Perseus Books Group has received "dozens of signed contracts from PGW publishers, including Clies, Parallax and Wisdom, and many other clients have told us they will be sending in signed contracts the next day [i.e. today]," David Steinberger, president and CEO of Perseus, indicated to Shelf Awareness.

Steinberger called the response "extremely gratifying" and said that the company is working hard to make offers to all the publishers. He added, "It is also vital that PGW publishers who have not done so already give PGW the O.K. to release their sales information so we can analyze it and send out an offer."

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As one part of Perseus takes on more distribution clients in the U.S., its publishing operations switch distributors across the Atlantic.

Effective today, Grantham Book Services, a division of Random House Group U.K., is handling warehouse and distribution services for the Perseus Books Group in the U.K. and Europe. The Perseus houses, which include Basic Books, Basic Civitas, Counterpoint, Da Capo Press, Da Capo Lifelong Books, PublicAffairs and Westview Press, had been distributed by Marston Book Services. Perseus's Running Press books, which are being distributed by Littlehampton Book Services, will be distributed by Grantham effective February 26.

Perseus Distribution and Consortium are not part of the agreement.

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Molly Ivins, the syndicated columnist, former co-editor of the Texas Monthly and author of many books, died yesterday of breast cancer, the Houston Chronicle reported. She was 62.

Among her books, whose titles were as colorful as her prose, were Shrub: The Short But Happy Political Life of George W. Bush; Bushwhacked: Life in George W. Bush's America, which she wrote with Lou Dubose; Who Let the Dogs In?: Incredible Political Animals I Have Known and Molly Ivins Can't Really Say That, Can She?

In an interview last year with the Chronicle, she said she had made a career writing about "who was getting screwed and who was doing the screwing." She also called President Bush "Billy Bob Forehead" and Texas Governor Rick Perry "Governor Goodhair. Despite the rhetoric, both leaders issued statemens yeserday prasing Ivins.

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Sidney Sheldon, the prolific author who began writing suspense novels at age 50 after successful careers as a playwright, screenwriter and TV writer, died on Tuesday at 89 of complications from pneumonia, the AP reported. Among his bestselling titles were Rage of Angels, The Other Side of Midnight, Master of the Game and If Tomorrow Comes. His autobiography, The Other Side of Me (Warner, $25.95, 9780446532679/0446532673), was published in late 2005.

"I try to write my books so the reader can't put them down,'' he said in a 1982 interview quoted by the AP. "I try to construct them so when the reader gets to the end of a chapter, he or she has to read just one more chapter. It's the technique of the old Saturday afternoon serial: leave the guy hanging on the edge of the cliff at the end of the chapter.''

Women were fans of his titles, he said, because "I like to write about women who are talented and capable, but most important, retain their femininity. Women have tremendous power--their femininity, because men can't do without it.''

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An author event at Prairie Lights Books in Iowa City, Iowa, was cancelled Tuesday, the Daily Iowan reported, after the store received a threat in response to the title featured on the evening's agenda: Abortion Under Attack: Women on the Challenges Facing Choice edited by Krista Jacob.

"I was really surprised, because I always have protestors at my events, but my events always happen," Jacob told the paper. "I just really would have liked the opportunity to talk about my book."

The exact nature of the threat is not known, but the store closed at 6 p.m. (one hour in advance of the scheduled event) because of possible safety issues. "By 7:30 p.m., a hand-painted blue sign declaring Iowa City to be a free-speech zone was hanging on the door to Prairie Lights," noted the Daily Iowan. They also reported that several people gathered outside the store after it closed "toting signs in support of Jacob and free speech." 

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Encouraging a better vibe: a sign in the New Renaissance Bookshop in Portland, Ore., reads in its entirety: "Shoplifting is poverty consciousness." 

 

In addition to opening a bookstore in downtown Jersey City, N.J., Garrad Bradley now calls the neighborhood home. The 29-year-old owner of Imagine Atrium moved from nearby New York City to be near the store, which held its grand opening celebration on December 8.

Bradley researched locations for nearly a year, including neighborhoods in his hometown of Washington, D.C., before deciding on Jersey City. "Each place I went had its own dynamic," said Bradley, who noted that downtown Jersey City residents expressed the strongest interest in having a bookstore in their community. A steadily rising population in the area, among them a significant number of young professionals and families, encouraged Bradley. "The demographic here can support stores like this," he said, "but the stores don't exist, or at least not in large numbers."

Imagine Atrium is an 860-sq.-ft. general interest bookstore with an emphasis on "knowledge and science, self-improvement and wellness," said Bradley, who initially envisioned a retail outlet that would include a broad selection of merchandise and not primarily books. "I didn't specifically have in mind a bookstore per se, but it sort of evolved that way because books naturally fit those themes of self-improvement and knowledge."

Those themes have roots in Bradley's personal interests and professional background. While employed at the Discovery Channel in Washington, D.C., he worked on science and educational programs and documentaries. He was an associate television producer in Manhattan when he left the corporate world last year to become an entrepreneur.

Imagine Atrium's wonderfully eclectic stock includes national bestsellers, children's books, travel guides, health and wellness titles, Spanish-language books and more, along with unusual objects like natural salt lamps. Sidelines include science kits for kids, games and puzzles, yoga mats, cards, calendars and magazines. A variety of gift items (a must-have area emphasized by potential customers when Bradley was conducting research) range from teas and candles to bath products and handcrafted jewelry by the Vermont company Silver Forest.

Bradley has created a visually appealing environment that manages to be both calming and invigorating. A comfortable-looking lounge chair sits near the front of the store, a flat-screen TV plays travel segments, science documentaries and other programming, and a poster of Albert Einstein hangs on the wall. In keeping with the store's name, a section of the ceiling emulates a springtime sky--back-lit panels adorned with an airy scene of clouds and bright green foliage.

Now Bradley's focus is on getting up to speed with behind-the-scenes tasks as well as marketing the store. Priorities include developing a Web site, devising ways to work with local businesses and organizations and attracting a larger customer base "beyond the immediate neighborhood," said Bradley, who runs the store with the aid of two part-time employees. He also anticipates hosting author events beginning in mid-March.

After several years of planning, Bradley has achieved his goal of being at the helm of his own business. And the residents of downtown Jersey City no longer have to imagine having a bookstore in their midst.

Imagine Atrium is located at 528 Jersey Ave., Jersey City, N.J. 07302; 201-451-4848.--Shannon McKenna

Book TV airs on C-Span 2 from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Monday and focuses on political and historical books as well as the book industry. The following are highlights for this coming weekend. For more information, go to Book TV's Web site.

Saturday, February 3

6 p.m. Encore Booknotes. In a previously aired segment, Susan Faludi discussed her 1992 book, Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women. She is also the author of Stiffed: The Betrayal of the American Man.

9 p.m. After Words. Ben Scott, policy director for Free Press (not to be confused with the Free Press, the publishing house) and co-editor of The Future of Media: Resistance and Reform in the 21st Century, interviews Eric Klinenberg, an associate professor of sociology at New York University whose latest book, Fighting for Air: The Battle to Control America's Media (Metropolitan Books, $26, 9780805078190/0805078193), examines the control of local media by companies like Clear Channel, Sinclair Broadcasting and the Tribune Company. (Re-airs Sunday at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.)

Sunday, February 4

12-3 p.m. In Depth: Dinesh D'Souza, whose new book is The Enemy at Home: The Cultural Left and Its Responsibility for 9/11 (Doubleday, $26.95, 9780385510127). The author of six other books, D'Souza is the Rishwain Research Scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and was earlier the John M. Olin Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and worked in the Reagan White House. Viewers with questions may call during the live show or e-mail booktv@c-span.org. (Re-airs Monday at 12 a.m.)

Today on the Rachael Ray Show: Desperate Housewives' Felicity Huffman, co-author with Patricia Wolff of A Practical Handbook for the Boyfriend: For Every Guy Who Wants to Be One/For Every Girl Who Wants to Build One (Hyperion, $22.95, 9781401302917/1401302912).

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Today on the Diane Rehm Show: Dr. Frank Luntz offers Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear (Hyperion, $24.95, 9781401302597/1401302599).

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Today NPR's Fair Game talks with Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, author of My Year Inside Radical Islam: A Memoir (Tarcher, $24.95, 9781585425518/1585425516).

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Tonight on the Colbert Report: Senator Chuck Schumer on Positively American: Winning Back the Middle Class One Family at a Time (Rodale, $24.95, 9781594865725/1594865728). The senator is also scheduled to appear on the Charlie Rose Show.

At a signing at Kepler's, Menlo Park, Calif., last Friday, Rachel Fong and brother Ryan Fong line up with former NFL star Jerry Rice. The longtime San Francisco '49ers receiver has just kicked off a new title, Go Long!: My Journey Beyond the Game and the Fame (Ballantine, $24.95, 9780345496119/0345496116). Since retiring in 2005, Rice has been working as a sports broadcaster and commentator and appeared on the reality show Dancing with the Stars.

 

Margo Rabb's novel, Cures for Heartbreak ($15.99, 9780385734028/0385734026), was recently published by Random House. Here she answers a few questions that we occasionally ask people in the industry. For more about her and her books, visit her Web site.

On nightstand now:

I always seem to be reading three books at once. I recently started Mommies Who Drink by Brett Paesel (I had my first child, a baby girl, two months ago, and Paesel's account of motherhood is hysterically funny); I've almost finished Through the Children's Gate by Adam Gopnik (I'm a native New Yorker, and this book still made me see my city in a new light); and I've been re-reading Another Marvelous Thing by Laurie Colwin (her quirky characters always cheer me--even while nursing a baby at 3 a.m.).

Favorite book when you were a child:

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. My best friend and I call ourselves Anne-heads, and a few summers ago we made a pilgrimage to Prince Edward Island, where the books are set. Anne is like a religious figure there. Her image adorns everything from license plates to clothing, candy, soap and dinnerware; even her favorite drink, Raspberry Cordial, is sold at local convenience stores. Another writer friend once said, "Now that's the definition of true literary success--to have an entire island devoted to your fictional character."

Top five authors:

Alice Munro, William Trevor, Laurie Colwin, E.M. Forster and M.F.K. Fisher. The only fan letter I've ever written (aside from one to Shaun Cassidy when I was 12) was to Alice Munro. She wrote back, though Shaun never did.

Book you've "faked" reading:

Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1. We had to read it in ninth grade, and after slogging through the first 20 pages I gave up. The essay I wrote about it received an A+ though . . . perhaps it was an early sign that writing fiction might be a good endeavor for me.

Book you are an "evangelist" for:

Alice Munro's The Beggar Maid. This is my #1 stranded-on-a-desert-island pick. It's a linked collection--each story stands on its own but features the same characters, and it reads like a novel. So many of her stories articulate emotions that I've felt which I'd never been able to put into words--I can read them countless times and see a new meaning with each read.

Book you've bought for the cover:

Stranger Things Happen by Kelly Link. I'd like to be that girl detective on the retro, Nancy-Drew-like cover of this novel, in a cute outfit with perfectly coiffed hair, shining a flashlight into the dark.

Book that changed your life:

A Room with a View by E.M. Forster. The first time I read this novel, when I was 15, it made me dream of finding a great love, of not settling for anything less. I love its evocation of Tuscany and England (both of which are captured so well in the Merchant-Ivory film adaptation). As a teenaged girl, how can you not fall in love with a book that contains the line "The only thing that is impossible is to love and to part"?  

Favorite line from a book:

"I write this sitting in the kitchen sink"--the first line of I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. If you haven't read this fantastic novel, you must go read it. Now.

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

I think that so much of the experience of reading a book has to do with where and when you read it. I bought Love Poems by Yehuda Amichai when I was studying in Jerusalem many years ago. On our mid-semester break, five friends and I went to the Greek island of Paros, and we read the book aloud on the beach. I'd like to go back in time, to be among five college girls reading love poems, eating bread and cheese on a deserted beach in October, dreaming about our futures.