Melville House Books

From: Sargent, John (jSargent@macmillan.com)
To: xxxx@hachettebookgroup.com, xxxx@harpercollins.com, xxxx@simonandschuster.com, jMakinson@us.penguingroup.com, dShanks@us.penguingroup.com xxx@xxxxxxxx.com
cc: steve@apple.com, sargentasst@macmillan.com
Date: Monday, September 22, 2008, 10:49am
Subject: re: the $9.99 problem

Soon! My assistant can recommend a place.

From: sargentasst@macmillan.com
To: xxxx@hachettebookgroup.com, xxxx@harpercollins.com, xxxx@simonandschuster.com, jMakinson@us.penguingroup.com. xxx@xxxxxxxx.com
cc: steve@apple.com
Date: Monday, September 22, 2008, 10:55am
Subject: re: the $9.99 problem

I just called Picholine, and the Chef’s Wine Cellar there — a private room — seems to be a great place to do this: it’s an intimate space, holding 4 to 8, though the reservations department says “eight is tight; it’s better for 6-7.” I think this means that just the folks copied here can join, but that’s probably for the best…

There’s no rental fee for the room — just the cost of dinner. There’s a 12 course menu for $156 a person. Wine and tip are extra. They have an amazing wine list — with selections from France, Germany, and the “the new world.” They say it’s OK to split the check six ways.

The New York Times called the Wine Cellar “one of the prettiest rooms in the city.” How about next Monday, at 6pm? 35 West 64th Street

From: Jobs, Steve (steve@apple.com)
To: xxxx@hachettebookgroup.com, xxxx@harpercollins.com, xxxx@simonandschuster.com, jMakinson@us.penguingroup.com. xxx@xxxxxxxx.com
Date: Monday, September 22, 2008, 11:15am
Subject: re: the $9.99 problem

Wish I could be there!

As I keep telling you all, we should just go to an agency model, where you set the price, and we get our 30%, and yes, the customer pays a little more, but that’s what you want anyway!

From:  xxxx@hachettebookgroup.com
To: xxxx@harpercollins.com, xxxx@simonandschuster.com, jMakinson@us.penguingroup.com, dShanks@us.penguingroup.com xxx@xxxxxxxx.com, jSargent@macmillan.com
Date: Monday, September 22, 2008, 11:31am
Subject: re: the $9.99 problem

I was just talking to my boss in France about all of this. In Europe they are thinking of creating a publisher-driven alternative to Amazon. Let’s get on this or let Steve do our work for us! Whatever happens, we certainly shouldn’t keep on with Amazon. 

From: Shanks, David (dShanks@us.penguingroup.com)
To: xxxx@harpercollins.com, xxxx@simonandschuster.com, jMakinson@us.penguingroup.com, dShanks@us.penguingroup.com, xxx@xxxxxxxx.com, jSargent@macmillan.com, xxxx@hachettebookgroup.com
Date: Monday, September 22, 2008, 11:36am
Subject: re: the $9.99 problem

Ebooks can’t be $9.99 for hardcovers. I’m pissed at Amazon for starting to compete directly against publishers…. let’s screw Amazon

From:  xxx@xxxxxxxx.com
To: dShanks@us.penguingroup.com, xxxx@harpercollins.com, xxxx@simonandschuster.com, jMakinson@us.penguingroup.com, xxx@xxxxxxxx.com, jSargent@macmillan.com, xxxx@hachettebookgroup.com
Date: Monday, September 22, 2008, 11:38am
Subject: re: the $9.99 problem

Great, looking forward to Picholine! See you all there.

Kelly Burdick is the executive editor of Melville House.

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