Random House acquires Ten Speed Press

[Hugh]

It's nice to see that Random House is optimistic enough in this economy to go out and buy another publishing house.

I had the 1989 version of What Color is Your Parachute? when I was preparing to leave the navy. I can't believe it's been twenty years.

Three months after massive restructuring at Random House, the conglomerate has purchased the California-based publisher, Ten Speed Press. Neither company revealed details of the sale, but Ten Speed founder Philip Wood will serve as publisher emeritus of the newly-acquired press, the NY Times reports.

The 38-year-old press publishes about 100 hardcover titles every year, including the recession-proof "What Color Is Your Parachute?" series. The imprint will become part of Crown Publishing Group at Random House.

Executives were frank about upcoming layoffs: "Jenny Frost, president and publisher of Crown, said that there would be some layoffs at Ten Speed as its distribution and warehousing units were consolidated into Crown's operations. But she said the company planned to retain Ten Speed's editorial staff in Berkeley."

 

[sparkchaser]

Now is the best time for them to pick up new publishing houses.