Today’s links of interest: Barnes Noble Bought Children’s Self-Publisher TikatokInteresting. Acquisition part of overall BN digital strategy, though Tikatok is apparently used to publish hardcover and paperback books (at Publisher’s Lunch, registration required). The Random House Group Launches Hidden Gems With AmazonThis is a pretty good idea. Would love to see it nurtured and grown. British Indie Book Publishers Shine Despite RecessionGood news in publishing. We could all use some of that!

Today’s links of interest: Nielsen folds Editor Publisher and Kirkus ReviewsIn a fire sale, other titles, including The Hollywood Reporter, are sold. E-book data poorSales, metadata, cover art… DRM has held back e-booksWell, this is an interesting perspective, UK-style.

Today’s links of interest: Simon Schuster, Hachette to Hold Back Release of Some E-BooksSeriously, has their ever been an industry less interested in serving its customers than the publishing industry? I can’t think of a single one. We must protect the hardcover. So people just won’t buy the books. No biggie. LIT SOUP: Closing the AgencyThe Rappaport Agency is closing its doors at the end of 2009. Adobe Content Server 5 will add DRM option—password-protected books—but still won’t do true social DRMHonestly? After I buy a book, I don’t want to be bothered by entering a password. Letting me choose,

Today’s links of interest: U.S. Stores Import British Edition of Stieg Larsson MysteryAs readers devour the first and second installment in Stieg Larsson’s popular mystery series, smart booksellers (and buyers) are grabbing the already-released UK edition. Because, as a spokesman for Knopf notes, you don’t want to take advantage of reader excitement *right now*. Make ’em wait. No worries, right? Making eBooks The Next Big ThingJoe Wikert hits some major points (cheap and dirty p to e conversion: number one with a bullet!) about ebooks. Staying awake: Notes on the alleged decline of readingThis piece from Ursula K. Le Guin

Today’s links of interest: Bookstore Baksheesh: The Real Estate Deals That Sell BooksWhile the dirty little secret of co-op is well-known in the book industry, it’s being revealed to the general public slowly. Though one suspects the average consumers instinctively knows all that space is sold to the highest bidder. Yahoo Issues Takedown Notice for Spying Price ListThis is interesting. You can see why Yahoo wouldn’t want the general public knowing how cheap it is sells their information. Mattins: A micropodcast of daily readingsAnother cool project from the mind of James Bridle. Short, random-esque readings to start the day.

Today’s links of interest: Borders shares fall sharply on e-reader fearsOne suspects the market is growing increasingly concerned that Borders doesn’t have the glimmer of a strategy go deal with a nascent but rapidly growing ebook marketplace.

Today’s links of interest: Does Twitter Actually Sell Books?We disagree with those who draw the conclusion that Twitter is the wrong venue for fiction — it was the methodology, not the message. The more we consider this experiment, the more we believe it had more positive than negative benefits. Our bronze doorsThere are more patron saints of writing than one realizes.

Today’s links of interest: Richard Sarnoff is ‘PW’ Person of the YearInteresting. Congratulations to Mr. Sarnoff. Rack Jobbing the E-Book (Repost)This repost from Personanondata is as relevant now as it was then. Questions for Jeffrey P. BezosUm, sort of weird, sort of strange, sort of open. Laughed at the Kindle in the bathtub response.