Eason Unveils THE ARTEMIS PROJECT An Interactive Experience For Kids And Teens

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PRESS RELEASE NO REPRO FEE 09/10/2011 Eason Unveils Its First Interactive Experience for Children Called “The Artemis Project” Pictured here today in Eason Dundrum Town Centre is Irish Best Selling Author and renowned children’s writer Sarah Webb who is joined by Katie Lawlor (6), Fatima Hanafy (6) and Kaytlin McGlue (7) from St. Brigid’s NS, The Coombe whowere on hand to officially unveil an innovative children’s experience called The Artemis Project @ Eason. The Artemis Project offers children and teens a creative environment where they can explore and interact with some of their favourite characters both old and new in a fun space while still learning through the enjoyment. The project is specifically designed to encourage children and young teens to read, discover and think! For more information on The Artemis Project @ Eason visit www.eason.com - Ends- Tuesday 18th October 2011 For further Information, please contact: Ruth Gleeson/Aoife McDonald @ WHPR 01 6690030 Ruth 087-6964953/ Aoife 087-4100777 Ruth.Gleeson@ogilvy.com/ Aoife.McDonald@ogilvy.com ©Patrick Bolger Photography 2011
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PRESS RELEASE NO REPRO FEE 09/10/2011 Eason Unveils Its First Interactive Experience for Children Called “The Artemis Project” Pictured here today in Eason Dundrum Town Centre is James McNevin (6) from St. Brigid’s NS, The Coombe who was on hand to officially unveil an innovative children’s experience called The Artemis Project @ Eason. The Artemis Project offers children and teens a creative environment where they can explore and interact with some of their favourite characters both old and new in a fun space while still learning through the enjoyment. The project is specifically designed to encourage children and young teens to read, discover and think! For more information on The Artemis Project @ Eason visit www.eason.com - Ends- Tuesday 18th October 2011 For further Information, please contact: Ruth Gleeson/Aoife McDonald @ WHPR 01 6690030 Ruth 087-6964953/ Aoife 087-4100777 Ruth.Gleeson@ogilvy.com/ Aoife.McDonald@ogilvy.com ©Patrick Bolger Photography 2011

Eason, Ireland’s leading retailer of books, officially unveiled an innovative new children’s experience called The Artemis Project.

The Artemis Project offers children and teens a creative environment where they can explore and interact with some of their favourite characters both old and new.  According to the company the project is specifically designed to encourage children and young teens to read, discover and think.

Special features include a Mr Men wheel, a “Go Fish” wall game, a chill out area where parents can enjoy reading their favourite books with their children and a special teen zone. The teen zone provides a separate, more grown up, space with high seating and a meeting area.

Speaking about the Artemis Project at the launch today, David Field, Head of Marketing & Retail Development for Eason said ‘We are really thrilled with the outcome of this project.  As part of our long term strategy we wanted to create an environment that would allow children and young adults to be excited and engaged by our products and reading.  Our new concept not only delivers on being an exciting new space but tells young people and teens that Eason is the destination for all the latest trends and where you will find the next big thing on shelf before anywhere else. We are committed to creating on trend spaces that are innovative and interactive for both children and young adults in-store and on-line. Eason Dundrum is the first Eason store to host the new look destination for children – The first roll out of this new children’s is part of a major retail development strategy’

The newly designed space which spans across 130 square meters, took inspiration from some of the most recognisable and iconic children’s characters including The BFG, The Gruffalo and the Very Hungry Caterpillar and the newer additions such as Judy Moody, Skulduggery Pleasant and The Hunger Games.

Jamie Healy from Dynamo design studio said. ‘From the start, the team at Eason were sure of one thing, that reading and enjoyment were central to the design. The results are something really special. We drew inspiration from around the world to create this magical space, from the Tate Modern in London to an extraordinary school in Brooklyn.  The colour palate we used is zingy, lively, fun and sure to put a smile on people’s faces – whatever the age.’

Regular author’s events will also be held at The Artemis Project with the next event on 9 November bestselling American author of young-adult novels Maggie Stiefvater will be holding an interactive evening at Artemis including a reading and book signing. Maggie will also be on hand to answers any questions from fans of her books including her latest The Scorpio Races.

The Artemis Project at Eason is now open on Level 3, Dundrum Town Centre.

Tim Smyth Joins The Ulster Historical Foundation

Tim Smyth, who managed of the Bookshop at Queens University in Belfast until it was closed earlier this year, has joined the Ulster Historical Foundation as Business Development Officer.

Smyth will be responsible for increasing the organisations publication output, which currently includes around ten projects a year, promoting collaboration with other publishers as well as exploring new areas like heritage tourism.

Speaking to Irish Publishing news Smyth said that he hope to ‘work with other colleagues in Irish publishing’ to promote good relationships and collaboration in what were difficult financial times.

Smyth said that he was really up for the new challenge and would enjoy working with the foundation to promote the history, heritage and culture of Ulster and the island as a whole, something he was noted for doing in his role at the bookshop.

The foundation was founded in 1956 and has developed an impressive family history research arm alongside a publishing and bookselling arm.

Short List For Bord Gáis Energy Bookshop of the Year Announced

Also announced at the Irish Book Awards shortlist event yesterday was the ten bookshop shortlist for the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Bookshop of the Year:

Ulster:
Crannog Bookshop, Cavan
Eason Letterkenny

Munster:
The Killarney Bookshop, Killarney
Vibes & Scribes Bookshop, Cork

Connacht:
The Clifden Bookshop, Clifden
Castle Book & Card Centre, Castlebar

Leinster:
Bridge Street Books, Wicklow
Stone House Books, Kilkenny

Greater Dublin:
Rathgar Bookshop, Rathgar
Village Books, Malahide

The winner will be announced at the Awards Dinner on 17th November.

Irish Book Awards Shortlists Announced

Penguin Ireland was the big winner in yesterday’s announcement of the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards Shortlists. The company received a total of 10 nominations (and John Murray, its sister imprint another) twice that of any of its rivals.

The variety of Irish author’s nominated was impressive with Sebastian Barry, Neil Jordan, Derek Landy, Benjamin Black and Alan Glynn all nominated as well as  Orla Tinsley, comedian Des Bishop, radio presenter Joe Duffy, award-winning jockey Tony McCoy, scriptwriter/director John Butler and Irish rugby player Donncha O’Callaghan.

Transworld Ireland, Gill & McMillan, HarperCollins and Pan Macmillan all garnered five nominations with the Hachette group of companies pulling in five as well. Random House gained four, Simon & Schuster three.

Smaller publishers also did well with Liberties Press gaining one nomination in the Ireland Am Irish Crime Fiction Book of the Year for Absolute Zero Cool by Declan Burke and Adam’s World of Wonders by Benji Bennett from Adam’s Printing Press joining the Junior section of the Specsavers Irish Children’s Book of the Year.

O’Brien Press, who recently acquired Brandon, gained three nominations, Mercier Press two as did Faber & Faber and Poolbeg with Granta, Atlantic, Andersen Press and Cosair gaining one each.

Public voting for the awards has now started and can be completed online, here. The winners will be announced at an awards dinner in the Concert Hall of the Royal Dublin Society on 17 November.

The Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year
Solace by Belinda McKeon (Picador)
On Canaan’s Side by Sebastian Barry (Faber)
The Cold Eye of Heaven by Christine Dwyer Hickey (Atlantic)
City of Bohane by Kevin Barry (Random House)
The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright (Random House)
Mistaken by Neil Jordan (John Murray)

RTÉ Radio 1’s The John Murray Show Listeners’ Choice Award:
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (Corsair)
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt (Granta)
How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran (Ebury)
How the Light Gets in by Mary McEvoy (Hachette Ireland)
The Club by Christy O’Connor (Penguin Ireland)
My Dad was Nearly James Bond by Des Bishop (Penguin Ireland)

The Ireland AM Irish Crime Fiction Book of the Year:
A Death in Summer by Benjamin Black (Mantle)
The Bloody Meadow by William Ryan (Mantle)
Bloodland by Alan Glynn (Faber)
The Reckoning by Jane Casey (Ebury)
Taboo by Casey Hill (Simon & Schuster)
Absolute Zero Cool by Declan Burke (Liberties Press)

The Argosy Irish Non-Fiction Book of the Year:
How Ireland Really Went Bust by Matt Cooper (Penguin Ireland)
Easy Meals by Rachel Allen (Collins)
Circles Around the Sun by Molly McCloskey (Penguin Ireland)
Moscow, December 25, 1991 by Conor O’Clery (Transworld Ireland)
Just Joe: My Autobiography by Joe Duffy (Transworld Ireland)
Anglo Republic by Simon Carswell (Penguin Ireland)

Eason Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year:
The Time of my Life by Cecilia Ahern (HarperCollins)
All For You by Sheila O’Flanagan (Headline)
Me and My Sisters by Sinead Moriarty (Penguin Ireland)
Love and Marriage by Patricia Scanlan (Transworld Ireland)
NAMA Mia! by Ross O’Carroll Kelly (Penguin Ireland)
The Pink Ladies Club by Emma Hannigan (Poolbeg Press)

Irish Sports Book of the Year:
My Autobiography by A P McCoy (Orion)
Engage: The Fall and Rise of Matt Hampson by Paul Kimmage (Simon & Schuster)
Walk On: My Life in Red by Ronnie Whelan and Tommy Conlon (Simon & Schuster)
A Parish Far from Home by Philip O’Connor (Gill & Macmillan)
Joking Apart: My Autobiography by Donncha O’Callaghan (Transworld Ireland)
Inside the Peloton by Nicolas Roche (Transworld Ireland)

Sunday Independent Best Irish Newcomer of the Year:
The Tenderloin by John Butler (Picador)
Solace by Belinda McKeon (Picador)
The Better Half by Sarah Harte (Penguin Ireland)
The Lingerie Designer by Siobhan McKenna (Poolbeg Press)
Salty Baby by Orla Tinsley (Hachette Ireland)
My Dad was Nearly James Bond by Des Bishop (Penguin Ireland)

International Education Services Best Irish Published Book of the Year:
Catherine’s Family Kitchen by Catherine Fulvio (Gill & Macmillan)
Make Bake Love by Lilly Higgins (Gill & Macmillan)
Revolution by Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc (Mercier)
The Other Ireland by Mary Jones (Gill & Macmillan)
Connemara: A Little Gaelic Kingdom by Tim Robinson (Penguin Ireland)
Gorgeous to Go by Aisling McDermott (Gill & Macmillan)

Specsavers Irish Children’s Book of the Year:
Junior:
Adam’s World of Wonders by Benji Bennett (Adams Printing Press)
The Lonely Beast by Chris Judge (Andersen Press)
Sally Go Round the Stars by Sarah Webb and Steve McCarthy with Claire Ranson (O’Brien Press)
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins Childrens)
Marco Moves In by Gerry Boland (O’Brien Press)

Senior:
The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Ocean of Blood by Darren Shan (HarperCollins Childrens)
Skulduggery Pleasant: Death Bringer by Derek Landy (HarperCollins Childrens)
And For Your Information… by Denise Deegan (Hachette)
Arthur Quinn and the World Serpent by Alan Early (Mercier)
The Real Rebecca by Anna Carey (O’Brien)

Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award
Seamus Heaney

Irish Consumer Market Continues to Fall

The Irish Consumer Market (ICM) continues to suffer sharp year-on-year declines, with the latest figures from Nielsen Bookscan showing the market down by 8.9% to €88.6m in value, and down by 9.7% to 8.5m units.

The Fiction sector is down 9.0% in value (to €26.0m) and 10.1% in volume (to 2.8m units). Non-Fiction has seen a decline of 8.0% in value (to €41.4m) and 8.3% in volume (to 3.0m units). The Children’s sector shows a decline of 10.4% in value (to €20.7m) and 10.7% in volume (to 2.7m units).

Average selling price for the market as a whole was €10.43 indicating that despite falling sales, prices are relatively stable. The figures include only print sales. Irish readers can now buy ebooks from Amazon, Apple, Kobo and several other smaller ebook stores.

Hughes: WH Smith In Terminal Two Is A Shame

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today With Pat Kenny radio program Derek Hughes of Hughes & Hughes has condemned the decision to allow WH Smith enter the market in Dublin Airport by awarding them the contract for Terminal Two saying: ‘You also have WH Smith in T2 (Terminal Two) which I think is a shame. T2 should represent the best of Irish retail, you may as well be in Manchester or Birmingham. All best Irish retailers should be represented and it would have been lovely to have Hughes & Hughes there.’

In a wide-ranging and open interview Hughes gave an explanation of the collapse of Hughes & Hughes in February 2010. According to the retailer, the business failed because of a huge drop in business principally at Dublin airport where passenger numbers dropped from 24 million to 18 million. Hughes said that the company had ‘a €12 million drop in turnover and we had actually an increase in our rents and we had rates going up significantly also … it didn’t add up’

Hughes has returned to bookselling with Sivota Ltd which now trades under the Hughes & Hughes brand and has now opened a seventh 6,000 sq foot store in the Jervis Street Centre which offers books, stationery, cards and toys and it sited in the former Waterstone’s store.

Speaking about the financial health of the company he said, ‘This year we’ll certainly get to break even. Within the retail business, and more especially the bookselling business, Christmas is absolutely critical to us.”

Asked about the impact of ebooks Hughes said that ‘the whole industry is hit by the ereaders, but the physical book itself is so important’ and that ereading had ‘captured about 20% of the market ..  it is a competitive threat.’ Hughes said, ‘we do have a strong digital strategy going forward … we will be a clicks and mortar retailer in 2012.’

O’Brien Press Acquires Brandon Books

The O’Brien Press has announced the acquisition of Dingle based Irish independent publisher Brandon Books. The move comes a year after Brandon’s founder, Steve MacDonogh, died suddenly, leaving the publisher leaderless.

The deal includes the purchase of the Brandon name and a significant number, thought to be around half the existing list, of the publisher’s key titles, contracts and book stock.

O’Brien Press will continue to publish titles under the Brandon imprint and Ivan O’Brien, Managing Director of The O’Brien Press, said ‘We will be focusing on fiction of literary quality and will actively seek out new original talent, bringing to our Brandon imprint the care, flair and fresh thinking that has helped O’Brien become Ireland’s leading independent publisher. Of course, we will continue to publish established authors like Alice Taylor, Gerry Adams and Sam Millar. Brandon authors will benefit from our worldwide literary agency network and from our in-house design, editorial and production management.’

The acquisition marks a significant departure for O’Brien which, while publishing considerable numbers of children’s and young adult fiction, has only a limited adult fiction list.

Speaking about the acquisition, publisher and founder of The O’Brien Press, Michael O’Brien said ‘Steve was a man of many talents. From a small base in beautiful Kerry, he created an international literary press. He was a lifelong friend and colleague.’

Eason 125 Celebration

Last week Easons celebrated it 125th Anniversary with a gala event. Here’s some pictures.

Briefly Noted | Hughes & Hughes revival stacks up – The Irish Times – Fri, Oct 07, 2011

This time around there is a greater focus on cards and stationery and Hughes has also developed a new in-store concept called Eureka, which involves a branded toys and games section aimed at babies to early teens.

Its being “fully road tested” in its Dundrum and Jervis stores before being expanded next year.

“We’ll be looking for standalone Eureka shops in 2012,” Hughes said confidently.

Hughes said sales are up 8 per cent on last year, which “in the current market is positive”.

Annual revenues are “north” of €6 million and the group is on target to hit break even this year.

via Hughes & Hughes revival stacks up – The Irish Times – Fri, Oct 07, 2011.

Amazon Launches Kindle In France

Online retailing giant Amazon has launched the Kindle Device and ebook store in France.

The newest Kindle eInk reader is available there for €99 but the company does not seem to have made the new touch screen Kindles or the Kindle Fire available to French customers.

The launch marks the fourth distinct Kindle store with stores having opened previous in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Yesterday Google launched its own ebook service in the United Kingdom and last week Apple finally rolled out its iBooks service to Ireland and several other European markets.