The Wall Street Journal has the story: Peter Olson's successor at Random House Inc. has been selected, and it's a German guy whom none of the publishers in New York have ever heard of. The name is Markus Dohle, and he comes from Arvato, the printing operation at Bertelsmann.

Mr. Dohle took over the top job at Arvato for Hartmut Ostrowski, who became chairman of the entire Bertelesmann corporation this past January. Mr. Ostrowski chose one of his own in nominating Mr. Dohle for the Random House appointment— a move many stateside industry observers predicted in recent weeks amid whispers and speculation that seems to come up basically every time a Random House C.E.O. abruptly leaves his job.  read more »

This past January, Gunter Thielen wrapped up his six year tenure as C.E.O. of Bertelsmann AG, the German corporation that owns the largest American publishing operation, Random House Inc.; today the Bookseller reports that Thielen has been named chairman of the company’s supervisory board.

Bertelsmann was most recently in the news when a German magazine reported (without citing sources) that it had offered Rupert Murdoch a billion dollars for HarperCollins, the book publishing arm of News Corp.  read more »

Jon Bon Jovi is "headlining" BEA, which is actually not a big concert but a book industry expo held in the Javits Center.

The singer will perform, with Amy Grant, at Town Hall on June 2 during BEA. The rockers, who both have forthcoming titles from the Doubleday imprint Flying Dolphin Press, will hit the stage for charity as part of the Saturday Night Benefit, raising money for the Book Industry Foundation.

The book features 29 essays on topics ranging from the Serious—obsessive-compulsive disorder, rape, being gay when your mom is homophobic—to the more lighthearted, or what one might call the Universal Overachieved Twentysomething Experience, such as moving back in with your parents, discovering New York, and moving to Brooklyn, and how to explain to the kids you tutor in Harlem that you've accepted a freelance writing assignment that puts you up at the St. Regis for a few days.

The book's authors wore name tags that said, cheerily, "Hi! I'm a Twentysomething." Many huddled in tight-knit groups, nursing the free Brookyn Brewery beer, discussing the weirdness of the almost-fame that had been thrust upon them.

It was his first time in New York. "People are more skeptical as a generation," Mr. Franklin said, drinking a glass of water. He is Mormon. "I don't drink for religious reasons, but also by choice," he said.

"The Internet is liberating and confusing," Ms. Quint said, peering through black-framed glasses. One partygoer, an Andy Samberg lookalike, was overheard characterizing the crowd as "geeky librarian chic"; there were many tote bags bearing the names of various publishing companies. "It's a curse and a blessing. Nobody's really listening," she said, and sighed.