Today the merger between Random House and Penguin was approved by the EU, according to The Bookseller. The reason for their merger is that “Pearson and Bertelsmann believe that the combined organisation, the world’s leading consumer publishing company, will have a stronger platform and greater resources to invest in rich content, new digital publishing models and high-growth emerging markets.” I personally think that they are also doing it to avoid competition from each other. Bombadil Publishing has lost several authors to Penguin Indian, which went on to become best sellers. I do wish the authors well, but I was saddened that they went without wishing us well. A couple actually came back later on and said they had not been treated as they had expected, but it was a bit too late by then. I hope that Random House and Penguin will use their opportunity to change the world of publishing for the better. And I hope that they will expand in both Latin America and Asia in an ethical and generous manner. They now how the opportunity and the possibility. I wish them well.
