Snakes on a plain

A new pulp phenomenon tells a great story, but is derailed by corporate-speak and sloppy editing

There are probably years to go before an Indian book series achieves the level of devotion (or the sales) of the Harry Potter series. We do not have costumed fans thronging book stores for midnight readings (which the Shops and Establishments Act would make impossible anyway), or websites dedicated to picking apart plot points and sneaky hints.

But the last month has shown that we’re capable of getting there, with the explosion of interest in The Secret of the Nagas, the second book in Amish’s Shiva Trilogy. The Shiva Trilogy brings two new things to Indian books. Commercially, it brought its publishers blockbuster sales in a new segment. Chetan Bhagat’s raging sales have been helped in large part by Rupa and Co. pricing his books at Rs.95, a tactic quickly adopted by other mass-market publishers such as Srishti. The Secret of the Nagas, though, is retailing at Rs. 295 (the first book, The Immortals of Meluha, which has sold more than 125,000 copies, is published in two editions, for Rs. 195 and Rs. 295).

Full report here Mint

New-look Harry Potters on their way

Penguin Books India is set to launch the new-look Harry Potter titles - all seven of them - exclusively in the paperback format on November 1.

The newly-designed 'Signature' edition of JK Rowling's universally popular books will appeal to the next generation of readers who did not 'grow up' with Harry Potter and who have not yet experienced the thrill of life at Hogwarts, a press release from the company said.

The new illustrations are by renowned linocut artist Clare Melinsky and the design has been created by Webb and Webb Design Limited.

Clare Melinsky's illustrations follow the style of traditional woodcuts and will appear on the front cover, back cover and spine for all seven titles in the Harry Potter series.

Melinsky had this to say - 'I was delighted and excited to be asked to illustrate the covers for such massively famous books - and seven of them! It was top secret for the best part of a year.'

Full report here Sify

Will Percy Jackson replace Harry Potter?

The Harry Potter juggernaut is starting to wind down. In 2011, Harry Potter, the series, will end with its eighth installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II. As the franchise moves closer to its finish line, Hollywood executives are scrambling to find the Next Big Thing- a multiple movie property that appeals to youngsters, has an epic sweep and fantastic landscapes that suit modern CGI filmmaking. The studios want to be ready when a gaping hole opens in the family movie market. It also needs to lend itself to those all-important licensing deals.

Perhaps the answer to this is Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Releasing in the US and the UK on Feb 12 and in India on Feb 19, Percy Jackson and The Lighting Thief is the first of the 5 books penned by the talented author that is expected to take over the Harry Potter mania across the globe.

The Percy Jackson series is a contemporary fantasy adventure that centers on Percy Jackson; a modern day teenager who discovers that he is a demi-god and with his friends, embarks on a journey to save the world from destruction by the battling Greek gods.

Full report here  Oneindia

Bloomsbury profits fall for 2008

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, the British publisher of the Harry Potter series, posted better than expected full year earnings on March 31 but warned that the outlook remained very tough, an AP report said.

Bloomsbury reported net profit of $11.2 million for the year to December 31 compared to 11.8 million pounds the previous year, when earnings were boosted by the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the last volume of JK Rowling's series.

Revenue for 2008, when the company published Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Khalid Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns, was down 33 per cent to 99.95 million pounds, down from 150.21 million pounds.

Chief Executive Nigel Newton said the business "continued to prosper even in the harshest economic conditions." Newton said that the company has an "excellent pipeline" of new titles due for release over the coming months across all genres.

"However, there are also a number of risks and areas of caution which have been heightened by the recession," he said. "Visibility has been decreased by the uncertainty of the global market place, though books have fared better than most."

Revenue from books for adults rose 17 per cent to 42.03 million pounds, while reference revenue increased 27 per cent to 19.59 million pounds. But the biggest impact was in the children's division, where sales dropped 158 per cent to 38.33 million pounds.

Bloomsbury shares were almost 10 per cent lower at 115 pence in midmorning trade on the London Stock Exchange.

In India, Bloomsbury has a distribution arrangement with Penguin.