Welcome to this week’s news post! For this edition we have news on an interesting lawsuit over DRM vs Amazon and the Big 6 publishers; Grand Central expanding its digital Forever arm; and an update from last week’s story over neo nazi linked security firm working for Amazon.

Three independent book stores are suing Amazon and the Big 6 over DRM. They are claiming it is creating a monopoly which allows the Kindle a stranglehold over the ebook market. Jane from Dear Author  has summarised the lawsuit which does not bode well for the plaintiffs as their claims are full of errors. There is a lack of understanding on what DRM is about as well as the fact there is other ebook formats such as PDFs and epubs. They do have a point about DRM being constrictive to customers but this is not the best approach, and I doubt this will go far.

Grand Central has declared this week that it is doubling its romance imprint, Forever, output for this year. They published 64 titles in 2012, and this year they will be publishing around 120 with a couple of recent pick ups by self-published authors. I think that other publishers will be following suit with their similar imprints and will follow the digital first model, which seems to be gaining popularity for the Big 6.

Authors using third parties to bulk purchase their way to best-sellers lists.  It’s come to light that authors have been using ResultSource, a marketing firm, to bulk buy copies of their books to hit the best-seller lists. According to the WSJ, thousands of dollars are charged by the company for the cost of the books and for using ResultSource’s services. The next link about social media meltdown is connected as author, Dave Kerpen, bought his way to the NY Times best-selling list by engaging in the same bulk purchasing shenanigans.

News in Brief:

ABC has a fantastic insulting piece on the growth of NA which they call ‘Smut fiction’ – Although there seems to be quite a few NA’s which are erotic romances in nature, there is also few which are not. And I can’t not help think this is a derogatory way to sneer at a genre which is primarily read by women.

There is also an update from last week’s post about an Amazon warehouse facility which was found to have hired security affiliated with a neo nazi group and reports of intimidation and abuse. Well, Amazon have fired the security firm!

Want to catch the first look at Anne Bishop’s Written In Red, Tor has an exclusive excerpt!

And finally – E_bookpusher my wonderful co-bookpusher emailed me this wonderful site which compares and suggests books by search. Its very addictive also.

And now for books to watch out for!

I noticed this series on Goodreads the other day and it set my book radar tingling! It features heroes and heroines cage fighters with PNR elements. I think with this premise – it had me at hello! Caged Warrior by Lindsey Piper is slated for June 25th although there will be a prequel called Silent Warrior out in April.

 

 

 

The first installment in this fierce and sensual new paranormal romance series features demonic gladiators, ruthless mafia villains, and a proud race on the brink of extinction.

Ten years ago, Audrey MacLaren chose to marry her human lover, making her an exile from the Dragon Kings, an ancient race of demons once worshiped as earthly gods. Audrey and her husband managed to conceive, and their son is the first natural-born Dragon King in a generation—which makes him irresistible to the sadistic scientist whose mafia-funded technology allows demon procreation. In the year since her husband was murdered, Audrey and her little boy have endured hideous experiments.

Shackled with a collar and bound for life, Leto Garnis is a Cage warrior. Only through combat can Dragon Kings earn the privilege of conceiving children. Leto uses his superhuman speed and reflexes to secure the right for his two sisters to start families. After torture reveals Audrey’s astonishing pyrokenesis, she is sent to fight in the Cages. If she survives a year, she will be reunited with her son. Leto is charged with her training. Initially, he has no sympathy for her plight. But if natural conception is possible, what has he been fighting for? As enemies, sparring partners, lovers, and eventual allies, Leto and Audrey learn that in a violent underground world, love is the only prize worth winning.

Plague Nation by Dana Fredsti which is the followup for Plague Town continues the story of Ashley Parker in a world where marauding zombies take over. I enjoyed the first book and this looks just as good!

 

 

Having stopped the wave of the undead that swarmed their facility, Ashley Parker and the other wild cards (those immune to the zombie virus) are assaulted by an unknown enemy and forced to travel to a secret laboratory in San Francisco.

En route some are killed, while others are kidnapped by their shadowy foe, who seems to use the zombies as a weapon. But the worst is yet to come, as the plague begins to manifest in key locations nationwide. And the truth begins to emerge about the paramilitary society, the Dolofónoi tou Zontanoús Nekroús (DZN).

And finally AA Aguirre (aka Ann Aguirre and her husband Andres) is out this April! I am so excited for Bronze Gods which looks fantastic!!!!

 

Hy Breasil is grimmer than it used to be.

Before the Architect closed the door, there were regular crossings, and a great war decimated both humans and Ferishers. The native fae who refused to treat with the invaders faded; their bodies withered and died, stranding them as hungry, angry spirits that haunt the countryside.

That means there’s always trouble brewing in Dorstaad.

Janus Mikani and Celeste Ritsuko work for the Criminal Investigation Department, keeping citizens safe from things that go bump in the night. He’s a hardboiled cynic with an uncanny sixth sense; she’s determined to justify her promotion as the first female detective in her division. Together, they’re trying to keep a black tide from drowning the city.

But when the second body surfaces, murdered with the same type of infernal device, the entire CID must face the truth. There’s a madman on the loose, twining magic and blood… and only Mikani and Ritsuko can unravel the intricate, lethal conspiracy before the Royale killer completes his macabre plan, unleashing old, forbidden magic on an unsuspecting populace. If the maniac succeeds, it could mean the end of everything…

So what do you think about the DRM lawsuit? Even though this may not have merit – do you think a better argued lawsuit will have a better argument on this issue? And what do you think about the paying your way to enter the NY List?

About Has

Has is a bookaholic and feeds her addiction whenever she can. She usually can be found lost in a Romance or an Urban Fantasy novel. Her favourite sub genres are Paranormal, Fantasy and some Scifi. Her most treasured authors are, Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Ann Aguirre, Lisa Kleypas and Tamora Pierce. She loves that discovery of finding a brand new author and falling in love with their books. Has also blogs a The Book Pushers - Book chatter and reviews

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