The Literary Group Merges With Folio; Impressive Roster Of Agents Draws Attention

by Colleen McClintock

Benay client, The Literary Group International (LGI), saw its biggest change in company history on July 1^st, when it finalized its merger with Folio Literary Management. Upon the merger, it was decided that the company would maintain the Folio title.

October Sky, by Homer Hickam;
just one of many famous books
backed by The Literary Group.

LGI founder Frank Weimann will take the roll of Senior Vice President and Director of Operations. LGI agents Katherine Latshaw and Jeff Silberman will join the Folio team as well; Latshaw, as a full time agent, and Silberman, as a separate entity working in affiliation with Folio.

Though the company will keep the Folio name, there is no doubt that The Literary Group’s role will be an invaluable part of Folio’s future. Weimann’s roster alone boasts an impressive spread, with titles like the recent Grace, Gold and Glory by Olympic gold medalyst, Gabby Douglas, and the gripping autobiography by Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers, entitled My Cross to Bear.

The Literary Group’s past successes have also included a wide variety of books – How-Tos by Tia Mowry, Carmen Electra, and Warren Brown and memoirs by Ed Hardy, Chris Perez, and Homer Hickam.

Neither company has made comment on the merger so far, but the prospects look promising for both as they move together towards a more secure, fortified future.

Apple Guilty of eBook Price Fixing

Apple, Inc. owns one of the largest media distributors in the world; iTunes. But today a federal judge ruled that the company conspired with five major publishers to raise the retail prices of electronic books.

The shocking conspiracy was revealed today when U.S. District Judge Denise Cote of Southern New York found “compelling evidence” that apple violated federal antitrust laws by playing a “central role” in a scheme with the publishers to eliminate retail price competition and raise e-book prices.

Apple planned to undercut retail giant Amazon.com and its e-book dominance by raising some prices to 12.99 or 14.99 from the 9.99 that Amazon charged. Amazon once held a 90 percent market share.

In the 159-page decision, Cote said “Apple chose to join forces with the publishers’ defendants to raise e-book prices and equipped them with the means to do so.” She also added that without Apple’s involvement, this scheme could have never been orchestrated effectively.

Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer of the Justice Department released a statement, saying, “This result is a victory for millions of consumers who choose to read books electronically.” He also stated that the court decision is the first step in a long process to undo to harm caused by Apple’s price fixing scheme.

Apple released a statement, also in response to the ruling, that allegations against them are false and that they plan on appealing Judge Denise Cote’s decision.

Apple spokesman Tome Niamey said: “"When we introduced the iBookstore in 2010, we gave customers more choice, injecting much needed innovation and competition into the market, breaking Amazon's monopolistic grip on the publishing industry. We've done nothing wrong."

Last year however, Apple settled a separate antitrust case over e-book pricing with the European Commission. They also admitted no wrongdoing in that case either.

Only Apple went to trial; the publishers agreed to pay more than $166 million combined to benefit consumers. The publishers included were Lagardere SCA’s Hachette Book Group, Inc., News Corp's HarperCollins Publishers LLC, Pearson Plc's Penguin Group (USA), Inc., CBS Corp's Simon & Schuster, Inc. and Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH's Macmillan.

Baer said that Cote’s decision, together with the settlements, have helped to reduce prices of e-books.

This decision has the potential to be a major blow to Apple, whose stock prices have never quite recovered to its Jobs-era highs. In the morning trading, Apple shares fell by 30 cents. 

- Emma Kent

Don’t Be a Leader or a Follower; Be a Joiner!

Join the conversation

We were all told as children that there are leaders and followers but no one talked about the rewards of being a joiner. Try being a joiner in your own organization and get more out of your business by putting in less!

Join the Conversation, Don't Lead

During our weekly office meetings I always try to speak last so I can hear the concerns, thoughts, and issues of my team. By speaking last I don't lead or direct the conversation but rather act as just another participant. I also learn what is of concern and what's really important as opposed to my own preconceptions.

Follow the Lead of Your Team

My inclination is to always give my opinion but that quickly stifles discussion as I'm the head of the company.  When there's an important company decision to be made, let others give you their reasons for or against an idea and then weigh in. Many times others have better or more developed ideas, or are coming at a conclusion from a very different vantage point. You can always have the last word but that doesn’t necessarily make it the best.

Encourage Frank Speaking

If people know they can truly voice their opinions, innovation and change become encouraged and welcomed. Let people know they can interrupt you or suggest a change when necessary, especially if they think they’ll keep you from making a mistake or not putting forth the best effort you and your company have to give.

Enjoy Fresh Ideas

After 23 years in this business and with staff members who have been with our organization for 8, 10, 15 years or more, it's not uncommon for me to be overridden by staff on opinions and to be honest, most of the time they are right. That doesn’t mean they don’t respect me or my vision for the company. Rather, it makes room for others to jump in with their own ideas, which may be newer, fresher, or better. Conversations rather than decrees build a team.

Do What You Do Best, and Let Benay Do the Rest!

You and your team work hard to grow your business. Get more time to focus on what you do best by letting Benay work behind the scenes, handling your AP/AR, invoicing, HR issues, and financials.

Infamous Books Now an Imprint of Akashic Books

Benay client, Akashic Books, is taking it to the street with their new imprint, Infamous Books. Akashic has paired with Infamous Records to release a line of urban fiction novellas. The first book, H.N.I.C., by rapper Prodigy (who also owns Infamous Records) and Steven Savile will be released on July 16^th. Prodigy (Albert Johnson) is a member of the rap duo, Mobb Deep and the H.N.I.C. release will coincide with Mobb Deep’s international tour.

H.N.I.C., a novella by Albert Johnson with Steven Savile will be released on July 16th.

According to Publisher’s Weekly, Akashic Books will work as the distributor and “co-handle the editorial and marketing duties with Infamous.” Marvis Johnson, Prodigy’s talent manager, “will oversee the daily operations of the imprint.” Johnson plans to use innovative marketing strategies to reach audiences wider than just the African American demographic. “’The statistics are that 90% of urban music is not purchased by African Americans. But urban books, when they are released, are only promoted to African Americans,’” he said.

This will be Prodigy’s second book. His memoir, My Infamous Life (Touchstone), was published in 2011. Interestingly enough, H.N.I.C. began as a film script in 1999. “’After My Infamous Life came out, I decided to take the H.N.I.C. script and [work with] somebody who was a book writer,’” said Prodigy. He chose to work with Steven Savile who is an award-winning British novelist and has published works in the fantasy, horror, and thriller genres.

Albert Johnson is better known as Prodigy, a member of the rap duo, Mobb Deep.

“’Steve brings the European style and mixes it with mine,’ Prodigy says. ‘I love street slang, and I listen to the street slang of other countries. So Steve added twists and turns and changed the language.’ Savile added, ‘each of us basically added our own unique skill set to the book. It's certainly a book neither of us could have written alone.’”

The books will be in novella form (80-100 pages) with a small trim size of 5” by 7”. They will be published in all formats simultaneously (hardcover, paperback, audio, and e-books). As Akashic Books publisher, Johnny Temple says, “’We’ve had a lot of success with small trim sizes …With the Hip Hop street esthetic, there’s something about being able to slip it in your back pocket.”

Infamous Books will release an average of four novellas a year and will include novellas from other urban fiction authors such as K’wan (Hood Rat, Welfare Wifeys), JaQuavis Coleman (co-author of The Cartel, Murderville), and Miasha (Secret Society, Diary of a Mistress).

Prodigy is not the first rapper to enter the publishing world. 50 Cent, T.I., Jay-Z , and Eminem have all written books. According to the New  York Times, there is a stark distinction between urban fiction and street-lit, which many of these rappers’ books fall into. The street-lit genre features stories that are more violent and devious. Urban fiction tends to focus more on morality and issues of loyalty.

Akashic Books has previously published urban fiction but tends to stick with literary fiction and political non-fiction. “’It’s a perfect imprint for the way the book industry is suffering,’ Temple said recently. ‘It will bring in new audiences. I see this as crime fiction, and there are not many black crime fiction writers beyond Walter Mosley and the late Chester Himes. Akashic is a literary publishing house, and we’re in a perfect position to crossover books like this and to say, ‘Don’t let the hip-hop aesthetics scare you off.’”

- Marcie Gainer

Transparency and Excellence Bring Kudos to Trust and Estate Attorneys at The MacLean Law Firm

Ian MacLean

When listening to founding attorney Ian MacLean speak about the estates and clients his law firm works with, there is no denying it: The MacLean Law Firm, P.C has its priorities straight.

The Manhattan-based firm was established in 2004 by Ian MacLean. He and the three of counsel attorneys — Philip Bouklas, Jill Teitel, and Richard Hubell — all specialize in trusts and estates law - probate, trust and estate litigation and administration, and estate planning.

The MacLean team works cohesively under the credo that transparency is of the utmost importance in their work. They see clients as real people, not numbers, and put value on keeping clients out of long drawn out litigation processes. 

“We work in a very personal area of the law; and we are always conscientious of that, along with the finer legal points at issue,” says MacLean.

That being said, MacLean and his associates are no pushovers. “We do litigation … from a very thoughtful, pragmatic, realistic perspective; keeping people out of long, drawn-out fights is usually the first option we consider,” says MacLean. “But if a fight is in our clients’ best interests or necessary to enforce our clients’ rights and protect their assets, or if the other side wants to fight, we strap on the proverbial armor and do battle.”

PROVING THEIR METTLE

Over the past eight years, the MacLean Law Firm has gained a heaping amount of prestige.

MacLean has been named a “super lawyer” in the New York Metropolitan area by his peers, and both MacLean and Hubell are AV rated – an award given to a lawyer by his peers, ranking them at the highest level of professional excellence.

And yet, MacLean prides himself most on one thing: thank you notes. Amongst the many praises The MacLean Law Firm regularly receives from clients, they have been called uncommonly attentive, reassuring, appropriate, compassionate – and above all, thorough.

It is with this delicate—and what’s more—perfected balance of compassion and realism that The MacLean Law Firm excels. Their meticulous attention to detail, sense of humanity, and strength as just representatives of their people are what make them unique and exceptional.

Do What You Do Best, and Let Benay Do the Rest

While Ian MacLean and his staff are working hard for their clients, Benay is working hard behind the scenes, handling the AP/AR, invoicing, HR issues, and financials, so the attorneys at The MacLean Law Firm are free to focus on what they do best.

If you, too, want more time to battle on behalf of your clients, give us a call at 203-744-6010.

Tin House Gains More Speed with N.Y. Times Rave Review of 'American Dream Machine'

by Colleen McClintock

Tin House Books saw yet another rave review of Matthew Specktor’s novel American Dream Machine appear in the print copy of the New York Times’ June 2nd Sunday Book Review. The same review was published early on the New York Times website, the previous Friday.

In laymen’s terms, the exposure that both Tin House and Specktor received within one single weekend was downright impressive. The review was featured on the eleventh page of the Book Review section, and took up the entire space of the page; a feat not easily achieved in the Times.  It was written by Christine Sneed, a well-established author, herself. It is perhaps because of this that Sneed was able to tap into the sentimentality of Specktor’s novel in her review, calling its dismal tone “elegaic” and deeming it as a “hip bildungsroman” narrated by the protagonist, Nate, in the fashion of a “fever dream.”

A photo of Matthew Specktor featured in the Times' review
of American Dream Machine, June 2.

This is arguably the biggest of praises that Tin House has seen this year via American Dream Machine, but it is definitely not the first, as the Times – and others – have featured smaller-scale reviews of the book since its April release.

But it is not just novels like American Dream Machine that give Tin House its chutzpah; titles are only part of it. There are factors like last year’s VIDA count that also come into play.

The VIDA count is an annual survey taken by the feminist literary group, VIDA, to see where the most gender equality lies in the world of publishing. In 2012 Tin House stood out among the lot as one of the most progressive in terms of gender balance, along with fellow Benay client, Granta Magazine.

Tin House also reinforces itself as a living, breathing institution through the yearly workshops they hold for up-and-coming writers. They are residential programs run by the very same editors of Tin House Books and of their sister lit mag, Tin House Magazine. The workshops are entered strictly through application and acceptance, but hold little pretense elsewhere and promise much growth for those who enroll. It is Tin House’s way of aiding new writers in reaching the successes that authors like Specktor have reached. In this, they ensure the survival and perseverance of a literary tradition based on craft, style, and most importantly, passion.

If you’d like to learn more about Tin House Books, please feel free to visit their website by clicking here. To see excerpts from American Dream Machine, please visit the book's page on the Tin House website. 

Golf Writers Association Taps Bruce Smith as Marketing Director

Metropolitan
Golf Writers
Association

Exciting news for Benay client Bruce Smith, president of Sporty Bears Productions! He’s now also the Director of Marketing for the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association. 

According to Smith, “The new position is charged with the responsibility of securing the financial success of the MGWA National Awards Dinner.  Primary responsibilities include ticket sales, sponsorships and raffle/auction.”

HONORING GOLF'S GREATS

This year’s 62nd National Awards Dinner will be held on June 18 at the Westchester Marriot in Tarrytown, New York.  Paul Azinger, a 12-time PGA Tour winner, will headline the event and receive the Gold Tee Award.  Past award winners include some of the most memorable names in golf: Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Nancy Lopez, Phil Mickelson, Annika Sorenstam, and Ernie Els.

The MGWA Dinner enjoys support from golf’s leading organizations – USGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, LPGA, MGA, MetLife, and Rolex.  It is the longest running golf dinner in the world and has raised over $1.3 million for Caddie Scholarship programs in the metropolitan New York area and for the the MGA Foundation.”

Smith himself has been very active with the MGWA, “the most active golf writers’ association in the world.”  He’s been a member of the MGWA Executive Committee for 20 years and was also president from 1999-2003, during which he raised an astounding $300,000 for the association’s four charities.

ROLL THE VIDEO TAPE

Smith’s most recent project is a promotional video he made for the MGWA Dinner, mixing excitement for this year’s event with a bit of nostalgia for the past.  View it here:  http://vimeo.com/63849701

Do What You Do Best, and Let Benay Do the Rest

For close to two decades Benay has been a trusted advisor for Bruce and Sporty Bear Productions. We take away the hassle of everyday business and financial tasks so that business people like Bruce can focus on their true passions.

If you want more time to follow your passions with peace of mind that your company is still operating smoothly, give us a call at 203-744-6010.