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David Shanks Praised as Top U.S. Book Publishing CEO in Publishers Weekly

Penguin Group (USA) CEO David Shanks was profiled in this week’s edition of Publishers Weekly as “one of the leading figures in the [book publishing] business in 2008” in a special section, entitled “Advancing the Cause,” which highlighted “several figures and one bold initiative that stand out as deserving of special praise for addressing current conditions with creative, dynamic and successful strategies.”

In the article, headlined “David Shanks Leads the Penguin Team,” PW reporter Jim Milliot wrote:

“When David Shanks took over the reins of Penguin Group (USA) from Phyllis Grann in 2001, his colleagues at competing companies included Jane Friedman, Peter Olson, Larry Kirshbaum and Jack Romanos, all of whom have since left their top spots. But it's much more than his last-man-standing status that has made Shanks one of the leading figures in the business in 2008. Since last year's fourth quarter, Penguin has had a stellar run, turning out a record number of bestsellers across all formats. The company has enjoyed particular success in the trade paperback segment: the Oprah-anointed A New Earth dominated lists early in the year, as did several other Penguin megasellers. And even though the recession will mean a difficult fourth quarter, the company will turn in a very solid 2008.

"One of Shanks's strengths is his ability to bring in new talent, and he is the first to credit the Penguin team approach for the company's success. “You're only as good as your people are,” Shanks notes. As he sees it, his job as CEO is to create a place where people want to stay and give them a framework to succeed. “My biggest contribution is making sure everyone knows what our goals are and how we expect to get there,” Shanks says.

"Shanks's recruitment drive earlier this year brought in former Random House executive v-p Don Weisberg to lead the children's group, even though Weisberg had no previous experience in the children's field. Since Weisberg and children's publishing veteran Barbara Marcus joined Penguin in May, Shanks says, there has been a new energy in the group, and the Weisberg/Marcus team has put together an aggressive budget for 2009 that, Shanks notes, “they believe they can hit.” Next year will not be an easy one, Shanks acknowledges, but he is confident that with good publishing and a sharp eye on expenses, Penguin will pull through. One person who appreciates Shanks's talents is his boss, John Makinson. “David is the most experienced chief executive in the U.S. publishing industry today, and the financial success of Penguin Group (USA) is a tribute to his experience and acumen. He is an extraordinary leader.”

Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell Debuts at #1 on The New York Times Hardcover Fiction Bestseller List, Marking the 25th #1 Bestseller for Penguin Group (USA) in 2008

Twenty years ago, Patricia Cornwell, America’s number-one-bestselling crime writer, created Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta, originating the modern-day forensic thriller and a character that would change the face of contemporary crime fiction. Now she’s back in Cornwell’s eagerly anticipated new crime novel, Scarpetta, which debuted at #1 on The New York Times bestseller list.

Putnam launched the publication of Scarpetta with a national marketing campaign including television and print, on-line advertisements, and an outdoor advertising campaign. Putnam produced an original video which combined scenes of Patricia Cornwell at a morgue, piloting her helicopter, and at her New York City home discussing her character, Dr. Kay Scarpetta. On publication date, Cornwell was interviewed on ABC Radio’s “Imus in the Morning” and was also featured on the cover of the Life section in USA Today. Later that week, she was interviewed on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and then continued to do national TV and radio satellite tours, which included numerous interviews on NPR stations as well as numerous nationally syndicated shows such as “Mancow” out of Chicago. She was also interviewed for CNN.com’s “Book Report,” Bloomberg Radio’s “Muse,” and XM Radio’s “The Agenda” and “Good Morning America Radio.” Reviews and features have run or are forthcoming in the Los Angeles Times, Metro, Reuters, Rocky Mountain News, and the Portland Oregonian to name a few.

See the Scarpetta feature page for a book trailer and first chapter excerpt.

Onyx Offers New eSpecial from New York Times Bestselling Paranormal Author Lynn Viehl

Onyx has released a new eSpecial from Lynn Viehl, the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the paranormal Darkyn series. The eSpecial, entitled Master of Shadows, is a parallel story to Stay the Night, Viehl’s full-length conclusion to the Darkyn series, which Onyx will publish in January 2009. The novella, featuring vampire Will Scarlet and his mortal love interest, offers readers a sneak peek into what happens “off stage” during the final installment in the Darkyn series.

As with all Penguin eBooks, the eSpecial will be available wherever eBooks are sold, in many formats, including those compatible with the Sony Reader, Amazon Kindle, and iPhone among others. From now until Stay the Night is published on January 6th, 2009, Master of Shadows will sell at a special price of $2.99. After January 6th, Master of Shadows will sell at the list price of $4.99.

Special Edition of Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck Auctioned at Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s will sell one of only two special editions of Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck (Frederick Warne). The first of the two editions was presented to Prince Charles in celebration of his 60th birthday this year, which coincides with the centenary of Jemima Puddle-Duck. The exceptional edition, bound in fine leather and adorned with a solid silver clasp in the design of a feather, is presented in an accompanying similarly adorned decorative box and is estimated at $3,800- $6,334. The special edition was on exhibition at Sotheby’s in New York December 3-6th and will be on exhibition at Sotheby’s in London, December 12-16th. In addition, Sotheby’s will have sold two watercolor drawings by illustrator Beatrix Potter from her Christmas story The Tailor of Gloucester in its December 11th sale. Each drawing is worth $15-20,000.

Gotham's How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill Selected as 2009 Summer Reading Title for Middle State Tennessee

Middle State Tennessee University, which has one of the larger First Year Experience programs in the country, has chosen How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill (Gotham) as their Summer Reading title for Fall 2009.

Approximately 3,600 incoming freshmen will read the books, in addition to others in the surrounding Murfreesboro community, including local high schools, and two nearby community colleges. The program continues to grow with support from professors teaching courses to sophomore-level students and above integrating the common read selection and requiring it in their course.

In previous years, three other Penguin Group (USA) titles have been selected for the program: Three Cups of Tea, An Ordinary Man and The Color of Water. Because the seminar coordinator has been so satisfied working with Penguin, it looks like the trend will continue!

Listen to a podcast with the author, Michael Gates Gill.

The New York Times Bestseller Highlights for the Week of December 21st

For the week of December 21st, Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell (G. P. Putnam's Sons) debuts at #1 on the hardcover fiction list.

Here are more New York Times bestseller highlights:

Arctic Drift by Clive and Dirk Cussler (G. P. Putnam’s Sons) is #5 in its second week on the hardcover fiction list.

On the hardcover nonfiction list, Why We Suck by Denis Leary (Viking) is #7, and Do the Right Thing by Mike Huckabee (Sentinel) is #9, both in their third weeks, while The Ascent of Money by Niall Ferguson (The Penguin Press) is #14 in its second week.

On the trade paperback fiction list, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Riverhead) is #2 in its second week; World Without End by Ken Follett (NAL) is #5 in its ninth week; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (Riverhead) is #6 in its fourteenth week; The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (Penguin) is #11 in its 127th week; The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Riverhead) is #12 in its 195th week; and The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs (Berkley) returns to the list at #14 in its 42nd week.

On the mass market paperback list, The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts (Jove) holds at #1 for a second week, while T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton (Berkley) is #3, also in its second week. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (Ace) is #7 in its thirteenth week; and Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris (Ace) is #14 in its thirteenth week.

On the paperback nonfiction list, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Penguin) is #4 in its 97th week; Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (Penguin) is #6 in its 98th week; and The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan (Penguin) is #13 in its 64th week.

On the advice, how-to, and miscellaneous paperback list, I Can Has Cheezburger? by Professor Happycat and icanhascheezburger.com (Gotham) is #5 in its ninth week, while A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle (Plume) is #8 in its 45th week.

In the young readers sector, on the children’s picture books list, Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett (Putnam) is #3 in its eighth week; The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (Various publishers) is #5 in its 17th week; and Brava, Strega Nona!, written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola (Putnam) is #10 in its fifth week. On the children’s paperback books list, Barack Obama by Roberta Edwards, illustrated by Ken Call (Grosset & Dunlap) is #5 in its eighteenth week; Slam by Nick Hornby (Riverhead) is #9 in its ninth week, and Knucklehead by Jon Sciesszka (Viking) is #10 in its fourth week.

New Next Week

You r Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Monique Tilford (Penguin, 12/10)

When Penguin Books first published Your Money or Your Life in 1992, the book struck a chord with readers who appreciated its message of how to live well for less. Oprah Winfrey raved, “This is a wonderful book. It can really change your life.” Penguin printed 600,000 copies of the book. A New York Times bestseller, Your Money or Your Life spent five years on the BusinessWeek bestseller list and was translated into 10 languages. This new edition of Your Money or Your Life—featuring updated resources, an easy-to-use index, and anecdotes and examples particularly relevant today—arrives at a time of economic crisis, when many of us are struggling to pay mortgages and make car payments and pay off credit cards while simultaneously weathering layoffs and watching financial portfolios shrink. Co-authors Vicki Robin and Monique Tilford will be embarking on a 10-city tour in January and Robin has already been featured in interviews on TIME.com and on KCRW, Los Angeles’ NPR affiliate.

Penguin books, publishing, bestsellers, literary awards