Take A Primer
It was the IIM boys-turned-authors who first stumbled on Indian publishers’ biggest secret: their techno-phobia and refusal to keep up with a changing market. But now the leading B-school, IIM Ahmedabad, itself is to provide business counselling for clueless publishers. The IIM-A with its partner, the Frankfurt Book Fair, will not only train our top publishers in new business models, financial strategies and how to reach new, web-friendly readers but hopefully provide a forum where rival publishers who barely speak to each other can share experiences. So why are our publishers keen to change their ways? The advent of e-books, which threatens to change publishing forever.
Bazaar Newcomer
Nearly three years after dipping its toe into the Indian market, publishing giant Simon and Schuster is ready to open shop. The CEO, Carolyn Reidy, and the UK chief, Ian Chapman, will be in Delhi for the official launch of the company in September when two of its biggest titles will be released: The Third Alternative by Stephen Covey and Allah, Liberty and Love by Irshad Manji. Their plan is to eventually publish books by Indian authors, but the hiring of editors/publishers will begin only after the launch.
Stage Sparkle
It’s not just the prize ceremony that has become a big event. Even the announcement of the shortlist merits a media event. This year’s Crossword Book Award’s shortlist announcement on July 27 will have a celebrity line-up, including Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar and Mark Tully. With a record 314 entries competing for places, the organisers can be assured of one thing: no empty seat!
