In today's PublishersLunch, there's a news brief on third-quarter results at HarperCollins; as usual, Jane Friedman gives her analysis:

"The one soft spot is Zondervan, which is not a new story," Friedman says. "What's going on in the CBA ... is pretty scary," she observes, adding that "the CBA is really diminishing and I'm not one who thinks it's going to recover any time soon." With Christian customers buying more product in the general market, Friedman says that Zondervan's books need to "have the content and look for the general market." Friedman believes that "what Nelson is doing is absolutely correct" in trimming and refocusing their list and says "we're also looking at our title count. Zondervan has to publish fewer books and focus on more of the books that have the potential" to work in the general markets. On the brighter side, Friedman notes that "spirituality is going through the roof," with the company benefiting via the Harper One division.

What genius that both Jane Friedmans are in agreement over Nelson -- and reducing title count!