Publishers Weekly is reporting Amazon will bid to acquire the assets of Dorchester, a publishing house which has been in financial trouble for more than two years.

According to PW, if the deal goes through, Amazon will pay all outstanding royalties owed to Dorchester authors. Amazon would acquire 1,900 active titles in many of the genres it already publishes in, including romance and westerns.

PW quotes Amazon as saying its authors will have a choice as to how they want their books published going forward. The final auction is on August 28.

According to PW,  the auction process was triggered by the owner of Dorchester’s parent company, who is owed $3.4 million. The publisher has struggled in the aftermath of the drop in demand for mass market paperbacks.

Dorchester’s troubles have been frustrating for authors and their agents, who’ve struggled to get owed royalties since their titles have continued to sell. Many authors have unsuccessfully attempted to get their rights reverted back to them.

I have some great news to share on the contest front!

Two of my historical manuscripts – THE PARACHUTIST and TEMPTING BELLA – are finalists in the River City Romance Writers 2012 Duel on the Delta contest.

The final judge in my category is Deborah Nemeth of Carina Press. The  winners will be announced in late July.

All of the finalists are listed below. Congratulations and good luck at all!

Contemporary
Clear as Glass — Lynn Kellan
Synchrony’s Call — S.J. Bickford
Surrender’s Vow — S.J. Bickford

Historical
The Parachutist — Diana Quincy
Tempting Bella — Diana Quincy
Seduced by a Spy — Chrinstina De Gennaro

Inspirational
Too Late to Apologize — Christy Smith
Liberty’s Lady — Mary Curry
Deliver Us from Evil — Mary Curry

Paranormal
Dark Conquest — Chritina Kenton
The Book of Dracon, The Mayhen Series — Briana MacWilliam
Seal of Fate — Traci Douglass

Young Adult
Blood, She Read — Sara Hubbard
Lost Souls — Beth Watson
Operation Breakup — Jeanmarie Anaya