BTW News Briefs

Stephen King’s Joyland to Be Released in Print Only

Stephen King’s new novel, Joyland (Hard Case Crime), set to publish June 4, will only be released in print form, according to the Wall Street Journal, which reported that King said, “Let people stir their sticks and go to an actual bookstore rather than a digital one.” Though there are no plans for a digital version at this time, it is possible that it will be available in the future.

Prairie Lights buyer Paul Ingram said he hoped other writers would pursue the same course of action that King is, potentially leading to better support of brick-and-mortar stores.

In 2000, King released his short story “Riding the Bullet” in digital format only.

Minnesota Legislature Passes Affiliate Nexus Bill

Earlier this week, the Minnesota legislature passed a tax reform bill that includes an amendment to require remote retailers with online affiliates in the state doing $10,000 or more in gross sales to collect and remit sales tax.

If the tax reform bill (H.F.677) is signed by Gov. Mark Dayton, remote retailers like Amazon.com will have to begin collecting sales tax for Minnesota orders beginning July 1, 2013.

“After years of lobbying the state legislature about this issue, I am extremely pleased it has chosen to level the playing field in Minnesota by requiring online retailers to charge the same sales tax brick-and-mortar stores are required to charge,” said Sally Wizik Wills of Sister Wolf Books. “It is a justice issue for small businesses, and a common sense issue for the state to collect sales tax already required by law.”

The affiliate nexus amendment is expected to generate a $9.7 million increase in the state’s 2014-15 budget, as reported by the Star Tribune.

It is expected that the governor will sign the tax reform bill, according to the Minnesota Retailers Association.

Barefoot Books Cuts Ties With Amazon

Independent children’s book publisher Barefoot Books, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has terminated its relationship with Amazon in North America and the U.K., stating that Amazon is not in line with the company’s core values, the International Business Times reported. Barefoot Books ended its relationships with Barnes & Noble and Borders several years ago as well.

Barefoot’s co-founder and CEO Nancy Traversy cited Amazon’s price fixing, issues with payments, steep discounting, and automated system for publishers as being key problems in the relationship.

The company will continue to sell its books to independent bookstores and the educational market, as well as through Baker & Taylor, Ingram, and its website.

Penguin Settles at $75 Million in E-Book Case

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that, based on the terms of its settlement with the Department of Justice in December, Penguin will settle its e-book price-fixing charges at the $75 million mark. Penguin maintains that it is not guilty of the accusations expressed in the suit.

The sum, which is for consumer damages, is the largest of all five publishers that settled in the suit, which accused the publishers and Apple for colluding to raise e-book prices in order to fight Amazon. Apple is the only remaining defendant in the suit and is set to go to trial on June 3.  

Storey Publishing Turns 30, President Pamela Art Retires

Storey Publishing, based out of North Adams, Massachusetts, is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this summer, and president and publisher Pamela Art will be retiring. Art will be continuing her career in the industry with plans for creating an author travel program to assist in teaching self-reliance to communities internationally.

COO Dan Reynolds will be promoted to CEO and president, and Editorial Director Deborah Balmuth will be promoted to publisher. 

Storey Publishing is majority-owned by Workman Publishing and is independently managed.

Ingram Publisher Services Signs Four Publishers

Ingram Publisher Services has welcomed four new publishers. Cookbook publisher Smoke Alarm Media will have Ingram handle U.S. and Canadian distribution for the company, as well as e-books through Ingram’s CoreSource® platform and print-on-demand titles via Lightning Source®.

Children’s publisher Little Pickle Press and adventure book publisher Mouse Prints Press will receive distribution and sales services in the U.S. and Canada through Ingram, as well as e-books through CoreSource.

Jumping Jack Press, a pop-up book imprint of Up With Paper, will work with Ingram on distribution in the U.S. and Canada.