BTW News Briefs

New York Times Readers Debate the Future of Bookstores

The New York Times website featured a debate on the topic “How Can Bookstores Stay Alive?” on its Opinion Pages this week. Emily Powell of Powell’s Books wrote that bookstores must be magical places for readers and writers, commenting, “We crave places that enrich and nourish us. The best independent bookstores are creating these spaces on a daily basis.”

Other contributors to the debate include blogger Naveen Srivatsav, urban design writer Dan Reed, Daniel Power of Powerhouse Books, Laura Hazard Owen of Gigaom, and Jeff Barber of Sonic Boom. Each writer posed a different idea on how to keep bookstores relevant in the changing world, from partnering with libraries to offering social opportunities for teens, among others.

E-Book Settlement Funds Reach Consumers

Consumers have begun receiving their take of the $166 million settlement resulting from the U.S. Justice Department’s civil antitrust lawsuit against five big publishers and Apple, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

Consumers who purchased e-books between April 1, 2010 and May 21, 2012 will receive $3.17 for each of their New York Times bestseller e-book purchases and 73 cents for all other titles; Minnesota residents will get $3.93 for each NYT bestseller and 94 cents for all other titles. Customers who purchased e-books from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, and Kobo will receive credits to their accounts with the retailers. Refunds on purchases made through other retailers will be sent by check.

The lawsuit, filed in April 2012, concluded in a settlement in December 2014. Five publishers — Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin, and Simon & Schuster — and Apple were accused of colluding to raise e-book prices in order to stop Amazon from offering titles at a lower price. The publishers each settled without admitting wrongdoing. Apple, which did not settle, was found guilty of collusion by the court and is appealing the verdict.

Gabrielle Zevin to Discuss The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry on All Things Considered

Gabrielle Zevin, author of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, will be appearing on NPR’s All Things Considered this Friday, March 28.  The book, which booksellers selected as the #1 Indie Next List Pick for April, goes on sale April 1.

Hans Christian Andersen Awards Announced

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) announced on Monday the winners of this year’s Hans Christian Andersen Awards. Nahoko Uehashi of Japan was selected for the 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Author Award and Roger Mello of Brazil received the 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator Award.

The awards recognize bodies of work that have made lasting contributions to children’s literature. The medals and diplomas will be presented during the 34th International IBBY Congress in Mexico City on September 10.

Additionally, The Children’s Book Bank in Toronto and PRAESA in South Africa were chosen for the IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award.

Bookmasters Signs With Wybel Marketing Group

The Wybel Marketing Group will be working with book publishing services company Bookmasters to provide sales representation for it and its book publishers in the Midwest, Bookmasters announced Monday.

“I am very happy that The Wybel Marketing Group has joined Bookmasters and our established sales representation partners to continue to connect Bookmasters’ publishers and their titles with potential readers,” said Jon Ackerman, senior vice president of sales at Bookmasters.

Independent Publishers Group Adds 16 Clients

Independent Publishers Group will be providing print and electronic distribution for 16 new publishers through IPG Distribution, Trafalgar Square Publishing, and IPG Spanish Books.

IPG Distribution will provide services for: Alazar Press, beginning July 1, 2014; The American Golfer, beginning April 1, 2014; Childhood Cancer Guides, as of March 1, 2014; Craigmore Creations, beginning April 1, 2014; Little Beach Books, beginning July 1, 2014; Mountain Lake Press, beginning July 1, 2014; Quince & Co., beginning April 1, 2014; and Tumblehome Learning, beginning June 1, 2014.

Trafalgar Square Publishing, which distributes for U.K. and Australian publishers, will work with: Front Row Books, beginning July 1, 2014; Head of Zeus, as of January 1, 2014; KAMA Publishing, beginning July 1, 2014; Maverick Arts Publishing, beginning July 1, 2014; Upstart Press, beginning July 1, 2014; b small publishing, beginning July 1, 2014; and Cargo Publishing, beginning July 1, 2014.

IPG Spanish Books began distributing Editorial Oceano de Mexico’s adult titles on March 15, 2014.