheritance series, will write an additional, fourth novel about his hero Eragon, it was announced today by Nancy Hinkel, Publishing Director of Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children's Books. Originally planned as a trilogy, Inheritance will now include four complete novels written by Paolini and be named the Inheritance cycle.
September 13, 2007
Sylvan Learning, Inc. and Random House, Inc. announce new book publishing partnership: Sylvan Learning Books
Sylvan Learning, Inc., the nation's largest and most trusted brand in pre-K through grade 12 supplemental education, and Random House, Inc., the world's largest English-language trade book publisher, today announced a new publishing partnership: Sylvan Learning Books, a newly created line of trade paperbacks and educational kits branded with the Sylvan Learning imprimatur, will be published by Random House beginning in September 2008 and sold through booksellers and other retailers throughout North America.
August 17, 2007
Michael Wolff signs with Doubleday to write definitive account of
Rupert Murdoch's takeover of Dow Jones
Michael Wolff, a bestselling author, two-time National Magazine Award winner, and columnist for Vanity Fair, has signed with Doubleday to write the definitive story of Rupert Murdoch's rise to the pinnacle of
power, culminating in his recent $5 billion takeover of Dow Jones.
July 23, 2007
Audiobook sales record set this weekend by Random House Audio's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" production.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow's Production by J. K. Rowling is projected to have sold more than 225,000 copies in its compact disc and cassette Listening Library/Random House Audio imprint formats in North America on Saturday and Sunday (21-22)--the fastest and largest two-day sale in the history of the audiobook medium, Random House, Inc. says. Sales these two days were forty percent greater in the comparable period than those of the previous Harry Potter audiobook, published by Listening Library in 2005.
July 19, 2007
Doubleday to publish a memoir by Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, in Summer 2008.
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the highest-ranking woman government official in United States history, will publish a memoir with Doubleday, it was announced today by Stephen Rubin, President and Publisher, Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group.
July 11, 2007
Late Show bandleader Paul Shaffer to pen show biz memoir
for Flying Dolphin Press.
Paul Shaffer, David Letterman's long-time bandleader and sidekick, has signed with Flying Dolphin Press, an imprint of Random House, Inc.'s Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group, to pen an entertaining memoir of his life in show business.
July 11, 2007
Ian Fleming estate commissions bestselling British author Sebastian Faulks to write new Bond novel for centenary. Doubleday to publish Devil May Care in May 2008.
Doubleday will publish a new James Bond novel commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd and written by Sebastian Faulks, it was announced today by Stephen Rubin, President & Publisher, Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group. Rubin bought U.S. rights from Gillon Aitken, Aitken Alexander Associates, with Deb Futter, Vice President, Deputy Editorial Director, Doubleday, to edit. Devil May Care will be released simultaneously in the US and UK (Penguin) to mark what would have been Fleming's 100th birthday--May 28, 2008. The book will be published as an Anchor paperback the following year.
July 10, 2007
Bill Clinton's book on citizen activism to be published by Knopf this September
Former President Bill Clinton has written a book about citizen activism and public service that will be published in September by Alfred A. Knopf. The announcement was made today by Sonny Mehta, Knopf's Chairman and Editor in Chief.
Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World is an inspiring look at how individual endeavors can save lives and solve problems, and it offers compelling examples of both citizen and corporate activism at work in the world today. The book will go on sale nationwide September 4 with a first printing of 750,000 copies. It will be published simultaneously as an ebook, as a Large Print Edition, and as a Random House Audio book, read by the author. Additionally, a portion of President Clinton's proceeds from the book will be donated to charities and nonprofits that are doing their part to change the world.
June 14, 2007
Notice to Customers Regarding A MILLION LITTLE PIECES by James Frey
As has been widely reported in the news media, Random House, Inc. and James Frey have reached an agreement in principle with plaintiffs to settle the class action lawsuits relating to A Million Little Pieces. This settlement has just received preliminary court approval. For information on this settlement, visit the website www.amlpsettlement.com or view the public notice of the settlement.
May 30, 2007
David Fickling, editor of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Night-time, discovers a talented new literary voice. Before I Die to be published September 25th.
David Fickling Books, the bi-continental imprint of Random House Children's Books, will publish a debut young adult novel in the U.S. this fall, a mere five months after its acquisition. Mr. Fickling, Random House's Oxford, England-based editor, is credited with discovering and editing Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, John Boyne's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, all unique literary achievements which became major bestsellers on both sides of the Atlantic. With his most recent acquisition, Before I Die, Fickling has identified yet another extraordinary voice in writer Jenny Downham. Acquired just prior to the London Book Fair in April, this brilliantly-crafted and moving first novel will be released in North America on September 25, 2007, with a 100,000 copy first printing. Before I Die will be supported by a major marketing and publicity campaign.
May 30, 2007
Rogue Pictures and Random House Films to develop thriller Infested, adapted from upcoming Crown Publishers novel by Scott Sigler.
Scott Sigler's thriller novel Infested, to be published by book publisher Random House, Inc.'s imprint Crown Publishers in the U.S. and Canada next spring, has been acquired for development by Random House Films and Rogue Pictures. Andrew Karpen and Andrew Rona, Co-Presidents of Rogue Pictures, part of NBC Universal; and Peter Gethers, President, Random House Films, a division of Random House, Inc., made the announcement today.
April 23, 2007
Biography of Hillary Clinton by Carl Bernstein to be published by Knopf this June.
A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton, written by award-winning journalist and best-selling author Carl Bernstein, will be published in June, it was announced today by Sonny Mehta, Chairman and Editor in Chief of the Knopf Publishing Group. The book, a biography of Senator Clinton that covers her life up through her decision to run for president, will go on sale nationwide, as well as internationally, June 19. A Woman in Charge will have a 350,000-copy first printing in the United States.
March 26, 2007
Random House Audio's Listening Library acquires "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling; unabridged audiobooks narrated by Jim Dale go on sale July 21, 2007, in U.S. & Canada.
Random House, Inc.'s Listening Library, the children's audio imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, has acquired all North American audio publishing rights to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final title in the acclaimed series. The audio edition will be published unabridged on compact disc and cassette and go on sale in the United States and Canada on Saturday, July 21, 2007, simultaneously with the book's hardcover edition. Jim Dale, the renowned narrator of the first six Harry Potter audios, will once again record and bring to life all the characters in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The audiobook edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be more than twenty-one hours in length. Both the CD and the cassette retail editions will be priced at $79.95 U.S./$99.95 CAN.
March 15, 2007
Random House, Inc. online Search & Browse site, newly adds publisher's audiobook content. 2,200+ Random House audios available for aural "widget" sampling through Insight.
After recently launching Insight, its content search and browsing service containing over 5,000 of its print books, Random House, Inc. has announced the extension of the Insight platform to include most of its audiobooks in print in the U.S. For the first time, audio clips from more than 2,200 new and backlist Random House Audio Publishing Group titles are available through the Insight widget, live today at www.randomhouse.com. The titles are published by the eponymous Random House Audio adult and Listening Library children's imprints of Random House, Inc., the U.S. division of Random House, the world's largest trade book publisher.
February 27, 2007
Insight, newly launched digital search & browsing service, to offer 5,000-plus Random House, Inc. U.S. titles.
In a giant stride forward in the emerging world of digital book search, Random House, Inc., the U.S. division of the world's largest trade book publisher, has announced the launch of its own online book content search and browsing service, named Insight. Through Insight, Random House will make the text searchable for more than 5,000 of its new and backlist titles from across the company's U.S. publishing divisions. Random House expects to add several thousand more of its books to Insight this spring. Insight is live today at www.randomhouse.com.
November 30, 2006
Vintage Books to release the authorized edition of The Iraq Study Group Report: The Way Forward — A New Approach as an Instant Paperback Original on December 6, 2006.
The only authorized edition of The Iraq Study Group Report, an important and timely examination of America's involvement in the Iraq War with key recommendations for moving forward, will be published by Vintage Books, it was announced today by Vintage's publisher Anne Mesitte. The report was created and unanimously approved by a 10-member bipartisan panel led by James A. Baker III and Lee H. Hamilton. The Vintage edition book will be released on Wednesday, December 6, on the same day that the report is released to President George W. Bush and members of Congress. Besides Baker and Hamilton the panel includes Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Vernon E. Jordan Jr., Edwin Meese III, Sandra Day O'Connor, Leon E. Panetta, William J. Perry, Charles S. Robb, and Alan K. Simpson.
November 14, 2006
Waterfront Media to partner with Broadway Books to develop comprehensive web site and online coaching program for Bikini Boot Camp, a guide to women's health and fitness. Collaboration on May 2007 publication is part of multi-year, multiple book strategic partnership between Waterfront and Random House, Inc.
Waterfront Media, the premier online publisher of America's self-help experts such as Arthur Agatston, M.D. and Andrew Weil, M.D., will develop a consumer Web site for Bikini Boot Camp by Melissa Pearlman and Erica Gragg, co-founders of the acclaimed Amansala Eco-chic Resort and Bikini Boot Camp located in Tulum, Mexico. The book will be published May 1, 2007 by Broadway Books, a division of Random House, Inc.'s Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group. It will offer women who want a bikini-ready body as well as a healthy, balanced mindset a comprehensive two-week fitness and body sculpting program that combines intensive cardio, Pilates, yoga, core strengthening, and circuit training workouts, as well as delicious and slimming recipes infused with a Latin flavor.
October 24, 2006
Fodor's Caribbean 2006 named 'Best Travel Guidebook of the Year' by Society of American Travel Writers
Fodor's Caribbean 2006 has earned the highest award for a travel guidebook in the 22nd annual Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition. The prestigious contest is overseen by the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation and judged by the faculty at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. It is the Gold Award winner in the guidebook category and designated "Best Travel Guidebook of the Year." Fodor's Travel is part of Random House, Inc., the world's largest English-language trade book publisher.
September 19, 2006
Hannibal Rising, a new novel by Thomas Harris, author of Silence of the Lambs, to be published by the Bantam Dell Publishing Group on December 5, 2006
Dr. Hannibal Lecter, the physician and monster who has fascinated millions, will return in Hannibal Rising, a new novel by Thomas Harris to be published by Delacorte Press in North America on December 5, 2006. Irwyn Applebaum, President and Publisher of the Bantam Dell Publishing Group, announced the highly anticipated publication today.
September 11, 2006
Peter Jackson options Del Rey's Temeraire series
Peter Jackson, the Academy Award-winning director of the Lord of the Rings films and King Kong, announced today that his company, Wingnut Films, has reached an agreement to option Temeraire, the recently launched historical fantasy series by first-time novelist Naomi Novik. The Temeraire saga reimagines the world of the Napoleonic Wars with an air force of dragons and valiant aviators, adding a new dimension to the epic battles of the era.
The Temeraire books are published by Del Rey, an imprint of Random House: His Majesty's Dragon was published in March 2006, Throne of Jade was published in April 2006, and Black Powder War was published in May 2006.
August 22, 2006
28 Quill Awards Nominees for Random House, Inc.
The Quill Book Awards, whose byword is "readers honor the best in books," are the only book awards bestowed by consumers through national online voting. Now in its second year, Quills announced the nominees today in its 2006 categories, and twenty-eight of our titles have been recognized.
August 16, 2006
Random House Films and Focus Features' first movie, Reservation Road, to shoot this fall; Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo to star for director Terry George.
Reservation Road will begin production this fall, marking the inaugural movie to be made in the filmmaking partnership between Focus Features and Random House Films that was first announced last November. James Schamus, President of Focus Features, part of NBC Universal, and Peter Gethers, President, Random House Films, a Random House, Inc. division, made the announcement today.
Based on the novel of the same name by John Burnham Schwartz, Reservation Road will be directed by Terry George, whose most recent film was the three-time Academy Award-nominated Hotel Rwanda. The screenplay is by Mr. Schwartz, with revisions by Mr. George. Reservation Road will star two-time Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo.
August 3, 2006
Random House, Inc. acquires Multnomah Publishers to expand Doubleday Broadway's Evangelical Christian publishing.
Random House, Inc., the largest English-language trade book publisher, announced today that it has purchased one of the nation's leading evangelical Christian book publishing houses, Multnomah Publishers. The acquisition significantly strengthens the company's presence in the burgeoning Christian book marketplace.
August 1, 2006
Random House acquires full ownership of its Korean publishing joint venture, renamed Random House Korea.
Random House has become the sole owner of its Korean trade book publishing company formed as a 50/50 joint venture in January 2004. In a transaction which closed this week, Random House purchased the equity stake in the Seoul-based Korean-language publishing house held by their joint-venture partner JoongAng M&B Publishers.
July 28, 2006
Liz Curtis Higgs honored with her first Christy Award. Author's novel recognized for excellence in historical fiction.
In an awards dinner held Saturday evening, July 8, 2006, at the Denver Marriott City Center, bestselling nonfiction and fiction author Liz Curtis Higgs was named the 2006 Christy Award winner in the Historical category for her novel Whence Came a Prince (published by Waterbrook Press, a division of Random House, Inc., in March 2005).
July 10, 2006
First Book and Random House celebrate "Literacy and Justice for All" in Louisiana and across the country.
First Book® and Random House Children's Books this week will distribute 50,000 books to literacy programs serving low-income children throughout Louisiana as part of the "Literacy and Justice For All" campaign conducted in partnership with BookExpo America in May. The distribution will take place at the United States Coast Guard warehouse in New Orleans on Thursday, July 13.
May 17, 2006
Former Pressident Bill Clinton to write book on citizen activism and service to be published by Knopf.
Former President Bill Clinton is writing a book on citizen activism and service to be published by Alfred A. Knopf, it was announced today by Knopf Chairman Sonny Mehta. The book, an important and timely examination of how we can move our nation and world away from conflict and towards accomplishment, opportunity, and responsibility, will be published in late 2007 or early 2008. In the book, President Clinton will discuss the groundbreaking work of the Clinton Foundation as well as the work of similarly inspired non-governmental organizations and private citizens throughout the world. The book will highlight the remarkable stories of some of the many private citizens who are doing public good that President Clinton has met throughout his travels and will provide information to readers about ways they can get involved in these efforts.
May 16, 2006
New Random House, Inc. environmental initiative: tenfold increase in use of recycled paper by 2010.
In the most substantial environmental initiative in the company's history, Random House, Inc., the U.S. division of Random House, the world's largest trade book publisher, has announced that by 2010 at least thirty percent (30%) of the uncoated paper it uses to print the majority of its U.S. titles will be derived from recycled fibers. At present, less than three percent (3%) of the paper fibers used in Random House, Inc. books comes from recycled sources.
May 10, 2006
Six Random House, Inc. cookbooks named James Beard Award winners.
The James Beard Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving, nurturing, and celebrating America's culinary heritage, bestowed six of its coveted James Beard Awards for Culinary Achievement upon Random House, Inc. cookbooks in a Manhattan ceremony held on May 8.
May 8, 2006
Gina Centrello announces that Triumph Books, a leader in sports book publishing, has been acquired by the Random House Publishing Group and will become its Chicago-based imprint.
May 8, 2006
Judith Jones, Knopf Vice President and Senior Editor, who began with the house in 1957, will be honored tonight in New York by the prestigious James Beard Foundation with their Lifetime Achievement Award.
In an introductory video airing at the ceremony, Sonny Mehta says, "Absent Judith, cookbook publishing as we know it today would not exist."
February 14, 2006
Focus Features and Random House Films announce first two projects: films planned from Bob Drogan's Curveball and Yasmina Khadra's The Attack.
A novel set in contemporary Tel Aviv and a work of nonfiction by a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist have been selected and acquired by Random House Films and Focus Features to be the first two planned feature film projects for their new filmmaking parnership. John Lyons, President of Production for Focus Features, part of NBC Universal, and Peter Gethers, President, Random House Films, a division of book publisher Random House, Inc., made the announcement today.
February 2, 2006
Random House Audio and XM Satellite Radio debut "The Random House Hour" on Sonic Theater.
Random House Audio, the largest publisher of audiobooks and XM Satellite Radio, the nation's leading satellite radio service with more than six million subscribers, announced today the launch of "The Random House Hour," a new radio series to be broadcast exclusively on XM's Sonic Theater (XM Channel 163) beginning Monday, February 6. The one-hour radio program will feature 30-minute segments of two audiobooks, which will be broadcast in their entirety over the course of multiple episodes. "The Random House Hour" will air nationally Monday through Friday at 8 AM and 4 PM ET.
January 10, 2006
Random House's Listening Library acquires famed Rabbit Ears Audiobook Collection for August 22nd on sale.
Anjelica Huston narrates Rip Van Winkle. Nicolas Cage performs the legend of Davy Crockett. Ben Kingsley reads the folktale The Tiger and the Brahmin. Denzel Washington narrates Anansi. Cher performs a rendition of The Ugly Duckling.
These celebrated actors lend their voices to The Rabbit Ears Collection, an award-winning, critically acclaimed line of children's audiobooks unavailable at retail since the mid-nineties. Listenting Library, a division of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, has acquired exclusive world distribution rights to the collection and will publish four quartet-story editions on August 22nd in the U.S. and Canada. Additional editions will follow in 2007.
November 17, 2005
Two Random House, Inc. 2005 National Book Award winners
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion and The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall have won the 2005 National Book Award for Nonfiction and Young People's Literature respectively. Their authors accepted their prizes at the National Book Foundation's annual dinner ceremony in Manhattan on November 16th.
November 3, 2005
Random House, Inc. announces business model for online viewing of books.
Random House Inc., the world's largest trade book publisher, announced today its intent to work with online booksellers, search engines, entertainment portals and other appropriate vendors to offer the contents of its books to consumers for online viewing on a pay-per-page-view basis. Random House recognizes that digital search, display, and distribution will be increasingly important for books over time, and that while readers will want digital access in various formats, publishers and authors must be properly compensated and protected as such markets develop.
November 3, 2005
Focus Features and Random House, Inc. set multi-year creative and strategic filmmaking partnership. Peter Gethers to head new Random House Films division.
In an arrangement that will provide authors with a wider range of audiences and readers and film makers with access to a diverse and large array of material, Random House, Inc., the book publishing divison of Bertelsmann AG, and the film company Focus Features, part of NBC Universal, are embarking on a unique multi-year creative and strategic filmmaking partnership. The agreement was announced today by Focus Co-Presidents David Linde and James Schamus and Random House Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter Olson.
October 19, 2005
Warren Buffet to cooperate on a book by Wall Street analyst Alice Schroeder. The first book on his life and ideas to be published by the Bantam Dell Publishing Group
For the first time in his life, after years of declining offers from editors, authors, and publishers to write a memoir or a book of his business principles, Warren Buffet has agreed to cooperate on a book by Alice Schroeder, former Morgan Stanley insurance analyst, Irwyn Applebaum, President and Publisher of The Bantam Dell Publishing Group, announced today. The book, which will be published in hardcover by the Bantam Dell Publishing Group in 2008, is tentatively titled, The Snowball: How Warren Buffet Collected Friends, Wisdom and Wealth.
October 10, 2005
Random House Publishing Group sets lecture affiliation with the American Program Bureau. Authors Rushdie, Sheehy, Harr and Pearl among participants.
The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., has joined forces with the Boston-based American Program Bureau, one of the largest U.S. lecture agencies, to offer ongoing lecture engagements nationwide to its broad spectrum of fiction and nonfiction authors, it was announced today by Gina Centrello, President and Publisher of the Group.
September 19, 2005
Random House Children's Books announces exclusive publishing tie-in to the premiere episode of NBC's "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart." Candidates rewrite classic fairy tales for Random House Children's Books.
Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc., announced today the publication of a picture book tie-in to the premiere episode of NBC's unscripted series "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," which debuts September 21st (8-9 PM ET/PT). The thirty-two page, hardcover picture book, whose title and author will be revealed on the show's premiere, will carry a suggested retail price of $10.95 and will go on sale throughout North America on Thursday, September 22nd, the morning after the program's airing.
September 7, 2005
An overview from Random House Chairman and CEO Peter Olson on our strong worldwide results for the first half of the 2005 fiscal year.
Peter also offers an outlook for our fall efforts and presents how Random House will help those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Gütersloh: September 7, 2005
Bertelsmann boosts first-half operating result by 8.1 percent
Bertelsmann posted a positive business performance for the first six months of 2005, having grown its operating result by 8.1 percent to €644 million (previous year €596 million). Nearly all divisions contributed to the improved performance. Random House book publishing, the magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr and the media services provider Arvato posted significantly higher earnings. Performance by the television, radio and TV production company RTL Group remained stable at last year's record levels. Direct Group's club business improved slightly. The BMG music division was on target, but did not match last year's first-half performance, which was characterized by extraordinary successes.
August 30, 2005
Christopher Paolini's Eldest achieves biggest single-week sale in Random House Children's Books history. Total copies in print now 1.8 million
In its first week on sale, Eldest, Book Two in Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Trilogy, sold more than 425,000 hardcover copies, making it the greatest single-week sale ever recorded for a Random House Children's Books title, hardcover or paperback, it was announced today by Chip Gibson, Random House Children's Books, President and Publisher. Eldest is also the fastest-selling title in the publisher's history. Eldest was published by Random House's Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers imprint in the U.S. and Canada on August 23rd with a first printing of 1.3 million copies.
July 18, 2005
Audio Book sales records set by J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling sold more than 165,000 copies in its compact disc and cassette Listening Library formats on Saturday and Sunday, the largest first two-day sale in the history of the audio book medium, Random House, Inc. reports. Sales were twenty percent greater than those of the previous Harry Potter audio book, published by Listening Library in 2003. In another sales milestone, both Amazon.com and Bn.com have been ranking the CD version as their #2 bestselling title overall, behind the #1 bestselling hardcover, an unprecedented showing for an audio.
July 11, 2005
Modern Library to publish the Royal Shakespeare Company's Complete Works of Shakespeare next year. Publication to coincide with the RSC's year performing the entire Shakespeare canon.
The Modern Library imprint has joined forces with the Royal Shakespeare Company to publish, in Fall 2006, a new complete landmark edition of the playwright's works, it was announced today by Gina Centrello, President and Publisher of the Random House Publishing Group.
June 23, 2005
Bond Street Books announces inaugural list. First four books underscore commitment to finest fiction and non-fiction titles from around the world.
Last September, Doubleday Canada announced the creation of Bond Street Books, a new imprint dedicated to publishing the finest fiction and non-fiction titles from around the world, in tandem with the longstanding Doubleday Canada program. Today, Maya Mavjee, Publisher of Doubleday Canada and Bond Street Books, announces the first Bond Street Books list, with four titles selected for Fall 2005 publication.
June 13, 2005
Listening Library sets record-breaking 635,000 audiobook first printing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Jim Dale voices 117 Rowling characters.
Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, announced today that the first audiobook printing for the U.S. and Canada of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince of 635,000 copies, making it the largest initial print in the history of the audiobook medium. The Potter audios will be released on July 16th simultaneously with the Scholastic hardcover editions.
June 2, 2005
"French Women Don't Get Fat" exceeds one million copies in print; best-selling book becomes a cause célèbre.
It's the little book that's defied all the odds: a hard-to-categorize manuscript by a first-time author with a difficult to pronounce name, and a cheeky title that both flaunts French superiority and damns by implication the eating habits of all other females. Now, five months after its initial publication, FRENCH WOMEN DON'T GET FAT, the best seller that's taken America by storm, can boast more triumph -- there are over one million copies in print.
May 26, 2005
Y.S. Chi to step down as Random House Asia head, Eric Yang appointed new President and CEO
Eric Yang, one of Asia's most prominent and accomplished international publishing figures, who is the head of a highly successful Seoul literary agency, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer, Random House Asia, effective June 1st. His appointment was announced today in New York, Tokyo, and Seoul by Peter Olson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Random House, the world's largest trade book publisher. Based in Seoul, Mr. Yang will oversee the day-to-day leadershop of the Random House Kodansha and Random House JoongAng joint-venture book publishing houses in Japan and Korea respectively, as well as help further formulate Random House's long-term strategy for potential entry as a publisher into the vast China book market.
April 28, 2005
Listening Library's unabridged audiobook HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE by J.K. Rowling narrated by Jim Dale on sale July 16, 2005
Listening Library, the children's audio imprint of Random House, Inc.'s Random House Audio Publishing Group division, and the audiobook publisher of the first five Harry Potter novels, has acquired the North American audio publishing rights to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth in the acclaimed series. The audio edition will be published unabridged on cassette and compact disc and go on sale in the United States and Canada on Saturday, July 16, 2005, simultaneously with the book's hardcover edition from Scholastic. Books on Tape, also a division of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, will distribute the title in the library and educational markets.
April 19, 2005
Del Rey celebrates one millionth manga in print.
Del Rey Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, announced today that it has surpassed a million copies of its manga in print in less than a year since the line's debut. The March 28th release of Ken Akamatsu's Negima, Volume 5 (#1 on the Bookscan graphic novel list for the week ending April 3) sent Del Rey over the million-copy mark.
April 7, 2005
The Dial Press celebrates its 10th Anniversary with launch of Dial Press Trade Paperback imprint.
The Bantam Dell Publishing Group will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Dial Press this fall with the launch of a trade paperback imprint, Dial Press Trade Paperbacks, Susan Kamil, Vice President and Editorial Director of the Dial Press, announced at the recent Random House sales conference. The imprint of The Bantam Dell Publishing Group, a division of Random House, will launch in the fall of 2005. It will reflect the quality and eclecticism of The Dial Press list and include fiction and nonfiction original titles and reprints from The Bantam Dell Publishing Group as well as other hardcover houses.
January 4, 2005
Vintage Español celebrates Tenth Anniversary, expands publishing program and names a new Director.
After a decade-long commitment to the U.S. Spanish book markets and on the heels of publishing two of the year's biggest books--Memoria de mis putas tristes by Gabriel García Márquez and Mi vida by Bill Clinton--Vintage Español today announced plans to significantly expand the range of its publishing activity in 2005. At the same time, a new position has been created to oversee the expansion.
December 17, 2004
Barack Obama, Illinois Senator-elect, signs contract with Crown Publishers and Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Crown Publishers has acquired world and audio rights for two books by the U.S. Senator-elect from Illinois, Barack Obama, and Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers (an imprint of Random House Children's Books) has acquired world rights to a children's book also by Obama, it was announced jointly by Steve Ross, Senior Vice President, Publisher, Crown Publishers and Three Rivers Press, and Nancy Hinkel, Publishing Director, Alfred A. Knopf and Crown Books for Young Readers.
October 28, 2004
New novel entitled BEHIND THE MASK featuring Hannibal Lecter by Thomas Harris, author of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, to be published by the Bantam Dell Publishing Group in Fall 2005.
Dr. Hannibal Lecter, physician, monster, man of many parts, will return in Behind the Mask, a novel by Thomas Harris to be published by Delacorte Press next fall. Irwyn Applebaum, President and Publisher of the Bantam Dell Publishing Group, announced he will publish the Delacorte hardcover in Fall, 2005, followed a year later by a Dell paperback edition.
September 8, 2004
Bertelsmann Significantly Improves Results In First
Six Months Of FY '04
Bertelsmann significantly improved its year-on-year financial
results for the first half of 2004. Operating EBIT increased to € 596 million (previous year: € 186 million). The BMG music division's recorded music triumphs and RTL Group's excellent business performance made an essential contribution to this rise in earnings. Arvato and Random House strongly increased their operating results. Direct Group held its position in a difficult market environment and was able to maintain its operating result. At Gruner + Jahr,
the launch of new magazines resulted in a slight earnings decline. In reviewing the first half year results, it is important to be aware that some Bertelsmann divisions customarily achieve the majority of their earnings in the second half of the year.
June 23, 2004
Bill Clinton's MY LIFE sets one-day, non-fiction sales record.
First day sales for Bill Clinton's My Life exceeded 400,000 copies in the U.S., it was announced today by Sonny Mehta, president of Knopf Publishing Group. "This is a record-breaking number for a work of non-fiction," says Mehta. "Indeed, we are seeing exceedingly strong sales for My Life not only across the country but around the world."
April 26, 2004
Bill Clinton's Memoir, MY LIFE, to be Published by Knopf this June.
Former President Bill Clinton's memoirs will be published in June, it was announced today by Sonny Mehta, President and Editor in Chief of Alfred A. Knopf. My Life, an account of Clinton's life through the White House years, is one of the most eagerly awaited books of recent time. The book will go on sale nationwide in June, with a first printing of 1.5 million copies. My Life will also be available from Random House Audio (abridged), read by President Clinton.
March 24, 2004
Crown Publishers, The Wall Street Journal join forces to publish books.
Crown Publishers and The Wall Street Journal today announced that they have entered a three-year publishing partnership to produce informative and entertaining books on a wide range of business and non-business topics. The program is expected to publish a minimum of four titles a year.
February 12, 2004
Doubleday to publish a series on innovation with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
In a greatly sought-after competition among publishers, Doubleday has won a significant grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to publish a series of biographies, "Great Innovators," profiling both well-known and underappreciated innovators who have changed our lives.
January 15, 2004
Download your next trip--Fodor's announces travel mapping tool for your PDA.
Fodor's, the world's largest travel information provider, has made the world easier to navigate. No more flipping pages or fumbling with maps--with the iFodor's product, travellers will now be able to access award-winning destination information on their PDA.
January 6, 2004
Random House JoongAng, historic Seoul-based Korean language book publishing joint venture, formed by Random House and JoongAng M & B.
In an historic international publishing partnership, Peter Olson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Random House, the world's largest trade book publisher, and Suk-Hyun Hong, Chairman of JoongAng Ilbo Publishers, a leading Korean print and broadcast media group, announced today in New York and Seoul the formation of a new Korean-language trade book publishing 50/50 joint venture.
September 2, 2003
Knopf to publish authorized biography of Jessica Lynch.
Pulitzer Prize winner Rick Bragg will write book with Lynch to be published by Knopf later this year.
August 28, 2003
Official tie-in book for QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY to be published by Random House Inc.'s Clarkson Potter.
Clarkson Potter/Publishers, the leader in lifestyle books, has acquired the world rights to publish the official book from the runaway successful new television series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, broadcast weekly on the Bravo and NBC-TV networks.
June 24, 2003
History-making North American sales for Harry Potter audiobook.
In its first three days on sale in the United States and Canada, the audiobook edition of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has become the fastest-selling title in the history of the recorded book medium.
June 12, 2003
Jane Pauley to publish with Random House: NBC News Emmy-Award winner signs two-book deal.
Jane Pauley, former "Today Show" and "Dateline NBC" journalist, has signed a contract with Random House to write two books which will be edited by senior vice president and executive editor Kate Medina, it was announced today by Gina Centrello, president and publisher of the Random House Publishing Group.
May 27, 2003
Random House to launch client publisher distribution service venture.
Offering the largest distribution capability in trade book publishing, together with state-of-the-art technology and a highly experienced distribution management team, Random House, Inc, today announced its intention to reenter the business of distribution of outside book publishers, while continuing to service and support its own publishing divisions. The publisher has formed Random House Distribution Services, a new division within Random House, Inc., to implement the venture.
April 21, 2003
Crown Forum Imprint for conservative nonfiction
debuts in June from Crown Publishing Group.
The Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., America's largest publisher of general-interest books, will launch an imprint this June solely devoted to nonfiction with a conservative point of view. Crown Forum expects to publish fifteen hardcover titles annually, the first of which will be Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism by commentator Ann Coulter, on sale June 25. Ms. Coulter's previous book, Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right, was a runaway #1 national bestseller from Crown Publishers last year, with twenty weeks on the New York Times Nonfiction Hardcover list and more than 400,000 copies in print.
April 21, 2003
Nielsen Bookscan announces agreement with Random House, Inc. Largest of the major trade book publishers joins subscriber list.
Nielsen BookScan's list of subscriber publishers in the U.S. already includes AOL Time Warner Book Group, Harcourt Trade Publishers, Holtzbrinck Publishers, Houghton Mifflin & Co., Hyperion Books, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Pearson Technology Group, Simon & Schuster, Inc., Scholastic, Inc., W.W. Norton & Co., and over fifty others.
April 15, 2003
Gina Centrello, President and Publisher of The Random House Publishing Group is very pleased to present the senior management team of the newly renamed Random House Publishing Group.
April 15, 2003
David Ebershoff, Publishing Director, Modern Library, will take on additional concurrent responsibilities as Publishing Director, Random House Trade Paperbacks.
April 3, 2003
Grammy Award winner Jim Dale returns to read HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, June 21st Listening Library audiobook
March 18, 2003
Listening Library's unabridged audiobook HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX to go on sale June 21, 2003
February 28, 2003
New appointments within the Random House Ballantine Publishing Group
Gina Centrello announces the return of Daniel Menaker as Senior Vice President, Editor-in-Chief of the Random House editorial department within the Random House Ballantine division. Jon Karp is promoted to Vice President, Editorial Director. Bob Loomis and Kate Medina are named divisional Executive Vice Presidents.
February 24, 2003
Prima Publishing to be realigned within the Crown Publishing Group
An announcement about the status of the three Northern California-based Prima Publishing imprints within the greater Crown Publishing Group.
