IPG Stands Firm on Amazon Terms

On February 21, IPG president Mark Suchomel told his distribution clients that Amazon has failed to renew its agreement with IPG to sell Kindle titles. Suchomel wrote, “The Amazon.com Web site no longer offers for sale any electronic titles from any of IPG’s client publishers. All print editions are still available, as always.” Suchomel said he talked to Amazon, most recently as last week, about its proposal for new terms on print and digital titles, but couldn’t reach any agreement.

Rowling Inks Deal with LB for Adult Book

J.K. Rowling has signed a world English deal with Little, Brown, selling print, e-book, and audio rights to her first novel for adults. David Shelley, publisher of the Little, Brown Book Group in the U.K., will be editing the work, which is currently untitled; he brokered the deal with Neil Blair of the Blair Partnership. Michael Pietsch, publisher of Little, Brown in the U.S., will be handling the American publication of the novel.

Frances Coady Out at Picador

Frances Coady, who has been overseeing Macmillan’s Picador imprint since 2000, will step down on March 2. In a memo, Macmillan CEO John Sargent said the trade paperback imprint will now report to FSG head Jonathan Galassi and Holt president Steve Rubin.

Google Drops Bookstore Affiliates

On February 23 Google announced it will drop a number of affiliates that sell Google eBooks, including some independent booksellers. Their affiliate status will end on Thursday, March 15, and all links will be deactivated. Google eBooks partners such as the ABA are not affected.