PW: S&S, Lightning Source Ink E-Delivery Pact

Illustrating the need for publishers to simplify e-book delivery and the consolidation of wholesale e-book services, Simon & Schuster has announced a "long-term strategic alliance" with Ingram's newly organized e-book and print-on-demand services unit, Lightning Source.

The agreement designates Lightning Source as S&S's "preferred and primary digital fulfillment company," said S&S spokesperson Adam Rothberg. Lightning Source was created by Ingram (News, May 15) to consolidate Lightning Print, its former POD service, into a complete electronic delivery service capable of providing all the technical services to deliver e-books or POD titles.

Rothberg told PW, "It's much simpler to go to one place for everything." S&S used digital distributor Softlock to distribute the Stephen King e-book, Riding the Bullet, and Rothberg said that while the LS deal is "exclusive," he also emphasized that S&S would work with other e-delivery firms if necessary. He said the agreement is for three years. LS will be able to "take a book file and handle whatever needs to be done to deliver the title in any e-book platform." LS will also begin the process of digitizing S&S's 12,000-title active backlist. "We're beginning the process of picking and prioritizing which titles will be made available," said Rothberg, who noted that e-books will be handled differently from POD titles. "POD is one thing," said Rothberg. "It's still a paper book. E-books are another matter, and we will be getting authors' permissions."