The Writing Biz News

* Forward Press have gone into liquidation with debts estimated at £1.6 million. The collapse of the small publisher will see 105 people put out of work and is another blow to the troubled publishing industry.

* Peter James, who used to write effective horror thrillers, but is now better known for his crime work is to take over as Chair of the Crime Writer's Association.

* Julian Assange will publish his autobiography in April - governments the world over are expected to be quaking in their boots.

* Some good retail news for a change - Foyles are one of the few success stories in book retailing and the company are to open a sixth branch, which will be its first store outside of London. The venue is Bristol and the shop will stock over 13,000 books.

ASDA (Part of the Walmart Group) are now selling an eReader for £52 - The Quest Mediabox is the cheapest eReader available in the UK.