Glacier Bay Books Expands Manga Lineup, Integrates Star Fruit Books Catalog
Independent manga publisher Glacier Bay Books is bolstering its offerings with the acquisition of Star Fruit Books’ publishing line and inventory. This move comes following the passing of Star Fruit Books founder Matt Haasch last September, and aims to continue his legacy. Alongside this acquisition, Glacier Bay Books announced the licensing of two new short story manga collections.
New Manga Titles on the Horizon
Basement Attic by Naoto Yamakawa
Glacier Bay Books will publish the first complete English release of Naoto Yamakawa’s Basement Attic, a short story collection described as being “full of humor, verve, charm, and the occasional slyly cynical undertone.” Yamakawa’s work was previously featured in the manga anthology series Glaeolia with the story For Sleepless Nights.
Shitsugaikishitsu by Chome
The publisher is as well adding Shitsugaikishitsu, a short story collection by Chome, to its catalog. Details regarding the English edition cover, title, and production schedule will be revealed in a future announcement. The manga is described as featuring “four mysterious magical realist short stories about people whose lives intersect unexpectedly and in different ways with a hidden world.”
Continued Progress on Existing Projects
Glacier Bay Books provided an update on several Kickstarter-funded projects. Printing is underway for Baku-Chan, Box Garden Beetle, and the first three volumes of Liddell. True Blue Never Fades, Universe from the Balcony, and The Cursed Body are currently in the prepress stage and will soon enter production. Kickstarter backers will receive further details through the platform.
Star Fruit Books Integration & New Retail Platform
Glacier Bay Books is working with Matt Haasch’s mother and the Star Fruit Books team to ensure a smooth transition and continuation of their publishing work. All existing Star Fruit Books licenses and publications will now fall under Glacier Bay Books’ operations, and the publisher will also fulfill any outstanding direct orders.
In addition to the acquisition and new licenses, Glacier Bay Books has launched a new website platform for direct retail accounts. This platform offers a complete integrated catalog, a streamlined order placement and tracking system, and multiple payment integration options. A limited beta version is currently available to select U.S.-based retailers.
The Growing Trend of Manga Acquisitions
The acquisition of Star Fruit Books by Glacier Bay Books highlights a growing trend within the manga publishing industry: consolidation. Smaller publishers, often founded by passionate individuals, can face challenges in scaling operations and maintaining consistent output. Being acquired by a larger entity like Glacier Bay Books provides stability and resources to continue publishing beloved titles.
Pro Tip:
Preserve an eye on Glacier Bay Books’ Twitter feed (@glacierbaybooks) for the latest updates on release schedules and new announcements.
FAQ
What is happening with Star Fruit Books?
Star Fruit Books’ publishing line and inventory are being transferred to Glacier Bay Books following the passing of founder Matt Haasch.
Where can I find more information about the new manga titles?
Glacier Bay Books will share more details about Shitsugaikishitsu, including the English edition cover and title, in future announcements.
Is the new retail platform available to all retailers?
Currently, the platform is in a limited beta phase and restricted to U.S.-based accounts.
Where can I track the progress of Kickstarter projects?
Updates on Kickstarter projects will be shared with backers through the Kickstarter platform.
Want to stay up-to-date on the latest manga news and releases? Follow Glacier Bay Books on Twitter for real-time updates and announcements!
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