Perseus Reorganizes; Carroll & Graf No More

You can read about the big publishing news story over at GalleyCat, but let me spell out what this means for the mystery world. With Carroll & Graf and Thunder's Mouth closing down effective this fall, a boatload of mystery titles will either be absorbed into other Perseus-owned imprints (unlikely) or acquired by Perseus distributed imprints, aka the 120-odd independent houses formerly distributed by Publishers Group West.

The latter option is possible, but since most of the 120 imprints weren't devoted to fiction, that leaves them out. And for those left, when their parent distributor sends a signal that fiction is less important, how much enthusiasm will they have for acquiring orphaned titles - especially mystery & suspense titles?

Remember, too, that many of Carroll & Graf's mystery titles were British imports that sold in small quantities to libraries. The likelihood of most of those getting picked up by other publishing houses is, shall we say, decidedly small.

It's another crappy day for independent-minded publishing.

Comments

[Lyn LeJeune]

I suppose that also means that fewer agents will take on fiction/mystery because there are fewer places for them to sell. So authors need to make decisions - do I hope to be the one in a million, do I write non-fiction, do I change careers, do I start my own press a la POD capabilities?

[Terry Weyna]

I was dismayed to read this news. Some of the most interesting new books in the mystery field have come from these two imprints. They will be missed.

[La Gringa]

It also means that they have dropped a very fine GLBT list.

Idjits.

[The Novel Gobbler]

Maybe trying too hard to find the silver lining here, but it sounds like an opportunity for an enterprising start-up publisher.

[Bilbo Pepitone]

Or an opportunity for an existing publisher. Charles? Max? Might be just the time to diversify Hard Case a little.

[Charles Ardai]

Having done a number of books over the years with Carroll & Graf (and being a longtime friend of Herman Graf), I'm very sorry to see the imprint go away. C&G did some outstanding books and deserved better after all these years.

I don't see how we could pick up the slack, though. I've got my hands full just publishing a book every month with a full-time staff of zero and profits barely sufficient to keep me from going into hock when I want to order a sandwich from the corner deli.

That said, I do not think it's likely that C&G's disappearance will, in and of itself, influence any agent to quit selling fiction or mysteries. The cumulative effect of multiple such shutterings of good markets might eventually have an erosive effect, but this one won't all by itself. There are still many, many places a strong mystery novel can be sold.

[ayesha siddiqua]

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[ayesha siddiqua]

Hi,

Our software company is starting online book portal shortly. We came to know that you have already tie up with some online portals. We have extracted information of your publications, the same we want to put in our website. If you give permission to us by e mail we will proceed further. After launching the website we will provide the user id and password to you for then and then updates. In this regard your kind cooperation is highly solicited. Awaiting for favourable response.

Waiting for your favourable reply.

MANAGING DIRECTOR
ROTONICS TECHNOLOGIES
HYDERBAD
INDIA.
PH: 91-40-27803186, 91-040-66174865
Email : info@rotonicstech.com, society100@rediffmail.com.

[Mr. Alexander Simon]

May 1st, 2010

Mr. John Wiley and Sons Incorporated,
The Permissions Department,
For read by: Mr. Mark J. Carney,
The Governor General,
The Bank Of Canada,
111 River Street,
Hoboken, New Jersey,
AMERICA 07030.

Mr. Alexander Simon,
Sir William Place,
Apartment #305c;
Boonie Dun,
8820-85 Street,
Edmonton, Alberta,
CANADA T6C 3C2
Telus Carrier Residential Phone: (780) 466-9719
E-Mail: alexandersimonea@gmail.com

Dear Mr. John Wiley:

I recently viewed “The President State of the Democratic and International System;” on the tele' with the Cable Public Affairs Channel 90 with the Telus provider; while I nearly daily view all correspondance; along with Mr. Gerry Germain, Minister of Canadien Social Affairs with regard to our “Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce;” as exactly mentioned in the brilliant composure: 'Maddoff With the Money,' “The Bagal Baker …,” in the 8th passage; Biographer Mr. Jerry Oppenheimer who has according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police archives made open for the non enrolled, the Securities game is most compelling and rewarding when true Demos is arranged as with the Lieberbaum (s); turning $5,000-American in public loan, and over night as per Belle Harbour Investment Inc., an active Salesman for the Eastman Kodak Company; Antonio Michael Pérez, the current Chairman of the Board of Executive over ruled the Polaroid Company Chairman Executive of Concern, a Mr. Gary Tiberius DiCamillo, to a film war on photography paper called Velvet-#1; Mr. C.E.O. Mr. George Eastman originally converted Mr. Lieberbaum's $5,000.00 advance by the Lloyds of London underwriters Division by Mr. Walter Edwin Hutton and Company Section #6; as confirmed by the Lloyds mentioned; from this brilliant mind of Mr. Hutton; a reported true full Roman Catholic and blessed in the Vatican, also proven here in the Cabinet #8; public open for view; a Holy Sacramental and Baptismal, as confirmed by this Journalist; the net proceeds; half was charity for the new born with out a blood mother nor father for caring; reached a plateau of $10-billion in Royal assets across the globe; the moral here is not everyone poor has money and it is maddening!
In a similar finding; within the other prepelling master work; 'The Secret Service,' by the Carroll and Graf Publishers handsomely written by another man of Catholic conviction; Mr. Peter Fran Stevens and his son with a name change since enrolled with the R.C.M.P. here in Alberta; a Mr. Philip Hugh Melanson with a Doctorate in criminology; the former Institute for Defense Analysis secured America's assets by 'blue chipping;' along with secret files available only under the United States Court of Appeal centered in the blue state of D.C.; all Federal files must be hand selected by only a graduate of Yale; Princeton or the Harvard area of economics with a degree in Masters; and if violated the persecution may be 10 years in solitaire with out any parole. Finally, and in conclusion; in Prentice Hall library of other amazing marketing information cataloging four C.I.A. Genius males; all Canadien born according to the same Institute in Washington; who as well, created Canada's most recent R.C.M.P. counterfeiting divison as per the Provincial Archives of Alberta central, clearly states: a Mr. Drea Zigarmi, a know Catholic, with a doctorate degree; plus branch managers of the same breeding; a Mr. Ken Blanchard; and his friend; also of Roman sound and breed, Mr. Michael O'Connor; a notorious opera lead and tenor including his also best friend; Mr. Carl Edeburn; was elected state premier durning Mr. Former Premier Ralph Klein's leadership; organized the first charity to promote all proper citizenry a scholarship to attend any university in the marketing, finance or commerce field with scoring an 'A'-grade or better free housing and tution on a yearly basis; and this statute for Canada is up for review; and for their outstanding read; 'The Leader Within,' “The Conundrum:” to lead one must have money.

A Comentary,
by,
Alexander Simon

-30-

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