Publisher News

In recognition of the important role that indies play in helping consumers find books and new authors, Simon & Schuster is launching the Premier Marketing Plan to simplify booksellers’ access to promotional funds. In addition, on June 10, the publisher will launch a new Customer Portal that will consolidate all critical resources — including marketing/coop information, order tracking, invoices, and digital catalogs — in one place.

Minnesota legislature passes affiliate nexus bill; Stephen King’s Joyland to be released in print only; Barefoot Books cuts ties with Amazon; Penguin settles at $75 million in e-book case; Storey Publishing president retires; Ingram Publisher Services signs four publishers

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is changing its retail payment terms from net 30 days from the date of invoice to net 90 days from the date of invoice, beginning June 1. 

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression has received an initial royalty check from sales of the Coffee House Press title Read This! Handpicked Favorites From America’s Indie Bookstores, compiled and edited by Micawber’s Books owner Hans Weyandt.

BookStats annual survey results announced; BEA author events to be streamed live; “Buzz Books 2013: Fall/Winter” released; Prospective booksellers learn the ropes at Paz workshop; Midwest Booksellers Choice Awards finalists announced; Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl challenged at Michigan school; Winner of Hugh Hefner First Amendment Award announced; Bookmasters to distribute TGS International

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Our Boston to benefit The One Fund; Preliminary World Book Night statistics revealed; Publishing Triangle’s annual awards presented; AAUP lists “Books for Understanding: Chechnya”; MacAdam Cage founder David Poindexter dies; HarperCollins launches digital mystery line Witness; Down East Books sold to Rowman & Littlefield; Hachette makes e-book catalog available to libraries

Bookstores have the opportunity to request one of the last Find Waldo Local materials kits for the community-wide celebration this July.

BEA’s Global Market Forum to focus on Mexico; IBPA appoints new executive director; Andrew Carnegie Medals shortlist announced; Lambda Literary Foundation to honor authors at 25^th Anniversary Awards; Unbridled Books donates to the Afghan Women’s Writing Project; Egmont USA staff changes 

Pubs for the Hub to raise funds for Boston; Intuit’s “Make a Wish” contest for small business owners returns; ALA’s list of most challenged titles released; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt announces Take 5; Books Are My Bag to launch in U.K.; Simon & Schuster in pilot program with New York City libraries; Ingram adds Ebook Library titles to OASIS

Bloomsbury moving to new offices; MPIBA Reading the West Shortlist unveiled; uPublishU at BEA details announced

Peter Workman, the founder of Workman Publishing Company, died on April 7 in his New York City home at the age of 74.

Publishers request dismissal of booksellers’ lawsuit; BEA Blogger Conference to feature Will Schwalbe, Randi Zuckerberg; SBA and AARP host National Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Month; National Book Awards judges include indie booksellers; University of Nebraska Press acquires Potomac Books; Arthur Frommer takes brand back; Penguin lessens restrictions on eBooks for libraries; Hugo Award finalists announced

New York Times editorial favors sales tax fairness; free bookseller subscription to ForeWord Reviews; European Union to approve Penguin, Random House merger; France budgets for bookstore assistance

ABFFE will be receiving an initial gift of $8,000 in special royalties from sales of My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop, thanks to Black Dog & Leventhal and Workman Publishing.

The deadline to pre-register for Find Waldo Local 2013 has been extended to this Friday, March 29. Sign up now for the July community-wide celebration of the uniqueness, fun, and strength of local businesses, co-sponsored by Candlewick Press and ABA.