Latest News from The Bookseller

Valentine's and half-term promotions for retailers Booksellers are anticipating a much-desired boost over the next week with the arrival of Valentine’s Day on Saturday, followed by half term.  Chain retailers across the country have rolled out romantic point of sale (POS) posters in the hope of capturing some of the Valentine’s Day shopping market, while children’s departments are sharpening their displays and wheeling out discounts on educational titles and children’s fiction to entice parents to part with money over the half term break.

Indie Book Day backed by bookshops and publishers Indie Book Day is set to make a mark on the UK this year after starting in Germany two years ago and quickly spreading across Europe. The campaign – which hopes to become comparable to the American Record Store Day event, but for books – wants readers to flock to independent bookshops on 21st March to buy a title by an independent publisher.

Blink acquires former boxing promoter Kellie Maloney's memoir Blink Publishing has acquired world rights to the autobiography of former boxing promoter, Kellie Maloney. Clare Tillyer, acquisitions and rights director, acquired the book, titled Frankly Kellie, from Tim Bates at Pollinger Limited.

Women writers dominate Waterstones kids' shortlist Female authors account for the vast majority of this year’s Waterstones Children’s Book Prize this year, with 15 of the 18 titles written by women (see full shortlists below). The prize is divided into three categories – best illustrated book, best fiction for 5-12s and best book for teens – with six books shortlisted in each section. The only men shortlisted are G R Gemin for Cowgirl (Nosy Crow) in the fiction section, and Steve Antony for The Queen’s Hat (Hodder) and Rob Biddulph for Blown Away (HarperCollins) in the illustrated book category.

Beyoncé writes foreword for 22-Day Revolution diet book Yellow Kite is to publish The 22-Day Revolution, a book about the benefits of a plant-based diet, with a foreword written by Beyoncé. Founded on the principle that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit, The 22-Day Revolution by exercise physiologist and nutrition expert Marco Borges is a “practical guide for anyone seeking a healthier lifestyle, to lose weight, or to reverse serious health concerns”. It contains advice, recipes and tools, including a detailed 22-day meal plan, for switching to a plant-based lifestyle.

Bookshops begin Go Set A Watchman deals Blackwell’s and Foyles are both offering discounts to people who pre-order Harper Lee’s forthcoming novel Go Set a Watchman (William Heinemann). Go Set a Watchman, written by Lee before her bestselling novel To Kill a Mockingbird but featuring some of the same characters, will be released on 14th July as an £18.99 hardback. Blackwell’s is offering the book at £13.99, a discount of £5, for those who pre-order, while Foyles is offering a 24% discount to anyone who pre-orders, making the book £14.43.

Bafta success boosts Hawking book Alma Books has ordered a 15,000-copy reprint of Travelling to Infinity after demand soared following the film version’s triumph at the Baftas on Sunday (8th February). Travelling to Infinity is the memoir by Jane Hawking based on the inside story of her marriage to Stephen Hawking, which inspired the film "The Theory of Everything", currently out in cinemas and starring Eddie Remayne.

Abbott to leave PRH Mike Abbott is leaving Penguin Random House as a result of the publisher's international sales team restructure. Abbott has been in the Random House UK international team for 11 years, working first as group sales and marketing director for Europe, and later as group sales and marketing director for Europe, Middle East, Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean. He also served as chairman of the PA European working party between 2008 and 2014.

Fourth Estate hires Anna Kelly HarperCollins imprint Fourth Estate has appointed Anna Kelly to the position of commissioning editor. Kelly, who is currently assistant editor at Hamish Hamilton, will take up the role on the 17th March. Kelly said she is “very excited” to join the company. “Fourth Estate is home to a dazzling group of authors and its publishing is inventive and imaginative – I can’t wait to begin commissioning for such a prestigious and inspiring list and will be looking in particular for outstanding new voices from the UK and Ireland as well as fiction in translation.”

Nottingham to distribute kids democracy book in schools Nottingham City Council is to distribute Ellie Levenson’s book about democracy for children, The Election, to primary schools in the county. Debra La Mola, head of democratic services at Nottingham City Council, said she ordered copies of the book to help children learn about voting in an election year. “The children will be encouraged to take the books home to read and, through a message we have included with the book, their parents and carers will be reminded at the same time that they need to register to vote ahead of the elections in May,” she said.

Faber to publish Would I Lie to You? titles Faber has acquired the rights to publish two books based on the BBC comedy panel show "Would I Lie to You?". The publisher beat seven other publishers to acquire the rights and the first, Would I Lie To You? Presents the 100 Most Popular Lies of All Time, will be released in October. The book is a collection of 100 well-known fibs, including ‘I didn’t even notice she was pretty’ and ‘I’m working from home tomorrow’. A second book will follow.