Hachette posts 2009 growth, though US suffers Meyer slowdown

www.thebookseller.com: Hachette’s book business grew 5.3% in 2009, despite a “sharp slowdown” in the US in the fourth quarter thanks to a decline in sales of Stephenie Meyer’s books.

Full-year revenues for 2009 at the publishing business were €2.3bn, up 5.3% on a reported basis or 6.5% on a like-for-like basis, with the growth largely attributed to the ongoing success of Meyer’s Twilight saga. Hachette UK had a record year “reporting very strong sales for 2009″, a separate statement issued by the UK office added, though it did not break out its sales numbers.

The Hachette Book Group’s fourth-quarter growth was less impressive, up just 0.2% on a like-for-like measure. The result was blamed on a “particularly dynamic” fourth quarter of 2008 when Meyer was riding hight, and in December alone Hachette sold 8m copies of her books.

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Essential Sci-Fi Novels

blog.adaptiveblue.com: Our list is filled with literary classics, popular essentials, and the newer books that are currently capturing your imagination. Our list now includes contemporary favorites such as the gasp-inducingly good Hunger Games, Boing Boing blogger Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother, and Twilight author Stephenie Meyer’s sci-fi foray The Host.

Adding award winners is also a big priority when improving our lists. The Hugo and Nebula ceremonies are like the Oscars of science-fiction and fantasy writing, except with less Harry Winston jewelry present. Title holders such as Dan Simmons’s Hyperion, Vernor Vinge’s A Fire Upon the Deep, and Greg Bear’s Darwin’s Radio are now in their rightful place at GetGlue as part of the list.

We also recognize that our original list could be more diverse. Samuel R. Delaney has been a force in literary science fiction for decades, and his Dhalgren now sits on our list with works from other genre giants such as Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke.

More here

Well I’m not that surprised that twilight books are getting low numbers and selling less. I spent half of December on book stores and saw how people would by other books that weren’t based on twilight; it is not that fans are tired of it, it is just that twilight has opened a new door to all these great books. Stephenie Meyer herself has recommended House of Night and the Mortal Instruments series among others. It’s like any other book, fans will keep coming and new ones will discover it soon and everything will start again.

What do you think?

From thedaonline.com

With the beginning of a new decade, it’s difficult to ignore the number of books being adapted for the silver screen.

This will be a big year for books making it to the big screen. The leader of the pack is the powerhouse of the movement: Nicolas Sparks.

Sparks is known for his sappy, romantic novels making their move from paper to reel ever since the hit “Message in a Bottle.”

In 2010, Sparks has two books coming to life, eager to join the hits that have been “The Notebook” and “A Walk to Remember.” Both painfully romantic novels that audiences watch over and over.

It is also a big year for series and sagas moving from books to film such as “The Twilight Saga” and “The Cronicles of Narnia.”
Stephanie Meyer’s hit saga will release it’s third film adaptation from her third book, “Eclipse,” June 30.

Meyer’s books have had a cult following since the release of the first “Twilight” in 2005.

“Eclipse” was the fourth best-selling book of 2008 behind only “Twilight,” “New Moon” and “Breaking Dawn.”

“Eclipse” is the third installment of the saga starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson and is expected to join “Twilight” and “New Moon” status of box office gold upon it’s release.

“Eclipse” is the story of the ongoing Bella and Edward twisted romance, only this time around they must deal with the cult of the “newborn vampires” and Victoria seeking revenge for her love James who Edward killed.

Nicholas Sparks ‘Dear John’ hit theatres February 5th and the third installment of the Narnia series, ‘Voyage of the Dawn Treader’ comes out December 10th.

Of course, I’m extremely excited for ‘Eclipse’, who isn’t?? June can not come soon enough, but what would pacify me, is a TRAILER! Heck, I would accept some still shots of the finished product! You hear me, David

The Twilight Saga News Wrap-up:

TWILIGHT FAN WINS CONTEST ON TWITTER – TALKS TO CHRIS WEITZ ON PHONE
CHASKE SPENCER IS PACKING ON MUSCLE FOR BREAKING DAWN
NEW MOON LIMITED EDITION GIFT SET FROM AMAZON JAPAN

Read more HERE

SWEETHEARTS® UNVEILS NEW MOON-THEMED CONVERSATION HEARTS
TWILIGHT SERIES OFFERS LESSONS WORTH SHARING

Read more HERE

Latest Updates from David Slade’s Twitter
A Look At Twilight: The Graphic Novel

Read more HERE

Breaking Dawn] Where will they shoot it?

Read more HERE

NEW POSTER FOR ‘THE TWILIGHT SAGA:ECLIPSE’?

Read more HERE

‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ composer announced
Robert Pattinson to Get a Record Deal from Simon Cowell?
New Moon DVD to include dreamcatcher bag clip only at Barnes & Noble, pre-orders begin January 26th

Read more HERE

Movie News Wrap-up:

Abrams to Publish ‘Wimpy Kid’ Movie Diary

Read more HERE

What is the next Tim Burton Fairy Tale Twist for Disney?

Read more HERE

‘Saw VI’ Director Hired for ‘Paranormal Activity 2′

Read more HERE

Tron Legacy Will Use 3-D The Way The Wizard Of Oz Used Color

Read more HERE

Author & Book News Wrap-up:

COUNT DOWN OF THE 100 GREATEST SCIENCE FICTION OR FANTASY NOVELS OF ALL TIME

Read more HERE

BOOK SALES CHARTS JANUARY 22ND: USA TODAY

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Book Bound is having a Best YA of 2009 Mega Giveaway

Read more HERE

TV Show News Wrap-up:

‘TRUE BLOOD’ CREATOR CASTS FEMALE WEREWOLF

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‘Vampire Diaries’ EXCLUSIVE: Steven R. McQueen On Jeremy’s New Girlfriend And Werewolf Future

Read more HERE

‘TRUE BLOOD’ EXPLORES BILL-SAM RELATIONSHIP EROTICALLY

Read more HERE

FOX DEVELOPING ‘TORCHWOOD’ SERIES FOR U.S.

Read more HERE

OBS Fun News Wrap-up:

OBS AUTHOR PROFILES: KURT VONNEGUT

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BOOK REVIEWS: STEPHENIE MEYER – THE HOST

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MOVIE REVIEWS: THE GREEN MILE

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MOVIE REVIEWS: THE BREED (2006)

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BOOK REVIEWS: RICHARD MATHESON – WHAT DREAMS MAY COME

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OBS TOP 5/10: BEAUTIFUL CREATURES EDITION

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OBS SPEAKS OUT: THE REALITY OF TIME TRAVEL

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OPEN BOOK SOCIETY ON TWITTER

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BOOK REVIEWS: CATE TIERNAN – A CHALICE OF WIND

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MOVIE REVIEWS: 2012

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A-Z: BEAUTIFUL CREATURES

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POLL OF THE WEEK: “WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER IN BEAUTIFUL CREATURES?”

Read more HERE

OBS PRESENTS ‘PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF’ BOOK CLUB

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MOVIE REVIEWS: THE FOURTH KIND

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BOOK REVIEWS: KELLEY ARMSTRONG – MEN OF THE OTHERWORLD

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OBS SPEAKS OUT: MUST-SEE LIST ‘TIME TRAVEL’ EDITION

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BOOK REVIEWS: CASSANDRA CLARE – CITY OF BONES

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OBS PRESENTS: MOVIE POSTERS FOR ‘INDEPENDENCE DAY’

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OBS RECAPS & REVIEWS: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES S1 – EPISODE 11: BLOODLINES

Read more HERE

BOOK REVIEWS: ELLEN SCHRIEBER – VAMPIRE KISSES

Read more HERE

We are currently doing two book clubs:

Beautiful Creatures

and

Time Traveler’s Wife

Twilight Saga: Eclipse Script Leaked?

source: The Dish Rag

The Internet and especially Twitter was abuzz on Tuesday (Jan. 5) with word of a leaked script from the upcoming third “Twilight” movie “Eclipse.”

While The Dish Rag did easily locate a site where a pdf version of the complete script can supposedly be downloaded, we declined since who knows what sort of vampiric computer virus might come along for the ride.

However, a screenshot of the first page of the blue script (meaning it’s an early one and not likely what was shot from) has also been making the rounds and if this is the real deal, Jackson Rathbone (who plays Jasper) can expect to get a talking to from Summit very, very soon.

It appears the movie opens with Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) turning Riley (Xavier Samuel) into the vampire that she plans to send after Bella (Kristen Stewart).

POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING – LINKS AND IMAGES PAST THIS POINT MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.

MORE HERE

MORE HERE

What do you think? Do you think that they have the real deal or is it just another virus and a good fake?

If it is the real deal, will you try to read it or will you wait for the movie to come out?

Join us in the forum and sound off!

Top 12 Film Industry Stories of 2009:#2: New Moon Eclipses Box Office

Once in awhile, a box office story occurs that almost exists outside of its individual achievement. The Twilight Saga: New Moon is such a situation in that its box office behavior not only exemplifies a franchise on the rise but also simultaneously encapsulates a decade worth of box office trending with one event.

I speak of course of the opening weekend of New Moon. There are twin aspects to this discussion. The first is an individual examination of the success of the Twilight sequel. The second requires a bit of box office history. Let’s discuss this portion before talking about the Summit Entertainment side of the story. More here.

Promo for Rachelle Lefevre’s ‘The Deep End’

 Premiering on ABC on January 21st is The Deep End, a television show that focuses on the experience of four young lawyers as they enter a tough associateship program at a top-notch law firm.

Rachelle Lefevre (“Victoria” in Twilight and The Twilight Saga: New Moon) portrays “Katie” in the show, and she’ll be appearing in the series pilot.

Promotional videos for the show, while focusing on the principle actors for the series, have shown Lefevre in character, and you can check them out below!

Another video and more here.

Anna Kendrick From ‘Twilight’ and ‘Up in the Air’: Who Is She Again?

You know that cute little brunette from ‘Twilight’? Nope, not Kristen Stewart, the other one. No, not Ashley Greene, the other one. She plays Bella’s best non-vampire friend. Yes, that one! That’s Anna Kendrick and she’s taking Hollywood by storm.

The movie industry is officially buzzing: this talented actress is poised to become Hollywood’s next “It” girl. Kendrick already stars in the phenomenon that is the ‘Twilight’ saga. And not only is she part of one of this award season’s most buzzed-about flicks, ‘Up in the Air’, she’s been nominated for a Golden Globe and SAG award for her role. There might even be an Oscar nod in her near future. More here.

Twilight’s Peter Facinelli talks Vampire Transformer application for iPhone – ’something for fans’

The star of The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Peter Facinelli discusses his latest creation, the Vampire application for iPhone, which Facinelli says is “for the fans.”

Facinelli, featured in the following, was interviewed by The Wrap.

Why did you decide to throw your hat in the app ring?
I wanted to make something for the fans that I thought they would enjoy. What better than to have them be able to make their own coven in a fun, artistic way?

More here.

Films compete for Sundance awards

Your ticket to the film festival, which runs Jan. 21-31 in Provo, Utah.

Vying for awards

The stars come out
‘Welcome to the Rileys’ – Director Jake Scott’s New Orleans drama, which co-stars James Gandolfini and “Twilight” star Kristen Stewart.

…
‘The Runaways’ “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” co-stars Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning team up for director Floria Sigismondi’s portrait of rocker Joan Jett as she forms her band in the 1970s.

More here.

Exclusive Interview: Kirsten Prout is Lucy in THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE

Nineteen-year-old Canadian born actress Kirsten Prout has been making a name for herself in film and television, since getting bitten by the acting but at the very young age of two. After her feature film debut in 2005 as Abby, sidekick to Jennifer Garner’s character in the superhero flick Elektra, she went on to play Amanda, the girl-next-door love interest for Kyle on the ABC Family drama Kyle XY.
This June, Kirsten Prout will be in her most visible project to date, as vampire Lucy in the highly anticipated The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. In the third installment of the popular film franchise, her character is seen in flashbacks that give insight into the backstory of Jasper (Jackson Rathbone) and how he was created.

In this exclusive interview, the rising star talked to IESB about the experience of playing her darkest role yet, in such a high-profile film. More here.

I am so excited to begin watching ‘The Deep End’. I absolutely love Rachelle and I don’t think I saw enough of her in ‘Twilight’ so I would love to see her stretch her acting legs some more for us! Do you plan on watching the premiere episode on January 21st?

The buzz for Anna Kendrick is really great. She definitely has a bright future and I can’t wait for her next projects!

Do you have the iPhone Transformer app? What do you think of it?

I am pleased to see another fresh face for ‘Eclipse’. Kirsten Prout seems to have a good head on her shoulders and is pretty modest about her career thus far. I can’t wait to see her performance!

What do you think of today’s Twilight Saga news? Join us in the forums and share your thoughts – we’d love to hear from you!

Out With the Aughts: Abstinent Vampires Are the New Black

Vampires have had a startling resurgence of late, crawling out of the coffin-like obscurity of black-and-white filmography to terrorize contemporary popular culture. Television series such as True Blood and Vampire Diaries have become hugely popular, to say nothing of the uncontested lord of neo-Nosferatu culture – Stephenie Meyer’s book-turned-movie series Twilight.

This year, the second film instalment of the series, New Moon, came out to record-breaking box-office numbers. But it didn’t just contribute to the usual teenage pop consumption, the frustratingly reserved girl-meets-vampire love story gave teens a valuable lesson: don’t have sex.