Publishing Monday: BEA summed up in two images (or less)

What better way to illustrate the clash of old and new publishing?

1. Yes, these are half-naked samba dancers. Yes, that is a steel band. They were the loudest thing in the Javits Center. Really. We stepped up to the mat to see what the commotion was. (How could we not?) For our troubles, one scantily clad dancer smiled and handed us a postcard inviting us to visit their booth, where we could relax with a frosty tropical cocktail.

You might be wondering what they were publicizing? Why, the latest e-book reader, the e-Cooler. It’s available in lots of bright colors, like an old iMac—and unlike the Kindle which (so far) is only available in subtle shades of ecru and eggshell.

2. Yes, that poster in the background is for the latest Dan Brown tome, The Lost Symbol. In it, lies the hopes of many a publishing imprint homed under the auspices of Random House. If it sells as well as a certain previous bestseller (whose cover happened to wear the self-satisfied eyes of La Gioconda), Random House will be in much better shape than it has been in recent months.

Short version: A bunch of imprints and editorial folk over at Random House were given the kabash last December. Back story: Random House expanded in the wake of The Da Vinci Code’s river of cash. However, Dan Brown took longer than expected to deliver a follow up. That, combined with disappointing sales on a number of other front list books, led to difficulties on their end.

Then the recession hit. Add into this a general industry skittishness over e-books et al—well, you get the idea. The sad thing is that they’re not the only house in this situation, just one example.

So who will win? Old or new media? Or will we all find a way to just get along?

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More to come on BEA next Monday!

Photos courtesy of Thomas Ross Miller.

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