Ebooks, digital publishing in focus at New York book

NEW YORK: The mood at this week's giant Book Expo America was upbeat as publishers' excitement over the growth of electronic books - or ebooks - and the future of digital publishing offset concern over sluggish sales of traditional books.        

Book publishing is undergoing a sea change that parallels the transformation of music publishing over the past decade, and book sellers are starting to feel their way forward.

Borders Group, once the second largest U.S. book retailer, which helped pioneer brick-and-mortar book superstores, liquidated its 40-year-old business in September of last year after failing to overcome competition from larger rival Barnes & Noble Inc. and online book seller Amazon.com Inc.

Reflecting that change at the annual three-day gathering of writers, booksellers and publishing house executives, ebook publishers and technology companies were given more prominent space in the heart of the showroom.

Star authors, including Zadie Smith, Jo Nesbo and Michael Chabon, also took the spotlight, and there were plenty of jokes about erotic fiction hit, Fifty Shades of Grey.

But the future of the industry was the focus, and the general feeling was that writers and publishers are coming to a better understanding of electronic publishing and marketing.

"This year it felt like there was high energy," said Todd Humphrey of Canadian digital book company Kobo, one of the ebook companies that was moved from the Expo's corner, where most of them were previously placed, to the middle of the floor next to major publishers like Random House.

Random House, the world's largest general interest book  publisher, is owned by Bertelsmann AG of Germany.

"Last year, the publishing industry as a whole felt like it was a bit on its heels. This year there were a lot more smiles," he added. "People are realizing, things are moving to digital, people need to adjust."

Things are not all sweetness and light on the ebook publishing front, though.

The Justice Department sued Apple Inc. and several publishers over ebook prices in April, accusing publishers of conspiring to exert price controls over digital book downloads.

Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster reached a settlement with Justice that requires them to allow retailers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble to reduce the prices of ebooks they sell.

Apple, The Macmillan Group and Penguin Group did not agree to a settlement, and the Justice Department has promised to pursue the case against them vigorously.