In an email to agents and authors, Penguin explained that they have not reached an eBook agreement with Amazon.com for the sale of Kindle editions of Penguin books.
GalleyCat has obtained a copy of the email. Here’s the most important part of the note: “Your newly released eBook is currently not available on Amazon, but all of your eBooks released prior to April 1st are still for sale on their site. We want to also assure you that all of your books are available through other e-tailers and at bricks and mortar stores everywhere–from the large chains to the clubs to the independents and on their respective websites.”
The complete email follows after the jump…
The complete Penguin email:
“Even as the world is changing, what still matters most to us at Penguin is that writers keep writing and readers keep reading. As publishers, we do everything possible to keep that connection alive and vibrant. We have books available in all formats, hardcover, trade paperback, mass market, and of course, eBooks. To date, Penguin has supported all eReading devices that are available in the consumer market. The majority of our sales is still in physical books; however, our digital business, which accounts for a very small percentage of our overall sales annually, is growing. Any new way for writers and readers to connect is important to us. It is especially important to us that the years of hard work writers spend crafting their books be recognized and valued.
“In recent weeks we have been in discussion with our retail partners who sell eBooks, including Amazon, to discuss our new terms of sale for eBooks in the U.S. At the moment, we have reached an agreement with many of them, but unfortunately not Amazon–of course, we hope to in the future.
“Your newly released eBook is currently not available on Amazon, but all of your eBooks released prior to April 1st are still for sale on their site. We want to also assure you that all of your books are available through other e-tailers and at bricks and mortar stores everywhere–from the large chains to the clubs to the independents and on their respective websites. Also, all of your eBooks are available through Barnes and Noble.com, Sony, Kobo, eBooks.com, reader applications on the iPhone and soon on the iBookstore for the iPad. Additionally, we’re working with our digital delivery partners (Ingram, Overdrive, and Baker & Taylor) to make your eBooks even more widely available. Our conversations with Amazon are ongoing and we do hope to continue our long-time relationship with them.
“We want you to know that when it comes to digital publishing, your interests and ours are aligned. As your publisher, our first and foremost concern is that we protect the value of your books. We appreciate your support. And, we trust that you are as excited as we are at the opportunity to sell books in all formats and to invent new ones as well.
“We will be in touch with you in the coming days. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact your respective publisher and/or editor.”
