Industry News

By Megan DiMaria

Enjoying the summer? Remember, there's still plenty of time to read a few more summer novels, and of course there's time to catch up on industry news. Here it is:

• Preliminary approval given to settle money damages in the Apple e-book price-fixing case. For more info . . . 
• Simon & Schuster and Macmillian unhappy with judge’s final order against Apple. For more info . . . 
• Citing shifts in the industry, Abingdon Press announced it is reassessing and realigning its Christian Living and Abingdon Fiction programs. For more info . . . 
• News Corp, the parent company of HarperCollins, buys Harlequin Enterprises for $455 million. For more info . . . 
• HarperCollins partners with BitLit to bundle print and e-books. For more info . . . 
• Amazon updates us on the Amazon/Hachette “business interruption.” For more info . . . 
• And now Simon & Schuster is also discussing sales terms with Amazon. For more info . . . 
• Amazon’s proposal to give e-book revenue directly to authors adds fuel to the fire with Hachette. For more info . . . 
• Amazon requests that Author United, a group of writers who called on Amazon to resolve it’s problems with Hachette, pipe down. For more info . . . 
• Macmillan makes its full catalog of frontlist e-book titles available with its public library e-lending pilot. For more info . . . 
• However, according to a new report, libraries internationally are struggling with e-books. For more info . . . 
• Amazon Publishing and Alloy Entertainment partner on Alloy Entertainment, a new digital-first imprint to focus on young adult, new adult, and commercial fiction. For more info . . . 
• Sales of graphic novel and merchandise rise while comics periodicals are down. For more info . . . 
• Kensington to merge its two digital imprints, eKensington and Lyrical Press, under the Lyrical Press banner, AND they’re acquiring new fiction. For more info . . . 
• Romance Writers of America announce their 2014 award winners. For more info . . . 
• YA publishers and authors take a stand against e-book piracy. For more info . . . 
• Winners of the RWA Chapter's Annual Faith, Hope and Love Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award have been announced. For more info . . . 
• The 2014 Man Booker Prize longlist is announced. For more info . . . 
• The publishing industry’s mergers and acquisitions up in the first half of 2014. For more info . . . 
• Amazon launches Kindle Unlimited, a new subscription service offering unlimited access to over 600,000 titles and thousands of audiobooks. For more info . . . 
• First quarter e-book sales are up! For more info . . . 
• However, May bookstore sales fell. For more info . . . 
• And, a good time was had by all—Chicago IndependentBookstore Day was a success. For moreinfo . . . 
• Speaking of Bookstore Day, the 2015 California Bookstore Day will be sponsored by Penguin Random House. For more info . . . 
• The scuffle between HarperCollins and Open Road for the unauthorized edition of Jean Craighead George’s Julie of the Wolves continues. For more info . . . 
• RWA releases Novel Engagement, a database and informational app for readers and authors of romance fiction. For more info . .. 
• New publishing house launches! Broadstreet Publishing will publish fiction, nonfiction, and gift books. For more info . . . 
• Wattpad acquires Red Room (Facebook for authors). For more info . . . 
• 2014’s bestselling books (so far).
• Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books division enters into a co-publishing agreement with romance publisher Omnific Publishing. For more info . . . 

Have a great month. See you in September!

Megan DiMaria is Novel Rocket’s industry news columnist. An author and speaker, she enjoys cheering on writers and loves to encourage others as they journey through life’s demands and delights. Megan is the author of two women’s fiction novels, Searching for Spice and Out of Her Hands.