J.K. Rowling's big deal

J.K. Rowling's decision to sell her Harry Potter e-books directly to consumers across every reading device (assuming she can conclude the necessary agreements which, given the stakes, seems inevitable) is a very big deal - in all the meanings of the term. Rowling has sold 450 million books worldwide to date in seventy languages - $7 billion in sales, according to the Wall Street Journal. This is only the beginning of what is certain to be a lasting demand for the series, as young readers reach the age when they launch into the spell that so enraptured the first generation to encounter the seven books as Rowling released them to mounting popularity and excitement - The Atlantic #jkrowling

The Princeton Review signs master publishing agreement with Random House, Inc. for print and electronic books

The Princeton Review, Inc. has signed a new multi-year master publishing agreement with Random House, Inc. for the rights to publish all print and electronic books branded and trademarked by The Princeton Review. Random House currently publishes The Princeton Review's best-selling titles, including Cracking the SAT, The Best 373 Colleges, Paying for College Without Going Broke, etc - PRNewswire

Former Defense Secretary Gates signs two-book deal (USA)

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates has signed a two-book deal with Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, the company said Tuesday. "We are delighted to be publishing Robert Gates," said Sonny Mehta, chairman and editor-in-chief of the publishing group. "He has a unique perspective not only on intelligence-gathering and national defense, but also on the decisions and policies that have affected the U.S. and our relationship with other countries around the world." - CNN #books

Book video: Charlie Pedersen: WExinfinity

Book video: Charlie Pedersen: WExinfinity (Outskirts Press) #books #video

Book video: Anita Rau Badami: Tell It to the trees

Book video: Anita Rau Badami: Tell It to the trees (Random House) #books #video

Martin's A Dance with Dragons sold 28,840 copies in just five days last week

George R R Martin's A Dance with Dragons sold 28,840 copies in just five days last week, becoming one of the fastest-selling fantasy novels since records began. The 1,040-page, 1.5kg epic took £372,650 through UK bookshop tills last week at an average selling price of £12.92 - 48% off its £25 r.r.p. The novel, the long-awaited fifth instalment in the American novelist's A Song of Ice and Fire medieval fantasy series, was comfortably the bestselling hardback fiction book of the week, outselling nearest competitor Karin Slaughter's Fallen (Century), by almost five copies to one. However, it has to settle for fifth position in this week's Official UK Top 50. - The Bookseller

Literary agent slates Rupert Murdoch's HarperCollins

US literary agent Andrew Wylie has accused a publishing company of acting in an "unusually shrill and punitive" way toward authors. HarperCollins' parent firm NewsCorp is under pressure in the wake of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. Mr Wylie said recent events could "perhaps turn on some lights" and look at "what is proper behaviour and what isn't" at the publishing house. A HarperCollins spokesperson said the claims were "extravagant allegations". On Monday Mr Wylie, whose clients include Martin Amis and Philip Roth, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One programme that the publishing house had been under "unusual pressure" for a while - BBC

Design competition from The Book Industry Environmental Council

The Book Industry Environmental Council (BIEC) is in the process of developing a certification system that will identify publishers that have taken a leadership role in reducing environmental impacts. The council is conducting a design contest to develop a logo system - consisting of 3 logos - which will identify environmentally responsible publishers and differentiate between 3 levels of environmental achievement. This logo could potentially be displayed on millions of books in addition to publisher's websites, catalogues, stationary and other forms of communication. The winning artist will also be acknowledged on the BIEC website

Library-press partnerships in action: The new University of California Publishing Services

Library-press partnerships in action: The new University of California Publishing Services - A SPARC Webcast - February 17, 2010 - Registration is free, but required. RSVP by February 15

The Nature of the Book - free e-book download

The University of Chicago Press is offering The Nature of the Book by Adrian Johns as their free e-book download this month. In order to read the e-book, you'll need to download (free) software from Adobe called Digital Editions