Publishers Claim Apple Court Order Hobbles Agency Model

In separate briefs this week, S&S and Macmillan argued that the court order against Apple resulting from last year’s price-fixing trial will delay their efforts to return to a “no discounts” agency model.

Authors Ask Amazon to End Hachette Dispute

Author Douglas Preston is circulating a letter among writers asking Amazon to settle its dispute with Hachette. The letter went viral and has, as of this writing, been signed by more than 300 authors, including such stars as James Patterson, David Baldacci, Joseph Finder, Stephen King, and Nora Roberts.

PRH Completes Santillana Acquisition

Penguin Random House has completed its purchase of Spanish-language trade book house Santillana Ediciones Generales. The deal brings Santillana into PRH Grupo Editorial. The house will continue to operate under its previous name in Spain, Latin America, and now in Portugal.

World Book Night Suspends Operations

Despite giving away more than 500,000 books at this year’s event, World Book Night is suspending operations because of lack of funding. Executive director Carl Lennertz said that efforts to secure more funding were unsuccessful. The WBN staff will work without pay through September to maintain social media contact and to announce the winners of the essay contest.

Houghton Educational App

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has released the HMH Player educational app for the iPad and Chrome OS devices. The app allows teachers to access and customize HMH content, and to communicate directly with students.

Driscoll Rift with Tyndale Denied

Christian publisher Tyndale House has denied media accounts that it is dropping controversial author Mark Driscoll, who has been accused of plagiarism and attempting to manipulate bestseller lists. Tyndale said it plans to reprint Driscoll’s latest book, A Call to Resurgence, and will publish his forthcoming book as well; Tyndale said it will also continue to support the author’s Resurgence imprint.

Can Indies Make ‘California’?

Debut author Edan Lepucki’s novel California hit the bestseller lists after late-night TV host Stephen Colbert and novelist Sherman Alexie promoted the book on the Colbert Report. Colbert urged viewers to buy Lepucki’s debut at Powell’s Books in Portland, Ore. Now many indies are taking preorders for the title, and Lepucki will sign at 18 indie stores on her upcoming tour.

Kensington, PRH Expand Distribution Deal

Kensington Publishing, which was previously distributed by Penguin, has reached a sales and distribution agreement with the newly combined Penguin Random House distribution unit, Penguin Random Publisher Services. PRPS will distribute all Kensington titles in physical and digital formats.