The Department of Justice and plaintiff states filed a joint reply brief to Apple’s appeal in the ongoing ebook price fixing case Tuesday afternoon. Much of the 117-page document presents the government’s case against Apple all over again, though there are some new bits of information, Most notably it reveals that on Thursday, May 29, when the BEA trade show floor opens, the Appeals Court will hear oral arguments on Apple’s request for an emergency stay of the damages trial. A postponement of the July 14 trial was already a foregone conclusion once the temporary stay was granted, but that hearing may […]
Archives for May 2014
Target Plans eBooks, with Librify
In another BEA-timed announcement, Target plans to pair with start-up Librify to offer some form of ebook club/subscription service, though an “official launch is still several months off,” USA Today reports. As a result, the details are opaque for now, with Target indicating they will reveal more this summer. “The service will be targeted at women, especially young professionals and moms of the coveted Millennial generation.” Target spokeswoman Erica Julkowski says, “We are proud to partner with Librify to offer a differentiated experience, which focuses on social connectivity and book clubs. She adds, “It is a great solution for bringing a […]
Amazon Posts On Hachette Dispute: “We are not optimistic that this will be resolved soon”
Following multiple statements from the Hachette Book Group to its authors and the media, on Tuesday evening Amazon broke their silence on the standoff with the publisher over terms with a post authored by the Amazon Books Team on the company’s online forum. It is titled “Announcement: Hachette/Amazon Business Interruption.” (The post is locked for discussion.) After making clear that Hachette “is part of a $10 billion media conglomerate” and an “important supplier,” Amazon admits: “Unfortunately, despite much work from both sides, we have been unable to reach mutually-acceptable agreement on terms. Hachette has operated in good faith and we admire […]
The Best Way to Prepare for BEA
We have everything you need for an efficient, informed, galley-packed convention. We have continued to update our handy master BEA single-spreadsheet schedule — including the just-announced Author Hub events. Go to publun.ch/BEAschedPM. For PM members, our Party Planner lists 22 different celebrations across four evenings. Best of all, you can read your way through over 50 big fall and winter books with the substantial excerpts included in our Buzz Books 2014: Fall/Winter and the instant-hit spinoff, Buzz Books 2014: Young Adult. 16 of the featured adult authors will be appearing at BEA — as will another 16 of the featured […]
BEA Previews: ABA Membership Nudges Up Again
Membership in the American Booksellers Association rose again in the most recent year though by a smaller amount than in previous years, up by 32 members to 1,664 in all. The organization’s ranks have now grown for five consecutive years, after reaching a low of 1,41o members in 2008. In 2012 the ABA rolls rose by 65 members; in 2011 the gain was 55 members; in 2010, as they prepared to merge with the Association of Booksellers for Children they grew by 102 members; and in 2009, they grew by 9 members. In addition to that merger, effective early 2011 the ABA took additional […]
Author’s Note Previews Hillary Clinton’s Forthcoming HARD CHOICES
Simon & Schuster released a four-page author’s note that will accompany Hillary Clinton’s forthcoming memoir HARD CHOICES, publishing on June 10. In the note, Clinton said she wishes “we could go back and revisit certain choices,” as is “usually the case with the benefit of hindsight.” But, she adds, “I’m proud of what we accomplished. This century began traumatically for our country, with the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the long wars that followed, and the Great Recession. We needed to do better, and I believe we did.” In making the major decisions of her life, from accepting the job as Secretary […]