BTW News Briefs

Here’s what’s happening this week in the book industry:

A group of textbook authors has filed a class action suit against Cengage for the second time in just over a year, alleging that the publisher has violated their author agreements. Cengage has issued a response to the suit.

Supported by seed funding from Creative New Zealand, the Coalition for Books has launched as a collaborative venture under the umbrella of the Auckland Writers Festival for its inaugural year.

With the goal of driving even more consumer awareness toward purchasing audiobooks through local bookstores, Libro.fm recently expanded its Audiobook Listening Copy (ALC) program for booksellers to include educators, librarians, media/reviewers, and influencers. The new program offers complimentary audiobooks featuring new and upcoming releases from a variety of publishers. More information about the expanded ALC program can be found here. Booksellers can also e-mail [email protected] with any questions.

Independent Publishers Group (IPG) has announced distribution deals with 10 new publishers.

Ingram Publisher Services has announced a new agreement with Terra Galleria Press, and will add the publisher to its Canada and U.S. sales and distribution network.

At Scholastic, Lauren Donovan is now senior director of publicity; Elisabeth Ferrari has been promoted to senior publicist; Taylan Salvati to publicist; and Jordana Kulak was promoted to publicity coordinator. 

At Flatiron, Bryn Clark has been promoted to editor, and Sarah Murphy has been promoted to executive editor.

Alexandra Allan has been named group publisher at former Quarto Group CEO Marcus Leaver’s new company, Welbeck Publishing Group.

Former publisher of Amberjack Publishing Dayna Anderson has joined Equinox Books, a new imprint of CamCat Publishing focusing on genre fiction, as the imprint’s associate publisher.

We Need Diverse Books is currently in the fourth week of its summer fundraiser. Contributors to the organization during this time will receive exclusive WNDB swag and auction items such as manuscript evaluations, phone calls with agents and editors, and more.

The longlist has been announced for the Financial Times/McKinsey Business Book of the Year. The winner out of 16 titles will receive £30,000 (about $36,160).

The New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA) has named Melissa Grecco of Chronicle Books the Kristin Keith Sales Rep of the Year.

The Massachusetts Center for the Book has announced the winners of the 18th and 19th annual Massachusetts Book Awards (for books published in 2017 and 2018, respectively), which honor works by Commonwealth residents or about Massachusetts subjects.

Share your news in BTW News Briefs! Publishers and industry partners are welcome to e-mail [email protected] with news about awards, imprint launches, distribution changes, staff promotions, and more.