Houghton Mifflin is selling its college division to Cengage Learning, which used to be Thomson Learning, for $750 million, and the two companies will cooperate in expanding the distribution of Cengage titles into the high school Advanced Placement market. Houghton Mifflin said the sale will help it focus on integrating Houghton Mifflin and Harcourt Education, which it is purchasing.

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The Southwest Times Record opened its profile of area independent bookstores by noting that Erin and Joe Buss, owners of Coffee Break Book Store, Pea Ridge, Ark., "did something this year that defied conventional wisdom: They opened an independent bookstore. Some experts might say the couple was being foolhardy in starting a business whose demise those same experts were forecasting just a few years ago." The store specializes in used, out-of-print and rare titles.

Other bookstores featured in the piece were Coffee and a Good Book, Van Buren; Sow’s Ear Antiques & Books, Berryville; and Nightbird Books, Fayetteville.

"For myself, I like to sit down and read two or three pages of a (new book) or talk to someone who has read the book or knows the author," said Nightbird's owner Leah Sharp. "I love meeting people and talking about books. There's so much to gain from reading a book, and I love sharing books I've come across with other people."

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The first International Antiquarian Bookfair in Hong Kong was noteworthy for several reasons, according to the International Herald Tribune, which reported that the three-day event "attracted more than 60 dealers from Europe, the United States, Japan and beyond, not only to tempt Hong Kong's book lovers, but also to edge open the door to China. In that it may have succeeded. By Sunday night, hundreds of thousands of dollars had changed hands, particularly in Chinese manuscripts, with most of the buyers from Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland."

Hong Kong book dealer Lorence Johnston of Lok Man Rare Books welcomed the chance to examine new inventory, telling the Tribune that "his problem, and that of all local dealers, is finding older books published in Hong Kong, in Hong Kong. Local collections rarely survived the turmoil of the Japanese occupation in World War II, or the humidity, or the lack of space in people's homes."

"I think there are about 10 attics in Hong Kong, not many," he said.

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While the debate over the relevance of Amazon's new electronic reader continues to be Kindled and rekindled, Forbes magazine offered some visual perspective with its feature, "In Pictures: The Future of E-Books." 

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To clarify an item in yesterday's issue about the lawsuit concerning Utah's Internet lawsuit, six local plaintiffs, including two bookstores in the state, were denied standing, but eight other plaintiffs, including the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the Association of American Publishers and the Freedom to Read Foundation.

Chris Finan, president of ABFFE, commented: "We consider this a victory because the state was trying to get the whole case thrown out. Now we know that there will be a trial. In addition, while King's English and Weller's are no longer plaintiffs, they will continue to participate in the case as members of ABFFE."

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Nicole Kalian has been promoted to associate director of publicity for the Free Press. She was formerly assistant director of publicity and joined the company in 2004 as publicity manager.  

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Dick Lynch has been appointed president of Paperchase U.S., where he will be responsible for strategic planning, merchandising, operations, marketing and all aspects of domestic operations and expansion of the brand.

Lynch was formerly executive v-p for Karabus Management, where he provided consulting services in merchandise planning, inventory management, replenishment, assortment planning, store operations and supply chain logistics to retailers. Earlier he was president and CEO of E2 Corporation, an inventory management company, CEO of Hechinger Company and president and COO of the Sports Authority, among other positions.

PaperChase has headquarters in U.K. and was bought by Borders in 2004. Since then, Borders has opened Paperchase shops in more than 300 superstores in the U.S. and opened the first free-standing U.S. Paperchase shop in October in Boston, Mass.

Paperchase has more than 100 stores in the U.K., some of them freestanding, others in Borders and other stores. Many Paperchase products are exclusive to the company.

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The Flying Pig Bookstore

The weekend began at the Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne, Vt., with Friday night festivities that "set the holiday mood," said owner Josie Leavitt. The lighting of the town Christmas tree took place on the village green, and afterwards revelers--perhaps enticed by pleasant weather--shopped at the Flying Pig and other stores that had stayed open late.

Sales have increased over the last week since customers received the Flying Pig's newsletter. This year, in addition to a snail mailing, a version was sent to the e-mail list. The 16-page, full-color newsletter, which is also given out in the store, is causing a stir. "Everyone is coming in with items circled in the newsletter," Leavitt said.

All 150 books featured in the newsletter are discounted 20%-25%. "It's important to have some discounted items because people are definitely looking for some sort of savings in every store now. It's become expected," said Leavitt, who noted that adult hardcover titles at the Flying Pig are usually discounted 25%.

Popular selections over the last week included a heavy concentration of nonfiction titles, among them Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips, How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, The Rejection Collection Vol. 2: The Cream of the Crap and The Dangerous Book for Dogs: A Parody by Rex and Sparky. "Nonfiction is a safer bet during the holidays," commented Leavitt, "because you need to know the recipients less well than you do for fiction."

Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia is still selling strong. "I don't think it's book groups anymore," said Leavitt of the continuing popularity of the memoir. "People seem to be getting it for friends who they think haven't read it and would really enjoy it."

New customers have recently been making their way to the Flying Pig, something Leavitt attributes to an increasing awareness of shop local campaigns. "People I haven't seen before are making a point of letting us know they're choosing to shop at an independent bookstore," she noted. "I'm noticing that more this year than I ever have."

Shelburne parents have additional incentive to shop local. At an arts center located on the town green, children are entertained with craft projects while mom and dad stock up on gifts. The Flying Pig and other area retailers sponsor the annual program. Said Leavitt, "It's a win-win for everybody."

The Yellow Book Road

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! continues to be a favorite at the Yellow Book Road in La Mesa, Calif., remaining in the top five sellers for what owner Kristin Baranski noted was a solid week of sales. Dr. Seuss' curmudgeon shared the spotlight with Barbara Robinson's The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Gary Soto's Too Many Tamales and First Snow in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy by Carl R. Sams and Jean Stoick.

Rounding out the top sellers was Kwanzaa, a title in the Rookie Read-About Holidays series. "We've had a lot of requests this season for Kwanzaa books," said Yellow Book Road owner Kristin Baranski, who noted that Hanukkah titles also sold well this past week. Hanukkah begins today.

Chanukah Bugs: A Pop-up Celebration by David A. Carter will be read at the store's story time session this Friday. No matter how hectic the holiday season gets, Yellow Book Road continues hosting its bi-weekly story times on Friday and Saturday mornings. The events bring in foot traffic but more important, said Baranski, "We want to encourage reading and the love of reading in our younger audience. Story time allows us to do that."

Some of those young readers will likely be receiving a title or two promoted in the store's display of holiday tomes, which are discounted 25%. Located near the front entrance, the display features about 100 titles--with a total of 250 books. Among them are John McCutcheon's Christmas in the Trenches, Froggy's Best Christmas by Jonathan London, The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Jan Brett and The Nutcracker by Susan Jeffers. "We love holiday books," Baranski said, "and we want our customers to have a broad choice."

Murder by the Book

Readers clamoring for Sue Grafton's T Is for Trespass (on sale today) will be able to buy a copy bright and early this morning at Murder by the Book in Houston, Tex. The store is opening at 8 a.m., two hours earlier than usual, to accommodate customers who plan attend the mystery scribe's signing on Thursday evening and want to be at the head of the line. A numbered ticket is given away with each purchase.

Judging by the initial enthusiasm and number of pre-orders--many customers are asking for books to be inscribed with the names of gift recipients--Murder by the Book manager McKenna Jordan expects T Is for Trespass to be among the store's top holiday sellers. And it's likely Grafton's appearance will put the store on track to have another stellar week. "We had a great Black Friday weekend, but this past Saturday was even busier. Sales were fabulous," said Jordan, who had anticipated an average day after an author event was cancelled. "We were really encouraged by that."

Although some shoppers were stocking up on winter reading selections for themselves, others were in search of gifts. Among Jordan's handselling favorites are Cara Black's mysteries set in Paris, starring detective Aimée Leduc. She read the first book in the series, Murder in the Marais, several months ago, and the store has since sold some 300 copies of the title. "They're incredibly well written and atmospheric," noted Jordan. Books set in foreign locales do well all year round at the store and seem to appeal as gift choices too. Jordan also recommends Kerry Greenwood's titles set in 1920s Australia.

The book that earned Jordan's pick as Best of the Year--featured on a display at the front of the store with other staff picks--is The Song Is You by Megan Abbott, a noirish novel that takes place in Hollywood in 1951 and will appeal to those who like James Ellroy's The Black Dahlia. Last year Jordan's nod for Best Debut was Abbott's Die a Little.

Even classic movie buffs aren't left of the mix at Murder by the Book. For fans of the Grace Kelly-Cary Grant film To Catch a Thief, Jordan recommends Marne Davis Kellogg's Brilliant, which features a former female jewel thief and is the first in a series. The title is scheduled to go out of print, noted Jordan, although she expects to have enough copies of the caper to last through the holiday season.

This past weekend, a customer asking for suggestions on what to give a mystery reader who lives in San Francisco and likes chess was sold two titles: Mark Coggins' The Immortal Game and The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis. "We get requests for recommendations all day long," said Jordan, "which is really fun. We get creative, and we find things we hope people are going to like."--Shannon McKenna Schmidt

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Today on the Martha Stewart Show: Judith Jones, author of The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food (Knopf, $24.95, 9780307264954/0307264955).
 
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Today on the Diane Rehm Show: Julie M. Fenster, author of The Case of Abraham Lincoln: A Story of Adultery, Murder, and the Making of a Great President (Palgrave Macmillan, $24.95, 9781403976352/140397635X).

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Today on Fresh Air: Civil War historian David Blight, who edited the narratives of former slaves John Washington and Wallace Turnage, which have been published in A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom, Including Their Own Narratives of Emancipation (Harcourt, $25, 9780151012329/0151012326).

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Today on Oprah, in a repeat: Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia (Penguin, $15, 9780143038412/0143038419).

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Tonight on Anderson Cooper's 360: Don Lattin, author of Jesus Freaks: A True Story of Murder and Madness on the Evangelical Edge (HarperOne, $24.95, 9780061118043/0061118044).

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Selected new titles appearing next Tuesday, December 11:
 
Watchman: A Novel by Ian Rankin (Little, Brown, $24.99, 9780316009133/031600913X) follows a British intelligence agent as he searches for a mole inside his organization.
 
The Venetian Betrayal: A Novel by Steve Berry (Ballantine, $25.95, 9780345485779/0345485777) chronicles a geopolitical race to find Alexander the Great's tomb and stop an evil coalition of nations.
 
Condoleezza Rice: An American Life by Elisabeth Bumiller (Random House, $27.95, 9781400065905/1400065909) examines the life and career of America's first black female secretary of state. 

The Secret Gratitude Book by Rhonda Byrne (Atria, $19.99, 9781582702087/158270208X) is a companion guide to the bestselling book The Secret.

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Locke 1928 by Shawna Yang Ryan (El León Literary Arts/Small Press Distribution, $15 paperback, April 2007)

Locke is a real place on the Sacramento River, founded in 1915 after a fire broke out in the Chinese section of nearby Walnut Grove--the Chinese left and brokered a deal to build a town in the delta and work in the pear orchards and asparagus fields. From this piece of almost-forgotten history, Shawna Yang Ryan has written a mystical, lyrical, gritty novel that is absolutely mesmerizing. In 1928, Richard Fong is a gambling house manager, who had left his wife Ming Wei 10 years earlier to seek his fortune in America. His lover, Chloe, is a "whitegirl" prostitute in Poppy See's brothel. Sofia, daughter of a Chinese minister and a whitewoman, is in love with Chloe, as much as a young teenager can be. One day, during a river festival, in the middle of unusual weather, three women appear on a boat out of a bank of fog and dark skies, three women who soon upset the town. One of them is Richard's wife, Ming Wei; the other two quickly become the object of overwhelming and sadly comical male attentions. While this may sound like a soap opera, it is anything but; instead, it's a story of longing and deprivation, of water ghosts and lonely men, of marriage promises and dashed dreams.

The novel moves from America to China and back, between 1928 and 1865, entwining memory, myth and reality. Ryan is adept with details that define character--Richard keeps his hair longer than fashion because it shows the luxury to wash and brush it. Sofia and Chloe, when they cross paths during the day, perform a delicate dance of brushed sleeves and public indifference. Poppy not only sees the future but discovers she can smell the dead stealing life from the living. When Corlissa, the preacher's wife, teaches the two new women penmanship, "[her] alphabet is nearly all lines and angles, while they manage to soften the letters, make them glide like arched bird bodies." The reality of a Chinese immigrant's life is summed up in Uncle Happy: "He has been thinking of opium, the occasional ball of it pressed into the bowl of his pipe. The intense desire followed by guilt and an impassioned letter home, yet another for his wife [he has] not seen since 1866."

Locke 1928 is, simply, exquisite writing--"the startled egrets stretch their wings and lift up like incandescent sheets being shaken to dry"--ethereal and rough, mysterious and earthy. This is a book to seek out and to treasure.--Marilyn Dahl

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Van Vleck's first job in the book business was at Thunderbird Books in Carmel, Calif. She worked in the store's restaurant baking brownies and cheesecake, then graduated to the bookstore, where she was children's buyer for five years. She left Thunderbird to become a sales rep in the San Francisco Bay Area for Dell, then Bantam-Dell, then Putnam, then Penguin-Putnam and now Penguin Group (USA). Here she answers questions we put to people in the industry occasionally:

On your nightstand now:

Chasing the Flame by Amanda Power, Final Salute by Jim Sheeler and City of Thieves by David Benioff.
 
Favorite book when you were a child:

The Mouse & the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. I loved the idea of a mouse wearing half a Ping-Pong ball for a helmet, ripping up and down the halls of a hotel at night on a red motorcycle. I just finished reading the Ralph "oeuvre" to my six year old and the books definitely hold up.

Your top five authors:

Howard Frank Moser, Tobias Wolff, Wendell Berry, Wallace Stegner, Reynolds Price, William Trevor.

Book you've faked reading:

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
 
Books you are an evangelist for:

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and Five Skies by Ron Carlson.
 
Book you've bought for the cover:

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
 
Book that changed your life:

It wasn't a book, it was a teacher: Mrs. Anderson, my 10th grade English teacher. Who knew that Huckleberry Finn could be made interesting to a class of 15 year olds?
 
Favorite lines from a book:

"You ever go on a picnic?" Arthur asked Ronnie. "Take your girlfriend to the park?" Ronnie's mouth was full, chewing. Finally, he answered: "I might have. I ate in the park." "Is eating in the park a picnic?" Arthur asked Darwin. "A picnic is no casual matter," the older man said. "A picnic is a serious endeavor. There's the planning. This isn't a bag of burgers in the car. To eat lunch in the daylight out-of-doors on a blanket with a young woman," Darwin said, "is courtship. You would only do such a thing with your intended."--Five Skies by Ron Carlson
 
Book you most want to read again for the first time:

Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels.

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The Italian company that makes wonderful journals, among other products, and will be distributed by Chronicle in the new year (as noted here yesterday), is called Moleskine, not Moleskin. We're happy to note that this seems to be a common error, judging from a story by our friends at PW Daily yesterday. 

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The Pulpwood Queen's annual Girlfriend Weekend will next be held January 17-19 in Jefferson, Tex. It was held early this year in Marshall.

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