Industry News

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. 

Welcome to the April edition of Novel Rocket's industry news. I hope you're enjoying springtime in your corner of the world, it's been lovely here in Colorado. 

• The state of Alabama has ruled that Harper Lee has not been coerced into agreeing to publish Go Set a Watchman, the sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird. For more info . . . 
• Also, HarperCollins Publishers has revealed the cover of Go Set a Watchman. 
• Mark your calendar. May 5th is Independent Bookstore Day. 
• Brian Tibbetts joins The MacGregor Literary Agency. For more info . . .  
• Publishers are working toward signing agreements with Amazon (again!). For more info . . . 
• Info on sales of books in2014, by format. 
• Mattel (Toys) has new a publishing plans. For more info . . . 
• Books-A-Million posts profits for 2014. For more info . . . 
• Congratulations Books & Books (Coral Gables, FL) on receiving the PW Bookstore of the Year Award. For more info . . . 
• Handseller app gives independent booksellers mobile option. For more info . . . 
• Expanding through acquisitions is the way to go for major publishers. For more info . . . 
• Looking to enter/win a contest? Bling! Diamond Awards for Writers highlight excellence in contemporary romantic fiction and offers the possibility of a book contract to the winner. For more info . . . 
• Attendees at the IPA (International Publishers Association) are considering fixed book prices. For more info . . . 
• Also discussed at the IPA: piracy and free speech. For more info . . . 
• The aftershocks of Family Christian Stores bankruptcy are hurting publishers and authors. For more info . . . 
• Interesting. Multiple authors of a single book (Every Father's Daughter) to hold the book launch at nine different venues. For more info . . . 
• HarperCollins is working with Twitter Commerce to sell books. For more info . . .
• Writers dream about the perfect writing space. Check out these “shedquarters.” 
• Crowdfunding site for creative artists, Patreon, acquires video subscription service Subbable. For more info . . .  
• This sounds like a great compilation and celebration of American fiction, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s 100 Years of The Best American Short Stories. For more info . . . 
• Like to judge book covers? This clever promo piece features several drafts of Random House’s Hausfrau: A Novel by Jill Alexander Essbaum. For more info . . . 
• Image Books has ceased acquiring new titles “to focus our resources and creative energies to continue to maintain and nurture the deep Image backlist.” For more info . . . 
• Publishing industry sales rose in 2014! For more info . . . 
• Profits up for Barnes & Noble. For more info . . . 
• You’ve got until 5/7 to submit an essay to win an inn in Maine. For more info . . . 
• Men dominate the traditional publishing world, but women are self-publishing more bestsellers than men. For more info . . . 
• Witness Impulse, William Morrow’s digital-first mystery titles, surpasses expectations. For more info . . . 
• Americas for Conservation + the Arts launches Mandel Vilar Press, to publish titles by ethnic and minority writers. For more info . . . 
• Germany launches Amazon (Apple, and Kobo) competitor. For more info . . . 
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  Christian Retailing’s Best announces 2015 finalists.
• Finalists for the 2015 Indies Choice Book Awards and the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award have been announced.  
• The 2015 Man Booker International Prize finalists have been announced.  
• The 2015 PEN/ Hemingway Award won by Arna Hemenway. For more info . . . 
• The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Announces the Finalists for the 2015 ChristianBook Award® Program. 
• The 2015 PEN Literary Awards longlist has been revealed. For more info . . . 
• The (publishing year 2014) National Book Critics Circle Awards winners announced. 
• Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction have announced their 2015 longlist. For more info . . .  
• Barnes & Noble announces winners of its 24th annual Discover Great New Writers Awards. For more info . . .  

Have a great month, friends.