Latest book news from The Bookseller

PRH signs Amazon sales agreement Penguin Random House has signed new long-term sales agreements for print and e-book sales with Amazon in both the US and UK, on undisclosed terms. The agreement was confirmed by Amazon. A PRH spokesperson said: "We do not discuss our relationships with our retail partners. But, as you can see, we still are in business with Amazon, and with all our retail partners, and will continue to be."

'Busy day' for shops as Christian Grey arrives Waterstones is expecting a "busy day" marking the release of the latest edition of E L James' blockbuster hit series Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told By Christian (Arrow). The chain's flagship Piccadilly store in London has a front of store window display dedicated to the release (pictured), only announced two weeks ago, and excitement for the book's publication is building on Twitter under the hashtag #GreyUk.

No evidence of 'Grey' theft, say Kent police Police looking into the alleged theft of a copy of E L James’ Grey (Arrow) have found “no evidence…to suggest that an offence has been committed”. However Penguin Random House has said it will continue to investigate. Kent Police began investigating after receiving a report that a copy of the book, which is due out tomorrow (18th June), was found missing on 8th June.

IPA urges protection for Greece's book market The International Publishers Association (IPA) has urged Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis to protect the country’s reading and book culture during the ongoing financial crisis. In a letter, IPA secretary general Jens Bammel wrote of how the Greek publishing industry has “suffered enormously” during the economic crisis, “shrinking by 40% in the last 5 years”.

Fife libraries threatened with closure Fife is considering the closure of 16 libraries, along with the loss of 25 jobs. Libraries in the area are already run by a separate body to the council, called the Fife Cultural Trust. The trust is looking to cut costs of £813,000, after the council reduced the management fee paid to the body. The council itself is attempting to reduce a £77m budget gap. Fife currently has 51 libraries along with three mobile libraries and a housebound service.

Crace wins 2015 IMPAC award Jim Crace’s Harvest (Picador) has won the 2015 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Crace was announced as the winner of the €100,000 prize, awarded for a single novel published in English, today (17th June) at Mansion House in Dublin. The IMPAC receives its nominations from public libraries in cities around the globe and recognises both writers and translators.

New Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon Amazon has today launched  a new version of the Kindle Paperwhite, which will be available from the end of June. The latest generation of the device includes a new “typesetting engine for more beautiful pages”, an exclusive Kindle font called Bookerly, and “the highest resolution Paperwhite display”.

MEPS say copyright reform must balance rights and access The planned reform of European Union (EU) copyright law must strike a fair balance between authors’ rights and public access to culture, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) agreed in a vote on Tuesday (16th June). The parliament’s legal affairs committee backed some proposals from anti-copyright MEP Julia Reda, from Germany’s Pirate Party, although it struck down many of her proposals on the copyright reforms that the European Commission is to propose later this year.

France to be FBF guest of honour in 2017 France has been confirmed as the guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF) in 2017. The country received the invite to be the chosen guest of honour in 2013, but declined to reply to the invitation until last year, saying that it needed the state to confirm finance for the event.

Stefani, McBride and May join Quarto sales Quarto Publishing Group UK has made a series of appointments to its sales team, as part of a restructure. John Stefani, previously business development director at Simon & Schuster will take on the role of sales director, while Geraldine McBride, previously trade sales director at Bonnier Publishing will become sales director of children's books. Caroline May, who was export sales manager at Octopus, will become director of international sales.

Ebury signs memoir of rugby star Cohen Ebury has acquired the autobiography of rugby player Ben Cohen, to be published ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup. Cohen is the second-highest try scorer in England rugby history and was part of the 2003 World Cup-winning team in Sydney.

Liberty m.d.'s memoir to Michael O'Mara Michael O’Mara Books is to publish the memoir of the m.d. of British retailer Liberty. Publishing director Hugh Barker acquired At Liberty: From Rehab to the Front Row by Ed Burstell from Adam Gauntlett at PFD. The book will be published on 1st October, with a large in-store book launch and signing at Liberty of London.