Rowling’s New Book Revealed

Little, Brown has announced that J.K. Rowling’s forthcoming adult novel will be called The Casual Vacancy. The Hachette imprint said the book will be published internationally, in English, on September 27. Described as “blackly comic,” the book is set in a small English town called Pagford, which comes undone after one of its denizens unexpectedly dies. The event shakes the town and reveals the rampant unrest bubbling under the surface in the deceptively perfect hamlet.

B&N Debuts Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight

Barnes & Noble has developed Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight, to be priced at $139. With a light embedded in the device, GlowLight makes it easy to read in the dark, including in bed. According to B&N, the most frequent complaint from its Nook users is that their partners complain when they read in bed. The GlowLight, which emits only a soft light, addresses that concern. Since a B&N survey found that two out of three Americans read in bed, B&N believes the GlowLight will expand the market for e-ink devices whose growth has slowed with the rapid gains made by tablets.

Baker & Taylor Partners with Findaway World

Baker & Taylor has announced a plan to work with Findaway World, creators of Playaway, Playaway View, and Catalist Digital, to launch a digital audiobook platform for public libraries and retailers later this year. Officials say the deal “leverages Findaway’s extensive digital audiobook catalogue and existing Catalist Digital platform with Baker & Taylor’s innovative Axis 360 digital media platform” to create seamless mobile listening for libraries, patrons, and consumers. The move adds yet another new venture in the audio market for libraries, following the launch of Recorded Books’ OneClickDigital platform earlier this year.

Nolan Named Penguin Books E-I-C, Associate Publisher

Patrick Nolan has been named editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Penguin Books, reporting to Kathryn Court. Nolan has been director of trade paperback sales for the past 12 years. He will be responsible for overseeing the editorial direction of Penguin Books’ list and will work closely with Court and John Fagan, Penguin’s marketing director, on the publishing program. Nolan is replacing Stephen Morrison, who recently went to Picador as its new publisher.