It's a Mess

I'm late discussing this but you may have already heard that AMS, a distributor responsible for getting books into places like Costco has filed for bankruptcy. AMS also owned PGW, a distributor for many independent publishers.

Why you should care: if you are an author signed to an independent press distributed by PGW your publishing house will be affected.

Check out www.publishersgroupwest.com to see if your publisher is a client of PGW.

So Perseus Books Group is trying to swoop in like Superman and help rescue PGW clients after announcing an intent to buy Avalon Publishing Group (the founder also founded PGW. Perseus wants to offer PGW clients an opportunity to be distributed by them. Perseus acquired CDS and recently acquired Consortium, two distributors for independente presses.

PW had a good article recaping things as did Publishers Lunch.

But it's a mess. I'm feeling it for all of PGW clients. I hope that they will be able to work out something quickly that works to everyone's benefit.