BTW News Briefs

Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss E-Book Class Action Suit

On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Cote ruled that the class action suit alleging a conspiracy to drive up the price of e-books filed against Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, and Apple can move forward. The suit filed last August by the Seattle-based law firm Hagens Berman seeks compensation for consumers who have purchased e-books.

The class action suit is separate from the civil suit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. In that case, Hachette, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster have reached a settlement with DOJ, and Apple, Macmillan, and Penguin have stated their intention to vigorously fight the civil suit.

In relation to the DOJ case, the American Booksellers Association is urging member stores to use the public comment period, which ends June 25, to express their support for agency model pricing for e-books to the Department of Justice.

Indie Bookstore to Open in Kent, Ohio

Kent, Ohio, will be home to a new independent bookstore, according a report on RecordPub.com. The new indie will be located in the basement of the old Kent Hotel, which will reopen as Acorn Corner before the end of the year.

This week, developer Ron Burbick told the town’s planning board that the bookstore’s arrival means that the building will be completely occupied, but he shared no other details about the bookstore.

Lambda Literary Names Mid-Career Novelist Prize Winners

The Lambda Literary Foundation has named Stacey D’Erasmo (A Seahorse Year) and Brian Leung (Take Me Home) as the recipients of its 2012 prize for Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist. Each will receive a prize of $5,000.

To qualify, recipients must have published at least three novels or two novels and substantial additional literary work such as poetry, short stories, or essays. The prizes will be presented on June 4 at the 24th Annual Lambda Literary Awards ceremony in New York City.   

“We couldn’t be more pleased to honor these two stellar writers,” said Tony Valenzuela, LLF’s Executive Director.  “We’re tremendously impressed with the novels that D’Erasmo and Leung have already published and enthusiastically look forward to their future works.” 

Kids’ Right to Read Project Opposes Removal of John Green Novel

The Kids’ Right to Read Project , a joint project of the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE), is opposing the removal of John Green’s award-winning young adult novel Looking for Alaska from classrooms in Sumner County, Tennessee. 

In a letter sent to Sumner County Director of Schools Del Phillips this week, the organizations expressed their alarm about the sudden and immediate removal of the book. 

“It is particularly disturbing that the complaint of one parent triggered a county-wide ban within the span of a single week, without following established procedure and without so much as a review of the literary and educational merits of the book,” their letter stated, adding that, by removing the book, “the district has imposed one viewpoint on the entire student body, without regard to the educational consequences for students.”

 The letter urged the school to honor its constitutional obligations and allow students the opportunity to read and discuss the book, which was awarded the American Library Association’s prestigious Michael L. Printz Award for “the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit.”

NEIBA Arrives at New Home

The New England Independent Booksellers Association expects to be up and running in its new location at 1955 Massachusetts Avenue, #2, Cambridge, MA 02140 by this afternoon. Telephone (617-547-3642), fax (617-547-3759), and e-mail addresses (steve@neba.org; nan@neba.org) remain unchanged.

NAIBA Names Sales Rep of the Year

The New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association has named Nicole DuFort of Random House as the Helmuth Sales Rep of the Year.

Mary Alice Garber, children's and teens buyer at Politics and Prose, said of DuFort. “She is a great reader, always on target, and I have great confidence in her opinion. I can always count on Nicole to come through when there is a special request.  I am delighted that she is being recognized for her hard work and wish her the very best.”

DuFort will receive the Helmuth Sales Rep of the Year Award at the NAIBA Fall Conference Awards Banquet on Saturday, September 29, in Washington D.C.