The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group continues to acquire small independent trade houses with its latest purchase of Diamond Communications Inc. Founded 19 years ago by Jill Langford, the South Bend, Ind., company specializes in sports books with a particular focus on baseball and Notre Dame sport teams. Diamond has a backlist of about 75 titles, and the publisher is on track to have sales of $400,000 in fiscal 2002.
Diamond is being folded into R&L's Cooper Square Press imprint, based in New York City, although Langford will continue to acquire sports books from her office in South Bend. The Diamond acquisition, combined with R&L's previous purchase of Taylor Publishing, gives the company a greater presence in the sports book segment. National Book Network, R&L's sister company, has taken over sales and distribution functions for the Diamond titles.
